New Zealand Names Operators Eligible for Casino Licences
Entain, Stake, Betway and SkyCity are among 11 companies cleared for the second licensing stage.
Alissa Bergman
New Zealand has listed 11 operators that have secured the right to apply for any of the 15 online casino licences under its new regulatory framework.
The full list of companies:
- Betway (Baytree Interactive Ltd)
- Entain (Playvia Gaming Ltd)
- Rock Swift Group Ltd
- Christchurch Online NZ Ltd
- One Casino Ltd
- Rush Entertainment Ltd
- Skill On Net Ltd
- SkyCity NZ Online NO1 Ltd
- SkyCity NZ Online NO2 Ltd
- Stake New Zealand Ltd
- TAB New Zealand
The winners came out of a 10-round auction among 32 participants, with the winning bid at NZ$15 million per license. The parent company of Betway, Baytree Interactive, won three rights to apply, and Entain’s Playvia Gaming and Rock Swift Group each secured two.
Winning an auction, however, does not guarantee a licence. The companies must now submit detailed applications to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), including business plans and information on marketing, consumer protection, harm minimisation and regulatory compliance.
A key deadline is December 1, 2026, when operators that have not applied must cease offering online casino gambling in New Zealand. Companies with applications under consideration may continue operating during the transition, but cannot advertise their services.
The fully licensed market is expected to become operational in 2027.
Licensing is a significant step in New Zealand’s effort to bring online casino gambling under a regulatory framework and paves the way for a more tightly controlled and competitive market in the future.
