The battle for a license in New Zealand is heating up, as operators have begun to express interest in acquiring a license for the country’s upcoming online casino market.
The market’s regulations are expected to be finalised by the midpoint of this year, opening the door for industry stakeholders to express interest in bidding for one of the up to 15 licences that will be auctioned to operators.
At this point, we know of at least two operators that will pursue a licence – Entain Australia & New Zealand and SkyCity Entertainment Group.
Recently, Entain Australia & New Zealand CEO Andrew Vouris conducted an interview with the Australian Financial Review, expressing the operator’s interest in applying for multiple licences for the New Zealand online casino market.
“We’re going to be the only operator in the market that’s able to offer sports, racing and potentially casino. That is massive,” Vouris told the news outlet.
The New Zealand iGaming market was expressed as a topic of interest in a company video posted on LinkedIn a couple of weeks ago as well.
However, Entain will have competition in the market, as SkyCity has also expressed its interest in bidding for a licence.
The significant appetite from operators, including Entain, underpins just how significant an opportunity for growth in New Zealand is.
As part of a release speaking about the operator’s 30 years of operations, SkyCity noted that it would be looking to be a “trusted local leader” with the launch of iGaming in New Zealand.
“Gaming is evolving in exciting ways, bringing together the best of in‑person and digital experiences,” commented CEO Jason Walbridge.
“While we aim to lead this change, our priority is ensuring our customers and communities are protected. Any move into a regulated online market would be built on strong consumer safeguards and SkyCity’s enduring commitment to responsible gambling, so the experience remains safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
With New Zealand’s regulated online casino market set to begin later this year on 1 December, operators are stepping forward and looking to put forward their case for 15 licences on offer.
Following on from this, on 1 June 2027, only operators which hold a licence will be allowed to operate in the New Zealand online casino market.
