Last reviewed 6 July 2026 - updated at each licensing milestone
The short answer
Yes, it is legal for New Zealanders to play at online casinos based overseas. While there is no law that makes it an offence for a player to gamble on these overseas websites, the sites are not licensed or under the control of New Zealand's gambling authorities. Therefore, if anything goes wrong for a player, the player is not protected by New Zealand law. From 1 December 2026, only online casino operators that hold one of the 15 New Zealand casino licences will be allowed to offer online casino games to players in New Zealand.
Is it legal to play at online casinos in New Zealand right now?
Yes. A New Zealander can legally play at an overseas online casino. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 does not make any provision for a penalty for the player that gambles at an overseas site. However, it places responsibilities on the online casino operators.
As with any regulation of online games, the protection that a player will receive is the catch in the legality of such casinos. Because these overseas operators are licensed abroad, New Zealand law cannot be applied to them. Should a player encounter an issue with an overseas online casino, there is no legal way for the player or the New Zealand authorities to make that overseas online casino do anything to resolve the player's issue.
Some of the international online casinos will use "New Zealand" or "NZ" in their branding. They are still overseas online casinos that will not offer the same protections to New Zealand players as will the licensed online casinos. On this website, we will always refer to the online casinos that we feature as international online casinos that accept players from New Zealand, instead of referring to them as New Zealand online casinos.
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, in plain English
Until now, it has been legal for New Zealanders to use overseas online casinos, but there was no licensing or control of these online casinos within New Zealand. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 will change that. From 1 May 2026, the Act has been in force, licensing online casinos for the first time in the country's history.
The Act will apply extraterritorially; it will apply to online casino operators that have a target market that includes New Zealand, regardless of where in the world the company is established. The Act states the following:
- New overseas operators can no longer start offering online casino games to people in New Zealand.
- Operators already active before 1 May 2026 may keep going for now, under transitional arrangements, until 1 December 2026.
- From 1 December 2026, only operators that hold a New Zealand licence may offer online casino games here.
The stated goals of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 are to minimise the harm that is done by online casinos to its players, to ensure that the consumers that use those online casinos are protected, and to provide the government with the means to collect taxes on the industry.
What is changing, and when
The online casino licensing rollout will occur over 2025, 2026, and into 2027. The following dates are important to the Act and its implementation:
The 15 online casino licences explained
New Zealand will issue up to 15 licences for online casinos. These licences will be auctioned off in three stages on the Government Electronic Tenders Service.
The auction will be an ascending clock auction. The price of the licence will rise in steps, and online casino operators will drop out of the auction as the price passes their indicated price for the licence. The auction will take place over several days and will conclude when the price reaches the number of licences that will be issued.
| Licence detail | What the Act says |
|---|---|
| Number available | Up to 15, one per platform, brand or website |
| Per operator | A single provider may hold no more than 3 of the 15 |
| Term | 3 years, with one right of renewal of up to 5 years |
| Minimum capital | NZ$7.5 million |
| Expression of interest fee | NZ$19,000 |
| Ongoing levy | 3.5% of New Zealand-based online gambling profits, plus a 1.24% problem gambling levy |
| Tax | 12% online casino duty (rising to 16% from 1 January 2027) plus 15% GST |
| NZ presence | Not required, but operators must give a New Zealand address for service |
The licence does not have to go to a New Zealand company. Companies based overseas will have the opportunity to apply for the licence. The interest that has accrued so far from overseas online casinos suggests that they will be the interested parties in securing one of these licences.
What the new law means for you as a player
There will be a trade-off between the legal changes to online casinos and what they mean for the players. While players will have more protection, they will lose some of their choice in which online casinos to use. The before and after of certain player benefits are shown below.
Now (until 1 December 2026)
- Legal to play at international casinos, but no protection under New Zealand law
- Wide choice of overseas operators, licensed abroad
- Disputes are on the operator's terms, with no local complaints body
- Credit-card deposits and generous bonuses are common
- Bonus terms can be long and buried in the fine print
From 1 December 2026
- Only 15 licensed operators may serve New Zealand players
- A formal complaints process, including complaints to the New Zealand regulator
- Mandatory 18-plus age checks and self-exclusion tools
- Credit-card deposits and buy-now-pay-later banned; bonus value capped
- Bonus conditions must be written in plain language
Currently, players have no protection under the law. However, from 1 December 2026, the licensed online casinos will have protections that will be beneficial to the players of New Zealand. The biggest benefit will be a change in how player complaints are dealt with. Most of the overseas online casinos do not commit to paying out winnings for their players, and from 1 December 2026, there will finally be a body in New Zealand that players can complain to should their winnings be not paid.
New player protections coming with licensing
The licensed operators will have to comply with a long list of regulations regarding minimising the harm that the online casinos cause their players and protecting those players. The regulations include the following:
Age verification
Online casinos will have to ensure that all players are at least 18 years of age. Players will also have to pass identity checks prior to being allowed to play at these licensed online casinos.
