AUSTRALASIA
JARROD TRUE ASKS HOW MUCH WILL THEY FETCH AT AUCTION? WHO WILL BID? AND WHEN WILL THE LICENCES BE GRANTED? New Zealand set to auction 15 online casino gambling licences
Introduction New Zealand’s gambling economy is a mixed one combining a state-run lottery, Lotto NZ; a horse racing and sports betting monopoly, the Totaliser Agency Board or TAB NZ run under a franchise arrangement with Entain; land based casinos; and slot machines, commonly known as pokies. To this mix is being added licensed online casino gambling. This move will bring onshore an activity that has been established for many years offshore. It is currently legal for New Zealanders to gamble on foreign sites but illegal to run an online casino operation from New Zealand. This article discusses the factors that will impact the price paid at auction for a licence, and outlines what the licensing system will look like.
15 online gambling licences to be allocated by auction The New Zealand Government announced in November 2024 that it will grant 15 online gambling licences. It is expected that the licensing system will be passed into law before the end of 2025. The licences will be allocated by auction and the vetting and auction process is scheduled to start in February 2026. It is anticipated that licensed providers will be able to commence trading from April 2026.
Who will bid?
The number of bidders will have an impact on the ultimate
PAGE 36
IMGL MAGAZINE | JUNE 2025
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker