New Zealand online casino regulations revealed
- The Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026 take effect on 3 July, coinciding with the start of the licensing process.
- Licensed operators will face a quarterly levy of 3.5% on online gambling profits, strict advertising bans and mandatory responsible gambling tools.
- Up to 15 licences will be awarded through a competitive three-stage process, with a market launch scheduled for 1 December 2026.
The New Zealand government has published the Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026, setting out detailed obligations for prospective licensed operators ahead of the country’s first regulated online casino market.
The rules, issued through an Order in Council following recommendations from the Minister of Internal Affairs, come into force on 3 July 2026, the same month the licensing process is expected to begin.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) said the regulations establish a framework to protect consumers, reduce gambling-related harm, and ensure the market operates safely and fairly.
Responsible gambling rules
Operators must allow customers to set daily, weekly or monthly limits on playtime, deposits and total spending. Limits can only be increased or removed after a mandatory 24-hour waiting period.
Compulsory breaks apply when players have been active for 60 consecutive minutes. Operators must also offer time-outs, pop-up alerts and self-exclusion options, including an indefinite self-exclusion period. If an operator identifies signs of problem gambling, it may block the account for up to two years.
Before any account can be activated, customers must verify their full name, date of birth and age. The minimum age is 18. Credit cards and certain credit-linked payment methods are prohibited.
Each customer may only register one deposit method and one account per platform, with a 24-hour lock on any changes to deposit methods.
Advertising restrictions
The regulations impose sweeping limits on how licensed operators can market their services. Broadcast ads are banned during live events and in the 30-minute window before and after them. Ads cannot appear on the front pages of print publications or on public transport.
Sponsorships, affiliate marketing and personalized advertising are prohibited outright. Only licensed operators may advertise. Unlicensed platforms face civil penalties.
Licensing process and levies
Licensed operators will pay a quarterly levy equal to 3.5% of online gambling profits, with penalties applying for late payment. Operators must also submit regular reports covering player activity, revenue and usage patterns. Serious incidents must be reported within five working days.
Licensed operators will pay a 16% online casino gambling duty, with 4% of that duty ring-fenced for New Zealand community causes.
Expressions of interest open in the second half of July 2026, with a licensing auction scheduled for September and full applications due in October. No single entity may hold significant influence over more than three licences. An expression of interest carries a fee of NZ$19,000.
From 1 December 2026, only auction winners with applications under assessment may continue serving New Zealand customers. All other operators must exit the market. Full licensing is expected from early 2027.
The regulations arrive as major international operators position themselves for entry. Entain has indicated it is targeting three of the available licences, with its TAB brand currently the only legal online betting service in the country.
For operators assessing the New Zealand opportunity, the regulations provide the first full picture of compliance costs and obligations. The combination of a tight advertising regime, mandatory responsible gambling infrastructure and a quarterly profit levy sets a high bar for market entry.
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