The CEO of Entain, Australia & New Zealand says that the company is doubling down on the online casino business in New Zealand, aiming to leverage its position as a monopoly holder when licenses are attributed later this year.
Speaking to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Andrew Vouris indicated the company could be buying up several licenses as part of its long-term view, noting “We’re going to be the only operator in the market that’s able to offer sports, racing, and potentially casino. That is massive”.
In mid-2023, Entain Australia and TAB New Zealand entered a 25-year partnership to provide onshore betting and mid last year gained the assurance of a “legislative net” in New Zealand extending its exclusivity for land-based racing and sports betting to include online-provided gambling. This prevents unlicensed offshore operators offering wagering services to Kiwis.
In December of this year, however, the online space is set to expand, with up to 15 licenses up for grabs in the country.
Australia and New Zealand gaming operator SkyCity Entertainment Group has already indicated its intention to ‘become the trusted local leader’ in the space and “lead this change”.
Entain already operates some 15 online brands in other regions, including BetMGM and PartyCasino and brings a wealth of experience to the table, allowing it to scale quickly. Leveraging its clientele base and cross promoting its offerings could help boost the New Zealand business that is already seeing 28 percent growth yearly.
