BMM Testlabs Wins Approval to Certify Online Casino Games in New Zealand

^{A casino gaming floor in Auckland. BMM Testlabs already works with New Zealand's land-based industry and now plans to certify online casino products under the new regime. (Photo: Ingolfson / Wikimedia Commons)}

BMM Testlabs says it has received approval to provide online gaming testing and certification services in New Zealand. The Las Vegas-based lab announced the approval on 19 October, under the online casino framework overseen by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

The move gives operators and suppliers heading for the new market another test house to choose from. It comes just after the DIA confirmed that 11 entities won the right to apply for an online casino licence in its auction.

What BMM Announced

In its announcement, BMM said the approval lets it extend services it already provides to New Zealand's land-based gaming sector into the emerging regulated online casino market. The company described itself as the world's longest-established gaming certification laboratory.

BMM said it will provide independent testing and certification to help gaming products meet the country's technical and regulatory requirements. The company framed the work as supporting fair play, protecting consumers and building confidence in the regulated market, though it gave no detail on which products it will test first.

The release does not name the body that granted the approval beyond saying it falls under the DIA-overseen framework. It also does not give a date for when certification work for online casinos can begin.

Quote From the Company

Kirk White, President of Land-Based Gaming and Inspections at BMM Testlabs, said in the announcement that the lab has a long history of supporting New Zealand's land-based industry, and wants to build on those relationships as the country moves towards regulated online casino gaming.

"Our customers rely on us for quality, speed, and service. We're proud to bring that same commitment to this next chapter of New Zealand's gaming industry."

BMM said it brings 45 years of technical expertise to the work. It also pointed to its combination with eCOGRA, the testing and certification group, which it said gives the two organisations broader technical capabilities and regulatory knowledge across global markets.

Where the Licensing Process Stands

The Online Casino Gambling Act is in force, but the DIA says the full licensed regime is not expected to be operational until 2027. Up to 15 licences will be available, each covering a single brand and valid for up to three years, and nobody can hold more than three.

The DIA's timeline shows licence applications opening in October for the successful bidders. From 1 December 2026, providers that have not applied for a licence must stop operating in New Zealand, while those with an application under consideration can keep going without advertising.

Advertising of online casino gambling is currently prohibited, and the DIA says no new providers may enter until the licensing regime is in place. That is the backdrop for the advertising rules debate in Wellington.

Brands are already preparing, including Blackrush, which Entain soft-launched ahead of the new market, even though advertising to New Zealand customers stays prohibited until licences are issued.

Testing labs are a necessary part of that build-out, because licensed operators will need certified games and systems before they can go live. The DIA's regulatory timeline is set out on the DIA's online gambling page.