New Zealand Moves Closer to Regulated Online Casinos
New Zealand has taken a major step toward legal online casino gambling. The country’s Parliament has passed the Online Casino Gambling Bill after almost a year of delay.
The bill now needs Royal assent before it formally becomes law. After that, the Department of Internal Affairs will prepare the full rules for the new market.
Online casinos are already available to players in New Zealand, but they mostly operate through foreign licenses. Because of this, the government does not fully control the market and does not collect gambling tax from many online operators.
Internal Affairs Minister Brook van Velden said the new bill will close this tax gap. Licensed online casino companies will have to pay tax in New Zealand, the same as other businesses.
The new law will also create stronger rules for advertising, player protection, and harm prevention. Officials want to make sure that online gambling is safer and easier to control.
New Zealand plans to allow up to 15 online casino licenses. Operators that continue to target Kiwi players without a local license could face large penalties.
However, regulated online casinos are not expected to launch in 2026. The government will likely start accepting license applications in early 2027.
SkyCity Online Casino is one of the biggest platforms currently used by New Zealand players. It operates through a license in Malta, not New Zealand. Under the new system, online casino brands will need local approval to work legally in the country.
