For years, thousands of Kiwis have gambled in a bit of a grey area online – placing bets with offshore gambling websites that operate outside of New Zealand’s laws. While perfectly legal for players, authorities have, for a while, been looking at the current New Zealand gambling regulation – and how to implement new rules and regulations to regulate the industry.
This was because it became clearer and clearer that the Gambling Act of 2003 was no longer fit for purpose. The Act was put together before online gambling became popular – so it fails to address pretty much anything about gambling online. As a result, the New Zealand government has been preparing a new Online Gambling Bill – and this is designed to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the first time.
The bill has a few core objectives, including to make a safer, more compliant online gambling market, help prevent and minimise gambling harm, limit opportunities for criminal activities, protect consumers, and ensure that operators pay taxes in New Zealand.
Today, we’re going to look at what the upcoming New Zealand gambling regulation means – how it will affect players – and how it’s expected to pan out.
Update – July 2, 2025: NZ Online Casino Bill Officially Enters Parliament
In a major development, New Zealand’s long-awaited Online Casino Gambling Bill has officially been introduced to Parliament on June 30, 2025. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden brought the bill forward – and it marks the beginning of a fully regulated online gambling market in Aotearoa, with up to 15 licenses set to be issued to operators looking to legally target Kiwi players! This is a major development – and it looks set to shape the future of the legalised online gambling scene in New Zealand for years to come.
Already, some big-name international brands including 888, bet365, and Super Group (owner of JackpotCity, Spin Casino, and Ruby Fortune) have stepped forward to express their interest – and this was first reported by SBC.
According to the Bill, operators – as they stand – will be allowed to continue accepting NZ players until December 31, 2026 – but they must apply for a license before July 1 2026 in order to stay compliant. Once signed into law, the bill will impose strict new regulations on NZ online gambling operators – including stricter responsible gambling tools, limits on promotional activities, and, of course, taxation responsibilities. This is a big step, and it’s designed to bring the country’s online casino laws more in line with jurisdictions like the UK and Malta.
New Zealand’s New Online Gambling Bill
The government of New Zealand has recently announced that they will be drafting a new, standalone Online Gambling Bill – rather than making changes to the existing Gambling Act 2003. The reason behind this is that the Gambling Act 2003 is simply too outdated – and it makes more sense to create a new bill rather than try to amend the previous Act.
New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has been designated as the regulator who’s responsible for overseeing the new market – and the Bill will be specifically targeted to online casino games. This will include online pokies (slot machines), casino table games like blackjack and roulette, poker, and even virtual sports and racing games – if their results are determined by random number generators.
However, the Bill does not include online sports and race betting – which remain monopolies in New Zealand, both operated by TAB NZ. It also doesn’t impact any online lottery products which are offered by Lotto NZ.
Licensing: A Key Component of the new Online Gambling Bill
While there are still amendments likely to be made, a lot of what’s going to be included in the new Bill has already been revealed. At its core is a new, highly-controlled licensing system.
A maximum of 15 licenses will be made available to operate online casinos targeting New Zealanders, and this number, regulators say, has been chosen due to its “balance point.” 15 licenses should be enough to create a market that’s attractive enough for online gambling operators to enter – which is needed for the regulatory model to work and for tax generation purposes – but it also stops short of a completely open market like we’ve seen in other jurisdictions.
However, some domestic operators – including SkyCity and TAB NZ – had been hoping for bewteen five and seven licenses. Responsible gambling charities and groups opposing the new Bill have also complained that 15 is too high.
License Allocations, Limits, and Durations
The DIA has already released some information about how licenses will be awarded – and what terms come with them. A few initial licenses will be allocated via an auction process – and later ones will be granted through “a competitive process determined by the Secretary for Internal Affairs.”
Licenses will be valid for three years – initially – with the possibility of renewal. The DIA also states that “renewal is conditional on ongoing compliance” and “licenses are non-transferable.”
Now, a single operator can hold a maximum of three licenses, and any license that’s awarded must be used within 90 days of being issued. There is a two-part due diligence process, which includes:
Stage 1 (Eligibility Assessment): This stage revolves around the DIA carrying out checks on the brand, looking at key members of staff – checking for criminal records, financial standing, and interests in other gambling companies), confirmation of ownership structures, viability of business plans, available capital, and a declaration of any past legislative breaches domestically or internationally.
