New Zealand names 11 entities that won the right to apply for online casino licences
New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs says its online casino licence auction ended on 12 October 2026 after 10 rounds, with 11 entities winning the right to apply at NZ$15 million per licence. Providers that have not applied by 1 December 2026 must stop serving New Zealand players.
South Africa has no licensing route for online casino games, so the New Zealand model is a useful comparison rather than a direct sign of change here. It shows one country choosing to bring offshore-style operators into a licensed, taxed and supervised system, with advertising limits and harm prevention duties attached. South African players should keep treating every site as unlicensed locally and check where it is actually licensed and whether it accepts South African players.
What the regulator announced
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) updated its provider page on 13 October 2026 to confirm the result of the online casino licence auction, which ran from 29 September to 12 October. The auction drew 32 bidders and finished after 10 rounds, with the final price reaching NZ$15 million per licence.
Eleven entities won the right to apply for the 15 licences on offer. Winning the auction is not the same as holding a licence, and each one must now pass a detailed suitability assessment.
Who is on the list
The DIA named the successful entities. Baytree Interactive Limited holds three rights to apply, while Playvia Gaming (NZ) Limited and Rock Swift Group Limited hold two each. The others are Christchurch Online NZ Limited, One Casino Limited, Rush Entertainment Limited, Skill On Net Limited, SkyCity NZ Online NO1 Limited, SkyCity NZ Online NO2 Limited, Stake New Zealand Limited and TAB New Zealand.
The regulator says it is not publishing the brands that may eventually operate. Approved brands will appear on a public DIA register once a licence is granted, and operators may change plans during the application stage.
Licence terms and the December deadline
- Up to 15 licences, each covering a single brand and its platforms.
- Each licence runs for up to three years, with a possible five-year renewal.
- No one can receive more than three licences in this round.
- From 1 December 2026, providers that have not applied must stop offering online casino gambling in New Zealand.
- Applicants awaiting a decision may keep operating, but without advertising.
The DIA expects the full licensed regime to be operating in 2027.
What it means for South African players
Nothing changes legally in South Africa. Online casino games remain unlicensed here, and the market is served by offshore operators. What the New Zealand process does show is what a licensing system can demand: fees, a suitability test, advertising limits and harm minimisation duties. If you want to see how we treat licence claims, read our casino reviews, which show what has and has not been checked.
What to watch next
Watch for the DIA opening full licence applications, the first licence decisions, and which operators leave New Zealand after 1 December. The way regulators elsewhere describe offshore operators during a transition may also influence the wider debate about licensing in Africa.