Gambling News Reports
New Zealand is preparing to move forward with its historic overhaul of its online gambling industry as the government presses on with plans to open up online casino licenses for the first time. This decision marks a turning point in the country’s stance on internet gambling as it aims to move away from the current landscape where unregulated offshore entities dominate the iGaming space.
Foreign Operators Will Reshape the Market
According to a recent report by local news outlet RNZ, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has confirmed that the government will initially offer 15 licenses in an open bidding process, opening the door for foreign and local companies to legally provide online casino services. These reforms have been long overdue, as lacking regulations have led to a spike in problem gambling.
The new regulatory framework, set to take effect in February 2026, will require licensed operators to pay GST, a 12% gambling tax, and a problem gambling levy but no community grants, leading to discontent among existing local operators. Van Velden acknowledged that large international operators would likely win most of the initial licenses but added the government would create opportunities for other companies to enter the market.
We don’t have a huge online gambling market, so I would expect it’s mainly offshore providers.
Brooke van Velden, Internal Affairs Minister
Read more at https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/updated-regulations-to-transform-new-zealands-gambling-sector/
