Around 50 operators could compete for 15 online casino licences in New Zealand
Reports suggest around 50 companies have expressed interest in entering New Zealand’s newly regulated online casino market.
New Zealand.- According to industry reports, around 50 operators have submitted expressions of interest for one of the 15 online casino licences that New Zealand plans to issue under its new regulatory framework. The expressions of interest (EOI) process, opened by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) on July 17 closed on August 14.
The government has not released the list of companies that submitted an EOI, but if the reports are accurate, there could be more than three operators competing for each available position in the licence auction to be held in September. However, only operators whose EOIs are accepted will be invited to participate in the auction.
Winning the auction will give companies the right to proceed with a full licence application but will not guarantee the licence. Any single operator will be allowed to hold up to three of the 15 licences available. Each one will cover a single brand and will initially be valid for up to three years, with the possibility of a five-year renewal.
Applicants must meet several regulatory requirements, including having access to at least NZ$7.5m (US$4.4m) in capital and providing information about their ownership structure, management, financial position and regulatory history. The first licences are expected to be issued from December 2026, with the fully regulated online casino market expected to become operational during 2027.
