Entain Aims to Dominate New Zealand's iCasino Market
Dr. Annelies De Vos ·
Listen to this article~4 min
Entain, already dominant in NZ sports betting, plans to buy multiple iCasino licenses to control the entire gambling vertical. Facing off against local giant SkyCity.
The online gambling landscape in New Zealand is about to get a major shake-up. Later this year, the country is set to launch its regulated online casino market, and one major player is already making moves to dominate it from day one.
BetMGM's parent company, Entain, has announced some pretty ambitious plans. They're looking to buy up multiple licenses right out of the gate. With only 15 licenses available in total, this strategy could give them a massive head start.
### Entain's Existing Stronghold
Here's the thing—Entain isn't starting from scratch. They're already the big fish in the pond. Through their partnership with TAB, they're New Zealand's only legal provider for retail and online sports betting. They've got a monopoly on that side of the business, and now they want to expand it.
In June, the government solidified this position, granting TAB NZ (and by extension, Entain) long-term exclusivity for racing and sports betting. It's a powerful foundation to build on.
And business is booming. Reports indicate Entain's New Zealand operations are growing at a staggering 28% per year. That kind of momentum is hard to ignore.
### The CEO's Vision
Andrew Vouris, the CEO of Entain Australia & NZ, laid out the vision clearly. He was quoted saying the company will aggressively pursue multiple iCasino licenses in December. He framed it as a long-term play.
His statement says it all: “We’re going to be the only operator in the market that’s able to offer sports, racing, and potentially casino. That is massive.”
Think about that for a second. One company controlling the entire vertical—sports betting, horse racing, and online casino games. It's a level of market control that's pretty rare.
### The Coming Competition
Of course, Entain won't have the field entirely to itself. They're going to face some serious competition. The main contender looks to be SkyCity Entertainment Group, a gaming giant with deep roots in both Australia and New Zealand.
SkyCity has also thrown its hat in the ring, stating its intention to enter the iCasino market. Their goal? To become the "trusted local leader" in New Zealand. It sets the stage for a real battle between an established international powerhouse and a formidable local institution.
### Why Entain Thinks It Can Win
So what gives Entain the confidence to make this play? They're not just a betting company. They're a global portfolio operator.
- They run 15 different online brands worldwide, including big names like BetMGM Casino and PartyCasino.
- This global experience means they can scale up a New Zealand iCasino operation incredibly fast.
- They have a huge arsenal of brands like Coral and bwin Casino to cross-promote and leverage.
It's this vast network and operational know-how that they're betting on. They can hit the ground running in a way few others can.
For professionals watching this space, it's a fascinating case study in market strategy. Entain is leveraging its existing monopoly to create an even larger one. Whether SkyCity or other license holders can effectively challenge that remains to be seen. One thing's for sure—the launch of New Zealand's iCasino market is going to be a must-watch event in the gaming industry.