GLI Approved to Test Online Casino Games in New Zealand Market

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has been approved to test online casino games in New Zealand, the company confirmed on 12 October 2026. The accreditation allows GLI to provide independent testing, certification and compliance services to operators and suppliers seeking to enter the newly regulated market. GLI said its role will include helping applicants meet the technical criteria of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026.

What GLI's New Zealand approval covers

GLI's approval covers lab-based and remote testing of online casino games for conformance with the technical and integrity standards required by New Zealand's new regime. The company will offer independent test reports, certification services and cybersecurity assessments to operators and platform suppliers aiming to secure a licence under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. GLI positioned the approval as support for firms that "want to enter the market" and need to demonstrate compliance with technical rules.

The lab will support proof points typically required in a licence application: game fairness testing, random number generator validation, platform integration checks and cybersecurity testing. GLI already supplies those services globally and will apply the same methodologies to New Zealand-specific requirements.

How GLI framed the New Zealand milestone and its readiness

Richard Howarth, managing director, Asia‑Pacific for Gaming Laboratories International, described the New Zealand accreditation as a regional milestone. He said the organisation is "well prepared to assist operators and suppliers navigate the technical requirements that they need to comply with in their efforts to become licensed and establish their presence in the market." That statement frames GLI's role as a technical and advisory test house for licence applicants.

GLI also notes that the approval aligns with New Zealand's move to regulate online gaming operations; the company described the timing as coincident with the government's licensing timetable.

Licensing timetable in New Zealand and the Department of Internal Affairs process

The Department of Internal Affairs ran the licensing bidding on 29 September 2026. According to available reporting, operators that expressed interest during that process became eligible to apply for licences. The Department of Internal Affairs is the body responsible for the licensing framework under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. No public details have been released about how many operators participated in the September 29 bidding or the identities of those bidders.

Those facts mean vendors and operators now face two parallel tracks: completing their technical compliance work with certified test houses such as GLI, and preparing licence applications for the Department of Internal Affairs.

GLI's global footprint and local laboratory capacity

GLI has provided testing, certification and cybersecurity services across more than 710 jurisdictions worldwide, the company says. In the Asia‑Pacific region GLI already operates laboratories in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The New Zealand accreditation follows similar regulatory approvals the company has secured in other regions; GLI presented the local clearance as an extension of its existing regional capability.

That established footprint underpins GLI's pitch to operators: an ability to combine regional presence with global test standards and to deliver the documentation regulators expect during application review.

What this means for operators, suppliers and the market

Operators and suppliers preparing licence applications will now have an accredited test house available to conduct the technical checks required by the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. For many applicants that will include: integration testing between game clients and host platforms, RNG and return‑to‑player validation, and cybersecurity assessments to demonstrate resilience and data protection.

Those seeking to launch in New Zealand should factor testing and certification timelines into their licence calendar. GLI's existing labs in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide may be used to perform work for New Zealand licence seekers where on‑island capacity is not yet established.

Regulatory advisers and platform vendors will also be watching how the Department of Internal Affairs treats test evidence submitted with licence applications, and whether the regulator requires localised test runs or accepts reports from accredited overseas facilities.

Implications for the regulatory landscape and next steps

The New Zealand approval is part of a broader pattern of jurisdictions accrediting established international test houses as they implement regulated online casino regimes. For GLI, the immediate next step is operational: onboarding market entrants, scheduling test windows and delivering certification packages that align with Department of Internal Affairs expectations.

Operators that have already signalled interest in the licence bidding on 29 September 2026 will now be able to engage GLI for test planning. Suppliers planning integrations should likewise review GLI's test scope and plan for the technical evidence they will need to submit with their licence applications.

"New Zealand is a significant milestone in regulated online gaming for the region," Richard Howarth said, framing the approval as both strategic and operational for Asia‑Pacific activities.

As the licensing process advances, the interplay between accredited test houses, applicants and the Department of Internal Affairs will determine how quickly live regulated online casino services can launch in New Zealand. Industry participants should expect technical compliance to be a gating item in any licence award.

For context on the regulatory framing and the broader compliance environment, operators may find it useful to follow coverage in the regulator beat and consult specialist testing providers as part of their licence planning. Regulators will set the evidence bar; vendors and operators will have to meet it with test reports and security assessments prepared by accredited labs such as GLI.