- New Zealand has granted TAB NZ exclusive rights to online sports betting while preparing to launch a regulated iGaming market in 2026.
- Gauteng, South Africa, legalized online casinos with strict consumer safeguards, new tax policies, and zoning restrictions.
- Both moves highlight a growing global consensus: the future of gambling is digital, but under tighter regulatory scrutiny.
WELLINGTON – Two international jurisdictions, New Zealand and Gauteng, South Africa, have passed legislation in June aimed at reshaping their gambling markets. Both reforms underscore a global trend: tighter control and expanded regulation.
New Zealand: TAB NZ Solidifies Online Monopoly
New Zealand’s parliament approved amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020, effectively making TAB NZ the exclusive legal sportsbook in New Zealand. Previously dominant in land-based wagering, TAB now controls the digital space as well.
The reforms target online sportsbooks, which were seeing an estimated $185 million outside of the domestic market each year.
Further, TAB is required to monitor behavior and restrict access (with proper cause) in cases such as confirmed gambling addiction.
The Department of Internal Affairs will temporarily regulate the online monopoly until a new iGaming regulator is established. The move comes as New Zealand prepares to open online casinos in 2026, with up to 15 licenses expected to be issued.
Entain, TAB’s partner since 2023, has pledged NZ$100 million (~$60.58 million) to support the racing sector following the bill’s passage.
Gauteng, South Africa Sets Safeguards For Legal Online Casinos
Meanwhile, Gauteng, South Africa’s most active gambling province, completed its 2025 legislation review with modernization of its gambling framework.
For the first time, legal online casinos are permitted. Licensed operators can now offer poker, blackjack, slots, and more, provided they comply with verification and responsible gaming rules.
The province established a Gambling Harm Prevention Fund, funded by a 1.5% profit levy, to support addiction awareness and problem gambling treatment. Stricter age verification and location zoning laws were enacted, including bans on gambling outlets within 500 meters of schools and rehab centers.
A new 15% tax on online casino GGR replaces the previous 6.5% rate, and South African gambling sites must now undergo annual audits and adhere to transparency standards.
Public support is high: nearly 80% of Gauteng residents back regulated online gambling, and over half approve of the new zoning restrictions. Economic forecasts expect R1.2 billion (~$67.1 million) in added revenue over five years and robust job creation across tech and compliance sectors.
Both jurisdictions exemplify how mature markets are navigating the digital transition. Whether it’s monopoly protection in New Zealand or competitive licensing in Gauteng, lawmakers are signaling that the days of loosely regulated or fragmented online gambling are over.
