TLDR
- Three coordinated lawsuits have been filed in Auckland’s High Court against SkyCity, Bet365, and Super Group over offshore online gambling targeting New Zealand players.
- Bet365 is challenging the court’s jurisdiction, arguing the case should not be heard in New Zealand.
- SkyCity faces a potential class action covering player losses from February 2020 to February 2026.
- The cases follow New Zealand’s June 2025 law banning offshore operators from accepting bets from local players.
- Justice Ian Gault has granted interim name suppression for plaintiffs and is holding off on merging the three cases.
Three of the biggest names in online gambling are now facing legal action in New Zealand’s High Court. SkyCity Entertainment Group, Bet365, and Super Group are each dealing with separate but related lawsuits over their online gaming operations.
The cases were filed in Auckland and share overlapping legal questions. A court minute dated April 17 confirmed that at least one plaintiff appears across multiple filings.
Justice Ian Gault acknowledged the connections between the cases but said it was too early to combine them under joint case management. He also granted interim name suppression to protect the identities of the plaintiffs.
The legal claims draw from several pieces of New Zealand law. These include the Gambling Act, the Financial Markets Conduct Act, the Contract and Commercial Law Act, and the Fair Trading Act.
At the center of all three cases is one core issue. The lawsuits seek to challenge offshore online gambling platforms that accepted bets from New Zealand-based players.
Bet365 Pushes Back on Jurisdiction
Bet365 CEO Denise Coates is named in the proceedings alongside Hillside Gaming ENC and Hillside Sports. The company has objected to the case being heard in New Zealand at all, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction.
Justice Gault has taken note of the objection but has not yet ruled on it. The jurisdiction question could shape how the entire case plays out.
The legal challenge comes after New Zealand passed new rules in June 2025. That legislation made it illegal for offshore companies to take bets from New Zealand residents.
SkyCity disclosed the legal action in a March filing with the NZX. The proceedings name SkyCity, SkyCity Auckland Holdings, and Malta-based Silvereye Entertainment.
Silvereye operates an online casino platform for a SkyCity subsidiary. The platform was built by Gaming Innovation Group and runs under a Malta license as a GiG subsidiary.
SkyCity’s half-year report confirmed its online casino revenue came from New Zealand players. The company maintains that GiG handles customer contracts directly and denies liability.
Class Action Bid Covers Six Years of Losses
The SkyCity claim is seeking funded class action status. If approved, it would cover losses by SkyCity Online players from February 2020 through February 2026.
That six-year window spans the entire period during which the Malta-licensed platform served New Zealand customers. Approval would open the door to a much wider pool of claimants.
Super Group CEO Neal Menashe is also named in a separate filing. The case lists Bayton, DigiMedia, Digamma, GM Gaming, Baytree Alderney, and Baytree Interactive as defendants.
Super Group operates well-known brands including Betway and Spin. The claimants are represented by Davey Salmon KC, while defendants have retained David Cooper KC.
The involvement of senior counsel on both sides points to the weight these cases carry. Each defendant is taking a different defensive approach.
Bet365 is contesting whether the court can even hear the case. SkyCity is leaning on its contractual relationship with GiG. Super Group is defending through its network of corporate entities.
Justice Gault has not yet set a timeline for merging or advancing the cases. Name suppression remains in place while legal arguments continue to develop.
The High Court is now weighing the extent to which offshore platforms can be held accountable under New Zealand law. The SkyCity class action application, if granted, would cover six years of online gambling losses from New Zealand-based players.
