TAB New Zealand has requested that the 2026 New Zealand iGaming licensing framework only offer 5 licensing certificates rather than 15.
Depending on how you look at the way the upcoming New Zealand iGaming licensing will shape up, there have been some worrying signs specifically for casino players who seek diversity.
We’ll get to the past tense ‘have been’ in a minute. The way in which this story unfolds looks to us like lobbying from two domestic New Zealand gambling operators, TAB and SkyCity, to reduce the number of licensing certificates from 15 to 5 appears to have been rejected.
Reports of TAB and SkyCity’s requests for a reduction in licensing certificates issued came via Radio New Zealand (RNZ) news columns.
The well-respected news publication’s investigative journalists obtained documents relating to the new iGaming licensing by using the country’s Official Information Act.
Yet somehow, despite RNZ’s report, the news is not mainstream on the iGaming news circuit.
Kiwi players will surely be upset to hear their freedom of choice has gone from thousands of online casinos to 15, and then, if TAB gets its way, there will be only 5 legal online casinos in the country.
As a result, when we came across this story, we felt our readers from New Zealand needed to be made aware of the situation.
As per the suggested new rules coming into effect sometime in 2026, overseas operators without an iGaming licensing certificate will be issued with a NZ$ 5 million fine.
Although quite how they will be able to issue fines to businesses protected under Curacao, Anjouan, or Malta laws is not something we can see happening. Furthermore, the fine is currently just a suggestion as there is no concrete framework in place.
A Special Thanks: This is why the team here at Casinoplusbonus appreciates our gambling news researchers. They have plucked out a concerning piece of information from a news story published in the Radio New Zealand (RNZ) online news columns – Offshore operators poised to dominate new online gambling market.
The Request for a Reduction in iGaming Licensing Certificates Rejected
According to the documents revealed by Radio New Zealand (RNZ), TAB and SkyCity New Zealand recommended that only 5 to 7 licensing certificates be made available. Both companies made their suggestion via a recommendation to Racing Minister Winston Peters.
Requests Have Been Rejected Due to Free Trade Laws
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden acknowledged the issues raised but reaffirmed her commitment to creating a fair and well-regulated online gambling market. One of the key comments she made was that if the country were to give preferential treatment to local operators, the move could potentially violate New Zealand’s international free trade obligations.
Brooke van Velden’s Goal: As a result, her goal is to maintain integrity and oversight. Van Velden has also said that the final confirmation regarding management of compliance and issuance of iGaming licensing certificates will fall upon the Department of Internal Affairs.
Both Companies Argue that Overseas Gambling Companies Will Dominate NZ iGaming
Both SkyCity and TAB are expressing deep concern that as many as 15 iGaming licensing certificates will pave the way for large foreign operators to dominate New Zealand’s domestic iGaming market.
- Multi-national companies to dominate NZ iGaming: Both domestic operators argue that the open-market structure unfairly advantages multinational companies with greater resources and global reach, potentially pushing New Zealand-based gambling providers to the margins.
- Request to restrict licensing to companies in New Zealand: SkyCity has urged the government to restrict licensing only to companies with a physical presence in New Zealand. Their argument hinges on ensuring that gambling profits are subject to local taxation and reinvested into the community, rather than being funneled offshore.
- Traditional NZ Gambling Undermined by Overseas Operators: TAB has warned that a flood of international operators could undermine traditional gambling channels such as sports betting and racing, which rely on TAB profits to sustain community funding.
Both companies agree that without proper limitations, the new regime risks cannibalizing established local operations, draining community grants, and increasing gambling harm among New Zealanders.
Casinoplusbonus Opinion
We have to look at the situation from both sides of the coin. We can see why Tab and SkyCity are concerned. They are domestic gambling companies operating in the New Zealand market. They’ve had the country’s regulated sports betting market mostly to themselves for years.
The threat of competition from multinational overseas entities is real, as profits will undoubtedly be affected with more brand names vying for New Zealand players. They also make a good point regarding overseas companies funneling money abroad.
On the other hand, if we look at the Ontario (Canada) and the UK iGaming markets, both seem to be doing quite well from overseas operators in their jurisdictions. Playtech, a UK company, could make the same argument, but we doubt it would be successful.
From a player’s perspective, we assume most will not be overly concerned about Tab and SkiCity’s profits or bottom line. Most Kiwis just want a fair and diverse iGaming market, and that would mean taking preference over 15 licensing certificates as opposed to 5 or 7.
While we are sure there will be plenty of New Zealand citizens who would prefer licensing certificates to be given to local companies, not just in the iGaming industry, but all industries within the country.
The NZ iGaming Licensing Timeline
| Date | News Headline |
|---|---|
| September 2024 – Talk of how a regulated market will affect New Zealand | |
| September 2023 – Talk of taxing overseas operators | New Zealand Overseas Casino Tax Plan |
| November 2022 – The First sign of regulating iGaming in New Zealand | Is a New Zealand Online Gambling Authority on the Horizon? |
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. We will also bring this topic up in our Gambling Regulations forum.
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