New Zealand has officially begun its expression of interest (EOI) phase, calling on online casino operators to provide multi-jurisdiction criminal record checks for any relevant officer, as it seeks to ensure a well-controlled ecosystem of operators.
As the country continues its transition from an unregulated market dominated by offshore operators, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has explicitly emphasised that the market’s focus is on balance and safety, rather than just securing tax revenue.
Details of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026’s EOI phase have been published in the country’s official gazette, including the minimum capital required of NZ$7.5m to operate an online casino platform.
Furthermore, the extensive background checks of the New Zealand market go further than other key global markets, including in Malta, the UK and the Netherlands.
It comes as fears have grown that appetite from offshore operators will dwarf that of domestic operators in terms of gaining market share in New Zealand. However, the new framework is aiming to bolster the regulator in taking action against illicit operators.
This includes empowering them with takedown notices and penalties of up to NZ$5m for unlawful advertising, which can apply not only to operators but also to those publishing or arranging the publication of unlawful ads on their behalf.
The EOI phase will officially close on 14 August 2026.
Only operators that have an accepted EOI will be able to participate in the auction at stage two of the licensing process. Documents that will be needed as part of the submission process include:
- Entity documentation.
- Diagram of current ownership structure.
- Diagram of management structure.
- Amount and source(s) of capital available.
- Certified credit check or report.
Each key officer will also need to submit:
- Certified photographic identification.
- Criminal record check.
- Certified credit check or report.
A maximum of 15 online casino licences will be issued, with one licence required per platform or brand. No single operator may have a significant influence over more than three licences, with licences granted for an initial period of up to three years, with a single renewal of up to five years.
True Legal Director Jarrod True provided iGaming Expert with a breakdown of the New Zealand commercial online casino market, underpinning the importance of migrating the black market to the regulated sector.
True stated: “Ultimately, the long-term success of New Zealand’s online casino framework will depend not only on the strength of its regulatory design but on its ability to successfully migrate player activity from the black market into the licensed ecosystem.
“For many years, New Zealand consumers have had broad access to offshore online casino operators operating outside the scope of domestic regulation. While the new regime introduces a robust licensing system and stronger enforcement tools, the fundamental policy challenge is one of channelisation: ensuring that consumers choose licensed operators over unlicensed alternatives.”
Interested parties may also submit questions about the EOI phase through the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) portal up until 5pm on 31 July. The government’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has until 5pm on 5 August to respond.
