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There are currently several legal actions being pursued against various gambling companies, including SkyCity Entertainment Group and Bet365. The High Court in Auckland has several cases pending against these companies for their online gaming services.
Coordinated Cases Emerge
Three separate cases have landed against operators like Bet365, Super Group, and SkyCity. A court minute from April 17 noted that at least one plaintiff overlaps across the filings, with similar legal questions at play.
Justice Ian Gault said it was too soon to bundle the cases under joint management. He granted interim name suppression to shield the plaintiffs’ identities for now.
The claims pull from several laws: the Gambling Act, Financial Markets Conduct Act, Contract and Commercial Law Act, and Fair Trading Act. They aim to test offshore online gambling setups that take bets from New Zealand players.
Bet365 Fights Jurisdiction
Bet365 CEO Denise Coates faces the case alongside Hillside Gaming ENC and Hillside Sports. The firm claims that the court does not have jurisdiction, and Justice Gault has taken note of the objection raised by the firm.
This follows changes made to legislation in June 2025, which forbid offshore companies from accepting bets from New Zealanders, rendering such operations illegal. The timing puts heat on platforms that serve local customers through overseas bases.
SkyCity Faces Class Action Bid
SkyCity disclosed in a March NZX filing that proceedings hit SkyCity, SkyCity Auckland Holdings, and Malta-based Silvereye Entertainment. The dispute centers on Silvereye’s online gaming run for a SkyCity subsidiary.
The company’s half-year report shows its online casino revenue comes from New Zealand players. Gaming Innovation Group built the platform, which Silvereye operates under a Malta license as a GiG subsidiary. And it maintains GiG handles customer contracts directly. The company denies liability and plans a strong defense.
The claim seeks funded class action status for losses by SkyCity Online players from February 2020 to February 2026. That span covers years of Malta-licensed play aimed at locals.
Super Group In The Mix
Super Group CEO Neal Menashe is named alongside Bayton, DigiMedia, Digamma, GM Gaming, Baytree Alderney, and Baytree Interactive. Super Group runs brands like Betway and Spin. Claimants have Davey Salmon KC; defendants counter with David Cooper KC. The lineup of top counsel signals high stakes across these linked fights.
Offshore Betting Laws Tested
New Zealand’s June 2025 rules cut off offshore betting for locals, setting up these challenges. Bet365 contests court reach, SkyCity leans on GiG contracts, and Super Group defends through its web of entities.
Justice Gault sees ties between cases but holds off on merging them. Name suppression keeps plaintiffs out of sight while arguments build. The High Court now weighs offshore platforms’ exposure to local claims. Outcomes could hit how global operators handle New Zealand customers.
Class Action Scope
SkyCity’s potential class action stands out, seeking to cover losses over 6 years. Approval would widen the claimant’s reach and pressure the operator. Bet365’s jurisdiction push questions where disputes belong. Super Group’s multi-entity defense mirrors the complex structures at play.
These cases mark a turning point after the 2025 law shift. Offshore activity now faces direct legal reckoning in New Zealand courts.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
