New Zealand Introduces Online Casino Licensing and Bans Offshore Sports Betting

New Zealand gambling law specialist, Jarrod True, provides an update on New Zealand’s online gambling reform, including details on the Minister’s stated regulatory preference for advertising, harm minimisation, and consumer protection. 

Online Race and Sports Betting

It is now unlawful for anyone apart from TAB New Zealand to offer online race and sports betting to persons located in New Zealand, and unlawful for New Zealanders to place race and sports bets with anyone apart from TAB New Zealand.  The prohibition includes race and sports betting events that take place both within and outside New Zealand.  The prohibition came into force on 28 June 2025.

Online Casino Gambling

The Licensing System and Timing

Legislation for a licensing system for online casinos (the Online Casino Gambling Bill) was introduced to the New Zealand Parliament on 30 June 2025.  Targeted consultation is currently underway on the advertising, harm minimisation, and consumer protection regulations.

Licences will be allocated through a three-stage process: expressions of interest; an auction by persons invited by the Regulator; and a full licence application by the successful bidders. The expected timeframe is as follows:

• Select Committee consultation process – September to November 2025.
• Bill enacted – January 2026.
• Expressions of interest for a licence– March/April 2026.
• Licence auction – June 2026.
• New online casino gambling licences issued – August to December 2026.

From 1 July 2026, only licenced online gambling providers may offer online casino gambling to persons located in New Zealand.  This provision will be extra-territorial (it will apply regardless of whether the provider is based in or outside New Zealand).

Number of Licences and Licence Term

• There will be 15 licences available, allocated by auction. 

• One licence will be required per platform/brand/website.  The licence limit will apply to platforms, rather than operators.

• An operator can hold no more than three of the 15 total licences. 

• The licences will be for a three-year period with one right of renewal of up to five years.

• Operators will only be able to offer online casino games.  This will include slot machines, table games, such as blackjack, poker, or baccarat, and virtual sports and racing betting (betting on a computer-simulated event.)

Harm Minimisation

• The minimum age for online gambling will be 18.  Age verification must occur before the player is permitted to make a deposit.

• The harm minimisation regulations are expected to:

• Permit payment via cryptocurrency, credit cards, and “buy now pay later” schemes.

• Require players at the time of setting up an account to set a limit on time, spend and deposits.   The player will, however, have the ability to opt out and set no limit.  There will be no mandatory limits that are universal across players.

• Provide for operator-level exclusions.  There will not be a centralised approach to self-exclusion, such as a government-operated national self-exclusion register.

• Permit loyalty programmes, but exclude players who have been identified as problem gamblers from participating in them.

• Permit the use of bonuses and inducements with restrictions. 

• Require providers to include consistent and specific harm minimisation messaging on advertisements – providers will be required to use certain taglines.  Messages must include the R18 age limit and require a call to action, e.g., For free 24/7 support call 0800 654 655, text 8006, or visit safergambling.org.nz.  The harm minimisation messages must remain for at least 10% of the advertisement’s length.

• Permit network progressive slot jackpots, but only on platforms that hold a New Zealand online casino gambling licence (world-wide progressive jackpots are not permitted).

• Set no maximum prize limit for slot prizes and slot jackpots.

Advertising

• Licensed gambling operators will be allowed to advertise, but with strict limits.  The rules around advertising will be set by regulations.  The regulations are expected to:

• Prohibit paid endorsements such as promotions by social media influencers, celebrities and athletes.

• Prohibit advertising that targets person under 18.

• Prohibit outdoor advertisements within 300 metres of any location where under 18s regularly gather (e.g. education facilities, sports fields, skateparks) or be readable/decipherable from within those locations.

• Prohibit any advertising between 6.00am and 9.30pm.

• Limit broadcast advertisements (e.g. tv and radio, podcasts, streaming platforms) to no more than five 30-second advertisements per 24-hour period, per licensed online casino gambling platform.

• Prohibit print advertisements, including digital material, appearing as full-page advertisements, or on the front page where they may be widely visible to the public.

• Prohibit transit advertising (e.g. on buses, trains).

• Prohibit practice casino games or demos.

• Prohibit sponsorships.

Enforcement

• The Regulator will have the ability to suspend or cancel a licence.  The Regulator will have a range of enforcement tools, including formal warnings, enforceable undertakings, take-down notices, and pecuniary penalties (up to $5m).

• A monetary penalty can be imposed simultaneously on both the provider and the provider’s directors and/or management staff.

New Zealand’s current online gambling spend is estimated to be approximately $700m annually.  The intention of the new licensing system is not to see growth in online gambling, but this appears inevitable given that online gambling is already very popular in New Zealand.  A licensing system will provide greater confidence for players, and more opportunities for providers to market and promote themselves.