Australia’s Online Keno Ban: What’s Actually Being Banned
Kayla McBrien • Oct 1, 2026 
Reviewed By Mason Heaton
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Mason Heaton
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Mason Heaton is a seasoned iGaming specialist and digital publishing strategist with more than a decade of hands-on experience…
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New Zealand online casino licence auction is live, and Australian-linked brands are reportedly in the bidding. New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) started the auction on Tuesday 29 September 2026. Up to 15 operators can win the right to apply for a licence.
The DIA has not named the bidders. Even so, trade reports point to Entain, which owns Ladbrokes and Neds in Australia, plus Dabble and Stake. Here’s what the auction means, and what it doesn’t.
Long Story Short: New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction
- The DIA opened the auction on Tuesday 29 September 2026 for up to 15 online casino licences
- Each licence covers one brand, lasts up to three years, and no operator can win more than three
- Entain, Dabble, Stake and SkyCity are reportedly interested, though the DIA has not published a bidder list
- Operators without an application lodged must stop serving New Zealand from 1 December 2026
- New Zealand’s licence changes do not alter Australia’s own online gambling rules
What Is the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction?
It’s an unusual entry in Australian gambling news because it starts across the Tasman. The auction decides who may apply for a licence. However, it does not hand out finished licences.
Specifically, the DIA uses an ascending clock auction. The price rises in steps, and every bidder sees the same price at once. Then bidders drop out once the price passes what they will pay.
How the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction Works
The DIA has set out three stages, and the auction is stage two:
- Stage one, expressions of interest, ran from 17 July to 14 August 2026
- Stage two, the auction, began on 29 September 2026 and reportedly runs about two weeks
- Stage three opens in October 2026, when winners can lodge full licence applications
- Applicants must file business plans covering advertising, consumer protection, harm prevention and compliance
- From 1 December 2026, providers without an application must stop operating in New Zealand
Also, providers with an application under review can keep operating, but without advertising. Beyond that, the DIA says compliance history may count in the assessment.
Who Is Reportedly Bidding in the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction?
The DIA does not publish who took part. Instead, trade outlets have filled the gap:
- Entain, which runs Ladbrokes and Neds in Australia, has said it wants the maximum three licences
- Entain also soft-launched BlackRush Casino for New Zealand, World Casino News reported on 1 October 2026
- Dabble and Stake, both Australian-founded, were reported in August 2026 to have lodged expressions of interest
- SkyCity has signalled interest too, even as it moves to sell its Adelaide casino
However, reported interest is not confirmed participation.
Notably, two of these names carry recent Australian enforcement history. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) fined Dabble AU$1,069,200 over BetStop breaches in September 2026. Similarly, Entain’s Ladbrokes and Neds gave ACMA a court-enforceable undertaking over self-exclusion breaches in May 2026, SBC News reported.
The DIA says compliance history may count. Still, how much weight it carries has not been published.
Does the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction Change Anything for Australian Players?
No. New Zealand’s licences apply to New Zealand players. The DIA’s decisions leave Australia’s online gambling rules separate and unchanged.
A licensed market across the Tasman does not mean easier access from Australia. The two countries regulate separately. Our guide to New Zealand’s online casino law change covers the Aussie angle.
Wherever you play, set limits first, because responsible gambling starts before the first bet.
What Happens After the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction?
Anyone following this story should watch four dates:
- Mid-October 2026: the auction should close, based on the reported two-week run
- October 2026: successful bidders can lodge full licence applications
- 1 December 2026: providers without an application must stop operating in New Zealand
- 2027: the DIA expects the licensed regime to be fully operational
The Bottom Line on the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction
The New Zealand online casino licence auction is the first real test of a market built from scratch. It will decide who gets to apply, not who ends up licensed.
Still, the biggest gap is basic. With no bidder list, every Australian name in this story rests on trade reports. We’ll track results in our AU gambling news coverage.
New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction: FAQs
When Does the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction End?
The DIA has not published an end date for the auction. iGaming Times reported a two-week run from 29 September 2026, which points to mid-October. Successful bidders can then lodge full applications from October 2026, with the licensed regime expected in 2027.
Which Australian Brands Are in the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction?
The DIA has not published a bidder list for the auction. Trade outlets report interest from Entain (Ladbrokes and Neds), Australian-founded Dabble and Stake, and SkyCity. None of these names is confirmed by the DIA, so treat them as reported rather than verified.
How Many Licences Are Up for Grabs in the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction?
The DIA is offering up to 15 licences through the auction. Each covers a single brand, runs for up to three years, and can be renewed for a further five. No operator can win more than three licences in this process.
Does the New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction Change Australian Gambling Law?
No, New Zealand’s licences apply to New Zealand players only. Australia’s online gambling rules under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 are separate, and the auction does not change them. Rules vary by location, so check what’s legal where you live before you play.
Gamble responsibly. 18+ only. Losing is the most likely result of any bet, so set a limit and stick to it. For free, confidential help 24/7, call 1800 858 858, visit Gambling Help Online or register with BetStop.
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