This week, New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has officially initiated the first phase of its iGaming licensing process, inviting companies to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for one of 15 new online casino licenses established under recent legislation. This invitation, released on July 16, is effective as of Friday and provides detailed requirements for operators looking to enter the newly regulated online casino market set to launch in 2027.
This move marks a significant shift from policy development to practical licensing as the government prepares for the market's introduction.
Applicants must submit their EOIs through the procurement portal, GETS, by August 14, 2026. The initial timeline for this licensing process was established by the DIA in March. Each application requires a non-refundable fee of NZ$19,000 (approximately $11,082). The limit of 15 licenses and the requirement for operators to demonstrate access to a minimum capital of NZ$7.5 million indicate the government’s aim to restrict market entry to a group of well-capitalized and established entities.
Those seeking licenses will have to meet various disclosure obligations. This includes providing full identification details for key officers and overviews of ownership and management structures. Operators must also present detailed descriptions of the brand and gambling platforms they will use.
Moreover, applicants will not be allowed to hold more than three licenses each. Entain's CEO, Stella David, indicated in March that her company plans to apply for three of these licenses. She highlighted that Entain is the only online operator in New Zealand that can leverage its exclusive betting brand, TAB, to cross-sell between sports betting and iGaming.
To ensure compliance and uphold integrity, the DIA is asking for substantial evidence to substantiate the information provided in applications. This includes credit reports, certified identities, criminal record clearances, and documentation proving access to required capital. Applicants must disclose any prior regulatory breaches, ongoing legal investigations, insolvency issues such as bankruptcy, and any adverse rulings from advertising regulators, both locally and internationally.
Looking ahead, New Zealand's parliament approved the Online Casino Gambling Act earlier this year, which established strict regulations for online casino operations. A license auction is anticipated to occur in September, with successful bidders invited to submit full license applications starting in October. The issuance of final iGaming licenses is projected for early 2027.
The timeline reflects the complexities of implementing such measures. A government spokesperson remarked that the 2027 launch timeline allows sufficient lead time to ensure thorough and responsible work in accordance with the Act’s requirements. Although some operators were hoping for a quicker progression, the approach taken appears to prioritize regulatory design over speed.
Regulators, legal experts, and industry operators have suggested that the extended timeline is a result of the model New Zealand has adopted—a model that emphasizes licensing scrutiny, risk mitigation, and robust consumer protection, which may lead to one of the more restrictive online casino frameworks in newly regulated areas. Jarrod True, director of True Legal, noted that this transition from an unregulated offshore market to a tightly controlled licensing regime under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 is the most significant change. He pointed out that the delay seems deliberately planned to favor an orderly transition and the establishment of a solid regulatory framework.
