Entain and Stake among bidders to progress in New Zealand licence bid
By The Weekly Edge desk ·
Summary
New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs confirmed that 11 operators won the right to apply for online casino licences after an ascending clock auction. 15 rights were allocated from 32 bidders over 10 rounds, closing at NZ$15 million per licence. Betway secured three rights, Entain two (plus a TAB joint venture entry), and Stake and SkyCity are also among the winners; formal licences still depend on a full application and assessment, with issuance expected in early 2027.
Why it matters
Auction winners paid NZ$15 million per right yet still need full assessment, leaving operators exposed to capital risk until licences are expected in early 2027.