NZ Licensed Online Casinos
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 creates New Zealand's first domestic online casino licensing regime. The DIA will issue up to 15 licences. The market opens 1 December 2026. This page tracks confirmed licence holders as they are announced.
Key dates
1 May 2026
Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 in force
July 2026
DIA publishes regulations — licence applications open
1 December 2026
NZ-licensed online casino market officially opens
1 June 2027
Unlicensed operators prohibited from serving NZ players
DIA licence tracker
Licence applications are open from July 2026. Confirmed licence holders will appear here as the DIA publishes its register. The market officially opens 1 December 2026.
Awaiting DIA register — opens 1 December 2026
The DIA will publish a public register of all licensed operators. KiwiCasinoRank will list every confirmed licence holder here as they are announced, with links to our full reviews.
Casinos we currently review
These casinos are reviewed on KiwiCasinoRank and currently hold international licences (Curaçao). Playing at these sites is legal for NZ residents until 1 June 2027. We will update each profile when DIA licence status is confirmed.
Casino Heroes
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) — Hero Gaming Ltd
What a DIA licence means for NZ players
When the market opens in December 2026, DIA-licensed operators will need to meet standards that offshore Curaçao-licensed casinos are not currently required to meet in New Zealand.
Mandatory responsible gambling tools
DIA licensees must offer deposit limits, time limits, self-exclusion and cooling-off periods. Operators must also integrate with the national self-exclusion register, so a single exclusion request covers all licensed operators.
NZ-specific player dispute resolution
Players will have access to a formal NZ dispute resolution process — an improvement over the current position, where disputes with offshore operators go to overseas gambling regulators.
Local tax and compliance obligations
Licensed operators will pay NZ tax on gross gaming revenue, funding problem gambling services. This keeps a portion of casino revenue within the NZ economy rather than entirely offshore.
Advertising and marketing restrictions
DIA licensees must comply with NZ advertising standards for gambling, including restrictions on advertising to problem gamblers and marketing near schools. Offshore operators are currently outside these standards.
How DIA licences are awarded
The DIA does not issue licences on a first-come-first-served basis. Applications are assessed against the following criteria:
- 1
Financial soundness
Applicants must demonstrate adequate capitalisation and financial stability to meet player obligations.
- 2
Responsible gambling systems
Operators must show they have the technical infrastructure to enforce mandatory harm minimisation tools from day one.
- 3
Integrity and compliance history
Existing licence history, AML/CFT compliance, and any prior regulatory actions are assessed. Operators with serious international compliance failures are unlikely to be approved.
- 4
NZ player protection infrastructure
Dispute resolution processes, player fund segregation and integration with the national self-exclusion register are all assessed.
Up to 15 licences will be issued. KiwiCasinoRank will update this page as the DIA publishes decisions.
Which reviewed casinos might apply for a DIA licence?
No operator has publicly confirmed a DIA application at the time of writing. The table below is Emma's assessment based on each casino's compliance history, responsible gambling infrastructure, and track record — not a formal prediction.
| Casino | Licence | Operating since | DIA readiness signal | Emma's note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Casino | Curaçao | 2021 | NZD native, player limits, dispute named | Strongest local infrastructure signal in our set |
| V.Vegas | Curaçao | 2016 | NZD native, POLi, 8-year track record | Long track record; strong NZ-first positioning |
| FastPay Casino | Tobique + Anjouan | 2018 | Payout speed infrastructure strong; lighter licence | Tobique/Anjouan licence may require upgrade to qualify |
| BitStarz | Curaçao | 2014 | Excellent Trustpilot; longest track record | Strong compliance history; EUR-based may need NZD adaptation |
| Slotoro | Curaçao | 2023 | New operator; limited track record | Too new to assess DIA compliance readiness |
| Cashy | Curaçao | 2025 | Very new; 0× wagering model distinctive | Launched 2025 — track record too short for DIA assessment |
| FS Casino | Curaçao | 2019 | SoftSwiss network; established operator | SoftSwiss platform compliance may accelerate DIA readiness |
| HitnSpin | Curaçao | 2020 | SoftSwiss network; NZ-facing | SoftSwiss network operator; likely DIA assessment similar to FS Casino |
| Verde Casino | Curaçao | 2020 | SoftSwiss network; established | SoftSwiss operator — same DIA readiness assessment as sibling sites |
This table is Emma's independent assessment based on publicly available information and review scoring. It is not based on operator disclosures and will be updated when DIA application confirmations are published.
What NZ players should do: now vs December 2026
Now — before December 2026
- • Play at licensed offshore casinos (Curaçao) — legal for NZ residents until June 2027.
- • Check each casino holds a verifiable licence number in its footer.
- • Set deposit and session limits — DIA-mandated tools may not yet be in place at offshore operators.
- • Note which casino you use so you can check its DIA status when the register opens.
After December 2026 — DIA market open
- ✓ Prefer DIA-licensed casinos — NZ consumer law, local dispute resolution, NZ tax contribution.
- ✓ Check the DIA public register to verify any casino's licence.
- ✓ Unlicensed offshore casinos are prohibited from accepting NZ players from 1 June 2027.
- ✓ KiwiCasinoRank will review DIA-licensed operators using the same published scoring method.
Frequently asked questions
Can NZ players still use offshore casinos after June 2027?
Will existing offshore casino accounts still be valid?
How do I know if a casino holds a DIA licence?
Are the offshore casinos reviewed on this site legal to use now?
About the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026
The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 27 April 2026 and came into force on 1 May 2026. It creates a domestic online casino licensing regime administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
The DIA will issue up to 15 licences through a competitive process assessing compliance infrastructure, responsible gambling systems, and financial soundness. Licences are not issued on a first-come-first-served basis.
From 1 June 2027, operators without a DIA licence are prohibited from accepting NZ players. Until then, Curaçao-licensed operators remain legal for NZ residents to use.