SkyCity Entertainment Group has reportedly argued that only five licences should be issued for New Zealand’s online casino market.
Radio New Zealand (RNZ) has stated that it obtained documents about the upcoming online casino market, which is scheduled to have a regulatory system in place by early 2026.
New Zealand’s online casino framework is expected to have up to 15 three-year licences available for operators via an auction. The online gambling bill is forecasted to progress through Parliament this year, with the Department of Internal Affairs being the regulator of the online casino market.
RNZ noted that within the documents it obtained, SkyCity and TAB NZ wrote to ministers to oppose the move to issue up to 15 licences.
SkyCity reportedly wrote to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden in March last year, arguing that only five licences should be issued and that they should only be given to those who have a domestic presence.
“The safest way to ensure online casino profits are subject to New Zealand income tax is to only allow incorporated New Zealand companies to hold licenses and not permit a license to be held by a foreign company or a New Zealand branch of a foreign company,” said SkyCity.
However, van Velden has argued that SkyCity is only acting in its own interests, stating: “They are looking out for themselves, right? I’m not here to look out for Sky City. I’m not here to look out for any established particular casino or their brands. I’m here to ensure that we have a fair marketplace and a fair, regulated market.”
SkyCity awaiting regulation before determining licence value
Last month, SkyCity CEO Jason Walbridge stated during the operator’s 2025 H1 earnings call that it was still waiting for additional regulation and licensing process details to determine the value of an online casino licence.
Walbridge said: “We’re still waiting for more details on the regulatory framework and, in particular, the auction process, that will ultimately determine where the value lands for an online licence.
“What I can tell you is we’re focused on building our capabilities there to make sure that, once those regulations come clear, we know what it will take to get a licence as we’re well positioned for that.”
TAB argue against an open online casino market
RNZ also noted that TAB NZ CEO Nick Roberts wrote to Racing Minister Winston Peters and argued that ten or more online casino licences would establish an open market and impact domestic gambling operators, as well as put at risk the funding streams for racing and sport, in favour of offshore operators.
The operator added that five to seven licences should be issued to New Zealand-based operators, while also being critical that offshore operators don’t have to make community grants.
TAB said: “Settings that create an open market would allow for multinational domination over NZ’s existing operators, establishing an unsustainable model for traditional gambling products, and risking our ability to appropriately fund racing and sport – all while driving gambling profits offshore and delivering worse harm outcomes for Kiwi consumers.”
TAB also said that there would be “severe implications for TAB NZ if this fast-growing online casinos market cannibalises our existing operations by being legitimised in NZ in an open market context”.
Van Velden stated that New Zealand’s free trade agreements could be breached if local operators were favoured.
She said: “I have considered whether or not it should be domestic priority or offshore priority. I think it’s fair just to allow anybody to bid for one of the licenses, rather than try and say, just because you’re here and you’ve been established for years in New Zealand, you’re necessarily a better operator.”
