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How Will New Zealand's Impending Regulation Impact the Best Online Casinos?

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Last update: 07 Nov 2024, 11:42

How Will New Zealand’s Impending Regulation Impact the Best Online Casinos?

Courtesy of its fuzzy legislative framework, New Zealand has been a no man’s land for online gambling since it became a thing back in the early 2000s. The 2003 Gambling Act reined the land-based casino landscape, but the online casino scene remains a gray area. The NZ players are free to register their accounts and play at the best overseas sites, barring the age restrictions put in place by the Act.

However, that’s all about to change come 2026. Earlier this year, the Government announced new regulations that would transform how online gambling operates in New Zealand. As per reports and official statements, new legislation will introduce a new licensing system for online gambling, bring more jobs, and yield more revenue into the state budget. 

But what exactly does this mean for NZ players and the best online casinos as ranked and reviewed by experts? Let’s find out.

The Current State of Online Gambling in NZ

Online gambling is not strictly legal in New Zealand, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play on internationally licensed online casinos. The most recent and most extensive piece of regulation (the aforementioned Gambling Act) brought several forms of gambling under a single legal umbrella, issuing licenses to land-based casinos and regulating the operation of pokies inside pubs and clubs. However, the Act never touched on online casinos in any legislative capacity, forcing NZ players to try their luck offshore.

This was both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, they have had access to some of the finest online platforms worldwide. On the other hand, they can easily fall prey to shady platforms and elaborate scams if not careful. A mistake easily avoidable by sticking to tried and trusted online casinos, but many players learned the lesson the hard way.

How Will the New Regulation Affect Player Experience?

To put an end to this legal gray area, New Zealand authorities are coming up with a new set of laws that would regulate online casinos and bring some order. The legislation is expected to kick in as early as 2026 and will include a limited number of licenses distributed by way of auction. Needless to say, the new legal framework will drastically impact player experience. Some of the changes you can expect include:

More Security: online casino regulation is sure to boost player safety, providing a more robust data protection system and more secure payment channels.

Improved Game Fairness: Players can expect less variance in terms of game RNG, which is ensured through regular fairness audits.

Age Restriction: The most recent reports suggest that the age restriction for online gambling will be 18. 

Limited Gaming Options: Only a limited number of licenses will be issued at first, meaning that gambling options may be limited at first.

Impact on the New Zealand Casino Sites

The new law is still a work in progress, and it will no doubt change the game rules for platforms that are looking to break into the new market. To test the waters from their end, the government officials opened up on some of the law's aspects:

License Compliance: Casinos wishing to offer services to Kiwis will need to apply for special online gambling licenses. Licenses will only be valid for online casino gaming and not sports betting.

Advertisement Rights: contrary to the current situation, casinos will have advertisement rights, albeit strictly limited.

Bonus and Promo Changes: Given the stringent licensing process and fees included, casinos might need to cut back on some of their bonus promotions.

What Can New Zealand Players Expect from New Legislation?

With the new legislation on the horizon, the very best online casinos currently available in the country are gearing up for impending changes in the regulatory framework. Although some services, such as bonus offerings, might take a slight hit, players can expect improved data security, more consistent gameplay quality, and improvements in the payment department. Until then, make sure to do your homework and stick to the best online casinos.