New Zealand's DIA tells unlicensed online casinos how to exit before December 1, including blocking New Zealanders abroad

New Zealand's gambling regulator has set out what it expects from online casinos that will have to leave the country in three weeks.

The Department of Internal Affairs posted the guidance, titled "Guidance for providers required to exit the New Zealand market," on its online casino gambling pages. It applies to operators that were unsuccessful at stage 1 (expression of interest) or stage 2 (the competitive auction) of the three-stage licensing process, and to those that did not take part at all. From December 1, 2026, the guidance says, it "will be unlawful, under section 9 of the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, to enable people in New Zealand to participate in online casino gambling" unless the provider has applied for a licence. Providers that were operating in the market on May 1, 2026, may continue until then.

Paying customers out

DIA asks exiting operators to identify customers based in New Zealand, check that each has valid contact details and withdrawal methods, and arrange the return of "all money owing to customers (including account balances and any winnings)." The guidance also lists dormant accounts, unclaimed balances and any gambling-related credit offered to people in New Zealand as matters operators should deal with. "The requirement to withdraw from the New Zealand market is not an excuse to not fulfil your obligations to your customers," it says.

Messages telling customers about the exit are not treated as prohibited advertising, according to DIA, provided they do not encourage people to gamble or promote online casino gambling.

Who has to be blocked

By December 1, operators should have steps in place to stop people in New Zealand from playing, for example by IP address or GPS location, and to stop new New Zealand accounts. The guidance asks operators to plan how they will block people only visiting New Zealand. It also asks how they will handle New Zealanders who use a New Zealand phone number or passport while living in a country where the operator is allowed to operate. Existing customers may still log in to contact the operator, withdraw funds or close their accounts. DIA "strongly recommend[s]" advance warning if an operator plans to block its entire platform.

After leaving, operators must not market to people in New Zealand. Under section 10 of the Act, that includes affiliate networks, social media campaigns, sponsorships and digital ad placements. The Act applies "whether you are based in New Zealand or anywhere else in the world," with pecuniary penalties of up to NZ$5 million for serious breaches. DIA says its enforcement will include co-operation with overseas regulators and licensing bodies.

The auction that ended on October 12 gave 11 entities the right to apply for a licence, according to DIA's page for providers. Operators with an application under consideration may keep operating, without advertising, until it is decided. DigiPlus, the Philippine operator, withdrew from the auction's final rounds. How regulators deal with offshore operators more broadly is covered in AskSpinner's offshore casino explainer.