TAB NZ / Entain NZ

TAB NZ is the statutory organisation responsible for New Zealand's racing and sports betting system. Although its history dates back to 1950, the current body was established under the Racing Industry Act 2020, and in doing so, it replaced all of the arrangements that had previously operated through the Racing Industry Transition Agency.

In June 2023, a major change occurred when TAB NZ entered a 25-year strategic partnership with Entain. Rather than selling the organisation, TAB NZ decided to delegate its betting and broadcasting operations to the international gambling group, and this move allowed Entain to manage the commercial business while TAB NZ retained its statutory responsibilities.

Entain New Zealand Limited is the locally registered operating company, which, itself, is owned by London-listed Entain plc. TAB NZ remains a separate statutory body, and it’s currently chaired by William (Bill) Birnie, with Nick Roberts serving as chief executive.

Now, what's interesting is that the partnership is also designed to support New Zealand racing and sport financially. Entain, for example, agreed to a 50% gross profit-sharing arrangement, and this includes minimum annual payments of at least NZ$150 million for the first 5 years.

It’s quite important to understand the difference between TAB NZ and Entain when thinking about the operator's legal position. TAB NZ's authority comes from the Racing Industry Act 2020, while Entain carries out special betting functions under the partnership agreement.

The Department of Internal Affairs administers the legislation and has gambling compliance and enforcement responsibilities, and TAB NZ also monitors Entain's performance against its statutory and commercial obligations.

Interestingly, on the 20th of June 2025, amendments to the Racing Industry Act allowed Tab NZ to continue having its exclusive position over online racing and sports betting. Previously, offshore operators had been able to compete for New Zealand customers, but under the amended law, other operators are now prohibited from offering these betting services to people located in New Zealand, although many continue to do so.

It's also worth noting that the restrictions apply to racing and sports betting, but not every form of online gambling. As a result, TAB NZ's statutory authority shouldn't be confused with a general online casino licence.

TAB remains the main name for horse racing and sports wagering, with betting available through its website, app and retail network.

More recently, Betcha was released as a digital-focused sister brand - and it’s aimed at a different set of customers entirely. Despite their differing positions, however, both brands are operated under the exact same statutory partnership.

TAB NZ and Entain operate within a regulatory framework covering betting integrity, gambling harm prevention, advertising and anti-money-laundering obligations. Their public record also includes several Advertising Standards Authority decisions concerning how gambling is promoted to New Zealand audiences.

In July 2024, the Advertising Standards Authority considered 28 complaints involving TAB television and on-demand advertising. Some concerns related to the frequency and placement of advertisements during programmes accessible to children. Following changes to the advertising schedule, the Complaints Board settled part of the case, while other aspects were not upheld.

Further scrutiny followed in September 2025, when the Authority examined TAB betting promotions presented during live Super Rugby coverage. The Board considered that the distinction between editorial broadcasting and advertising had not been sufficiently clear. Because the broadcaster introduced new protocols, this aspect of the complaint was settled rather than formally upheld.

In November 2025, another case involving betcha promotions during rugby broadcasts was settled in part and not upheld in part. The decision addressed concerns raised on behalf of the Problem Gambling Foundation, including advertising identification, promotional incentives and exposure to younger viewers.

More recently, in March 2026, the Complaints Board did not uphold complaints concerning TAB and betcha advertisements shown before sporting highlights on YouTube.

These decisions demonstrate ongoing scrutiny of the operators' marketing practices, but they should not be confused with financial penalties or gambling-authorisation suspensions.

No formal gambling-enforcement fine or suspension involving TAB NZ or Entain New Zealand Limited was identified in the public regulatory records reviewed for this profile. This finding is limited to those sources and does not cover unrelated regulatory action involving Entain's international operations.