The New Zealand government’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has published its Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026, providing a clearer roadmap to the opening of the market.
After much anticipation, the new framework is set to open on 3 July 2026, with the expression of interest stage of the licensing process set to begin in the second half of next month.
Up to 15 online casino gambling licences will be up for auction ahead of a scheduled market launch on 1 December 2026. From 1 June 2027, only operators that hold a licence will be permitted to operate.
Through its extensive guide, the DIA has provided little room for error in mapping out its detailed compliance requirements for license holders in its upcoming regulated online casino market.
Of note, the regulations specifically provided guidelines on harm prevention and minimisation, consumer protection and record-keeping, advertising and marketing, as well as fees, levies and charges.
Trina Lowry, Programme Director – Online Gambling Implementation for the DIA, noted in an email update that the regulations ‘establish a robust and balanced framework to protect consumers, reduce gambling-related harm, and ensure online casino gambling operates in a safe, fair and responsible way’.
These regulations are scheduled to come into effect on 3 July 2026, with the expression of interest stage of the licensing process set to begin in the second half of next month.
Harm prevention and minimisation
For harm prevention and minimisation, operators must:
- Provide players with options to set play duration, deposits and spending limits in daily, weekly or monthly increments.
- Offer breaks, time-outs, pop-up alerts and self-exclusion options, including an indefinite period. It must be enacted within 24 hours and the period can’t be decreased once set.
- Monitor player behaviour for signs of problem gambling, providing help if such signs are identified and excluding the player if issues persist, for up to two years.
- Avoid offering rewards or inducements exceeding $100 if players don’t spend uncommitted funds, or the lesser of $100 and 200% of the deposit/bet if they do.
- Only have customers contributing to the network progressive jackpots.
- Prohibit customers from playing more than one slot at a time.
- Not offer autoplay options and ensure games’ features and designs don’t encourage excessive gambling.
Consumer protection and record-keeping
Regarding consumer protection and record-keeping, operators must:
- Verify customers’ identities and that they’re 18 years old or over.
- Prohibit credit contracts as payment, such as credit cards.
- Only allow one payment method on an account at a time.
- Only allow customers to hold one account per platform.
- Not deceive customers about the nature of games.
- Offer access to rules, odds of winning and RTP rates of games.
- Offer interpreter services in the preferred language free of charge.
- Offer a complaints process, categorise them and investigate accordingly.
- Collect and retain information to meet compliance requirements.
- Provide quarterly and annual reports to the secretary, as well as serious incidents and compliance audits.
Advertising
Concerning advertising, operators must:
- Only publish adverts on permitted media – broadcasting; video on-demand; public display (billboards); physical publications (newspapers); online platforms (social media); direct communication; software (video games) and events if they meet strict criteria.
- Avoid prohibited media – broadcast on a platform during a live broadcast or within 30 minutes before or after a live broadcast; public transport and print publication front pages.
- Avoid ads that appeal to minors; promote impulsive gambling; use sponsorships, endorsements or affiliate arrangements; use inducements or interactive features; be false or misleading; be personalised; use certain sensory cues; portray alcohol, violence, denigration, or discrimination; offend; refer to community contributions; breach certain regulations; or involve other types of gambling.
- Have ads be readily identifiable as relating to online casinos.
Licence fees and levies
For licence fees and levies, interested operators will:
- Have to pay a NZ$19,000 fee when submitting their expression of interest for a licence.
- Pay a levy of 3.5% of their online gambling profits once licensed.
- Pay levies by specific dates: May 7 (for the period ending March 31); July 28 (for June 30); October 28 (for September 30); and January 28 (for December 31).
- Pay a penalty of 5% of the unpaid levy amount if the full levy amount isn’t paid within 20 working days.
- Pay an additional 5% penalty for every subsequent whole month that the amount remains unpaid.
Next steps
In the coming weeks, Lowry noted that the last significant pieces of New Zealand’s regulatory landscape will be released, including:
- Details of the expression of interest process.
- Initial registration icon and audio mark guidance.
- Minimum online casino technology standards.
- Minimum standards document to be read in conjunction with the regulations.
- Document summarising changes to the minimum standards implemented based on the consultation and feedback provided.
Further guidance will also be provided in early July on legislation, regulations, minimum standards, finalised testing and verification requirements, and other requirements which the Secretary is empowered to specify.
In addition, the Secretary for Internal Affairs is expected to confirm high-level requirements, such as the type of messages and information operators must display, as well as the information an operator must collect to identify, assist, and monitor problem gamblers and how it should be used.
