For twenty years New Zealand's position on online casinos was a shrug: the Gambling Act 2003 banned anyone from running one from inside the country and said nothing about Kiwis playing on sites run from elsewhere. That changed on 1 May 2026. This page explains what the new Act does, what it does not do, the dates that matter, and what it means in practice if you play at Stake, Roobet or 1xBet. It is editorial information, not legal advice.
The short version
- Royal Assent 27 April 2026, in force 1 May 2026. Online casino gambling becomes a licensed activity regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
- Up to 15 licences. One brand per licence, a maximum of three per applicant, competitive process (expressions of interest, then an auction for the right to apply, then a full assessment). Winning the auction is not the same as being licensed.
- Nobody is licensed yet. The DIA says the regime will not be fully operational until 2027.
- Transition. Industry reports describe 1 December 2026 as the date after which only licensed operators may lawfully serve NZ customers; operators already serving NZ before 1 May 2026 are reported to be able to continue until then. New offshore entrants have been prohibited since 1 May.
- Players are not the target. The Act's duties, take-down powers and penalties (up to NZ$5 million for serious or repeated breaches) apply to operators.
- Sports betting is separate. The Racing Industry Amendment Act 2025 (in force 28 June 2025) gives TAB NZ the exclusive right to offer sports and racing betting to people in New Zealand.
What the Act covers
Online casino games: slots, live dealer tables, roulette, blackjack and poker. Lotteries stay with Lotto NZ and sports and racing betting stay under TAB NZ's monopoly, so the three Acts fit together without overlap. The licensing rules apply to any online casino that is accessible from New Zealand, wherever the company is based, which is the key change: Curaçao, Malta or Isle of Man paperwork does not count on its own.
What licensed operators will have to do
The Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026, published alongside the Act, set the operating conditions. The ones that affect you as a player:
- Player-set deposit and spending limits, mandatory at sign-up.
- Self-exclusion tools and harm-minimisation messaging.
- No credit-card deposits. Debit cards, bank transfer and other methods remain; the DIA has not yet said whether digital assets will be permitted.
- Advertising limits, with the detail still to be finalised.
- Tax and a community contribution (Cabinet papers discussed 4% of gross gaming revenue).
What it means for the sites Kiwis use today
None of the platforms we cover holds a DIA licence, because none have been issued. All three are open to New Zealand right now on Curaçao licences, and New Zealand is not on any of their restricted lists (Australia is, for Stake and Roobet). Practically:
- Until the transition ends, nothing changes for you. Deposits, play and withdrawals work as they do today.
- After 1 December 2026, an operator without a licence that keeps serving NZ customers is breaking NZ law. It is their offence, not yours, but an operator facing take-down notices may restrict NZ accounts at short notice. Our advice: do not leave a large balance sitting in any offshore account late in 2026, and withdraw winnings promptly, which is good practice anyway.
- If any of the three is licensed, expect NZD accounts, local payment methods and mandatory limits. We will update the NZ ranking the day the DIA publishes its list.
Sports betting: the TAB rule
The Racing Industry Amendment Act 2025 extended TAB NZ's monopoly to online betting. New section 74AAA of the Racing Industry Act 2020 says no person other than TAB NZ or its partner may offer racing or sports betting to a person in New Zealand. There is no geo-blocking mechanism in the Act; it works by making it illegal for the offshore bookmaker to take the bet, and the DIA has already begun ordering unlicensed operators to exit. Kiwis travelling overseas can still use offshore bookmakers while they are abroad. Stake and 1xBet both run sportsbooks, which is why we rank them on casino products only on this site's NZ pages.
Timeline
| Date | What happened / happens |
|---|---|
| 28 June 2025 | Racing Industry Amendment Act 2025 in force. TAB NZ gains exclusive online sports and racing betting rights. |
| 27 April 2026 | Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 receives Royal Assent. |
| 1 May 2026 | Act in force. New offshore entrants prohibited. Existing operators enter transition. |
| 14 August 2026 | Expressions of interest for licences close (reported). |
| 1 December 2026 | Reported end of transition; licence application deadline. Only licensed operators may lawfully serve NZ after this. |
| 2027 | DIA expects the regime to be fully operational and the first licensed brands to launch. |
Sources differ on the transition detail and on when licences will actually be issued. Dates marked "reported" come from industry and legal-firm summaries, not from a DIA notice. Check dia.govt.nz for the current timetable before relying on any of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is online casino gambling legal in New Zealand in 2026?
Operating an online casino is now a licensed activity under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, in force since 1 May 2026. Licences have not been issued yet. Playing is not an offence for the individual; the Act's duties and penalties apply to operators.
Can I get in trouble for playing on Stake, Roobet or 1xBet from NZ?
Neither the Gambling Act 2003 nor the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 creates an offence for an individual who plays on an offshore site. The legal risk sits with the operator. That said, you should read the operator terms and make your own decision. This is editorial information, not legal advice.
Will Stake, Roobet or 1xBet get a New Zealand licence?
The DIA will award up to 15 licences and has not announced recipients. None of the three has publicly confirmed an application as of October 2026. We will update this page when the DIA publishes its list.
What happens on 1 December 2026?
Industry reports describe 1 December 2026 as the end of the transitional period for operators that were already serving NZ when the Act commenced. After that, only licensed operators may lawfully offer online casino games to New Zealand customers. The DIA itself says the regime will not be fully operational until 2027, so expect the practical picture to keep moving.
Can I bet on sport with Stake or 1xBet from New Zealand?
The Racing Industry Amendment Act 2025 (in force 28 June 2025) makes TAB NZ the only operator permitted to offer sports and racing betting to people in New Zealand. We rank Stake and 1xBet on casino products only and do not recommend using their sportsbooks from NZ.
Will licensed NZ casinos accept crypto?
Unknown. The Act bans credit-card deposits at licensed operators and the DIA has not yet published guidance on digital assets. Until it does, crypto remains the practical route into the offshore platforms covered here.
Our #1 for NZ — Claim 200% match at Stake →
Gambling can be addictive. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or text 8006. Free, confidential, 24/7. Players must be 18+. Never gamble with money you can't afford to lose, and set a deposit limit before you start.