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Eleven entities secured rights to apply for New Zealand's 15 online casino licences at NZ$15 million each, with Stake among the successful bidders and the first licences expected in 2027.
New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs has completed the auction for the country's 15 online casino licences, with 11 entities securing the right to proceed to the final application stage.
The auction attracted 32 bidders and concluded after 10 rounds. The final price was NZ$15 million ($8.4 million) for each right to apply for a licence.
Stake New Zealand is among the successful participants, alongside companies connected with Super Group, Entain, SkyCity and other international and domestic gambling businesses.
Winning the auction does not mean the companies have received licences. Each successful bidder must now submit a full application and pass the DIA's suitability and compliance assessment.
Baytree Interactive Limited, a subsidiary of Betway owner Super Group, secured three rights to apply, the maximum available to a single entity under the licensing process.
Playvia Gaming (NZ) Limited, which is wholly owned within the Entain group, secured two rights.
Rock Swift Group Limited also received two rights.
SkyCity secured two positions through separate entities, SkyCity NZ Online NO1 Limited and SkyCity NZ Online NO2 Limited.
The remaining individual rights went to Stake New Zealand Limited, TAB New Zealand, One Casino Limited, Skill On Net Limited, Rush Entertainment Limited and Christchurch Online NZ Limited.
The DIA has not disclosed which consumer brands the applicants intend to use.
Each licence will cover one brand, and applicants can still change their proposed brand during the application process. Approved brands will only be published on the DIA's public register after licences are granted.
Entain has a particularly notable position in the new market.
Its subsidiary Playvia Gaming (NZ) secured two rights directly, while TAB New Zealand separately secured another.
The TAB right belongs to TAB New Zealand rather than Entain. However, Entain operates TAB NZ's day-to-day betting and broadcasting activities under a 25-year strategic partnership that began in 2023.
That relationship gives Entain commercial exposure to a third potential online casino operation if TAB's application is ultimately approved.
TAB NZ also occupies a unique position because New Zealand law gives it the exclusive legal right to offer racing and sports betting to people in the country.
Other online casino licensees will not receive sports betting rights through the casino licensing process.
That could give the TAB and Entain partnership a potential cross-selling advantage between regulated sports betting and online casino products, although the DIA has not yet disclosed the proposed casino brand or operating structure.
Stake New Zealand also secured one right to apply.
Its inclusion gives the international gambling brand a route into New Zealand's regulated online casino market, subject to completing the full licensing assessment.
The DIA will require successful auction participants to provide a business plan as well as detailed strategies covering advertising, consumer protection, harm prevention, compliance and other regulatory requirements.
The department must be satisfied that each applicant is suitable and capable of complying with the Online Casino Gambling Act before granting a licence.
The NZ$15 million auction payment therefore buys access to the application process rather than guaranteeing market entry.
New Zealand's new online casino regime is being introduced in stages.
From December 1, 2026, operators that have not submitted a licence application must stop offering online casino gambling to New Zealand customers.
Companies with applications under assessment can continue operating under a transitional exemption, but without advertising, until the DIA makes a decision.
The fully licensed regime is expected to become operational in 2027.
Licences can initially run for up to three years, with the possibility of renewal for a further five years.
The auction results significantly narrow the future competitive landscape. From 32 bidders, only the holders of the 15 application rights now have a pathway toward joining New Zealand's regulated online casino market.
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Eleven entities secured rights to apply for New Zealand's 15 online casino licences at NZ$15 million each, with Stake among the successful bidders and the first licences expected in 2027.
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