New Zealand Opens iGaming Licensing Process Ahead of December Market Launch

New Zealand has started the licensing process for its regulated online casino market, with expressions of interest due by August 14 and the market launch still targeted for December. For PSPs and high-risk operators, the important part is not just that the market is opening, but that the regulator is already setting the commercial and compliance terms: fees, license caps, card restrictions, and ad rules.

1. As of July 17, operators interested in offering online casino gaming in New Zealand can begin the licensing process. The Department of Internal Affairs said applicants must submit expressions of interest by August 14 via the Government Electronic Tender Service, together with a NZD 19,000 ($11,090) fee.
2. New Zealand will then review which applicants are most promising. Those accepted will join an auction in September, where winning bidders can submit full license applications. The companies that have already expressed interest include Bet365, evoke, Entain, SkyCity, Spin City, SpinBet, and Super Group.
3. The framework gives out a total of 15 licenses, with each license tied to one brand. One operator can hold no more than three licenses, so this is not a free-for-all expansion story; it is a capped market with an explicit allocation mechanism.
4. The government has confirmed the final rules for the market and expects operators to minimize gambling harm using harm-mitigating tools. Credit card gambling will be strictly prohibited, including third-party payment methods that use credit cards, which is the detail PSPs will care about first.
5. Operators must also be transparent about game rules and bonus conditions. New Zealand is also imposing strict online gaming ad rules: operators must not advertise directly before sports broadcasts or to minor players. Players will not be explicitly prohibited from using offshore companies, although the country plans measures to limit the offshore market’s reach.

For high-risk payment teams, New Zealand is shaping up as a regulated market with familiar constraints: limited licenses, no credit card gambling, and tighter marketing controls. The offshore market is still part of the picture, but the local framework is clearly designed to pull demand onshore rather than pretend it does not exist.