A number of gambling operators have won the rights to apply for any of the 15 online licences available under New Zealand’s new gambling regime.
Among the 11 brands are gambling heavyweights like Entain, SkyCity, Stake and Betway. Interestingly, Betway was given rights to the most number of applications.
All approved operators are as follows:
- Betway (Baytree Interactive Ltd) – three rights to apply;
- Entain (Playvia Gaming Ltd) – two rights;
- Rock Swift Group Ltd – two rights;
- Christchurch Online NZ Ltd;
- One Casino Ltd;
- Rush Entertainment Ltd;
- Skill On Net Ltd;
- SkyCity NZ Online NO1 Ltd (SkyCity Entertainment subsidiary);
- SkyCity NZ Online NO2 Ltd (SkyCity Entertainment subsidiary);
- Stake New Zealand Ltd;
- TAB New Zealand
New Zealand’s next steps
All successful candidates underwent a rigorous 10-round auction process with a total of 32 bidders. The price for an individual licence has been set at NZ $15m (£6.4m).
Since the approvals are not a licence guarantee, all listed companies now need to provide the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) with the required documentation for a full business assessment and a subsequent licence decision.
Besides the licence fee, companies are also expected to provide information about their domestic business plans, marketing strategies, consumer protection mechanisms in place, and any other details on the request of the DIA.
The cutoff date of the transition period is 1 December 2026, when all brands that have not applied for a licence need to cease offering online gambling to New Zealand citizens.
Those with an application in place will be able to continue until a decision has been made, while complying with a temporary advertising restriction.
New Zealand introduced its new online gambling regime on 3 July 2026 as a way to put what has historically been a grey sector under the light.
Internal Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Brooke van Velden, said: “The Bill…supports the coalition agreement by closing the gambling tax loophole and requiring licensed online casino operators to pay tax, just like any other business operating in New Zealand.”
“These tools will ensure that New Zealand law applies to all online casino gambling available in New Zealand, regardless of where operators are located, closing off avenues for avoidance and strengthening the regulator’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance by international operators.”
The new online licences are expected to come into force on 1 July 2027, with sports betting remaining under the 20-year exclusive control of Entain. The company may find itself in a naturally advantageous position in the new casino market, given its existing familiarity with NZ customers.
Stake, meanwhile, continues a trend towards regulated markets, following licences secured in the likes of Denmark over in Europe, though its grey market .com brand is still prominent internationally.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity in New Zealand as the market moves towards regulation,” a Stake spokesperson remarked.
“It’s a strong fit for Stake and another important step in growing our presence globally.
“This follows our expansion into Alberta, Argentina and Mexico this year, and reflects our wider strategy of entering new markets where we see long-term potential.”