Yesterday, the Online Casino Gambling Bill ("Bill") passed its third and final reading and will now proceed to royal assent before entering into force on 1 May 2026.
As discussed in our previous insight, the Bill establishes a new regulatory framework for online casino gambling in New Zealand. From 1 December 2026, online casino gambling operators, including those based offshore, will be prohibited from operating or advertising in New Zealand unless, following a competitive auction process administered by the Department of Internal Affairs ("DIA") they hold or have applied for one of the 15 licences to be granted.
Once licenced, operators will be subject to various obligations concerning consumer protection, advertising, and harm minimisation, which will be set out in regulations. In December 2025, Cabinet approved the policy framework for these regulations, which includes requirements such as:
- enabling customers to set limits on their gambling activity;
- ensuring game designs and user interfaces prevent extended or continuous impulse play, including by prohibiting autoplay features;
- prohibiting the use of credit cards and ‘buy now, pay later’ facilities for online casino gambling;
- restricting advertising to methods permitted under the regulations, with affiliate marketing and paid endorsements prohibited; and
- offering bonuses and incentives only through direct marketing or the operator's own platform.
The final regulations are expected to be published in mid-2026.
Next steps
The three-stage licencing process is expected to commence in July 2026, following publication of the final regulations. The anticipated timeline provided by the DIA is as follows:
July 2026 – Expressions of interest open: Operators will be invited to submit an expression of interest, which must include information about the operator and key personnel, including their compliance history.
September 2026 – Auction takes place: Operators whose expressions of interest have been accepted will be invited to participate in the auction. The DIA is responsible for setting the auction rules and managing the auction process. The auction rules have not yet been published, but the DIA has previously indicated that information will be provided soon after the Bill enters into force.
October 2026 – Application process begins: Successful bidders may apply for a licence by submitting an application, including a business plan and detailed strategies for compliance with the harm minimisation, consumer protection, and advertising requirements set out in legislation. This stage determines whether the operator is ‘suitable’ to hold a licence. All licence applications must be submitted by 1 December 2026.
1 December 2026 – Prohibition takes effect: Operators who have not applied for a licence by this date must cease operations. Operators who have applied may continue to operate pending the outcome of their application (up until 1 July 2027 at the latest). If an application is declined, the operator must cease all online casino operations in New Zealand and exit the market.