Limits and breaks
Online casinos will have to allow players to set limits on the amount of time that they play at the casino, the amount of money that they deposit into the website, and the amount of money that they spend while using the website. Players will also have the ability to set the frequency at which they take breaks during their play, and online casinos will have to allow pop-ups to alert players of the information that they played.
No pushy game design
The design of the websites and online casinos will have to make sure that they will not encourage players to play for long periods of time in a row or in a rush without a break. Autoplay for games like online pokies will not be allowed.
One account, clean exits
The law will make sure that each player has only one account with an online casino. Furthermore, the online casino will have to allow players to close their account and withdraw any remaining funds from their accounts without difficulty.
The bonuses that online casinos offer players will have to be written in plain language. Currently, many of the overseas online casinos use buried text to indicate the number of times that a player must wager on their winnings before they are allowed to receive those winnings - our casino bonus guide decodes those clauses for every casino we review.
New advertising rules
Licensed online casinos will be allowed to advertise for New Zealanders. However, their advertisements will be limited. For example, they will not be allowed to target players under the age of 25. They will also not be allowed to use influencers on social media to advertise their products. Furthermore, they will not be allowed to advertise jackpot prizes, nor will they be allowed to use images or sounds of coins being placed into or withdrawn from an online casino.
Licensed online casinos will not be allowed to use affiliate marketing to advertise their products. Any bonuses and inducements will only be offered to players through direct marketing of the product or through the licensed online casino's own website. Furthermore, the value of the bonus that the online casinos offer to players will be limited to $100, or 200% of the amount of money that a player deposits into the website or bets on games, whichever is the lower amount. This will mean the end of the popular $5,000 welcome packages that many online casinos used to offer to new players.
Payments and the credit-card ban
Online casinos that are licensed in New Zealand will no longer be allowed to take credit cards deposits from players. Furthermore, they will no longer be able to offer buy now pay later options for online casino games. Instead, licensed online casinos will have to ask for a debit card number to access the games that they offer. This rule is intended to reduce the harm that is done by people who gamble with money that they borrowed from others. Prepaid vouchers already sit on the right side of this rule - our paysafecard casinos guide covers the sites that take them today.
Online sports and race betting
The rules for online sports and racing betting will be separate to the online casino rules. From 28 June 2025, TAB is the only online sport and racing betting operator that is legally allowed to offer these betting options to New Zealanders. It is against the law to bet on sports and racing results with any other operator. These betting options will include both domestic and international sports and races. While online casinos will be licenced between December 2026 and onwards, TAB will continue to have an exclusive market for sports and racing betting in New Zealand.
Who regulates online gambling in New Zealand?
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will regulate online casinos in New Zealand. Their roles include licensing online casinos, creating a register of those licensed operators, and enforcing any rules made within the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. These bodies will have the power to fine online casinos with amounts of up to NZ$5 million.
The powers of the Department of Internal Affairs will extend beyond the borders of New Zealand. For example, online casinos that operate outside of New Zealand will be subject to the same rules. Furthermore, individuals who breach the advertising rules will be fined up to $300,000, and companies will be fined up to $5 million. Additionally, the DIA will have the power to fine both the online casino and the individuals who are the directors or managers of that company.
Which operators are seeking a New Zealand licence?
The online casino operators will have to compete for these licences. However, it is not yet known who will receive the licences. Several overseas online casinos have expressed interest in gaining a licence to operate in New Zealand. The companies that have announced their interest include SkyCity, TAB NZ, 888 and Bet365. Each company will be limited to a maximum of three licences, meaning that each company will have to compete for a share of the available licences.
While the revenue that overseas online casinos received from New Zealand players in 2025 was officially declared to be $520.8 million, many in the industry believe that the real revenue from online casinos was between $700 million and $800 million. The total online gambling revenue in New Zealand, which includes sports betting, is valued at around $1.36 billion.
How to play safely until the licensed market opens
Between now and 1 December 2026, New Zealand's international online casinos will remain legal for players. However, after this date, only the licensed online casinos will be permitted to offer their games and services to the residents of New Zealand. From this date on, international online casinos will no longer be legal for players in the country.
- Stick to operators with a strong licence and clear terms. Our casino reviews score each site on exactly that, and our top online casinos ranking orders the whole roster by those scores - with the safest casinos list ranked on licence strength alone.
- Read the bonus fine print before you deposit. A big headline offer with 70x wagering can be worth less than a smaller, fairer one.
- Use a debit card or an e-wallet with limits rather than a credit card, which the new law will ban anyway.
- Set your own deposit and time limits now, before the licensed tools make them standard.
- Keep gambling as entertainment. If it stops being fun, free help is available. See our responsible gambling page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to play at online casinos in New Zealand?
