Expression of interest opening dates confirmed

3 July 2026

Expression of interest dates are now confirmed

It has now been confirmed that stage 1 of the three-stage licensing process: expression of interest will be publicly notified on 16 July 2026 and open on 17 July 2026.

Interested online casino providers must submit their completed expression of interest no later than 11:59pm NZT on 14 August 2026.

Only providers who have an accepted expression of interest will be able to participate in the auction at stage 2 of the licensing process.

Start preparing now

Now that the opening date of the EOI has been formally announced, we strongly encourage online casino providers who wish to submit an expression of interest to start preparing the relevant documents and information required.

The full requirements are outlined in the expression of interest guidance document, which should be read alongside our recently updated Q&As document. We are in the process of updating this document to include further answers to questions that have been submitted through the online Q&A form.

Entity documents

A reminder that for each entity submitting an expression of interest, the following documents will need to be provided:

entity documentation (for example certificate of incorporation, trust documents, constitution, articles of association, memorandum of association and any amendment documents or any other incorporation or establishment document)
a diagram of current ownership structure which shows equity and control percentages and is both signed and dated by a key officer within the last six months from the date the complete expression of interest package is submitted
a diagram of the management structure
documentation that verifies the amount and source(s) of capital available
certified credit check or report from a legitimate organisation, dated within 90 days of the date the complete expression of interest package is submitted.

Key officer documents

For each key officer the following documents and information will need to be provided:

certified photographic identification
criminal record check (one from every jurisdiction where the key officer has spent more than six consecutive months within the past five years)
certified credit check or report from a legitimate organisation, dated within 90 days of the date the complete expression of interest package is submitted.

Sign up for GETS

We also strongly recommend that interested providers register now on the Government Electronic Tenders (GETS) website. This is the platform where all three stages of the licensing process will be conducted.

Instructions for how to register for GETS

Update on timelines

With the expression of interest date confirmed, we can also confirm the timeline for the coming weeks:

Friday 3 July: Online Casino Gambling Regulations 2026 come into force.
Tuesday 7 July: Minimum Standards relating to online casino gambling technology will be published.
Friday 17 July: expressions of interest open.

Detailed guidance packs which provide a comprehensive overview of the legislation, regulations, and Minimum Standards are expected to be published this month.

A note on the regulations coming into force

While the regulations come into force on 3 July, it’s important to note most of the obligations in the regulations apply only to operators who hold a licence. As such, providers who can operate during the transitional market do not need to meet the obligations in the regulations.

The regulations were released soon after the passing of the Act to give certainty to providers wanting to pursue a licence, while also setting fees and levies ahead of the commencement of the three-stage licensing process.

Supporting the transition to a licensed market

We’ve received a number of questions about what restrictions will apply to providers successful at auction as they move from the current transitional market, through the exemption period, and into the licensed market.

Specifically, we’ve had enquiries from a number of organisations that currently provide more than one brand to customers in New Zealand asking what will happen if they choose, or are required, to reduce the number of brands offered.

Our intent

Upon the conclusion of the auction, we will work with the up to 15 auction winners (who have been invited to apply for a licence under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026) on how we can support them to transition their platform and existing customers to the soon-to-be-established licensed market. This will be happening in the context of unsuccessful providers being supported to exit the New Zealand market before 1 December.

For some providers this may require a consolidation of brands. We note that it is in our mutual interests, and the success of a well-functioning regulated market, that during this period customers are not lost to the unlicensed market.

Background

Most of the obligations in the legislation and regulations only apply to operators who hold a licence to conduct online casino gambling. As such, providers who can operate during the transitional market do not need to meet the obligations on operators (including regulations relating to harm minimisation, consumer protection, and advertising and marketing).

The only obligation on providers operating in the transitional market is not to advertise. This is because advertising without a licence is prohibited under section 10 of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. Operators may advertise once they hold a licence.

If a provider is consolidating brands in the New Zealand market during the transitional period, it is unlawful for them to encourage consumers to shift from one platform to another. This is because doing so would meet the test of notifying the availability of online casino gambling, which in turn meets the test of advertising.

We are expecting to issue licences from early 2027. Licensed operators will need to comply with all legislation and regulations including regulations relating to harm minimisation, consumer protection, and advertising and marketing.

Our approach

To support the up to 15 providers who have been successful at auction to consolidate their brands, if relevant, we:

propose to publish statements the Department's website, and
may also request the providers, on the Secretary’s behalf, publish a pre-approved statement on their platforms and through an email to their existing customers.

Statement published on the Department's website

These statements, individual or grouped together on the basis of ownership structure, will:

note the provider has been successful at auction, has been invited to apply for a licence, and can continue to operate
identify the brands the provider intends to operate under its licence(s)
link to the provider’s platform(s), if they already exist in the transitional New Zealand market, and
identify, with the provider’s consent, related brands that will exit the New Zealand market.

We will also publish a statement that summarises all potential operators.

Statement published by providers on the Secretary’s behalf

The content of this statement will need to be pre-approved, and may vary depending on whether a brand is exiting the New Zealand market or can continue to operate. For example, it may:

note the brand is exiting the New Zealand market
identify a related brand that can lawfully continue in the New Zealand market
link to the continuing brand’s platform
link to verify this statement on the Department’s website.

We will work with individual providers who are successful at auction to optimise the content of the statements for their unique arrangements.

None of these statements are covered by the definition of advertising, as they are “communication by or on behalf of the Secretary in relation to online casino gambling”. We consider that this would not be promoting the availability of online casino gambling, but ensuring customers are presented communication from the regulator.

Ngā mihi nui,
Trina Lowry
Programme Director - Online Gambling Implementation