• New Zealand is looking to launch online casino gambling by 2026
• The government is moving forward with a 15-operator model
• Details about advertising and consumer protection rules are being finalized

New Zealand’s government has made a formal pitch for the creation of a 15-license-based online casino model that is due to come into effect by 2026, with launches of regulated operators along the way.

New Zealand is ever closer to launching its online casino industry

The idea is to have a multi-license model in the online casino sector, but limit sports betting to a single operator only. Any party interested in applying for a license will have to undergo an official process that will have the regulator decide which contenders are best-suited to meet the needs of the local market.

The Online Casino Gambling Bill is adamant in setting up the rules that potential applicants would have to comply with. The bill is backed by Minister Brooke van Velden, who had this to say about its establishment:

"The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritize harm minimization, consumer protection, and tax collection."

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), which is moving forward with the bill, has set specific requirements for any future applicant, including but not limited to robust consumer protection standards, a clear strategy for minimizing harm, and compliance with tax laws.

Matej Novota, Casino Guru Head of Casino Research, had this to add: "I'm glad to see that New Zealand has decided to regulate its online casino market. The core concept looks promising, but we'll need to wait for the first set of data to assess how effective the regulation actually is. As with any new framework, the real test will be in enforcement and channelization. It will also be interesting to see how offshore operators react and whether consumer behavior shifts in response."

The regulator, administering and overseeing the industry, the New Zealand Gambling Commission, will be ensuring that any approved operator is compliant thereafter.

Consumer protection and advertising rules are being finalized

At the same time, the new law is also expected to limit the extent of advertising, as New Zealand is quickly learning from other jurisdictions in trying to stay ahead of harm minimization.

More details about what consumer protection and advertising rules operators would have to comply with are still forthcoming as the DIA is thrashing out the details. Naturally, there has been some pushback, and specifically from local land-based operators.

SkyCity Entertainment Group has cautioned the government not to act too hastily and, perhaps, reduce the number of online casino license holders lest the iGaming sector begin to suppress the results of land-based venues.

New Zealand also recently announced an $81m fund as part of its Strategy to Prevent and Minimize Gambling Harm. The jurisdiction has been actively looking to limit the impact of unregulated gambling operators while making the local market more attractive for players – a move towards iGaming legalization is meant to achieve this.

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