The Department of Internal Affairs administers online casino licensing under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 via a three-stage process: expression of interest, a competitive auction for licence-application rights, and full licence application. The auction stage concluded with 11 entities named eligible to apply for the 15 capped licences, clearing at NZ$15 million per licence-application right after 32 bidders and 10 rounds. The department has been explicit that successful auction participation does not guarantee a licence will be granted. Stage-3 full applications, which must include business plans and compliance strategies, are due by 1 December 2026, and DIA expects to decide on and issue licences from early 2027. The 15-licence cap means the field of eligible applicants named effectively defines the pool from which New Zealand's licensed online casino operators will be drawn, subject to the department's assessment of each full application.
Jurisdictions › New Zealand › Licensing and regulation
New Zealand · Question 02 of 11
Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?
Mixed · Probable · AI-generated · Back to full New Zealand report →
Key section parameters
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand (NZ) |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Recorded in register |
| Favourability | Mixed |
| Confidence | Probable |
| Review status | AI-generated |
| Last collected | 18 Oct 2026 |
Summary answer
The Department of Internal Affairs administers online casino licensing under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 via a three-stage process: expression of interest, a competitive auction for licence-application rights, and full licence application. The auction stage concluded with 11 entities named e…