New Zealand has taken a huge step forward in its bid to introduce a regulated online casino market as early as 2026. The country’s parliament, backed by Home Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, is pushing hard to introduce an online gaming framework as the country cracks down on illegal offshore gambling operators.
Online sports betting has been legal in the country since 2003, but online casino and poker gaming were not allowed. The lack of a policy in this area meant that New Zealanders were exposed to illegal operators who occasionally blocked customer withdrawals and failed to take steps to prevent harm.
Introducing the bill, which is set to come into force in early 2026, van Velden said: “A new Online Gaming Bill will be developed to regulate online casino gambling to promote a safer, more compliant and regulated online gaming market.”
Essentially, the New Zealand government plans to issue a limited number of licenses to operators to ensure that only approved platforms can legally serve New Zealand players, something van Velden wanted to highlight.
“Currently, New Zealanders can and do so at thousands of offshore gambling sites. By introducing the regulatory framework, I intend to direct customers to the 15 licensed operators,” van Velden said.
In addition to this, the reform will introduce stricter rules that will regulate online gaming advertising, especially if it is deemed to be misleading or aimed at minors.
Like Brazil, New Zealand’s new law will also require online gaming operators to implement responsible gambling practices, with failure to comply potentially slapping operators with fines of up to NZ$5 million ($2.5 million).
The legislation is due to be ready by the end of April, with a licensing auction set to begin as early as February 2026. If all goes well, licensed operators will be allowed to start operating by April 2026, marking a new era for online gaming in New Zealand.
While the focus has been on player safety, it also promotes smart economics, as a licensed setup will automatically redirect gambling tax revenue away from unregulated sites, similar to what has been seen in the US.
Addressing the issue of problem gambling, van Velden affirmed, “My goal is not to increase the amount of gambling that is happening online, but to enable New Zealanders who wish to play casino games online to do so more safely than they can do today.”
The New Zealand government’s pledge to enforce consumer protections in tandem with taking a slice of the economic benefits should mean van Velden’s iGaming initiative is unlikely to meet with much resistance. If approved, it will undoubtedly reinvent the online gambling landscape in the country.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
