Online casino gaming in New Zealand has been growing in popularity (and revenue for operators) at an impressive rate, for quite a few years now. Although no-one can be certain how much – as it’s nearly all passed through offshore operators that aren’t regulated locally. However, soon – potentially in early 2027 – the country is about to enter a new phase of local licenses and regulation.
So, even as online gambling grows, soon it will all be change. This is what you need to know about this move that will change the way hundreds of thousands of Kiwi casino fans enjoy their entertainment of choice.
What Online Casino Gaming Looks like in New Zealand Now
New Zealand has allowed offshore online casinos to serve its citizens for decades. Unlike some countries it has mostly left things alone, and online gambling as served by operators licensed in Malta, Curacao and other places, has grown solidly across the country since the 2000s.
A brief look through Casino Guru’s list of online casinos NZ players will find available right now, for example, will show you just how competitive the market is. Players visit comparison sites like these regularly. They offer side-by-side assessment of many casino factors including bonus offers, pokies selection and payment options – which many find useful in a crowded sector.
Analysis predicts there around 350,000 of these regular online gambling customers in New Zealand. Their estimated spend is around NZ$1.35 billion or US$758 million.
The accuracy of that is difficult to call however, as offshore casinos are not in the business of reporting their financials or player data to the NZ government. Which is one of the many reasons the country is soon looking to change this situation.
What It’s Going to be Like Once the New Market Opens
The Online Casino Gambling Act of 2026 is set to pass into law on July 3, and licensing applications will then open. Operators currently serving NZ customers without a local license will have until the end of December 2026 to either apply for a license or stop serving Kiwi customers. If they choose to continue without a license, the government says it will chase prosecution.
Some time in 2027 Kiwi players will have access to 15 online gambling operators, some familiar, some new, but all newly licensed and regulated by the government. Plus, crucially for politicians, taxed.
In terms of the exact games available – things shouldn’t change much for fans of popular pokies games or live casino game shows. Players who like niche older titles or exclusive cryptocurrency blockchain games might suddenly find their options slimmed down, or even some games gone completely.
On the other hand, some providers only work with regionally licensed operators – so new games will be added to the market too.
Responsible gambling tools and features will now also now be mandatory. Although they are often found at offshore casino sites, it’s up to operators if they offer them or not – and some don’t, or they hide them in complex menus. The New Zealand market will start in 2027 with a full suite of responsible gambling tools. Not only present but presented to players when they sign up.
The government expects this new market to grow substantially in its first few years, as it works towards channelling 90% or more of customers from offshore markets. The Canadian province of Ontario followed a similar path in 2022, and its regulators now say 91% of gambling activity is at locally-licensed operations. The province, Canada’s most populated, brings in billions of dollars in taxes (revenue sharing) from the market annually.
What Other Gaming Trends are Changing in New Zealand?
The data that there is shows a clear trend of online gambling growth in New Zealand.. Despite the new market limiting the number of operators to just 15, independent and government projections expect it to grow to match the offshore market in the first years of operation.
Sports betting and poker will now also become regulated and legal for licensed private companies when the market launches. Currently sports betting is only offered by government-backed operator TAB NZ – as the government treats online casino games and sports or other betting as separate markets.
Kiwi players will also likely get more access to casino and sports betting apps through official app stores like Google Play. Currently offshore operators are often restricted in these platforms, while regionally licensed operators usually aren’t.
Lastly, prediction markets are also growing in NZ. And they are a different story entirely. Even though the government says the new form of hybrid financial trading and betting is illegal betting, it hasn’t officially chased up either of the two major operators Kalshi and Polymarket. Both still allow NZ players to sign up, for now. These platforms are hugely popular in the US and worldwide, and are increasingly partnered with big media and tech firms.
They pose a challenge to the traditional, licensed and regulated sports betting model. Because they allow “contracts” on sports results while claiming they aren’t betting, so they don’t fall under such laws. New Zealand, as well as opening its new casino and poker market, may have to grapple with this issue further in the future.