TonyBet NZ: Licences, Products and the 2026 Law

TonyBet is an international online betting and casino brand that New Zealanders sometimes come across when researching offshore gambling sites. This guide explains, in plain terms, what the company is, who runs it, which gambling licences it actually holds in 2026, the products it offers, and — most importantly for Kiwi readers — how New Zealand’s new online casino law treats operators like it. It is written as a neutral reference, not as a recommendation to sign up, deposit or wager.

Background: What TonyBet Is

TonyBet was founded in 2009 by Antanas Guoga, a Lithuanian-Australian entrepreneur and professional poker player widely known as “Tony G”. The brand is headquartered in Riga, Latvia. It began with a strong poker focus — launching an Open Face Chinese Poker platform in December 2013 — before growing into a broader operator offering sports betting and casino games.

There is a common mix-up about who owns the brand, so it is worth clearing up. In 2016, the Swedish group Betsson acquired TonyBet’s Lithuanian licensed business and later rebranded it as Betsafe. Betsson did not buy the wider TonyBet brand, and the two are separate companies today. Since obtaining an Estonian iGaming licence in November 2022 under the entity TonyBet OÜ, the brand has operated independently of Betsson.

Products and Markets

TonyBet operates as a combined sportsbook and online casino, with its exact offering depending on the jurisdiction a customer registers in. Across its markets, the platform typically covers:

• Sports betting — major team sports such as football (soccer), basketball, tennis and ice hockey, alongside niche and event-style markets.
• Online casino — slot machines and virtual table games supplied by third-party studios.
• Live casino — streamed tables (such as roulette and blackjack) hosted by real dealers.
• Poker — the product category the brand was originally built around.

Because availability of individual sports, games and payment options is set market by market, the menu a player sees in one country will not necessarily match another. If you are new to how prices and payouts work, our overview of sports betting in New Zealand explains the fundamentals in plain English.

Licensing and Regulation

A gambling licence tells you which regulator oversees an operator and where it is legally allowed to accept customers. As of 2026, publicly available records indicate TonyBet holds or has held licences in several jurisdictions:

• Estonia — iGaming licence acquired in November 2022 (TonyBet OÜ).
• Spain — licensed since 2015.
• Netherlands — licence granted in November 2022.
• Ireland and Latvia.
• Canada — the Kahnawà:ke jurisdiction (since 2021) and the regulated Ontario market (since 2025).

The brand’s UK position has changed, which matters because older reviews — including the previous version of this page — still describe TonyBet as UK-licensed. The UK Gambling Commission’s public register shows TonyBet’s remote licences as surrendered, with the operating period ending on 5 April 2024. Separately, in January 2023 the Commission fined TonyBet £442,750 after finding failings in its fair and transparent terms, its anti-money-laundering (AML) controls and its social-responsibility measures. In February 2025 the Dutch regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit, also issued a warning over the operator’s Dutch-language customer support.

None of this makes an operator automatically unsafe, but it does show why checking a current licence — rather than relying on a logo or an old article — is essential. The table below sets out where TonyBet stands with each regulator.

Is TonyBet Legal to Use in New Zealand?

This is the part that matters most for a Kiwi audience, and the rules changed significantly in 2026. Historically, New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003 banned online gambling operators from being based in New Zealand but did not make it an offence for an individual to place a bet on an overseas site. That long-standing grey area is now being replaced by a formal regime.

In 2026 New Zealand introduced the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which creates a licensing system administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). Up to 15 licences are being issued through a three-stage process: an expression-of-interest round, an auction, and then the award of licences. Crucially, the law applies to operators regardless of where they are incorporated or based. From 1 December 2026, an offshore online casino operator must hold — or have applied for — one of these licences to lawfully offer or advertise online casino gambling to people in New Zealand, with penalties for businesses reaching up to NZD $5 million.

At the time of writing, TonyBet is not among the operators publicly reported to have sought a New Zealand licence; names such as SkyCity, 888, Bet365 and Super Group have been linked to the process, but TonyBet has not. This means that, like many overseas brands, its standing in the New Zealand market is unconfirmed. For a fuller picture of how the authorities treat foreign sites, see our guides on how New Zealand regulates offshore sportsbooks and on betting online safely in New Zealand. The information here is general and is not legal advice.

