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The New Zealand government has released the final regulations for the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which will take effect on 3 July 2026.
The rules set strict requirements for licensed online casino operators and are being introduced ahead of the country’s licensing process. The regulations were issued via an Order in Council following advice from the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Operators will be required to provide mandatory tools allowing customers to set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on playtime, deposits, and total spending. These limits must be prompted at account creation and then reinforced monthly.
Changes to limits will be allowed, but only after a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period. Additional break-in-play protections will also be required, including a minimum five-minute break after 60 minutes of continuous play, time-out options ranging from 24 hours to three months, and pop-up alerts that display session information while temporarily pausing gameplay.
Players will also be able to self-exclude for fixed periods or indefinitely, with operators required to process these requests within 24 hours. Operators must additionally monitor for signs of problem gambling and may impose exclusions of up to two years where necessary.
Additionally, the regulations introduce enhanced verification requirements under strict identity and payment controls. All customers must confirm their full name, date of birth, and that they are at least 18 years old before account activation, and operators must also check for existing accounts or prior exclusions.
Key payment restrictions include a ban on credit-based gambling products, including credit cards linked to gambling use, a limit of one deposit method and one account per platform, and a 24-hour delay required for changes to deposit methods, while withdrawals may still be processed through different methods.
Operators are also required to maintain transparency standards, including providing accessible game information and retaining customer records for the duration of the customer relationship plus seven years.
The regulations also impose broad limits on gambling advertising. No advertising is allowed on front pages of print media or public transport spaces, and broadcast advertisements are banned during live events and within 30 minutes before and after broadcasts.
Sponsorships, endorsements, affiliate marketing, and inducement-based advertising are prohibited, along with personalised ads targeting increased gambling spend. Advertising must also avoid content that appeals to minors or reaches audiences where more than 20% are under 18. Direct marketing will require explicit consent or narrowly defined user preferences, with strict controls on frequency and content.
Operators will face additional product design and financial obligations, including a ban on autoplay features, a restriction limiting users to one online slot game at a time, limits on network progressive jackpots to licensed platforms, and prohibitions on game design features that encourage excessive or impulsive play.
Moreover, operators must also submit quarterly and annual reports covering player activity, usage data, and profits, and report serious incidents within five working days. A 3.5% quarterly levy on online gambling profits will be introduced, with penalties for late payment.
The Online Casino Gambling Bill, passed last month, allows up to 15 online casino licences to be issued through a competitive application process. The process will start with a NZ$19,000 (US$11,060) expression-of-interest fee, followed by auction and application stages.
Operators are already positioning for entry, with Entain signaling interest in up to three licences.