New Zealand has taken a significant step toward regulating the domestic gambling market with the introduction of the Online Casino Gambling Bill in Parliament. The legislation, introduced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on June 30, 2025, proposes a formal licensing framework to regulate the largely unmonitored sector.
New Zealand’s Regulatory Move: What You Need to Know
- New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Bill aims to establish a regulatory framework for overseeing online gambling operators, who currently operate in an unregulated environment.
- The government plans to offer 15 gambling licences for auction during the first licensing window, thus allowing the authorities to maintain strict control over market entry and operation.
- Unlicensed gambling operators targeting New Zealanders could face penalties up to €2.5 million.
NZ Government Committed to Player Protection
New Zealand’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, in a landmark move, proposed the Online Casino Gambling Bill for Parliamentary approval. This marks the government’s first effort to regulate the country’s iGaming sector, which has been largely unmonitored until now.
The Bill focuses on player safety, tax collection, and greater oversight of gambling operators. If passed in Parliament, the Bill will establish a three-stage licensing framework with the Secretary for Internal Affairs at the helm, regulating the sector and overseeing enforcement.
Commenting on the gambling bill making its way to Parliament, Minister van Velden said:
“The Online Casino Gambling Bill will establish a regulatory framework for online gambling in New Zealand. It will prioritise consumer protection, responsible gambling, and tax collection. The bill will go up to the select committee later this year. New Zealanders can cast their vote in favour or against the legislation through the select committee process.”
The new Bill proposes a maximum of 15 licences during the initial window, which will be available to casino operators through a competitive auction. To qualify for bidding, operators must submit comprehensive business plans specific to NZ regarding launching an online casino and meet preset compliance conditions. Licensed operators can also promote their services through targeted ad campaigns, provided they meet content and placement restrictions.
According to the new Bill, unlicensed operators could face hefty penalties of up to €2.5 million for breaching the law. While offshore gambling sites had been operating in the grey area, their days are numbered as New Zealand braces for a massive impact with the new law.
Three-Stage Licensing Framework to Promote Sustainability
In a similar approach to the upcoming licensing model by the GRAI, the recently established Irish gambling regulatory authority, the government has proposed a three-stage licensing process, comprising the expression of interest, a competitive auction, and license approval. The Bill allows a maximum of 15 licences, each valid for three years, following which a one-time renewal is permitted for a five-year term.
Operators who meet NZ’s strict compliance standards and qualify for the auction will be eligible to receive a gambling licence. The Department of Internal Affairs will oversee compliance, licensing, and enforcement, and the regulator will maintain public records of licensed operators for total transparency.
Operators must implement a complete suite of responsible gambling and player protection protocols to help players stay protected from online casino scams. The list includes age verification, self-exclusive mechanisms, audio cues on platforms, visible registration icons, and tools for identifying and excluding problem gamblers from accessing their platforms.
Operators must also develop a process for filing formal complaints and submitting reports to the Secretary at the end of each quarter. Additionally, the operators must function for 270 days per year and collect user data for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws.
The legislation also has provisions for protecting existing gambling operators. For example, operators cannot offer games protected under New Zealand’s protected categories, such as Lotto, Strike, and Powerball. This will ensure that new markets do not conflict with existing operations.
The Bill is currently awaiting Royal Assent and will go live a day after clearing the Parliament. However, the causes related to offences regarding underage gamblers will not go live before July 1, 2026. All unlicensed gambling operations in New Zealand will cease to exist, post December 31, 2026.