Online poker faces significant changes as two major markets prepare to regulate the industry, with both Ireland and New Zealand unveiling comprehensive new frameworks that will reshape how players access the game in these regions.
The changes, set to roll out between late 2025 and early 2026, will affect an estimated 8.1 million adult players across both countries. These markets currently provide unrestricted access to international poker sites, with players able to compete in global player pools on major platforms like PokerStars, GGPoker, and 888poker.
Ireland’s new framework implements a stringent €10 maximum stake and €3,000 maximum win limits. These restrictions, if implemented as written, could make most forms of online poker in Ireland impossible in the regulated market. However, with regulations still being drafted, industry stakeholders have time to lobby for poker-specific carve-outs before the October 2025 implementation date.
The New Zealand online poker approach focuses on limiting market access rather than restricting gameplay, with plans to award just 15 licenses from the current pool of some three dozen operators. This measured approach, combined with a longer implementation timeline stretching to April 2026, has already attracted interest from major operators. While the market will see consolidation, the fundamental ability to offer poker should remain unchanged.
Ireland’s Current Market and Regulatory Plans
Ireland is a significant market with a strong poker culture. The country currently allows unrestricted access to international online poker sites. The market has flourished under this open approach, with major operators maintaining significant operations in the country. Dublin houses both GGPoker’s offices, and the global headquarters of Flutter, PokerStars’ parent company. It also hosts some of Europe’s premier live poker events.
The new Gambling Regulation Act, signed into law in October 2024, introduces what could be the most restrictive controls on poker seen in any regulated market. The law, set to take full effect by October 2025, currently classifies poker under casino games, subjecting it to severe limitations that could make most forms of poker nonviable.
Potential Timeline for Irish Online Gaming Regulation
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| October 2024 | Gambling Regulation Act signed into law |
| Early 2025 | Regulatory consultation period |
| Mid 2025 | Final regulations published, licensing commences |
| October 2025 | Full implementation |
Consumer protections feature prominently in the new framework. The legislation introduces strict advertising restrictions. A National Gambling Exclusion Register will be established, credit card gambling will be prohibited, and strict advertising controls will be implemented, including restrictions on broadcasting times and social media promotion. The framework also prohibits inducements targeted at specific individuals or groups, while allowing general promotional activities to continue.
Most critically, the law imposes a €10 maximum stake and €3,000 maximum win limit on casino games. For poker — which is thought to be included in the casino games definition —this would effectively eliminate most tournament formats, where prize pools regularly exceed €3,000, and restrict cash games to micro-stakes only. Even a small tournament with a €50 buy-in would be impossible under these restrictions. Lottery sit and gos, with their big top prize jackpots, would go too.
The newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), led by CEO designate Anne Marie Caulfield, will oversee the market’s transformation. Caulfield has indicated that there will be a staggered start, with the licensing process beginning ahead of a go-live date. She also has stated that industry consultation will continue as regulations are drafted.
The hope is that this leaves the opportunity for the industry to further engage the regulator to find an interpretation of the law that will allow for most forms of live and online poker. As it stands, the strict reading of the law would prohibit almost all forms of poker, meaning the Government would fail in their goals to channel online poker players to licensed sites.
New Zealand’s Market Evolution
New Zealand’s online gambling market currently hosts at least 36 operators who declare GST. The new framework will allow just 15 licensed operators, and internal government figures suggest these could capture over 90% of current market activity.
The country has outlined a more measured timeline for implementation, allowing operators more time to prepare for the transition.
Potential Timeline for NZ Online Gaming
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Early 2025 | Draft Online Gambling Bill publication |
| April 2025 | Bill adoption |
| Late 2025 | New regulatory body establishment |
| February 2026 | License application process begins |
| April 2026 | Full market launch |
The licensing process will be rigorous and comprehensive. Operators must demonstrate financial solvency and ownership transparency, while showing a strong track record of compliance in other jurisdictions. Regulators will evaluate technical capabilities and consumer protection measures, with a particular focus on harm minimization standards.
Major brands including PokerStars, 888poker, and TAB NZ have already expressed interest in obtaining licenses. TAB NZ’s involvement is particularly noteworthy, as the state-sanctioned betting monopoly seeks to expand into online casino gaming through its partnership with Entain, partypoker’s parent company.
Consumer protection stands at the forefront of the new regulation. Operators must implement robust age verification systems and problem gambling detection tools, while maintaining clear procedures for handling consumer complaints. Regular audits will ensure game fairness, and advertising will face strict content and placement restrictions to protect vulnerable populations.
However, the 15-site restriction will certainly limit choice in the country. Players will likely still have access to the major sites — PokerStars, 888, iPoker, and possibly partypoker — but other sites are unlikely to bid in the license auction. WPT Global, which has yet to enter a regulated market, will likely exit, as will many iPoker skins. It is unclear whether GGPoker will pursue licensing, though it does have a very wide footprint in regulated markets in Europe and worldwide.
Impact on Global Poker
For poker players worldwide, these developments represent contrasting approaches to regulation. New Zealand’s framework, while restricting operator access, appears designed to maintain a viable poker market. The limited licensing will reduce player choice but shouldn’t fundamentally alter how poker is played.
Ireland’s approach, unless modified during the regulatory consultation period, could effectively end licensed online poker in the country. The stake and prize restrictions would make it impossible to offer standard tournament structures or cash games above micro-stakes.
Major operators are watching developments closely, with different priorities in each market. In New Zealand, government reports indicate interest from several major brands. Meanwhile in Ireland, the immediate focus is on lobbying for changes to the stake and prize restrictions that would make poker viable.
Both PokerStars and GGPoker said in statements to pokerfuse this week that they were closely monitoring the situation in both countries, but did not elaborate further.
