(AsiaGameHub) – Three leading gambling firms, bet365, Super Group, and SkyCity, are confronting legal action in New Zealand following allegations of providing unlawful gambling services within the nation.
The three legal claims have been filed as a collective action. Presiding judge Ian Gault noted the proceedings “involve at least one of the same plaintiffs and raise the same or similar issues.”
Nevertheless, the cases are not being consolidated currently. Judge Gault additionally imposed a suppression order to keep the plaintiffs‘ identities confidential.
New Zealand enacted fresh gambling legislation last year. The updated regulations essentially ban companies with offshore licenses from conducting business in the country.
SkyCity Denies Responsibility
SkyCity acknowledged it was served notice of the lawsuit last month. The firm stated the claim is “seeking to test the lawfulness of the online gaming operations operated by Silvereye on behalf of an overseas subsidiary of SkyCity”.
Silvereye, which is part of Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), is licensed in Malta. SkyCity refuted any responsibility for GiG’s actions. A spokesperson declared, “SkyCity denies any such liability and will actively defend the proceedings.”
As reported by the New Zealand Herald, the company divested its equity stake in GiG in June 2024 but maintained it still had a “valuable relationship” via its connection to SkyCity Online.
The legal action aims to reclaim gambling losses incurred on SkyCity Online from February 2020 to February 2026. While SkyCity runs physical casinos in New Zealand, the country has not formally authorized online casino operations.
New Zealand Set To Legalize Online Casinos
New Zealand may introduce regulated iGaming later this year, with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) anticipated to grant approximately 15 licenses. The proposal has drawn a varied response, with critics cautioning it could exacerbate gambling addiction.
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden emphasized that the new law is designed to regulate, not grow, the gambling sector. She commented, “My goal is not to increase online gambling but to enable New Zealanders to play casino games more safely.”
bet365 Objects to Proceedings
Judge Gault also mentioned that bet365 and associated defendants “object to the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts to hear and determine this proceeding.”
The lawsuit names the company’s subsidiaries, Hillside (Gaming) Enc and Hillside (Sports), along with CEO Denise Coates. Hillside is headquartered in Malta and possesses licenses from the UK and Gibraltar.
Super Group, the parent entity of betting brands Betway and Spin, has several affiliated companies listed as defendants: Bayton, DigiMedia, Digamma, GM Gaming, Baytree (Alderney), and Baytree Interactive.
CasinoBeats reached out to the plaintiffs‘ counsel, Davey Salmon, KC, and the gambling operators‘ lawyer, David Cooper, KC, but has not received a reply from either.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.
