New Zealand has begun the auction for up to 15 online casino licences, a key step towards a fully regulated online casino market expected to be in place in 2027.[1][2] The auction ran from 29 September to 12 October and ended after ten rounds at NZ$15 million per licence; on 13 October the DIA named 11 entities that won the right to apply, including SkyCity NZ Online, Stake New Zealand and TAB New Zealand. Winning the auction doesn't grant a licence: it decides who may apply for one, and no licences have been issued yet.
How the licences work
- Up to 15 licences in total — a maximum, not a number already awarded.
- Each licence covers one brand, and an operator can hold a maximum of three.
- Licences run for up to three years, with a possible five-year renewal.[1]
The timeline
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has set out these stages:[1]
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | Online Casino Gambling Act in force; advertising ban begins |
| July–August 2026 | Expressions of interest; only accepted applicants can bid |
| September 2026 | Auction (ascending price) decides who may apply |
| October 2026 | Successful bidders submit full licence applications |
| 1 December 2026 | Providers without a licence application must stop serving New Zealand; those with an application under review may keep operating, without advertising, until a decision |
| 2027 | Full licensed regime expected to be in place |
The auction, the licence application and the start of the full regime are three different steps.
Operators reported to have expressed interest include SkyCity, Super Group, DigiPlus, Stake and Dabble. Super Group is the owner of Jackpot City, Spin Casino and several other brands popular with New Zealand players.
Entain moves early
Entain has soft-launched a new casino brand for the market, BlackRush Casino, currently running under its Gibraltar licence on a platform shared with another NZ-facing site, FoxySpins.[2] Entain already runs New Zealand's only permitted sports betting operation through a 25-year partnership with TAB NZ. Chief executive Stella David estimates the country's online gambling market at around £600 million a year.
What it means for Kiwi players
Today, New Zealanders mostly play at offshore casinos licensed elsewhere. Regulation should bring local protections — identity checks, safer-gambling tools and a domestic regulator to complain to — but also fewer brands, since licences are limited. Keep an eye on which operators win approvals before the 2027 launch. Meanwhile, our guide to choosing a safe online casino explains what to look for today.
Sources
- Online casino gambling: information for providers — Department of Internal Affairs (NZ) ↩
- Entain soft launched fresh New Zealand casino brand BlackRush — NEXT.io, 30 September 2026 ↩
