New Zealand has formally opened the first stage of its new regulated online casino market after publishing an invitation for operators to submit expressions of interest for one of 15 available licences.
The notice, issued by Secretary for Internal Affairs Paul David James, comes into effect on 17 July and marks the first live stage of the licensing regime established under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026.
Interested operators have until 14 August to submit an expression of interest through the Government Electronic Tenders Service, accompanied by a NZ$19,000 (US$11,092) application fee.
The move follows the Act's introduction in May, which created New Zealand's first domestic licensing framework for online casino gambling.
Previously, New Zealand consumers largely accessed offshore gambling websites, while domestic regulation focused on land-based casinos, lotteries and other gambling products.
The new framework introduces licensing, advertising restrictions and player protection requirements under the oversight of the Department of Internal Affairs.
To progress beyond the initial stage, applicants must demonstrate access to at least NZ$7.5m in capital and provide detailed information covering ownership structures, management arrangements, funding sources and compliance histories.
The notice also requires disclosures relating to criminal investigations, regulatory breaches, insolvency events, previous gambling licences and any issues that could affect New Zealand's international reputation.
Following the expression of interest process, accepted applicants will compete in an auction scheduled for September before successful bidders are invited to submit full licence applications from October.
Under the legislation, each licence will apply to a single brand, no operator may control more than three licences and the total number of licences cannot exceed 15. Initial licences will run for up to three years, with the possibility of a five-year renewal.
The wider implementation timetable also introduces tighter restrictions on unlicensed operators. From 1 December 2026, operators that have not entered the licensing process must stop offering online casino gambling to customers in New Zealand, while licensed operations are expected to become fully operational during 2027.
Until then, providers already serving New Zealand customers before the Act came into force may continue operating under transitional arrangements but remain subject to advertising restrictions.
The latest milestone follows wider gambling reforms introduced earlier this year, including legislation closing a loophole that allowed children to purchase certain lottery products. Those amendments formed part of a broader package of regulatory changes administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.
Each online casino licence will cover a single brand, while no person may have significant influence over more than three licensed brands
