Eleven entities secured the right to apply for the 15 licences available to operate online casinos in New Zealand, RNZ reported on 14 October 2026. The final auction price reached $15 million per licence.
The Department of Internal Affairs said the auction was carried out in “ascending clock” format. The price changed in steps and at each step participants were offered the option of staying in or dropping out.
Successful bid does not guarantee a licence
The bidders that won the right to apply included SkyCity, TAB and Christchurch Online. Stake is among the operators that secured the right to apply for a licence under the new regulatory framework, Yogonet reported.
The department said a successful bid did not guarantee that a licence would be granted; all would need to go through a detailed application and assessment process. It added: “While the successful auction operators are being announced, the brands that may ultimately operate under a licence are not being published at this stage. Operators may make changes throughout the application process, and approved brands will be published on a public register owned by the Department of Internal Affairs once their licence has been granted.”
Providers without an application must stop on 1 December
A new regulatory system is being implemented that sets out rules for operators providing online casino gambling in New Zealand, according to RNZ. Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said earlier this year that operators that obtained licences would need to comply with a set of criteria, and it would be illegal for unlicensed operators to offer services to New Zealanders.
Brooke van Velden said: “Licensing is how we regulate most forms of gambling domestically. This is not intended to increase the amount of gambling New Zealanders do but to ensure operators meet requirements for consumer protection and harm minimisation, as well as paying tax.” From 1 December, providers must stop offering online casino gambling in New Zealand if they have not applied for a licence. No licences have been granted yet, and the market is expected to launch in 2027, subject to completion of the licensing process and regulatory approvals. A Stake spokesperson said: “We’re really excited about the opportunity in New Zealand as the market moves towards regulation.”