SkyCity announces launch of offshore online gaming site
9 August 2019
SkyCity announces launch of offshore online
gaming site via Maltese subsidiary
SkyCity
Entertainment Group Limited (NZX/ASX:SKC) today announced
that its Maltese subsidiary, SkyCity Malta Limited, has
launched its offshore online gaming site ‘skycitycasino’
under a .com URL.
This follows the announcement in May
2019 of SkyCity’s partnership with international iGaming
company Gaming Innovation Group Inc (GiG) to provide New
Zealanders with an offshore online casino platform.
On
news of the announcement, SkyCity’s Chief Executive
Officer, Graeme Stephens said:
“This is an exciting day
for SkyCity and one we have been working towards for some
time alongside SkyCity Malta and our partners at GiG. While
ultimately a regulated online gaming market remains the
preferred solution, the site launch is another step on our
journey of pursuing opportunities to grow and diversify our
earnings, addressing a new, fast growing industry which is
highly complementary to our land-based activities and
offering customers a multi-channel gaming
experience’’.
The existing online casino market in New Zealand is well established (with a number of sites in operation) with estimates suggesting approximately $160 million a year is spent by New Zealanders on online casino platforms currently provided by offshore operators.
SkyCity remains supportive of regulating the New Zealand online casino market, including introducing an appropriate licensing regime for operators and imposing taxes and mandatory host responsibility requirements.
As previously highlighted, GiG will provide SkyCity Malta with a full-suite online casino solution which includes a technical platform, gaming content, managed services and frontend development. The skycitycasino online gaming business will be managed by an Online Director (Steve Salmon) who is based in Europe.
ENDS