<!-- wp:html --><p>New Zealand is preparing to regulate online gambling for the first time, with the government set to auction 15 online casino licenses. However, concerns have been raised that large offshore companies will dominate the market, leaving local operators struggling to compete. The shift, expected to take effect in February 2026, marks a significant change in New Zealand’s approach to internet gambling. Offshore Companies Expected to Secure Majority of Licenses Under the new regulatory framework, operators must obtain a government-issued license to offer online casino gambling to New Zealanders. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has indicated that most of these licenses are likely to be secured by offshore firms rather than domestic operators. “We don’t have a huge online gambling market, so I would expect that it’s mainly offshore providers,” van Velden stated; she noted that the competitive nature of the licensing system could allow for changes over time, with new entrants able to challenge existing operators if they prove&hellip; <a href="https://www.casinonewsdaily.com/blog/2025/03/17/offshore-firms-likely-to-dominate-new-zealands-new-online-gambling-market/" target="_blank" class="feedzy-rss-link-icon">Read More</a></p>
<p>Category: News </p>
<p>Source: Casino News Daily</p><!-- /wp:html -->