The New Zealand government will limit the number of licences for online casino operators to fifteen as it prepares to implement a new system to regulate online casino gambling in early 2026.

Providing an update to the government’s previous announcement in July, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden said that the new licensing system will include rules to prohibit advertising that appeals to children, alongside fines of up to NZ$5 million (approximately €2.8 million) for operators that break the law.

“A new Online Gambling Bill will be drafted with the purpose to regulate online casino gambling to facilitate a safer and compliant regulated online gambling market,” said Minister van Velden. “More importantly, it will prevent and minimise online gambling harm and limit opportunities for crime and dishonesty.

“I am pleased that the system will deliver to these objectives by prohibiting advertising that appeals to children, requiring online gambling operators to have an acceptable age verification system, and introducing fines of up to $5 million for operators that break the law.”

The Minister noted that with iGaming currently unregulated in New Zealand, harm prevention and consumer protection requirements do not apply, which has caused some issues for consumers, including operators making it very difficult for customers to withdraw their winnings.

“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 today,” continued Minister van Velden. “Currently, New Zealanders can and do gamble on thousands of offshore gambling websites.

“By introducing a regulatory system my intention is to channel customers towards up to fifteen licensed operators.”

Minister van Velden added that further regulations will be developed on the detailed rules around advertising, as well as harm minimisation and consumer protection requirements.

“This is the same approach used in the existing Gambling Act and will give us more flexibility to adjust the regulations where necessary,” she said. “The new regulatory system will be in place by early 2026.

“I look forward to taking the Bill through Parliament next year and hearing feedback from the public during the Select Committee stage.”