New Zealand

New Zealand’s online casino licensing process is moving into its next stage, with approved operators set to compete for the right to apply for one of up to 15 licences.

New Zealand's first online casino licensing process has drawn a striking show of interest, with 50 operators submitting expressions of interest for just 15 available licences. The EOI period closed on 15 August 2026, setting up a competitive evaluation process that will determine which platforms Kiwi players can legally use from 2027.

SkyCity Entertainment Group has revealed that it rejected two takeover approaches earlier this year, including an offer from Oaktree Capital Management, after its board decided the proposals undervalued the New Zealand casino operator.

Some of the biggest names in international gambling are reportedly lining up for New Zealand’s new regulated online casino market. Stake, Entain and Dabble are among the operators reported to have submitted expressions of interest, as competition builds for the country’s limited number of online casino licences.

SkyCity Entertainment Group is considering cutting around 200 jobs, mainly at its Auckland operation, as weaker consumer spending puts pressure on the casino and entertainment business. The proposed restructure comes despite an increase in visitors to SkyCity Auckland, with the company facing the more difficult problem of customers spending less when they visit.

New Zealand's Ministry of Health has published its Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28, committing $81.358 million over three years to expand treatment services, grow the gambling harm workforce, and strengthen prevention efforts. The funding is drawn from a levy on the gambling industry and covers everything from helplines and clinical services to research, workforce scholarships and a new national online self-exclusion system.

New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs has issued some of the most detailed gambling advertising rules the region has seen, banning licensed casino operators from using language around luck, fate, rituals or superstition in their promotions. The guidance, released this week alongside the full Online Gambling Regulations 2026, sets out exactly how licensed operators may and may not advertise to Kiwi players ahead of the market's planned 2027 launch.

New Zealand's largest-ever gambling grant fraud prosecution has taken another step through the courts, with the defendants returning to Auckland District Court as the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) continues its landmark investigation into the alleged misuse of Class 4 pokie grants.

SkyCity Auckland is preparing to give away NZ$80,000 through its new Triple Score promotion. Three rewards members will be selected every Wednesday night, with each participant guaranteed a cash prize of up to NZ$5,000.

Christchurch residents are being asked to weigh in on the future of pokie venues across the city as the Christchurch City Council reviews its Gambling and TAB Venues Policy for the first time in years. The consultation could help shape how gaming machines in pubs and clubs are managed for years to come.