New Zealand has published detailed regulations for its new online gambling framework, with the rules set to take effect on 3 July 2026 alongside the launch of the country’s licensing process.
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 governs the regulations and contains many strict requirements that licensed online casino operators must abide by, including: responsible gambling, verifying the identification of customers before opening an account, advertising and marketing limits to customers, and providing customers with tools to protect them from excessive gambling.
Players will have the ability to set limits on how much they deposit, spend and play at casinos and must provide customers who identify as being at a high risk of gambling addiction with access to self-exclusion tools, mandatory breaks in play and assistance.
Some restrictions placed on casino operators and the casino industry by the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 include and prohibit casinos from allowing players to use credit cards to gamble, provide players the option to use autoplay or to play more than one casino slot at a time.
Furthermore, operators will be required to submit periodic reports to the New Zealand government and pay a quarterly levy of 3.5% of their online gambling revenues.
Advertising and marketing of online casinos in New Zealand is strictly limited. Operators will be limited to advertising during certain times and will not be allowed to sponsor events or use influencers to promote their casinos. Lastly, any marketing directed at minors is strictly prohibited.
The implementation of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 and accompanying regulations will coincide with the establishment of a competitive licensing process for new operators wishing to obtain an online casino license in New Zealand. The licensing process will have a total of 15 online casino licenses available to prospective operators. The licensing process for new operators will first require operators to submit an Expression of Interest, followed by an auction to determine which operators will receive licenses and a complete license application process.
The new framework marks a major step in New Zealand’s move toward a regulated online casino market while placing a strong emphasis on consumer protection and harm prevention.
