New Zealand has revealed its roadmap for a regulated online casino market, also announcing that an initial 15 licenses will be available to operators. Bidding on the licenses is set to begin in February 2026, and already, major international players like Bet365, 888, and Betway, have expressed interest.
Introducing a regulated iGaming market in New Zealand is a major step forward for the country. Until now, only offshore operators have been able to serve New Zealanders — meaning the government has been unable to collect any gambling revenue. Regulation will enable companies located in New Zealand to provide better user experiences for players and adhere to the same standards of security and player servicing as more mature markets.
Timeline to gaining licensing and casino launch dates
According to new information unveiled by the New Zealand government, legislation is due to be enacted by the end of 2025, with a vetting and auction process beginning in February 2026. Licensed operators are expected to be able to officially launch in April 2026.
While we still await details of all legislation, we do know that each operator will require a single license to operate in the country. By capping the number of licenses at 15, the government is looking to minimise regulatory costs, while maximising revenue.
Creating a player-friendly regulatory framework
It’s clear the New Zealand government has devised the proposed regulatory framework with players in mind. Operators will, for example, be forced to adhere to very strict advertising rules — and this includes a ban on ads targeting minors. Operators will also be required to implement rigorous age-verification checks, with non-compliance resulting in potential fines of up to NZ$5 million.
Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said that the goal is not to increase online gambling levels in New Zealand, instead, providing residents with a safer way to gamble online:
“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 15 licensed operators.”
According to cabinet filings, several global operators have already expressed interest in bidding for licenses. This includes 888, Betway and Bet365. A number of local organizations have also expressed interest, including SkyCity, Grand Casino Dunedin, and Christchurch Casino.
What This Means for Affiliates and Affiliate Managers
Naturally, New Zealand’s move towards a regulated iGaming space will be notable to affiliates and affiliate managers. Previously, many larger affiliates steered clear of gray-area markets like New Zealand — something that will now change. This could impact pricing with supply and demand for traffic sources seeing a rise as the market matures.
While there’s still over a year before the license bidding begins, affiliates would do well to keep an eye on the brands who’ve displayed interest in bidding for a license — and ensure, if they don’t already, that they have partnerships with these brands, or know who to reach if they want to.
Affiliates who plan on targeting the NZ market will also need to be aware of the strict regulatory requirements. Like we’ve seen in other heavily-regulated markets like the UK, it’s likely affiliates will be required to adhere to advertising restrictions, especially when it comes to harm minimisation and responsible gambling.
