Offshore casinos NZ: the rules from 1 December 2026

What a Kahnawà:ke entry shows

The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission oversees gaming run from Kahnawà:ke, in Canada, and publishes a list of interactive permit holders. The list pairs each operator with the web addresses it runs and carries a note that not every address can be reached from every country, with a pointer to each site's own terms. All five sites named here sit under one holder, and the same company is on DIA's list of 11 entities with the right to apply for three NZ licences.

DIA has not said which brands, if any, would run under a licence. A listing in another country's register gives a site no standing under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026.

Providers already serving New Zealand

Providers already operating in New Zealand when the Act began may continue under its transitional provisions. DIA says no new provider can enter before the licensed market opens, and none of them may advertise to people in New Zealand.

Racing and sports betting is the exception: since June 2025 only TAB NZ may offer it, so overseas companies cannot.

From 1 December onward

A provider that has not applied for a licence must cease online casino gambling in New Zealand. One that has applied may continue without advertising until DIA decides, and if the application is declined it must exit.

Up to 15 licences are available. The 11 entities that won the auction, listed on the home page, are the ones that can operate under an exemption while they are assessed.

How offshore operators in NZ are expected to exit

DIA's guidance to providers leaving the market sets out four expectations:

• clear messages to customers about dates and how to withdraw;
• prompt return of all money owed, including balances and winnings;
• an end to New Zealand-facing activity;
• access restrictions, for example by IP address or GPS location.

Customers may still contact the provider, withdraw funds and close their account after access is restricted. A notice about the exit counts as ordinary communication, and DIA treats it as advertising only if it promotes online casino gambling.

Penalties

The prohibitions apply to providers anywhere in the world, and serious breaches can bring penalties of up to NZ$5 million. DIA can also issue takedown notices for unlawful advertisements, to anyone who publishes or arranges them.

Affiliate marketing and paid endorsements were among the first advertising decisions Cabinet confirmed for the regime.

Protection on an unlicensed site

DIA says people using an unlicensed platform do not receive the same player protections as at a licensed casino. Licensed casinos must offer limits, self-exclusion and live support, and complaints can go to the casino or to DIA.

Sources

• DIA: guidance for providers that must exit the market
• DIA: information for advertisers
• DIA: information for players