New Zealand’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, has published the government paper and accompanying materials for the online gambling bill, which has been in development since June.

1 December 2026 will be a key date – from this day, the issuing of online casino licences will begin.

The preparation of New Zealand’s online casino market is accelerating. In an email update, the government stated that detailed regulations for licence holders are expected to be completed by mid-2026.

“It is our intention to give the sector time with these finalised regulations before running the licensing process,” said Trina Lowry, Programme Director – Online Gambling Implementation, in an email update.

The draft regulations submitted to the cabinet for approval cover topics such as harm prevention and minimisation, consumer protection and record-keeping, advertising and marketing, as well as fees, levies, and charges for cost recovery.

Lowry added that the government may provide another update with detailed information on regulatory decisions by the end of the month.

The bill also includes changes related to community funding: the offshore online gambling duty has increased from 12% to 16%, with the additional 4% ringfenced exclusively for community returns.

According to estimates, in the first year community returns could reach between NZ$10 million and NZ$20 million (approximately €4.9 million to €9.9 million). However, this depends on the total gross gambling revenue generated by the licensed online casino market.

The New Zealand government noted that the community return mechanism “does not seek to replicate the not-for-profit Class 4 model”. The most relevant comparison is land-based casinos in the country, as they are for-profit entities, unlike Class 4 operators or Lotto, whose profits must be directed to benefit communities.

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