Online gambling regulation in New Zealand

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), with roles also for Gambling Commission, New Zealand Lotteries Commission and Ministry of Health. Mixed model. Checked 2026-09-21.

Advertising unlicensed gambling banned: Yes
Public licence register: Not confirmed
Online casino: Licensed
Online sports betting: Monopoly

Casino, sports betting, poker and more

Casino-style remote gambling is generally prohibited from NZ operation; sports betting is more permissive and has long been available via licensed/approved channels; poker is treated separately offline in casinos, while online poker falls under the remote-interactive gambling ban.

Product	Status	What that means
Online casino	Licensed	—
Online sports betting	Monopoly	—
Online poker	Restricted	Offline poker is legal in licensed casinos; online poker is prohibited for NZ operators under the Gambling Act 2003, while offshore play is not clearly prosecuted.
Sweepstakes and social casinos	Not confirmed	Unconfirmed in provided sources; no clear NZ-specific sweepstakes/social casino rule identified, though prize-based gambling products can be restricted if they constitute remote interactive gambling.
Prediction markets	Not confirmed	Unconfirmed here; NZ betting/gambling law may treat them as gambling or financial products depending on structure, but no source confirms status.
Mystery boxes	Unregulated	Gambling Act 2003 remote interactive gambling ban; no specific loot-box/mystery-box rule found. 2026 DIA guidance treats online gambling only.

Advertising unlicensed gambling in New Zealand

Prohibited. Advertising overseas gambling prohibited under s16 Gambling Act 2003; Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 increases enforcement powers and pecuniary penalties for unlawful online casino advertising.

Publishing or arranging to publish overseas gambling advertisements in New Zealand is an offence; penalties increased for online casino advertising from 1 May 2026.

Regulator and law

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), with roles also for Gambling Commission, New Zealand Lotteries Commission and Ministry of Health — www.dia.govt.nz

Gambling Act 2003; Racing Industry Act 2020 (as amended June 2025); Online Casino Gambling Act 2026.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Monopoly.

Checking a licence

We could not confirm a public register. DIA references Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 and regulations but no explicit public online casino licence register located.

How the black market is fought

takedown notices for unlawful online casino advertising
pecuniary penalties up to NZD 5m for unlawful advertising
criminal offence to publish overseas gambling advertisements
monopoly enforcement against non‑TAB online sports/racing betting

Advertising rules for licensed operators

Overseas (unlicensed) gambling advertising within New Zealand is prohibited
Only licensed online casino operators (up to 15) may advertise to people in New Zealand from early 2027
Gambling advertisements must comply with ASA Gambling Advertising Code, including harm‑minimisation requirements
Only TAB NZ may promote online racing and sports betting to persons in New Zealand

Recent developments

June 2025 amendments to Racing Industry Act 2020 give TAB NZ exclusive right to online racing and sports betting for NZ customers
Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 in force 1 May 2026, creating licensing regime and new enforcement powers for online casinos
Licensing of up to 15 online casino operators expected to be completed in early 2027; Lotto NZ and TAB NZ remain outside this regime

Questions

Is it illegal to advertise unlicensed gambling in New Zealand?

Yes. Advertising overseas gambling prohibited under s16 Gambling Act 2003; Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 increases enforcement powers and pecuniary penalties for unlawful online casino advertising. Publishing or arranging to publish overseas gambling advertisements in New Zealand is an offence; penalties increased for online casino advertising from 1 May 2026.

Who regulates online gambling in New Zealand?

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), with roles also for Gambling Commission, New Zealand Lotteries Commission and Ministry of Health. The main law is Gambling Act 2003; Racing Industry Act 2020 (as amended June 2025); Online Casino Gambling Act 2026..

How can I check whether a gambling operator is licensed in New Zealand?

DIA references Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 and regulations but no explicit public online casino licence register located.

What we could not confirm

Exact section numbers for increased penalties and takedown powers under Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 not confirmed
Whether DIA will publish a real‑time public whitelist of licensed online casino operators not clearly stated
Precise cross‑references between Gambling Act 2003 s16 and Online Casino Gambling Act penalty uplifts not fully visible
Whether offshore online poker play by NZ residents is expressly legal or merely unenforced
Whether New Zealand has a specific 2026 online casino/poker licensing regime in force
Exact legal treatment of sweepstakes/social casinos in New Zealand
Exact legal treatment of prediction markets in New Zealand
Exact legal treatment of loot boxes/mystery boxes in New Zealand

Sources

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.