Online casino vs sports betting: the gap widens

A gap of almost 195 million at the close of 2026

Online casino already generates more than half of New Zealand 's regulated gaming GGR.

The online casino closed 2026 with almost 195 million euros more GGR than the set of bets. According to the gambling regulator, licensing authorities reached a GGR of 1,700.55 million euros during the year.

He casino generated 893 million and concentrated 52.51% of the total, while bets contributed 698.13 million, equivalent to 41.05%. Outside of these two large segments, poker contributed 5.61% of the GGR and bingo barely reached 0.82%.

The official betting category too includes horse riding and other forms of compensation , although sports activities concentrate most of the activity.

Both segments grew in 2026, but the casino did so at a faster rate: 22.15%, compared to 14.92% of bets . This evolution widened the gap that already existed between the two.

In 2026 the market leadership changed. The casino surpassed betting at GGR for the first time. Since then tops all annual balance sheets . In 2026 it took another step by concentrating, also for the first time, more than 50% of the total GGR of regulated online gaming.

The data of January to September 2026 maintained the same trend . The most recent quarterly report from the gambling regulator placed the total GGR at 454.1 million euros, 13.9% more than in the same period of the previous year.

Of that amount, 247.8 million came from the casino , which reached a share of 54.5%. Bets totaled 174.4 million and represented around 38.4%. The difference between both segments thus reached 73.4 million in just three months.

The year-on-year evolution was also uneven. He casino grew by 21.7%, compared to 5.1% for betting . The beginning of 2026 thus prolongs the trend, although one quarter does not allow us to anticipate the end of the year.

Slots support the growth of the online casino

Slot machines explain a good part of why the online casino is growing . In 2026 they gathered 69.11% of the GGR of this segment and increased 30.78% year-on-year.

The slots and online roulette did not Evolve in the same way . The live mode grew by 9.66%, while the conventional mode lost 13.24% and blackjack fell by 1.21%. The boost did not reach the entire catalog equally.

The first quarter of 2026 extended that pattern. The GGR of the slot machines increased 22.7% year-on-year and again sustained most of the casino's progress. Live roulette , for its part, rose 4.9% compared to the previous quarter.

The variety of titles, the frequent renewal of the catalog and the possibility of playing without depending on the sports calendar They help explain its continuity.

However, the gambling regulator does not attribute growth to a single cause nor does it offer data that allows it to be linked directly to a campaign or a specific change in user habits.

From 2026 surprise to current advantage

The GGR is not equivalent to the amounts bet or the final profit of the companies. Reflects the margin obtained after deducting premiums and certain bonuses, before considering other expenses. This difference prevents interpreting the casino fee as the percentage of money deposited by players.

Online gaming trends yes show a change in the income structure . The casino offer does not need major sporting events to maintain activity, while betting income tends to show greater fluctuations between quarters.

At the same time, the greater presence of quick-play products reinforces the need to apply limits, warnings and control tools appropriate to their frequency of use.

He online casino New Zealand keeps in 2026 your position as main regulated segment . The most recent data does not announce a new surprise, but rather shows how slot machines continue to expand an advantage that began five years ago.

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