Online Sports Betting in New Zealand
The New Zealand online sports betting industry is flourishing despite the fact that there is only one licensed online provider in the country—TAB NZ. This is because while remote gambling is technically illegal within the country, there is no law in New Zealand that prevents local sports fans from betting at internationally licensed online sportsbooks.
There is only one locally-licensed online bookmaker in New Zealand, but there are dozens of international sportsbooks that accept NZ gamblers
As you can imagine, this means that the New Zealand sports betting market is highly competitive with many of the world’s leading online bookmakers establishing a presence in the local market. While these companies are not officially regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission, they are no less popular for their lack of a local license.
In November 2024 The New Zealand government unveiled plans to fully regulate online casinos by 2026 to enhance consumer protections lacking in the unregulated offshore market. Operators will need to secure licenses, adhere to strict consumer protection measures, and pay taxes on their revenue.
Online sports-betting is sure to follow….
New Zealand online sports betting regulator
All legal and licensed gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.
New Zealand Gambling Commission
Level 2, 41 Bath Street, Parnell, Auckland
Phone: +64 9 353 7223
New Zealand online gambling laws
New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003 states that no locally-based gambling company is allowed to offer any form of online sports betting unless licensed to do so by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.
In fact, the only forms of online gambling that are permitted in the country are online lottery games, online horse wagering, and online sports betting. Lottery games are only available through Lotto NZ. Meanwhile horse racing and sports betting is only available through TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ), a statutory body established through the Racing Industry Act 2020.
Although the pokie (slots) industry in New Zealand is a hugely popular retail industry, there are no online pokies or any other forms of online casino games available through regulated and licensed local companies.
There are no plans to make any changes to the NZ legal code. However, it’s worth noting that the legislation in its current format does not forbid local gamblers from placing wagers at internationally licensed online casinos and sportsbooks. While these gambling websites are not regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission, they are not illegal.
NZ online sportsbooks vs. International online sportsbooks
TAB NZ
There is only one online sports betting provider in New Zealand and it is run by the NZ Racing Board (NZRB). This sportsbook is known as TAB NZ or simply TAB. As the only regulated sportsbook in the country it is by far the most popular and offers odds on both local sports and many of the world’s biggest professional leagues and tournaments. It also allows for both parlay and single game betting and features live or in-play betting and live streaming.
There was a time in the past when TAB NZ promotions and even odds on certain sports weren’t as competitive as they could have been, but with the market becoming so saturated, these have improved significantly in recent years.
International online sportsbooks
The main difference between TAB NZ and international sportsbooks is that the latter are licensed in another country. They are unregulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission and so do not have to adhere to the strict guidelines that TAB NZ does.
However, many of these sportsbooks are licensed by recognized gaming authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Despite their lack of local regulation, the majority of these online sportsbooks are run by reputable companies that have been in the global sports betting industry for quite some time.
How to spot a trustworthy online sportsbook in New Zealand
The most obvious answer to this is to head straight for the only locally regulated online sportsbook TAB NZ. However, for NZ gamblers who prefer the have a little choice when it comes to placing their bets, a little research is required.
Here are a few tips for identifying a trustworthy online sportsbook that is on a par with TAB NZ.
Check the license
Aside from TAB NZ, no gambling company can receive a license for online sports betting in New Zealand. This means that there is no list of approved NZ sports betting operators. That said, any reputable sports betting company that welcomes NZ gamblers will be licensed by a recognized international gaming authority.
Some examples of international gaming authorities that license online sports betting operators for the global market are:
- Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Curaçao Gaming Control Board
These are some of the most popular, but there many others that may have issued a license to your preferred mobile sportsbook. If you do not recognize the gaming authority in question, do a little research to make sure that it is on the level.
Remember that any online sportsbook is required by its licensing authority to clearly display its license on the home page of the website or app. This can usually be found in the footer or bottom section of the page. If you still have doubts, visit the gaming authority’s website and take a look at its list of approved license holders or contact the authority directly.
Read customer reviews
Customer reviews provide an insight into how well an online sportsbook is run and how reliable it is as a provider. It’s worth remembering that you will need to find reviews from NZ gamblers as these are relevant to the company’s operations in New Zealand.
These should be found at independently-run forums and review sites and not through affiliate marketers. Affiliate sites can give you a good feel of what is on offer, but it’s the genuine customer reviews that tell all about an online sportsbook.
Bigger companies will have more than a few negative reviews, but it’s important to remember that all companies have a few unhappy customers. Once the positives outweigh the negatives, it shouldn’t be too much to worry about.
How does it handle customer support?
Customer support is crucial to customer satisfaction and so any reputable online sportsbook should have at least two or three options for making contact.
All sports betting providers should have a FAQ section that covers all the basics of betting on the site including any queries you may have about deposits and withdrawals. They may also include tutorials on use of the site/app or explanations of the various betting types.
There should also be a contact form or a telephone number to make direct contact if you have a specific query. However, a phone number is unlikely in the case of international sites with no physical presence in New Zealand. In this case, a live chat feature is ideal. This is one form of support that many sportsbook fall short on but it is without a doubt the most beneficial for gamblers.
Is sports betting popular in New Zealand?
Gambling has always been popular in New Zealand with pokies (slots) generating the most revenue year after year. However, since it was officially launched by TAB in 1996, sports betting has been steadily growing in popularity. The launch of a new TAB sports betting website in 2019 in partnership with Paddy Power Betfair saw the industry hit new heights while the pandemic of 2020/21 saw online gambling increase a great deal.
| Gambling Activity | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|
| NZ RACING BOARD (TAB) | $315m | $385m |
| NZ LOTTERIES COMMISSION | $631m | $694m |
| GAMING MACHINES (outside Casinos) | $802m | $987m |
| CASINOS | $504m | $559m |
| Total | $2.252b | $2.625b |
The figures listed above only tell part of the story. TAB NZ launched its new website in 2019 following a drop in its sports betting market share. While we have no accurate data on revenues or wagers accepted by international sportsbooks operating in New Zealand, we can assume that sports betting activity is significantly greater than the figures reported by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.
