The High Court of Auckland in New Zealand has filed a lawsuit against bet365, Super Group, and SkyCity Entertainment Group, accusing the operators of offering illegal online...
New Zealand reveals new iGaming rules for July market launch
The government of New Zealand has published new online casino regulations that are set to come into effect on July 3, 2026, aligning with the timeline of the regulated iGaming market launch.
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 includes strengthened rules on advertising, payments, and player protection, and a new quarterly 3.5% levy on iGaming profits that will be required for all licensed operators. The laws were first recommended by the Minister of Internal Affairs and were later issued through an Order in Council.
Under the regulations, iGaming platforms will have to offer playtime and deposit limits, allowing users to set daily, weekly or monthly caps, which can be removed or increased after a mandatory waiting period of 24 hours. Compulsory breaks will also be added, with players having to take five-minute breaks in case they play continuously for 60 minutes.
Self-exclusion tools will be further improved as well, letting players self-exclude either for a fixed period of time or indefinitely, while operators will be obligated to process the requests within 24 hours. If the operator itself identifies signs of problem gambling, it will have the authority to block players for up to 2 years.
Regarding advertising rules, gambling ads will be prohibited from public transportation, with TV and radio ads restricted during live broadcasts. Promotion types like sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or personalized ads will be fully banned.
The regulated market will require players to pass identity verification checks with their full name, date of birth, and a minimum age of 18 in order to be able to open a gambling account.
Up to 15 operators will be granted gambling licenses to legally operate in New Zealand, which requires them to submit an expression of interest, a license application, and then go through an auction process.
New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Bill continues to progress after successfully passing the Committee of the Whole House.The bill has now moved towards its third...
