Online Casino Licenses for New Zealand Players

Online casinos are a fun place for any Kiwi pokie-lover to be since they are fun, safe, and fair, but how do they get this way? Within this article, I run through the types of licenses that online casinos need to have in order to be the fun, secure, and fair places we know and love, and the most well-known and trusted companies that provide these licenses.

What are Casino Licenses?

Casino licenses ensure that a platform is reputable, safe, and fair, and also harnesses secure banking methods and data protection practices. This ensures that both players and casinos are looked after, and fraudulent activity can be monitored and actioned if necessary. Licenses also legitimise a platform; without a license, a casino cannot operate legally. These licenses fall under the Gambling Act 2005 and are said to prevent connections between gambling and criminal behaviour, ensure games are transparent and fair, and prevent vulnerable people and children from being exploited under gambling of any kind.

Casino Licensors

The question remains; who provides these licenses to online casinos? From my extensive experience and research, I have found five of the best and most trustworthy licensors that Kiwis have encountered along their gaming journey:

Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)

The MGA is a regulatory figure that is based in and upholds gambling within Malta, as well as across the globe for online casinos. They are one of the most trustworthy and secure jurisdiction companies within the industry and assists with both land-based and online casino platforms.

Curacao Gaming Control Board (CGCB)

The CGCB, also known as Curacao eGaming, is another reputable iGaming regulator company that assists in providing guidelines and jurisdictions for online casinos across the globe. Their affordable packages and licenses for both casino operators and individuals boasts another reason why this company is a great choice.

United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)

The UKGC operates from a Gibraltar-based location to provide a range of services regarding licensing for iGaming providers. This company also provides a range of helpful ‘toolkits’ with a range of resources and information for both casinos and players.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)

The KGC includes a range of licensing and authorisation options for both land-based and online casino operators across the globe. Their range of additional security measures make it a top-quality licensing company that any online platform is lucky to have.

New Zealand Gaming Commission (NZGC)

This locally owned and operated company, NZGC, launched in 2003 and has since assisted online casino operators in gaining correct licensing and monitoring activity to maintain security across the country. 

Casino Certifications

Along with licenses, online casinos can also receive certifications and additional services to assist with maintaining a safe and secure platform for gamers like Kiwis. There are many associations out there that help online operators, so I have chosen a few of the most common practices and listed them below:

eCOGRA

eCOGRA, or eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, is a UK-based regulatory company that provides a range of licensing and jurisdictional services to online casinos across the world. They run specific testing and provide self-regulation services to players and casinos to ensure safety and security across all areas. 

ESSA

The European Sports Security Association, or ESSA, is set in place to monitor all patterns regarding betting for any suspicious activity. This ensures another level of safety and regulates fraudulent behaviour within the iGaming industry.

GBGA

Gibraltar’s Betting and Gaming Association is a local and voluntary regulatory body that assists with implementing and enforcing best practices for both players and casino operators. This ensures that online casinos are a safe space for all who participate.

GASG

Gambling Addiction Support Groups, such as the group GamCare, are in place to support players that have addiction or problems associated with gambling. This ensures help is around if players need it and ensures safety of other players as well.

Top 5 Licensed NZ Online Casinos

Now that we have covered what a license is, we can now get to the fun part; finding an online casino to play at! For Kiwis, there are a range of secure options, so to help with the tedious task of finding the best ones, I have listed the top 5 best licensed NZ casinos here:

Conclusion

Licensing, and additionally certification, for online casinos is a big deal; this means secure, safe, and fair practices are upheld and monitored by big companies and jurisdictional bodies. Any of the listed casinos, plus additional licensed platforms, are a great place for Kiwi gamers to be!

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