Beyond the player protection measures that New Zealand’s new Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 is set to bring in, the Act contains some of the strictest advertising rules in the world, too.
Under the Act, operators will be prohibited from targeting players under the age of 25, and there will be a full ban on influencer marketing, affiliate marketing, and jackpot advertising.
Bonus and promotional offers will also be capped at NZ$100 or 200% of a deposit, and direct marketing is restricted to registered users only. Adverts are not allowed to appear on the front pages of any print publications or on public transport, and newly-imposed broadcast restrictions ban gambling advertising during live events, as well as in the 30-minute windows before and after such events are aired.
New Zealand’s declared online casino revenue for the year ending 30 June 2025 reached a whopping NZ$520.8 million – and, don’t forget, until now, that money has mostly been flowing through offshore operators – with almost zero local oversight.
The new regulatory framework is a million miles from the previous position under which casinos based in New Zealand couldn’t secure local licences, but Kiwis were free to play at offshore sites. Starting later this year, that changes, and a limited number of licensees will be able to accept New Zealand players legally, with a lot of additional rules and regulations surrounding.
It remains to be seen how casino review comparison websites will adapt to the changes, but there’s clearly some uncertainty with how the new advertising rules will affect all types of online gambling businesses targeting New Zealand – and updates from the government will be eagerly awaited.
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Alex Smith