New Zealand opens bidding for 15 casino licences

• New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs has opened expressions of interest for up to 15 online casino licences, effective 17 July 2026.
• Applicants must pay a non-refundable NZ$19,000 fee and show access to at least NZ$7.5 million in capital, with submissions due by 14 August.
• The EOI stage is a screening step ahead of a competitive auction in September, with licences expected to be issued in early 2027.

New Zealand has opened the first stage of its online casino licensing regime, inviting operators to bid for one of 15 available licences under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) launched the expressions of interest window on 17 July, giving applicants until 14 August to submit through the Government Electronic Tender Service.

What the EOI requires

Secretary for Internal Affairs Paul James issued the invitation through a notice in the New Zealand Gazette. The submission fee is NZ$19,000 (US$11,100) and is non-refundable, while applicants must demonstrate access to at least NZ$7.5 million (US$4.4 million) in capital.

Each submission must cover brand and platform details, ownership structure, and information on every relevant person behind the applicant. The requirements build on the detailed operator obligations the DIA published in June, and operators must also disclose existing licences, the source of their funds, and any past breaches of gambling laws in other jurisdictions.

The DIA has built a query window into the timeline. Applicants can submit questions through GETS until 31 July, with the department responding by 5 August, nine days before submissions close.

Auction and licence cap

The EOI is a screening step rather than the licence itself. Once submissions close, the DIA plans a competitive auction in September, where qualifying operators bid for the fixed pool of licences. No single operator can hold more than three, a cap designed to prevent early consolidation.

Successful bidders move to full licence applications from October, subject to suitability and compliance checks. On the department’s current schedule, licences are expected in early 2027, aligning with the planned launch of the regulated market.

Bringing an offshore market onshore

The government first signalled plans to license online casinos in July 2024. Officials have framed the reform as a response to an existing market rather than the creation of a new one, since New Zealanders already gamble heavily on offshore sites outside domestic oversight and tax.

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, who confirmed in June that offshore operators facing litigation remain eligible to apply, has stressed that the framework prioritises consumer safety and balance over maximising tax revenue.

Entain has separately signalled intent to pursue the maximum three licences, citing its existing exclusive tie-up with TAB New Zealand.

The 15-licence cap makes New Zealand one of the more tightly controlled markets to open in recent years, in contrast to jurisdictions that have licensed dozens of operators. The auction format means licence values will be set largely by how many credible bidders compete for the fixed supply.

1 December, firm exit deadline

Existing unlicensed operators face a firm deadline of their own: those that have not applied for a licence by 1 December 2026 must exit the New Zealand market entirely. That gives offshore brands roughly four months from the EOI opening to decide whether to seek a foothold in the regulated system or withdraw.

The number of operators willing to put NZ$19,000 on the table by 14 August will be the first real signal of appetite for a market that has, until now, existed only in unregulated form.