New Zealand to regulate online casinos from 2026
The New Zealand government has presented initial plans for the regulation of online casinos from 2026. Gambling providers who wish to operate legally in New Zealand will be able to apply for an official license of the country from early 2026 and must meet certain key criteria as part of the licensing process.
Gambling in New Zealand: Licenses with a validity of three years
According to an article by the gambling news portal YOGONET [Link in English], the New Zealand government has presented initial plans for the regulation of online casinos in the country. It is planned to issue the first licenses to gambling providers from early 2026. The licenses will initially have a validity of three years.
The aim is to enable players in New Zealand to participate in online gambling safely. Providers must meet the consumer protection requirements and comply with their gambling tax payments. The New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden [Link in English] stated that providers must meet strict criteria as part of the licensing process.
There will be a licensing system for online casinos, where operators must meet a number of criteria before they can offer services to New Zealanders. It will be illegal for unlicensed operators to offer services to New Zealanders.– Brooke van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs, New Zealand, YOGONET**
The legal situation of gambling in New Zealand
Gambling has been regulated in New Zealand since 2003 by the Gambling Act (Gambling Act). The Department of Internal Affairs (Ministry of Internal Affairs) is responsible for regulation and licensing in New Zealand, while in Germany, the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) is responsible for licensing and monitoring gambling. In New Zealand, licenses are issued for stationary casinos and gaming machines in bars (Class 4 gambling). There are a total of six legal casinos in New Zealand, with the largest ones located in Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown.
Gambling providers in New Zealand must also meet strict requirements for player protection. Casinos must offer players the opportunity to exclude themselves from gambling in all land-based casinos and also offer the option to participate in programs for problem gamblers. Help for gambling problems and gambling harm can be found in New Zealand, among others, at the Problem Gambling Foundation [Link in English].
New gambling licenses in New Zealand do not include sports betting or lotteries
Through the new licenses, gambling providers in New Zealand will be able to legally offer online casino games from 2026. This will include online slots, electronic table games, and live casino games such as roulette and blackjack. However, the gambling licenses will only allow the legal provision of online casino games. Online sports betting and online lotteries will remain prohibited.
Under strict conditions, it will be possible for online casinos in New Zealand to run advertisements from 2026 onwards, despite the ban on gambling providers sponsoring sports clubs in New Zealand. Interior Minister van Velden wants to give the public the opportunity to provide feedback during the licensing process to potentially adjust the criteria for issuing gambling licenses:
I assume that the new regulatory system will come into effect at the beginning of 2026 and the public will have the opportunity to give feedback during the selection committee process.– Brooke van Velden, New Zealand's Interior Minister, YOGONET**
SkyCity Entertainment Group supports New Zealand's gambling regulation plans
The SkyCity Entertainment Group [English link], a major player in New Zealand's gambling industry, is said to have supported the government's plans. The company operates brick-and-mortar casinos in Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown. Additionally, the SkyCity Entertainment Group has another casino in Adelaide, Australia.
Regulation is an important step in providing players with a safe gaming experience and generating tax payments from gambling providers in New Zealand. Jason Walbridge, CEO of the SkyCity Entertainment Group, emphasized the importance of keeping gambling funds in the country and not losing them to overseas providers:
Currently, a lot of money is flowing overseas that should be staying in New Zealand as tax and community benefit. We hope this will be a key component of any future framework.– Jason Walbridge, CEO of the SkyCity Entertainment Group in New Zealand, YOGONET**
It remains to be seen which operators will apply for a gambling license in New Zealand and whether the planned start date for the licensing process, beginning in 2026, can be met.
In contrast to the New Zealand government's plans for online casino regulation, Germany currently does not have a central authority responsible for licensing online casinos. (online casinos Germany lack a central licensing authority)
Following the presentation of New Zealand's initial plans, German providers interested in offering online casino services to German players in compliance with local regulations might consider monitoring developments in New Zealand's licensing process closely. (German providers could keep an eye on New Zealand's licensing process as a reference)
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