GLI approved to test online casino games in New Zealand

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) received approval to test online casino games in New Zealand. The authorisation allows GLI to provide independent testing, certification and compliance services for the regulated online gambling market and to advise suppliers and operators seeking entry to that market. The move coincides with the licensing process opened by the New Zealand government.

GLI testing in New Zealand: scope and services announced

GLI confirmed its accreditation covers technical testing and compliance services aimed at operators and suppliers that intend to operate under the new regulatory framework. The company said it will be able to help applicants meet the requirements of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, the law that regulates online casino gambling in New Zealand. In practice, that includes validating games, reviewing random number generation systems and issuing certifications that regulators and operators need to apply for a licence.

The company maintains existing laboratories in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and operates in more than 710 jurisdictions worldwide. GLI says its network and experience allow it to support licence applicants from technical verification through to the documentation regulators commonly require.

Implications for suppliers and operators entering the market — GLI testing in New Zealand

For suppliers and operators planning to apply for a licence in New Zealand, GLI's arrival means local access to an independent laboratory with international experience. GLI can act as the technical third party to validate that products meet the standards of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 before operators formalise their licence application with the regulator.

GLI will also offer assistance to companies in adapting systems and navigating the technical requirements needed for licence granting. These activities include, according to the company's announcement, advice on technical specifications and the certification processes that accompany a licence application.

Suppliers and operators seeking fast entry to the regulated market will find in GLI a testing and verification provider with regional reach, backed by laboratories in Australia and a track record of work across hundreds of jurisdictions.

Institutional reaction and the New Zealand licensing timetable

The clearance for GLI coincides with the New Zealand Government's intention to regulate online gambling operations. The body that led the licensing process was the Department of Internal Affairs, which held the licence auction on 29 September 2026. After the auction, operators who expressed interest became eligible to submit licence applications.

So far no official information has been published about how many operators participated in the auction or the identities of the participants. That lack of data leaves open the specific timetable for new active licences and the exact route competitors will use to enter the New Zealand market.

The Department of Internal Affairs will play a key role in assessing applications that include technical evidence and certifications issued by third parties such as GLI. Operators that already have tests validated by international laboratories may accelerate parts of the process, if the regulator accepts those validations as part of the required documentation.

Key statements and regional positioning

Richard Howarth, managing director, Asia-Pacific at GLI, described the approval as a milestone for regulated gambling in the region. Howarth said New Zealand is "a significant milestone for regulated online gambling in the region" and added that the organisation is ready to help operators and suppliers navigate the technical requirements needed to comply, obtain licences and establish a market presence.

"New Zealand is a significant milestone for regulated online gambling in the region," said Richard Howarth, managing director, Asia-Pacific at GLI.

Howarth also stated that GLI is well placed to assist operators and suppliers with the technical requirements they must meet to obtain licences and establish themselves in the country.

GLI operational capacity and international context

GLI emphasised that it provides testing, certification and cybersecurity services in more than 710 jurisdictions around the world. The company already has laboratories in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, which allows it to channel regional resources to the new New Zealand market and provide operational continuity for certification projects that require support in the same time zone.

The accreditation in New Zealand adds to similar events GLI has been involved in across other regions, according to its statement, and forms part of the expansion of technical providers that accompany regulatory processes as countries adopt stricter frameworks for online gambling.

What licence applicants must prepare now

Companies interested in operating in New Zealand must prepare technical tests and documentation compatible with the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 and with the criteria the Department of Internal Affairs sets out in its licence guidance. Having tests validated by an accredited laboratory, such as GLI, will ease the submission of complete dossiers to the regulator.

Applicants should also monitor the regulator's publication of lists or guidance on acceptance of international certifications and on the concrete deadlines for submitting applications, given that the 29 September 2026 auction only opened eligibility to apply for licences without detailing how many participants there were or their identities.

For operators and suppliers that need to integrate systems, back-office connections or technical control processes, having a laboratory that operates in the region reduces the logistical frictions associated with certification.

Conclusion

The authorisation granted to Gaming Laboratories International establishes local availability of a technical provider with global reach for the online casino market in New Zealand. The approval arrives as the Department of Internal Affairs has begun the licensing process after the 29 September 2026 auction, and it offers operators and suppliers a clear route to obtain the technical tests required by the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026.