Online Casinos and Their Role in Kiwi Economy
Last Updated on September 3, 2025
Over the course of the past decade, more and more casino players in New Zealand have been migrating to web-based platforms. The fact that they can engage in their favourite games without being tied to a physical location has made online casinos extremely popular.
Given how crucial their role in the industry has become, it’s obvious that they have a big impact on the country’s finances. With that said, let’s break down the influence of online casinos on the Kiwi economy and look at what we can expect from them in the future.
The Rise of Online Casinos
Ever since the emergence of the internet, it has been obvious that online casinos are going to become the next big thing. It all started with simple versions of classic games like blackjack and roulette. Although they were fairly basic, they offered players something they didn’t have access to before — the ability to play and bet real money from home and on the go.
Players from New Zealand, like those from the rest of the world, were fascinated by this, and they started flocking to these platforms in large numbers.
As the interest kept rising and technology continued to improve, online casinos quickly became a new branch of the gambling industry. If you look at this GamesHub online casinos NZ guide, you’ll see that New Zealand players now have access to hundreds, sometimes even thousands of titles, each packed with exciting new features and high-quality graphics.
On top of this, online casinos available in the country offer generous bonuses and other perks to new players and those who decide to stick around long-term.
All this has contributed to web-based platforms becoming a central part of New Zealand’s gambling scene. Naturally, this also means that their impact on the country’s economy is something that cannot be neglected.
Revenue Generation in the Industry
Of course, the biggest effect the online casino industry has on New Zealand’s economy comes in the form of revenue collection. The country collects revenue from locally-licensed casinos, and that money is redirected into essential public services, infrastructure development, and social programmes.
In 2024, the NZ online casino market generated $267.6 million in revenue, and this figure is projected to cross the $500 million mark by 2030.
Then there are offshore platforms which are becoming increasingly popular among players in New Zealand. They have no direct effect on the country’s tax revenues, but they contribute by driving expansion in related industries like digital payment systems and technology services. They also push the entire online casino industry forward by creating a more competitive atmosphere.
Job creation
Another way in which online casinos impact New Zealand’s economy is through job creation not only in this industry, but in related sectors as well.
Running an online casino isn’t easy and entire teams are needed to keep things running. First of all, developers are needed to build and maintain the software behind these platforms. Every platform also needs designers who can keep improving their interfaces to make the overall experience more enjoyable for players.
Along with casino personnel who operate on the front lines, there are also marketing and customer support specialists who play an important role in the industry.
At the same time, web-based casinos are creating jobs in other areas. The demand in the industry increases the need for payment providers, cybersecurity firms, and digital marketing agencies, which all employ large numbers of people and keep expanding their services to keep up with the demand.
While online casinos don’t contribute to tourism and related sectors, huge portions of their player bases include those who don’t necessarily travel for gambling, so they’re not taking away business from land-based casinos, hotels, and other establishments.
Impact on the Tech Sector
Online casinos and tech go hand in hand. Not only does everything take place on the internet, but these platforms have to keep coming up with ways to integrate new technologies into their operations. This helps increase investments and push the entire tech sector forward.
Perhaps the best examples of this are cryptocurrency and blockchain. More and more online casinos are introducing crypto as a payment method to give players faster and safer transactions than what they’re used to with traditional banking. However, this doesn’t just benefit casino platforms, but also pushes local crypto companies to adapt and grow.
The same goes for virtual reality (VR) technology. People who play online always want an experience that resembles gambling in brick-and-mortar establishments. Now, using VR, they can walk around digital casino floors and interact with dealers and other players like they would do there. This innovation requires a mix of game design, 3D modeling, and hardware development, all of which support New Zealand’s tech and creative sectors.
