As you have probably already heard, NZ has finally decided to introduce its own licensing system before the year 2026, but it will not happen in a way that has been done in other markets. NZ will only allow a limited number of operators to access their license and that means the highest bidder will only have a NZ license, making it a bit easier for us to guess which brands might have a license.

The casinos we believe will have a NZ license

I think these casinos will be the first to get a NZ license. Here is why!

#1. LeoVegas (99%)

LeoVegas is the first casino that we guess will have a NZ license, and the reason for that is simply that Leo is one of the world’s largest players that holds a license in all countries that have their own licensing system. So I think that in terms of money, it is no problem for Leo to bid more than many other players and in terms of the market, they want to be the biggest everywhere.

#2. Playojo (99%)

Just like LeoVegas, PlayOjo is another very large player around the world that can afford to bid out many players and is also licensed in all countries that have their own licensing system. Something therefore tells me that they will also be there when the first licenses are handed out in NZ.

#3. Christchurch casino (99%)

It would surprise me immensely if the Christchurch casino is not one of them that also gets a NZ license. It is after all a local casino, which can afford to bid for the license and which also only focuses on NZ, which makes me think that they simply have to make sure to be one of the players who get a NZ license.

#4. Skycity casino (99%)

Skycity casino also feels like an obvious choice just like Christchurch casino both because they can afford it and because their only market is New Zealand, as well as the fact that it is also the largest local casino operator in NZ.

#5. Casumo (90%)

Finally, I also think that Casumo casino will succeed in getting a NZ license, because they are also a world-renowned player who can afford to bid and who has also chosen to be active in pretty much every country that has its own licensing system. It simply indicates that Casumo is a casino that likes to offer its services in the safest countries, so I hope that NZ will not be an exception.

More possible candidates

Of course, we don’t know who really gets a NZ license yet, but my guess is that these 5 will have a license in NZ. If they get it and the license works like in many other countries where an operator can offer several casinos with the same license, then many other casinos are automatically included. For example, if LeoVegas gets a license and can continue with several brands, they will have RoyalPanda, Gogo and more. If PlayOjo gets a license and they are allowed to run several brands, they will have AhtiGames, SlotsMagic and others. If NZ limits the operators to one casino per license then of course only their best brands will get the license which is exactly the brands I have listed here.

Does it matter?

Actually, maybe it doesn’t matter that much right now, because it will still be a while before the new gaming law and licensing system is in place, and even then, players can actually choose where they want to play, including on offshore brands that don’t have a NZ license . The reason I think it’s important to maybe predict this is precisely for the loyal player that I personally am. For us it matters because we would like to play at the absolute safest casinos and if we already know who these are and that they will also become even safer, it makes our choice of casino much easier even today.