SkillOnNet wins New Zealand online casino licence as only four slots remain

SkillOnNet has secured an online casino licence in New Zealand, taking one of the 15 operator licences available under the country's Online Casino Gambling Act, which came into force in May 2026. The company is the 11th operator to be licensed under the framework and paid a licensing fee of $8.51 million. It prevailed in a field of 32 bidders.

With the approval, SkillOnNet will be able to launch online casino services in the market. The company said it intends to use its PlayOJO brand and aims to build one of the country's leading online casinos. Maor Nutkevitch, head of corporate development, said the company was honoured to have the opportunity to take part in the next stage of New Zealand's licensing process. He added that, if successful, it would be a testament to the firm's experience and track record in regulated markets worldwide.

SkillOnNet now holds 16 gaming licences across Europe and the Americas. It has also established betting and gaming operations in locations including the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta.

Alongside its licensing activity, the operator has been expanding its game content. It has teamed up with Games Global to launch the Legendary Progressive jackpot portfolio and with Amusnet in Greece to strengthen its local presence. Similar content agreements have been struck with ODDSWork, Octoplay, Konami and others.

New Zealand opened its licence application process in July 2026 and received dozens of applications, which have since been reviewed. Each applicant paid a non-refundable application fee of $10,780. Following SkillOnNet's approval, only four operator slots remain available.

The government is seeking to capture a share of a sizeable online market. One estimate suggests that more than $770 million is gambled with offshore operators because no regulated domestic market has existed.