Entain, SkyCity, Stake Among 11 Bidders for New Zealand Gaming License

New Zealand has selected 11 gambling operators to be eligible to apply for online casino licenses after a competitive auction, moving the country one step closer to establishing its regulated iGaming market. Stake, Entain, Betway and SkyCity are among the successful bidders for the 15 licenses on offer. New Zealand Online Casino Auction Awards 15 Application Rights The results were announced on October 13 by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). The auction drew 32 bidders and went on for 10 rounds before ending with a final price of NZD15 million ($8.4 million) per license. The successful applicants were granted 15 application rights. However, winning a spot in the auction is not a guarantee of regulatory approval. Betway operator Baytree Interactive won three application rights. Entain’s Playvia Gaming (NZ) Limited received two, and Rock Swift Group received two as well. SkyCity will apply for online casino licenses under two separate entities, SkyCity NZ Online NO1 and SkyCity NZ Online NO2. Also moving forward were Stake New Zealand, Christchurch Online NZ, One Casino, Rush Entertainment, Skill On Net and TAB New Zealand. In Australia, Entain owns the brands Ladbrokes and Neds, and has a long-standing presence in New Zealand through TAB. If it succeeds, it could allow the company to expand beyond sports betting and into online casino gaming. Stake is meanwhile pushing ahead with more international growth in regulated markets. Founded by Australian billionaire Ed Craven and his business partner Bijan Tehrani, the company has been expanding its licensing footprint across a number of jurisdictions in recent years. The New Zealand opportunity would offer yet another avenue into a market where online casino gambling is shifting from largely unregulated activity into formal government oversight. New Zealand Online Casino Licenses Expected in Early 2027 Successful bidders will then pay the NZD15 million ($8.4 million) fee and submit detailed applications. These need to set out their business operations, advertising strategies, consumer safeguards and plans to prevent and minimize gambling-related harm. Regulators will also consider information provided during the earlier expression-of-interest process. They will determine whether each applicant can meet the country’s legal and operational standards before issuing any license. The framework sets strict player protection requirements. Operators will be required to publish rules on daily, weekly and monthly gambling limits, mandatory breaks during extended sessions and self-exclusion options. Credit cards are also banned for gambling payments, as are certain advertising practices. These measures are part of a wider New Zealand effort to bring offshore and unlicensed casino activity into a regulated market. The licensing process also provides an important deadline for those operators already serving New Zealand customers. As of December 1, 2026, providers that have not submitted a license application will have to cease providing online casino gambling in the country. They can advertize while their applications are being processed, but cannot advertize during the transitional arrangements period. New Zealand is hoping to begin issuing licenses in early 2027. Each license will be for a single brand for an initial term of up to three years, renewable for a period of up to five years. The reform could transform the country’s online gambling industry by creating a legal channel for approved operators to serve domestic customers. It also puts New Zealand among a handful of Asia-Pacific markets that are moving toward comprehensive regulation of online casino gaming.