All casinos listed on Online.Casino hold at least one valid license from a recognized authority.Unlicensed operators have no external oversight on game fairness, player fund handling, or dispute resolution. Our blacklisted casinos page covers operators we have reviewed and do not recommend. If an online casino is unlicensed in New Zealand, you may have limited access to dispute resolution and weaker responsible gambling measures.
Providers should ensure they are complying with all current legal requirements while the new regime is implemented. Your compliance history may be taken into account as part of the licensing process. If it passes, it will proceed to Select Committee later this year, where it will receive public submissions. If passed, the new licensing regime is proposed to come into effect in early 2026. Below are the licensing authorities most commonly held by operators on this site.
Requirements for licensed operators
At CasinoList.co.nz, transparency is at the core of our content, and we strive to provide a trustworthy platform where Kiwi players can make informed decisions. We deliver factual and unbiased information without unnecessary hype or hidden agendas, so you can feel confident that you are safe if you follow our recommendations. Not all casinos that offer financial compensation actually make the cut on our website, especially if we have any doubts regarding their safety. We first start out our casino review process by looking for licenses at the NZ online gambling site. We check for the regulatory body, and we make sure the license is active. We look for SSL encryption algorithms to make sure that your information is safe from all data breaches.
We check which testing certification an operator carries as part of our review process. These are the steps most recognized authorities require from operators. They are also the areas we check when we verify a casino for our lists. How DIA application intent factors into our pre-licensing trust scores, and what changes once licences issue.
The Regulator will retain discretion to set fees either as a fixed percentage or a flat fee, depending on market conditions. Online.Casino notes where Anjouan is an operator’s only license and reflects this in the Safety section of the review. Players get a clear picture before signing up.The government of Anjouan in the Comoros archipelago issues these licenses. They are legitimate but carry less regulatory oversight than the UKGC or MGA, with limited dispute resolution provisions. Our blacklisted casinos page covers operators that have lost licenses or accumulated verified player complaints that we no longer recommend. We display the confirmed license for each operator on the casino card in our top lists and in the Safety section of every full review.
- This is why casinos without a formal license typically rely on cryptocurrency as their only banking option.
- The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) requires all 15 authorised operators to clearly display a mandatory registration icon on their websites and in any permitted advertising.
- A logo in a casino’s footer alone is not proof of a current, valid license.
- Until the DIA register is live and lists an operator, treat every claim of a New Zealand licence as unverified.
- Higher licensing costs generally correlate with stricter oversight and stronger player protections.
- We use our editorial expertise in this industry and write full bonus guides, breaking down every finding for you to understand better.
Tax, duties and where the money goes
- Each entry links to our operator review or the public statement behind its status.
- We open real accounts,deposit our own New Zealand dollars and time every withdrawal — then publish what we found,including the parts that cost us commission.
- Players should use operators permitted to provide betting services in New Zealand and avoid unlicensed providers that fall outside local consumer protections.
- Setting firm deposit and session limits before you play can help reduce the risk of losing more money or spending more time gambling than intended.
- Applicants face DIA assessment on capital (a NZ$7.5m minimum just to enter), probity with a seven-year lookback, AML/CTF compliance, and harm minimisation.
However, the Gambling Act does not prohibit New Zealanders from accessing offshore gambling websites. The new Bill seeks to close this regulatory gap by establishing a controlled licensing regime for domestic online casino operations. This enables gambling revenue to be brought back into New Zealand under a regulated framework which allows for local oversight and better consumer protections.
What does a New Zealand licence mean for players?
It has a rich history and has evolved to include different variants over time. However, have stuck with the classic American and European versions of roulette. CasinoList firmly opposes underage gambling, never promoting it to younger audiences. We focus on providing support for parents, offering tips on prevention and guiding them to specialized therapy organizations for the help their children might need. CasinoList fully endorse 20Bet Casino’s promo codes and present you an overview on the offers currently available for new and established gamblers.
At this stage, online casino gambling advertising is prohibited in New Zealand. Online casinos must not advertise online casino gambling services to New Zealand customers. While the Act is in force, the full licensed online casino gambling regime is not expected to be fully operational until 2027.
Finalised regulations and guidance on how to comply will be published in mid-2026. The Secretary must not grant a licence unless the provider has demonstrated this suitability. Because the price changes in steps, the final price clearly reflects what the remaining participants are willing to pay. This helps us to ensure the outcome is seen as fair, consistent and robust, and gives confidence that the price has been set through a transparent competitive process. An ascending clock auction is a way of setting a price when there are multiple interested buyers. Successful bidders from the auction will shortly be able to submit full licence applications.
Submit games for testing
This gives players a direct channel if a complaint cannot be resolved with the casino directly. Using an unlicensed offshore casino is not an offence for individual players. For most recreational players, gambling winnings are generally not subject littleseedssurf.com to New Zealand income tax.
Consumer protection groups and advertising agencies may also wish to engage, given the Bill’s emphasis on harm minimisation and responsible marketing. Each licence will be tied to a specific brand, website, or platform, with operators restricted to holding no more than three licences in total. Licences will be non-transferable, and any change in brand ownership or structure will trigger a reassessment by the Regulator.
A logo in a casino’s footer alone is not proof of a current, valid license. The UKGC and MGA set high standards on player protections, fund segregation, and dispute resolution. Lighter-touch authorities like Curaçao, Anjouan, and Costa Rica have lower entry requirements and less active enforcement. Online.Casino checks every license directly against the issuing authority’s public registry before listing a casino.
Offshore gambling duty
We verify that the application process was completed and the license is current before any casino appears on Online.Casino. According to our guide, there are various types of blackjack hands, all of which serve different purposes in the blackjack casino game. To get an edge when playing , you must learn about the blackjack hands and how they work. The CasinoList editorial team has covered some of the most common hands you will find when you play blackjack online. Every figure below was checked against the operator or a licensed source. I have been following this programme since the Bill stage and updating this page as each milestone moves.
The auction has concluded, with 11 entities winning the right to apply for an online casino gambling licence. Access to New Zealand market insights was one of the most requested resources by those interested in gaining a licence to conduct online casino gambling in New Zealand. In doing so, they establish a robust and balanced framework to protect consumers, reduce gambling related harm, and ensure online casino gambling operates in a safe, fair and responsible way in New Zealand. During this transition period, regulatory systems, the licensing process, and operational requirements will be progressively introduced. This staged approach allows time to establish licensing arrangements, assess applicants, and ensure that regulatory, harm minimisation and compliance systems are in place before the regime is fully implemented. If an operator loses its license, we update the listing immediately.
The Gambling Act 2003 regulates those who conduct or promote gambling and creates no offence of participating in overseas online gambling. The operator side is now licensed under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which came into force on 1 May 2026. This approach gives effect to the legislative framework through an implementation process that produces effective consumer protection, responsible gambling and regulatory compliance. The 2026 rules reshape the playing experience itself, not just who holds a licence.