Yes, it is legal for a citizen of New Zealand to play at an online casino based overseas from New Zealand. No law of New Zealand makes it an offence for a player to use one of these overseas online casinos. However, because these overseas online casinos are not licensed or controlled by New Zealand, the players are not protected by New Zealand's laws. Only those online casinos that have a licence from New Zealand will be legal from 1 December 2026.
Can I get in trouble for playing at an overseas online casino?
No. While it may be legal for New Zealanders to gamble on overseas online casinos, there is no law that will punish a player for gambling on one of these sites. Any issues that a player may encounter with an overseas online casino will not be covered by any laws of New Zealand.
Are gambling winnings taxed in New Zealand?
For recreational players, no. There is no tax on winnings from recreational gambling at online or other physical casinos in New Zealand. However, the government does allow for taxation of winnings from professional gamblers. If you are wondering whether your gambling is professional or recreational, the best solution is to speak to Inland Revenue or a financial accountant.
What happens on 1 December 2026?
After 1 December 2026, the legal status of online casinos will change. Only those that are licensed will be legal to offer online casino games to players in New Zealand. All other online casinos will no longer be legal for New Zealanders to play at.
What is the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026?
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 is the law that will regulate online casinos in New Zealand. The Act was introduced on 1 May 2026, will licence up to 15 online casinos and will include a range of regulations on the type of online casinos that will be legal, such as requiring all online casinos to have players that are at least 18 years of age, requiring licensed online casinos to not take credit card deposits, and will introduce rules to protect both the players and the industry as a whole. Furthermore, the Act will give regulatory powers to the Department of Internal Affairs to both licence and fine online casinos.
Will my current online casino still work after licensing?
Maybe not. Only the online casinos that win the licence will be legal from 1 December 2026. Therefore, if any of the online casinos that you use at this time do not win the licence to operate in New Zealand, they will no longer be legal for you to use. A number of the operators that have expressed interest in the licence include SkyCity, TAB NZ, 888 and Bet365.
Is it legal to use a VPN for online casinos in New Zealand?
There is no law against the use of a virtual private network (VPN) in New Zealand. However, most of the online casinos that are legal for New Zealanders will not require the use of a VPN as they are accessible from New Zealanders' locations. However, most of the online casinos will have terms and conditions that state that the use of a VPN is against the terms and conditions of the online casino. In these instances, players may void their winnings at the online casino.
Who regulates online gambling in New Zealand?
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) will regulate the licensed online casinos in New Zealand. The DIA will license online casinos, create a public register of those licensed online casinos, and punish any online casinos that breach the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 with fines of up to NZ$5 million.
Can I bet on sports online in New Zealand?
Only with the TAB. Since 28 June 2025, the TAB has been the only organisation that is allowed to offer online sports and racing bets to New Zealanders. It is against the law for any other New Zealander to place these bets with any other operator.
Deep-dive legal guides
This hub covers the whole picture; six companion guides go deeper on the questions players actually ask, each built on the legislation and official sources:
The 15 licences explained
The auction, the fees, the obligations, who is applying and what happens to everyone else.
Read the licences guide ›
The Gambling Act 2003
The foundation law: four classes of gambling, the casino moratorium and the clause that created the grey market.
Read the 2003 Act guide ›Legal gambling ages
Why pokies are 18 but the casino floor is 20, and how age checks work online now and after licensing.
Read the age guide ›
Who regulates it all
The DIA, the Gambling Commission and Health NZ - who does what, and where complaints actually go.
Read the regulator guide ›
Winnings and tax
Why recreational winnings are tax-free, the professional test, the crypto wrinkle and what operators pay.
Read the tax guide ›
Grey market casinos
What grey market means, how big it is, and how to come through the December 2026 transition untouched.
Read the grey market guide ›For the numbers behind the policy - how much New Zealand actually gambles and who is harmed - see our NZ gambling statistics page, compiled from the official DIA and Health NZ data.
Written by
Kai Halvorsen
Casino Terms Analyst · Wellington, NZ
Kai reads the fine print for a living. Every guide on this site is built from primary sources - the legislation, the regulators' own publications and each casino's published terms - and updated when the rules change.
Sources and further reading
This guide is based on the text of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, its regulations, and official government information on the Act. For the primary sources, see:
- Online Casino Gambling Bill on the New Zealand legislation website.
- Online Casino Gambling at the Department of Internal Affairs, the regulator.
- Online gambling and your legal rights from Safer Gambling Aotearoa.
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand for free, confidential support.
This page contains general information about the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The details of the licensing process will continue to be updated as the Act develops. For the most up to date information on the Act, visit the Department of Internal Affairs website.
Looking for where to play while the market is still open? See our ranked online casino reviews for New Zealand players, each scored from published terms and licence records. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly.