New Zealand publishes 11 operators awarded rights to apply for online casino licence

The Department of Internal Affairs announced on 13 October 2026 the list of 11 operators awarded rights to apply for a New Zealand online casino licence. The official expectation is that the regulated market will launch in 2027; each available licence permits a brand to operate for three years with the option to apply for an extension of up to five further years.

## Auction details and timeline to market launch

The auction began with 32 bidders and was resolved after 10 rounds of bidding. For each right to apply for a licence, bidders offered around NZ$15,000,000 (approx. €7.5m). New Zealand opened the call with 15 licences available and the published list corresponds to the 11 operators who secured rights in this phase.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) did not set a precise start date in 2027; the agency limited its announcement to publishing the auction results on 13 October 2026. The authority indicated that from 1 December 2026 it will be prohibited for operators to conduct any online casino activity in New Zealand unless they have applied for a licence; companies with applications in progress may continue operating until their assessment is complete.

## Official list of operators awarded rights to apply for an online casino licence

The DIA announcement includes the official roster of operators with rights to enter the market:

• Baytree Interactive Limited – three rights to apply

• Christchurch Online NZ Limited

• One Casino Limited

• Playvia Gaming (NZ) Limited – two rights to apply

• Rock Swift Group Limited – two rights to apply

• Rush Entertainment Limited

• Skill On Net Limited

• SkyCity NZ Online NO1 Limited

• SkyCity NZ Online NO2 Limited

• Stake New Zealand Limited

• TAB New Zealand

Several applicants obtained more than one right, which potentially allows them to operate multiple brands in the regulated market. Super Group, the parent company of Betway, obtained three licenses through its subsidiary Baytree Interactive, which is the maximum permitted per operator. Entain obtained two licenses through Playvia Gaming (NZ) and an additional license linked to TAB New Zealand as part of a strategic sports betting partnership for 25 years.

## How licences were distributed and operator caps

The auction made clear a cap: no operator may control more than three licences. That rule affected outcomes such as Baytree Interactive Limited. Some companies chose to apply using distinct corporate structures to pursue multiple awards; the DIA publication shows that rights were fragmented across subsidiaries and related entities.

Amounts paid in the auction, near NZ$15m per right, set a significant financial barrier to market entry. The initial number of 15 licences leaves room for further awards or additional stages of the regulatory process, but the DIA’s official document limits today’s public list to the 11 operators announced on 13 October.

## Operator reactions and international strategy

Stake New Zealand Limited — a subsidiary of the global operator Stake — issued a press statement in which its spokesperson said:

"We are very excited about the opportunity in New Zealand as the market moves toward regulation. It is well aligned with Stake and another important step in our international expansion."

The spokesperson added that the award aligns with Stake’s strategy of entering new markets with long‑term potential and cited recent expansions in Alberta, Argentina and Mexico during 2026.

The presence of large international groups was reflected in the awards: Super Group (via Baytree Interactive) and Entain (via Playvia Gaming and its arrangement with TAB New Zealand) secured multiple rights.

## What operators and suppliers must consider before 2027

Applicants that secured rights must now prepare formal licence applications to the Department of Internal Affairs and meet the regulatory requirements the authority sets for the assessment phase. Companies operating in New Zealand that have not started an application before 1 December 2026 must cease online casino activities unless an application is already under way.

For technology, payments and compliance suppliers, the regulated opening creates demand in areas such as identity verification, responsible‑gaming compliance, anti‑fraud controls and integration with local payment gateways. Operators planning to run multiple brands should plan governance between subsidiaries to respect the three‑licence cap per operator.

## Regulatory context and next steps for the market

The New Zealand Government and the Department of Internal Affairs have placed the country in a transition toward a regulated online market. The DIA will be the authority responsible for reviewing the formal applications derived from these rights and for publishing detailed conditions and timetables ahead of the 2027 launch.

Readers interested in regulatory aspects can consult our coverage on [regulation](/regulation) and sector news in [news](/news). Companies that provide services to operators will also find useful information in the [b2b](/b2b) section.