Existing offshore operators eligible for NZ online licences
New Zealand’s Internal Affairs Minister has confirmed that existing offshore online casino operators will be permitted to compete for one of the country’s 15 new online gambling licences, despite ongoing legal action involving several major international brands.
Existing offshore online casino operators will be able to apply for New Zealand’s first online gambling licences under the newly enacted Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, despite ongoing legal action involving several major international brands.
Speaking during Parliament’s Governance and Administration Committee scrutiny hearings, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden confirmed there was nothing preventing current offshore operators serving New Zealand customers from entering the licensing process, provided they meet the required suitability criteria.
The comments come as operators including bet365, Super Group and SkyCity Entertainment Group’s overseas online casino partner face a High Court class action alleging unlawful offshore gambling activity targeting New Zealand players.
Asked whether operators facing legal proceedings should be excluded from the licensing process, van Velden declined to rule out any applicant, stating that market competition remained a priority.
The new framework will allow a maximum of 15 online casino licences. According to Department of Internal Affairs Acting Deputy Secretary John Sneyd, applicants must first pass a suitability assessment, including checks for links to organised crime, before progressing to a competitive auction process.
Sneyd also told MPs that offshore operators had not been acting illegally under existing legislation, as New Zealand previously had no regulatory framework governing online casino gambling.
Expressions of interest will require an initial fee of NZ$19,000. While local connections will be considered, van Velden said operators will not be required to maintain a physical presence in New Zealand.
Operators unsuccessful in securing a licence must leave the market by 1 December. Those continuing to operate without a licence after that date face penalties of up to NZ$5m.
The new regulatory regime will be funded largely through licensing fees and operator levies.
