The Online Casino Industry in New Zealand

The New Zealand online casino market is thriving with a wide variety of international gambling companies serving the local gambling market. This is despite the fact that there is no legislation for online casinos in New Zealand.

while no local online casinos can operate in the country, internationally-based casinos are technically legal

However, according to New Zealand’s legal code, while no local online casinos can operate in the country, internationally-based casinos are technically legal. This means that local gamblers are free to choose any online casino that accepts registrations from New Zealand regardless of the fact that the gambling companies in question are not regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

New Zealand online gambling laws

According to New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003, no locally-based gambling company is allowed to offer any form of virtual online casino gaming. This means that there are no online casinos in the country that are licensed or regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

The only forms of online gambling currently legislated for in New Zealand are online lottery games and online horse racing wagering and sports betting. These are only available through the Lotto NZ and New Zealand Racing Board (TAB) websites and apps.

Regulation On The Horizon in 2026

The New Zealand government is moving towards the full regulation of online casinos in 2026 with the goal of providing consumer protections which are currently unavailable through the unregulated offshore casino market.

Proposed New Regulations Highlights

• Licensing system in place by 2026
• Casino licenses issued through auction process
• Licenses valid for three years
• Sports betting and lottery not included
• Minimum age of 18
• Advertising allowed but under strict conditions
• Sponsorships by online casinos to remain banned
• Department of Internal Affairs to regulate the industry

Under the proposed new regulations, a licensing system for online casinos operating in New Zealand would be introduced by 2026. These rules would require operators to secure licenses, comply with strict consumer protection standards, and pay taxes on revenue.

International Online Casinos vs. New Zealand online casinos

As mentioned earlier, New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003 states clearly that locally-based companies cannot launch online casino products or services. This means that there are no New Zealand online casinos.

Any online casinos that can be accessed in New Zealand are, in fact, internationally-licensed casinos that allow local gamblers to register on their platforms.

A large number of these international online casinos may have New Zealand or NZ in their names or have registered NZ domains, but this does not mean that they are licensed to operate in the country nor does it mean that they are owned by local NZ businesses.

Yet despite a lack of regulation, there are many reliable and trustworthy gambling companies that have opted to enter that NZ market. This includes some of the biggest names in the industry.

How to spot a trustworthy online casino in New Zealand

The lack of legislation for online casino gaming and regulation of online gambling operators in the market means that there is no list of approved operators available through the New Zealand Gambling Commission.

This means that it’s up to the user to carry out their own research on the many options available to them. With this in mind, here are a few tips for spotting the good from the bad.

Check the license

Although online casinos cannot be licensed in New Zealand, any accept NZ customers should be licensed by a recognized gaming authority. Some examples of international gaming authorities that license online casinos for the global market are:

• Malta Gaming Authority
• Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
• Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
• Curaçao Gaming Control Board

There are many other authorities that your choice of online casino may be licensed with although the majority of those that serve the New Zealand market are licensed through the Malta Gaming Authority. If you don’t recognize the authority of your chosen casino, it may be worth looking into its reputation.

Details of an online casino’s licensing can be found in the footer (bottom section) of the website or app’s homepage. It’s a major red flag if this information cannot be easily located.

If you are unsure about the legitimacy of an online casino’s license, you can contact the relevant gaming authority or check its list of approved license holders.

Check Customer Reviews

Customers reviews are a great way to find out how an online casino treats its customers. However, not all customer reviews are relevant to New Zealand. This is why it’s always best to find reviews from customers who are based in New Zealand if possible.

While online reviews from industry-related websites are a great help, independent reviews found on forums or social media will give you a better idea of what customer experience is like at a specific online casino.

Try not to worry too much about the odd negative review as the vast majority of online businesses will always have a few disgruntled customers. Just make sure that the positive reviews far exceed the negative ones.

Ensure The Casino Site has Live Customer Support

Customer support is extremely important in any online business where there’s money involved and the online casino industry is no different. In some cases, solid customer support options can help you separate the good from the great.

Most online casinos should have an FAQ section that covers general queries and perhaps a help section with detailed guides or explanations for the various aspects of casino gaming. There should also be some way to contact the customer support team. In most cases, there will be a contact form, but the top online casinos may also offer a live chat feature.

Live chat is a particularly notable feature on any online gambling website as it shows that the company is willing to invest in customer satisfaction. Some may even offer a phone number for you to call and speak to customer support directly, but as international online casinos are not based in New Zealand, this very unlikely.

New Zealand’s Online-casino 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

Ciaran McEneaney

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.