According to a recent report by iGamingBusiness, New Zealand’s government has committed NZ$81 million (US$49 million) to reduce gambling harm, its largest investment in this space to date.
But beneath the surface of this public health move lies something much more significant: New Zealand is preparing for the launch of a fully legal iGaming market by 2026.
So is this just about treatment and prevention? Or is the country preparing for a bigger, more controlled future in online gambling, one where players, operators, and possibly even crypto users are finally brought into the light?
A tipping point for gambling policy
Announced by Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey, this three-year plan includes more support services, new clinical internships, and earlier interventions.
But more importantly, it reflects a broader shift. For the first time, the government openly acknowledges that online gambling isn’t going away - it’s evolving, and it needs better rules.
New Zealand’s 2003 Gambling Act mandates harm reduction as a core responsibility. But back in 2003, online casinos weren’t flooding Kiwi devices the way they are now.
Offshore brands like JackpotCityCasino, Casumo, Spincasino, and LeoVegas have been operating in this legal grey zone for years, capturing large slices of the local market without being held to NZ standards or taxes.
That’s about to change.
Legal iGaming incoming: a $500M market
Set to launch in 2026, New Zealand’s first-ever licensed iGaming market could be worth NZ$500 million (US$300.8 million) annually, according to legal estimates. Major international operators, such as Bet365, 888, and Betway, are already circling, preparing to enter once licensing becomes available.
Until now, only Lotto NZ and TAB NZ had the legal right to operate online gambling in New Zealand. Everything else, like crypto casinos, foreign online slots, and live roulette games hosted in Malta, has existed outside domestic regulation. While players could technically access them, they did so without local protections.
By investing NZ$81 million now, the government isn’t just reducing harm but building the infrastructure needed to launch a legal, regulated, and hopefully safer digital gambling system.
