New Zealand starts silent auction for 15 casino licences

Winners must certify every game & platform within six months of licensing, then at least annually, under a draft technology framework.

The hit

New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs has opened a two-week silent auction for 15 online casino licences, starting Tuesday 29 September. Alongside the auction, the DIA published draft testing & monitoring requirements under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, covering games, RNGs & platform security.

Why it matters

Bidders now see the proposed compliance bar before licences are handed out. Under the draft, applicants must submit a Game & RNG Register before receiving a licence, showing every game & RNG has been tested by an approved lab, & prospective licensees must disclose their tech providers & data centre locations & hold ISO 27001 certification or equivalent assurance. Once licensed, operators must certify every game & platform within six months, then at least annually.

The record

Approved test labs	GLI Australia, Quality Assurance Laboratories, BMM Australia (DIA)
Potentially accepted jurisdictions	UK & Ontario, Canada (DIA draft)

What happens next

The silent auction runs for two weeks. Watch for the licence awards, expected later this year, & the DIA’s final version of the technology requirements.

Sources: New Zealand starts 15-license online casino auction as DIA details tech requirements

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