Stake, best known as a crypto casino, has won a place in New Zealand’s first licensed online casino market, though not yet a licence. On 13 October 2026 New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) published the results of its licence auction: 11 entities won 15 rights to apply for online casino gambling licences, and Stake New Zealand Limited holds one of them. The auction ran from 29 September to 12 October, drew 32 bidders and ended after 10 rounds at a price of NZ$15 million per licence.
A right to apply, not a licence
The DIA stresses that winning the auction does not guarantee a licence. Each winner must now pay the auction price and file a full application, including a business plan and strategies for advertising, consumer protection, harm minimisation and compliance; the Secretary must not grant a licence unless the provider shows it is suitable. Licences run for up to three years, can be renewed for a further five, and cover one brand each, and no one can hold more than three. The brands behind the winning companies will only be published once licences are granted. The DIA expects the regime to be fully operational in 2027. iGaming Business reported that the expression-of-interest stage, which closed on 14 August, required access to at least NZ$7.5 million in capital and a NZ$19,000 fee.
Who won
Baytree Interactive won three rights to apply, Playvia Gaming (NZ) and Rock Swift Group two each, and eight entities one each: Christchurch Online NZ, One Casino, Rush Entertainment, Skill On Net, SkyCity NZ Online NO1, SkyCity NZ Online NO2, Stake New Zealand and TAB New Zealand. The chart above shows the split. iGaming Business links Baytree to Betway and Playvia and TAB New Zealand to Entain. A Stake spokesperson told iGaming Business: “It’s a strong fit for Stake and another important step in growing our presence globally.” The company said it had entered Alberta, Argentina and Mexico this year.
Deadlines and crypto
From 1 December 2026, providers that have not applied for a licence must stop offering online casino gambling in New Zealand. Providers already operating that have applied can continue, without advertising, until their application is decided, and must leave the market if it is declined. Online casino advertising to New Zealanders is already prohibited. On payments, the DIA’s consumer-protection guidance of July 2026, listed on its resources page, says cryptocurrency is not prohibited by the regulations, but operators that accept it must still comply with New Zealand law, including the AML/CFT Act 2009. The same guidance allows debit cards and bars credit contracts.
Key facts
Auction: 29 Sep to 12 Oct 2026; 32 bidders, 10 rounds, final price NZ$15M per licence.
Result: 11 entities, 15 rights to apply; Stake New Zealand Limited holds one (DIA, 13 Oct 2026).
Licences: up to 15; up to three years plus a possible five-year renewal; one brand each; maximum three per party.
Deadline: from 1 Dec 2026, providers without an application must cease; applicants may continue without advertising.
Crypto: not prohibited by the regulations; AML/CFT Act 2009 applies (DIA guidance, July 2026).
Why it matters for GambleFi
Most of the crypto casinos we track hold offshore licences. Our BC.GAME risks page, for example, records an Anjouan licence, and Shuffle is listed in Curaçao’s licence register. New Zealand is a test of whether a crypto-first brand can move into a national licence with a NZ$15 million entry price, local harm-minimisation rules and no crypto ban. If Stake is licensed, it will be one of at most 15 brands allowed to serve the market, and offshore sites without an application will have to leave from December. This is a regulatory report, not betting advice. In New Zealand, free help is available from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655.