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New Zealanders might be able to play at regulated online casinos in the country as early as July 2026, following the approval of the first reading of the iGaming bill in parliament today (Jun 15).
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden introduced the Online Casino Gambling Bill in April this year. After months of debate, it passed its first reading by 83 votes to 39, effectively moving it to the Governance and Administration Committee.
The bill would see up to 15 licenses granted, with operators expected to go live by July 2026. Van Velden shared in a statement today that the bill was filed to protect players who gamble online at offshore platforms by introducing modern safeguards.
“Currently, New Zealanders can legally access thousands of offshore gambling websites. But the market is unregulated, so there are no player safety standards or oversight of harm minimization,” said Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.
“My intention with this Bill is to ensure that online gambling is safer for New Zealanders who wish to gamble online to do so. In addition, that companies providing this service contribute to tax revenue and funding the services that treat gambling harm in New Zealand.”
What Does the Bill Say?
The Online Casino Gambling Bill outlines a framework that both enhances player safety and generates tax revenue. Operators seeking to offer services will be required to pay a goods and services tax and an offshore gambling duty set at 12%. Additionally, they must contribute a mandatory levy of 1.24% of their profits to fund services that address gambling-related harm.
The bill proposes granting up to 15 licenses through an auction process, with several major operators, including SkyCity and Bet365, already expressing interest.
To ensure responsible advertising, the legislation prohibits marketing directed at children and mandates the use of effective age verification tools.
Oversight will be the responsibility of the Department of Internal Affairs, which will monitor compliance and enforce penalties for any breaches of the law. Violators could face fines reaching NZ$5 million. Van Velden highlighted that this bill marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to online gambling, moving from a passive stance to active regulation.
As the bill advances to the select committee stage, the government is inviting public submissions, allowing citizens, advocacy groups, and industry stakeholders to review the legislation and provide their feedback.
Mixed Reactions from Lawmakers
In Tuesday’s session, MP Jamie Arbuckle expressed his support for the bill, emphasizing its potential to address the unregulated market currently operating in the country. He stated, “This bill is to stop the unregulated situation that we find ourselves in at the moment. [It] will create a robust framework to regulate online casino gambling and protect consumers and minimize harm.”
“We want to make sure that only trustworthy operators are allowed to operate in the online gambling market.”
In contrast, Labour Party politician Lemauga Lydia Sosene voiced strong concerns about the legislation. She argued that the bill lacks a solid plan for reducing gambling-related harm while exposing New Zealand to international operators.
Sosene stated, “It is important that the government is serious about supporting the reduction of online harm and, specifically, consumer protection, because the bill in its current form does not address those particular actions wholeheartedly. They are listed vaguely.”
After the Governance and Administration Committee, the bill will return to Parliament for its second reading, after which it will proceed to the Committee of the Whole House.
Van Velden expects this to be done by November 17, then the third and final reading, before being signed into law. Vetting and the auction process will kick off in February 2026, before operators go live in July.
Source: iGB