Deposits and Withdrawals

In the markets where it operates, TonyBet has generally supported a mix of payment methods, which commonly include:

• Credit and debit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard.
• E-wallets, including Skrill and Neteller.
• Bank transfers.
• Cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, in some jurisdictions.

Two caveats apply for New Zealand readers. First, the methods a player actually sees — and whether the New Zealand dollar is supported — depend entirely on the market they register in; offshore sites often do not process NZD or local payment rails. Second, crypto deposits carry their own volatility and verification considerations. If that is unfamiliar territory, our explainer on crypto gambling in New Zealand covers the basics. Withdrawal times vary by method, and most regulated operators run identity checks before releasing funds.

Bonuses and Promotions

Online gambling brands frequently advertise welcome offers, and TonyBet has run sports and casino promotions in its various markets. Rather than quote figures that change constantly and differ by country, it is more useful to understand how such offers actually work. A typical bonus comes with conditions that determine its real value, including:

• Wagering (turnover) requirements — how many times the bonus must be staked before any winnings can be withdrawn.
• Minimum deposit and minimum odds needed to qualify.
• Time limits within which the bonus must be used.

These terms matter. It is worth remembering that part of TonyBet’s 2023 UK penalty related specifically to unclear terms and conditions — a concrete reminder to read the fine print on any promotion before opting in, and to treat a headline bonus figure as the start of the calculation rather than the end of it.

Security, Verification and Player Safety

Licensed operators are generally expected to protect customer data with encryption, verify customer identity through know-your-customer (KYC) checks, and apply AML monitoring. They are also required to provide responsible-gambling tools. These typically include deposit and loss limits, reality checks, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion. If you want to understand what good practice looks like, read our guide to responsible gambling tools for New Zealand bettors.

Who Might Look at TonyBet — and What to Weigh

TonyBet is an established, multi-market brand with a long history and licences in several regulated jurisdictions, which is why it appears in international comparisons. For a New Zealand reader, the decisive points are not the marketing but the facts: it is not a New Zealand-licensed operator, its UK licence has been surrendered, and from 1 December 2026 the local rules around offshore online casino gambling tighten considerably. Anyone researching the brand should prioritise its current licence status in their own jurisdiction, the full terms attached to any offer, and the responsible-gambling controls on offer — over any promotional headline.

Responsible Gambling and Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information only. It is not gambling, financial or legal advice, and nothing in it encourages you to gamble. Gambling involves risk, outcomes are determined by chance, and no strategy, bonus or demo removes the house edge. You must be of legal age to gamble in your jurisdiction.

If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand around the clock from the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 (free text 8006). Regulatory information about gambling in New Zealand is published by the Department of Internal Affairs. New Zealand bettors can also set limits or step away entirely — our guide explains how to self-exclude from betting sites in NZ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns TonyBet?

TonyBet is an independent operator, trading through the entity TonyBet OÜ following its November 2022 Estonian licence. It is not owned by Betsson. Betsson acquired only TonyBet’s Lithuanian licensed business in 2016 and rebranded that as Betsafe, which is why some older articles wrongly describe the whole brand as Betsson-owned.

Does TonyBet hold a New Zealand licence?

There is no public record that TonyBet holds or has applied for a New Zealand licence. Under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, operators need a licence from the Department of Internal Affairs to lawfully offer or advertise online casino gambling to people in New Zealand from 1 December 2026.

Does TonyBet still have a UK gambling licence?

No. The UK Gambling Commission’s public register shows TonyBet’s remote licences as surrendered, with the operating period ending 5 April 2024. The operator was also fined £442,750 by the Commission in January 2023 over failings in its terms, anti-money-laundering controls and social-responsibility measures.

What can you do on TonyBet?

Depending on the market, TonyBet offers sports betting, an online casino with slots and table games, a live casino with real dealers, and poker. The precise range of sports, games and payment methods is set jurisdiction by jurisdiction.

Is it legal for New Zealanders to use offshore sites like TonyBet?

New Zealand law has not criminalised the individual who bets on an overseas site, but the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 restricts unlicensed operators — including offshore ones — from offering or advertising online casino gambling to New Zealanders. This is general information rather than legal advice; if you are unsure, check the current rules and gamble only within your means.