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New Zealand allows offshore operators facing lawsuits to apply for casino licences

Licences & markets

Internal affairs minister Brooke van Velden told Parliament’s Governance and Administration Committee that offshore operators facing legal action can apply for licences under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The process will award up to 15 licences, subject to suitability checks and an auction; legal disputes alone will not disqualify applicants.

Offshore operators facing litigation can still compete for licences, subject to the new suitability and auction requirements.

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Enforcement & compliance

Türkiye's lottery administration links offshore licences to illegal betting sites

Türkiye's General Directorate of the National Lottery Administration (MPI) has identified Curaçao, Malta, the Isle of Man and Seychelles as licensing jurisdictions used by illegal online betting platforms targeting Turkish users. The assessment found most unauthorised services operate from outside Türkiye, with the United States the largest hosting location, followed by the Isle of Man, Armenia and Colombia. Authorities reported blocking 51,263 US-hosted sites and instructed the BTK to restrict access to roughly 535,000 websites.

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