New Zealand Legalizing Online Casinos to Minimize Unregulated iGaming Harms
Posted on: July 2, 2025, 09:35h.
Last updated on: July 2, 2025, 10:24h.
- New Zealand is legalizing online casinos
- Government officials want to curb offshore, unregulated gambling
- The country’s iGaming bill would allow for 15 platforms
New Zealand is preparing to legalize and regulate online casino gambling to rid the unregulated offshore gambling industry that the government believes is preying on consumers and those most vulnerable to problem gambling.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is leading the effort to provide New Zealanders who wish to gamble online a controlled environment. A year ago this month, Luxon’s government expressed support for iGaming to minimize the harms being levied on consumers utilizing offshore casino websites and apps.
The goal isn’t to expand gambling in the island country, officials say, but to ensure that the operators allowing their online casino games to be accessible meet certain regulatory requirements.
This week, Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden filed the Online Casino Gambling Bill with the House of Representatives. The internet casino statute would allow qualified iGaming operators to conduct games of chance like slot machines and interactive table games over the internet.
The statute says the purpose of the act is to establish a licensing regime for online casino gambling and to “prevent and minimize harm from online casino gambling.”
New Zealand iGaming Bill
Van Velden’s bill would authorize up to 15 online casino licenses for an initial duration of three years. iGaming concessions would be awarded through a competitive bid.
Several prominent iGaming firms have expressed interest, including bet365, 888, TAB, and SkyCity. The Online Casino Gambling Bill will establish licensing fees and associated taxes on gross revenue as it makes its way through the House of Representatives.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritize harm minimization, consumer protection, and tax collection,” said Van Velden. “The bill will proceed to the select committee later this year, and New Zealanders will have the ability to have their say through the select committee process.”
New Zealand authorized land-based casino gambling in 2003. The Gambling Act was amended in 2020 to allow online sports betting. TAB secured the lone online sportsbook license that same year. TAB is an Australian-based iGaming, sports betting, and parimutuel wagering operator.
Consumer Protections
While there is no law preventing New Zealanders from playing on unregulated casino websites and apps, such offshore companies aren’t legally allowed to offer their internet games in the country. To date, however, there has been little legal recourse for platforms in violation.
That would change should the Online Casino Gambling Bill be enacted. Companies operating online casinos without a license would be subject to $3 million in penalties. Advertising an unlicensed online gambling outfit would be subject to fines, too.
iGaming licensees in New Zealand would also be required to adhere to numerous regulations to prevent problem gambling. To be determined betting limits and payouts, time play caps, and the limiting of promotions and other inducements are to be laid out during the lawmaking process.
Each iGaming operator would also be required to prohibit players who self-exclude themselves from the online gambling market.
Should the House get behind the Online Casino Gambling Bill, the measure would be referred to a select committee where public hearings would be held. The committee would then prepare a report with recommendations back to the House. If the legislature signs off on the final report, the statute would move to Governor Cindy Kiro to become law.
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