New Zealand Moves to Regulate Online Casino Industry with New Licensing System
The New Zealand government has unveiled plans to establish a regulated framework for online casinos, introducing a licensing system designed to limit the number of operators and strengthen consumer protections. The proposed regulations, expected to take effect by early 2026, mark a significant shift in the country’s approach to online gambling, aiming to curb unregulated offshore activities and enhance protections for minors and vulnerable groups.
Capping Licenses to Control Market Growth
Under the new proposal, New Zealand will allow up to 15 licensed online casino operators, setting clear boundaries to prevent unchecked market expansion.
The Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, emphasized that the objective is not to increase online gambling, but to create a safer environment for New Zealanders engaging in online casino gaming.
Van Velden elaborated on the motivation for the regulation: “My goal is not to increase the amount of gambling that is happening online, but to enable New Zealanders who wish to play casino games online to do so more safely than they can today. Currently, New Zealanders can and do gamble on thousands of offshore gambling websites. By introducing a regulatory system my intention is to channel customers towards up to fifteen licensed operators.”
Age Verification and Advertising Restrictions
To protect young and vulnerable users, the proposed framework mandates strict age verification measures and prohibits advertising targeted at children.
Operators will be required to implement systems ensuring only users aged 18 and over can access online casino games, enhancing the protections currently lacking in New Zealand’s online gambling landscape.
Limiting Products to Casino Games
Another key element of the proposal is a restriction on the types of games licensed operators can offer.
The licensing will cover only online casino games, explicitly excluding sports betting and lottery products. This approach aims to contain the impact of the industry’s expansion and concentrate regulatory efforts on casino gaming alone.
Legislative Steps and Future Provisions
The proposed regulatory framework is set to be presented to Parliament in 2025, where additional details around advertising standards, consumer protections, and compliance requirements will be clarified.
