TLDR New Zealand has confirmed the full requirements for online casino license applications ahead of an auction on September 29, 2026. Winning an auction slot only gives a company the right to apply for a license, not the license itself. Bidders must submit five strategy documents, including a harm prevention plan and a compliance plan. The market will be capped at 15 licenses, and no operator can control more than three. Successful bidders must complete all application requirements by October 23, 2026.
New Zealand has confirmed the full requirements for companies seeking an online casino license. The rules were set out ahead of an auction scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Winning a slot at the auction does not mean a company gets a license right away. It gives the company the right to apply and go through an assessment process.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will oversee the process. Successful bidders must show they can run their business responsibly and follow the rules.
Five Documents Required From Bidders
Under the DIA’s rules, each successful bidder must submit five documents. These are a business plan, an advertising and marketing strategy, a consumer protection strategy, a harm prevention and minimisation strategy, and a compliance strategy.
Operators must also provide a document showing how their internal policies match the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The document must also cover the rules linked to that law.
Online casino technology must be certified by independent testing labs. This covers the games and the random number generators (RNGs) that decide game outcomes.
Games and RNGs already tested to standards in the UK or the Canadian province of Ontario will not need new testing for the market’s first day. Any other existing games must go through full external testing.
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