Successful bidders from the auction will shortly be able to submit full licence applications. Detailed regulations supporting the Act have now been released and are informing the staged implementation of the regime. The regulatory and legal statements on this page are drawn from the following primary sources. Where a regulatory position is unsettled we say so, with the date it was verified.
Gambling Addiction
The auction has concluded, with 11 entities winning the right to apply for an online casino gambling licence. Kiwi’s Treasure is operated by Baytree (Alderney) Limited, which is licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (licence Zoccer Casino Review 155 C1) and also runs Ruby Fortune, Spin Casino and Jackpot City. It does not hold a New Zealand licence, because none have been issued yet.
The licensing pathway: three stages
Racing and sports betting also remain available through authorised domestic providers, ensuring a regulated environment for all major forms of betting. New Zealand now has a domestic online-casino regulatory framework administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, although no DIA online-casino licences have yet been issued. Casinos currently serving New Zealand during the transition therefore continue to operate under overseas licences where applicable.
- Below, you can find a breakdown of what’s been confirmed so far and what’s to come later this year.
- We also assess the casino’s compliance history, including any fines and resolutions.
- We also highlight returns and variances so you can choose games that fit your bankroll and style of play.
- Use our detailed reviews and guides to find the online casino in NZ that suits your style and preferences.
The best casino for a $5 weekend player is not the best casino for someone depositing in crypto or chasing a progressive jackpot. 20% — wagering multiples, game weighting, max bet rules and expiry. 20% — stated processing windows, limits and verification requirements. 25% — verified against the issuing regulator’s public register.
What games can I play?
- Players are often deceived by fraudulent online casinos that promise the world but offer very little once you join them.
- A casino can earn a 5-star rating from us if it offers Evolution, Pragmatic Play, or Ezugi software, as these popular game providers bring the best streaming quality.
- From 2026, only online casinos that hold a specific New Zealand licence can legally offer or promote their services to Kiwi players.
- This pokie from Betsoft, released in 2011, offers New Zealanders an Italian restaurant backdrop with 30 paylines and additional bonus features such as Pizza Free Spins and Food Cover Click Me.
- Also known as slot games, online pokies are full of excitement.
All of our recommended New Zealand online casinos allow you to win real money and withdraw those winnings. If you prefer, you can also try free demo versions of NZ casino games to learn how they work before wagering real money. When considering the established land-based sector in New Zealand, the filing suggests casinos should be able to apply for online casino licences. SkyCity and Christchurch already operate online gaming businesses via the current offshore model, but Dunedin’s Grand Casino does not. Discover the 10 best Bitcoin casinos in NZ and use our analysis for each of them to pick the one that would give you the best online gaming experience!
Casinos & Bonuses
Ian grew up in Malta, Europe’s online gaming hub and home of top casino regulators and auditors such as eCOGRA and the Malta Gaming Authority. After completing his Master’s degree in Glasgow, he returned to Malta and started writing about casinos. He’s worked on hundreds of casinos across the US, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland, and is a go-to authority for Casino.org’s team. Every casino on this list also has to show clear terms, pay out reliably, and offer support that genuinely solves problems. Any site that slips on one of those will be removed from my list.” Each licence runs three years and may be renewed once for a further five.
Casino games
Casino.org is the world’s leading independent online gaming authority, providing trusted online casino news, guides, reviews and information since 1995. Visit our review hub for in-depth casino reviews from our team with over 20 years of experience covering bonuses, payouts, game libraries, security, and mobile performance. The picks above cover the main categories, but they’re not the whole story. Each casino below earned its place for one standout strength, from daily promos and fast payouts to huge game libraries and low wagering. I tested every one with a real-money deposit, so you can pick the site that best suits how you play. People conflate these constantly, and the two point in opposite directions.
Log in to your account, go to the Cashier section, choose a payment method, enter the amount, and confirm the transaction. Notably, obligations do not automatically cease when a licence ends. Operators remain bound to pay out outstanding prizes, allow customer withdrawal of funds, and comply with record-keeping requirements after expiry, suspension, cancellation, or surrender of a licence. We earn a commission when you sign up through our links. It never changes the order of our ratings — read how we make money.
From the end of the transition period, a site operating without a licence or temporary exemption will be breaking New Zealand law. The main protections that licensed sites must build in are listed here. Operators that succeed at the auction held on 29 September 2026 win the right to apply for a licence, and each licence covers a single brand and all its platforms. At each step, all participants are offered the same price at the same time and choose whether to stay in the auction or withdraw. As the price rises, participants exit once the price is higher than what they are willing to pay. The auction continues until demand matches what is available.
How licences will be awarded
Evolution Gaming is the dominant provider and is available at most NZ-facing casinos. Game show titles such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live are consistently popular alongside core table coverage. You can ask to be banned from all physical casinos and pokies venues in NZ with one form.