Limiting the market to 15 licences has not reduced operator interest in New Zealand. Around 50 applicants expressed interest in obtaining a licence by the EOI deadline.
VGW was among the companies rumoured to be considering an application, but the operator quickly denied the reports, saying the information was “not accurate”.
Meanwhile, Stake is reportedly considering entering the New Zealand market.
Entain, Tabcorp and Dabble could also compete for licences. The regulator is expected to consider not only the size of operators but also their track record of regulatory compliance.
Each brand will be able to hold a maximum of three licences.
The licence auction is scheduled for September 2026, with the first licences expected to be issued in December.
