New Zealand Sets Strict Compliance Rules Ahead of Online Casino Launch

The framework provides detailed guidance on player protection, advertising restrictions, operational requirements and taxation, as the government prepares to award up to 15 online casino licences through a competitive selection process.

Licensing Process Takes Shape

The newly released regulations support the implementation of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which received royal assent last month and laid the legal foundation for New Zealand’s regulated iGaming market.

Under the framework, a maximum of 15 licences will be available to approved operators. Participation in the process will begin with an expression-of-interest fee of NZD 19,000, followed by a competitive auction and a full licence application.

Major Operators Eye Market Entry

Interest in the market is already emerging from established industry players. During the presentation of Entain’s FY25 financial results, CEO Stella David confirmed that the company intends to pursue three of the available licences, highlighting the commercial attractiveness of the future market.

Player Protection Measures at the Core

Responsible gambling provisions form a central pillar of the new regime, with operators required to implement a series of mandatory safeguards designed to reduce gambling-related harm.

Players must be given the option to establish daily, weekly or monthly limits on deposits, wagering activity and gaming time during account registration. Operators will also be required to remind customers of these tools on a monthly basis.

Any request to increase or remove a limit will be subject to a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period before taking effect.

Mandatory Breaks and Self-Exclusion

The regulations introduce compulsory breaks in play, requiring operators to interrupt gaming sessions after 60 consecutive minutes of activity. Players must then observe a minimum five-minute pause before continuing.

Platforms must also provide timeout options ranging from 24 hours to three months, alongside session reminders displaying information about playing time and activity levels.

Self-exclusion programs will be mandatory, allowing customers to exclude themselves for a fixed period or permanently. Operators must process requests within 24 hours and may also impose exclusions of up to two years when signs of problem gambling are identified.

Strict Verification and Payment Controls

The framework establishes robust know-your-customer (KYC) requirements before any player can access gambling products.

Customers must complete identity verification procedures confirming their legal name, date of birth and eligibility to gamble. The minimum legal gambling age has been set at 18.

Credit Cards Banned

In a move aimed at strengthening consumer protection, the regulations prohibit the use of credit cards and related credit-based payment instruments for online casino gambling.

Players will be limited to a single active account with each licensed operator and may register only one payment method per account. Any request to change a payment method will trigger a mandatory 24-hour waiting period.

Comprehensive Restrictions on Gambling Advertising

The new rules introduce some of the most extensive advertising restrictions seen in a newly regulated gambling market.

Operators will be prohibited from advertising on newspaper front pages and across public transport networks. Broadcast gambling advertisements will also be banned during live sporting and entertainment events, as well as during the 30-minute periods immediately before and after such programming.

Sponsorships and Affiliate Marketing Prohibited

The framework goes beyond traditional advertising controls by banning gambling sponsorship agreements, celebrity endorsements and affiliate marketing arrangements.

Marketing campaigns designed to encourage impulsive gambling behavior will also be prohibited, while any content likely to appeal to minors will be restricted. Advertising will not be permitted through channels where more than 20% of the audience is under the age of 18.

The measures mirror broader regulatory trends across the Asia-Pacific region, including reforms introduced in Australia aimed at limiting gambling advertising exposure.

Revenue Levy and Product Restrictions

Licensed operators will be required to pay a quarterly levy equivalent to 3.5% of online gambling revenue. In addition, operators must submit detailed quarterly and annual reports covering financial performance and customer activity metrics.

The regulations also impose product-level controls. Autoplay functionality will not be permitted, and players will be restricted to using a single online slot machine at any given time.

Regulatory Framework Prioritizes Sustainability

The combination of player safeguards, advertising limitations and operational controls signals a regulatory approach focused on long-term market sustainability rather than rapid expansion.

As New Zealand prepares to launch its regulated online casino sector, the framework provides operators with a clear compliance roadmap while reinforcing the government’s objective of balancing commercial opportunities with responsible gambling protections.