15 New Zealand Online Casino Licenses to be Issued for 2026 Market Start

Operators looking to get into the regulated online casino market in New Zealand have limited time to get in on the deal. Shortly after announcing the pending historic debut of the licensed market, NZ government officials confirmed that only 15 spaces will be available. They will all be given out in 2026, with little prospect of any additional awards.

The new licenses will last 15 years. The process will involve three steps. The expression of interest and initial plans, a competitive process including public and regulatory consultation and then finally the formal application.

Kiwi players can already access online gambling via offshore operators. In fact, there are lots of casinos to choose from. Which can seem daunting. But luckily, Bestcasino.com NZ – and resident gambling expert Kahu Tawhiti – are here to help you find reliable and fun-packed online casino experiences, with the best bonuses and games.

Whether you believe having a fully regulated market for online gambling will make things any better for customers is up to you. But the NZ government certainly does, and it also wants the tax money from newly licensed operators.

Existing and International Gambling Operators Confirm Interest

The New Zealand sports betting market has seen significant growth since it opened in 2024. Some 2.8 million New Zealanders currently gamble at least once a month.  Options for Kiwi gamblers currently include:

• Offshore online casinos
• Online sports betting via government backed TAB
• Horse racing courses and venues
• The NZ Lottery
• A scattering of physical casinos

The market is growing fast and is expected to hit a peak of around $4 billion yearly, a few years after the newly regulated online casinos enter the game.

For this reason, half a dozen well-known gambling operators have already reached the express interest stage of the process.

Local operators SkyCity and TAB NZ are already in the running. Other potential licensees so far include 888 Holdings, Bet365 and SuperGroup.

New Legislation to Detail What Regulation Will Mean

The online casino market in NZ will be different from its existing sports betting market. Kiwis have only one option for wagering on sports and that is TAB. Or its recently-launched reskin Betcha. Both are backed by the government.

As an online casino player, you will instead have multiple operators available, offering much more choice to suit your preferences. Increased competition also means better bonuses, offers and general experiences, as operators compete to attract custom.

TAB is not automatically going to get a license. If it wants to expand into the online casino game, it will have to apply like everyone else. It would certainly like a license though, as it can cross-sell between its sports betting and online casino operations – something its competitors won’t be able to do.

There are other considerations currently being voted on for the final version of the legislation. The legal age limit, the structure of fines for infringing regulations, rules around advertising and the cost of an application and license (including tax rates) are all still being worked out.

The main regulator responsible for overseeing the applications and compliance with new rules will be the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.

Regulated Casinos and Offshore Sites – How Do They Compare

Advantages of regulated online casinos, offered by those who support them, include:

• Tax money for local governments
• Legislation making responsible gambling tools and limits mandatory
• Protection for players if disputes arise

For operators interested in paying for a license, it opens up more advertising opportunities and brings in new customers who may not engage with the grey area offshore market.

The reality is, offshore casinos often are licensed (just not locally) and have responsible gambling tools. Not always however.

On the subject of tax, this part is absolutely true. Which is a big attraction for governments to offer fully regulated online casino markets. New Zealanders currently spend NZ$500 million a year on offshore online casinos – and the majority of it is not taxed. Or at least, in New Zealand.

For players, the situation is more nuanced. Certainly, regulation helps weed out potential rogue operators much faster than just market reputation does. However, the government can also overregulate and tax operators, meaning they cut back on bonus offers and promotions to compensate.

Some regulated markets even limit how much players can bet or how much bonus cash casinos can offer. Other regulators make operators only work with a list of game suppliers licensed in that market, or others considered high standard, meaning less choice for customers.

April 2026 Schedule for Launch

All of the above considerations will be debated over the coming weeks in the Kiwi parliament, as the regulatory shape of the market is hammered out.

NZ citizens and residents are welcome to participate in the process, during a public consultation phase that could last several months. Although the final form isn’t decided yet, the government and a majority of Members of Parliament in Wellington have already agreed in principle to vote yes on the bill and pass into law.

Licence applications are expected to begin in February 2026, with the first regulated online casinos in New Zealand launching in April.