Entain has announced plans to expand into New Zealand’s online casino market as the company is preparing to bid for three licenses when the government opens applications...
New Zealand to start iGaming licensing from July 2026
The Department of Internal Affairs of New Zealand has set out a new timeline to launch the iGaming licensing process from July 2026.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill passed its first reading in July 2025 and is expected to be fully passed into law in May 2026, after which the new online casino licensing regime will be introduced to bring the formerly unregulated market under local control.
The framework will include a three-step licensing system for up to 15 operators, and the approval process is likely to begin in July 2026. This measure follows concerns that more than $440 million goes to offshore platforms from New Zealand players.
The first phase of the process will see operators formally showing their interest in entering the iGaming market in New Zealand, which will be open for one or two months immediately after the bill becomes law. After one month, the second phase will start, which will include a license auction, with operators being able to bid for the 15 licenses. Successful operators will then submit detailed iGaming licensing applications, as their compliance with consumer protection measures, financial stability, and operational integrity will be evaluated. The licenses will be granted for three years.
The application deadline is set for December 1, 2026, and after this period, non-compliant operators might face fines of up to $2.9 million.
Despite efforts to launch the regulated iGaming market in New Zealand in mid-2026, the government has announced that the timeline will be pushed until early 2027.The...
