New Zealand’s proposed online casino licensing plan faces Māori opposition
New Zealand’s proposed online casino reforms face opposition from Indigenous leaders, who have called for the government to stop the planned auction of 15 licences pending a review. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says legislation will go to Parliament later this year, with public input through a Select Committee process; implementation is scheduled for February 2026.
The proposal’s licensing terms and timetable could shape market entry and community safeguards for online casino operators.