Stage 2 (Pre-Licence Requirements): In this step, operators applying for a license must submit detailed submissions on harm prevention and minimisation strategies, consumer protection measures, compliance with NZ privacy and anti-money laundering laws, marketing plans, proposed operating systems, and robust age and identity verification systems.
The Secretary for Internal Affairs holds the power to refuse a license if these requirements are not satisfactorily met or if required fees are unpaid. Of course, things are still subject to change – and the Bill continues to be drafted by legislators.
It’s expected to be put forward to the Select Committee around the middle of 2025 – and if all goes to plan, it’s scheduled to be enacted at the beginning of 2026.
New Zealand’s New Gambling Regulations: Advertising Allowed
One of the most significant (and controversial) changes under the new Bill is the approach to advertising. Currently, it is illegal for any gambling operator (other than Lotto NZ and TAB NZ) to advertise in New Zealand – and this includes offshore operators.
However, the new legislation will reverse this for licensed online casinos, meaning they’re allowed to advertise their services and platforms to Kiwis – within limits. Now, the NZ government justifies this by saying it’s “essentially for the regulated market’s success”.
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says that it’s necessary to make the licenses commercially viable for operators and, crucially, to “channel” players away from the unregulated, potentially harmful offshore market towards the licensed, safer domestic options.
However, there’s going to be some very strict rules surrounding the advertising laws – and most importantly, operators must not run ads that appeal to (or target) children and young people. Operators must also submit in-depth marketing plans to NZ’s online gambling regulator for approval – and this plan needs to outline target audiences, messaging, channels – and the frequency at which ads will be pushed out.
Licensed operators will be required to display an official registration icon on their websites and in advertising materials and, importantly: sponsorship by online casinos will remain illegal!
As you’d expect, not everyone is happy about this. Harm reduction advocates, including the Problem Gambling Foundation and Māori public health organisation Hāpai Te Hauora, strongly oppose it. They warn that allowing advertising will lead to the normalisation of online casino gambling, encourage risky behaviour, and, ultimately, increase problem gambling.
Other Rules and Regulations the Bill Includes
Age & ID checks
Every licensed site will need to verify the age of all customers – ensuring players are 18 or above and that they are who they say they are. However, it’s worth pointing out that the legal age to gamble in land-based casinos in NZ remains 20.
Built-in harm-reduction tools
While the DIA hasn’t yet released the exact details, they have made it clear: operators should expect to be required to let players set deposit limits, track how much time (and money) they’ve spent, and enter into a self-exclusion agreement any time they want to.
Funding problem gambling services
A “refreshed” Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm initiative from the New Zealand government – running between 2025-2028 – has a massive required budget of NZ$91.8 million over three years! Operators who receive a NZ license will be expected to contribute a portion of their profits towards this scheme – with a special focus on Māori, Pacific, Asian and young people, groups most affected by problem gambling.
Complaints procedure
Like most regulated iGaming markets, the DIA is planning a rigorous complaints procedure for players to follow. If something goes wrong, players must first talk to the operator. Every license holder will be required to have a fast, robust complaints procedure in place. If players are unhappy, they can then turn to the DIA directly – who have the power to demand info, issue warnings, and – for serious breaches – suspend a licence for up to six months or cancel it outright.
What Happens Next?
As it stands, the draft is going to be sent to the Select Committee in mid‑2025, and – if the timetable sticks – the new market flips on early 2026. New Zealand is betting that tight licensing, tough enforcement and robust harm controls can make online gambling in New Zealand safer – and generate revenue through taxes.
Of course, whether things go as planned remains to be seen. The offshore (mainly crypto) online gambling market is already huge – so there’s no guarantees, but it’s an interesting step for NZ to be taking – and we look forward to following what happens next!
Pokies & Live Games Specialist10 years experienceSophia Novakivska has 10 years of experience in online gambling. For the past decade, Kyiv-trained linguist Sophia Novakivska has analysed everything from slot algorithms to live-dealer probabilities. Her bylines appear on Better Collective, AskGamblers and Gambling.com, and she specialises in NZ bonus clauses, slot maths and live-game odds. Sophia’s credentials include GLI University’s iGaming testing & compliance course (2020) and UKGC-approved Responsible Gambling certification (2022).
About Sophia Novakivska | X (Twitter): @SNovakivska | Portfolio & ContactExpert on: slotsonline pokiescasino bonuses
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