Key Takeaways:
- Three NZ High Court proceedings filed against bet365, Super Group, and Skycity.
- Skycity class-action claim covers February 2020- 2026 player losses.
- Bet365 formally objects to New Zealand court jurisdiction in the case.
Plaintiffs pursue restitution claims against operators now seeking NZ licenses
The cases are being pursued as a coordinated group action, but have not been formally consolidated for joint case management yet. An interim name suppression order has been granted for the plaintiffs. The claims are brought under a combination of New Zealand statutes, according to a court minute issued by Justice Ian Gault dated April 17.
The Skycity proceedings name Skycity Entertainment Group, Skycity Auckland Holdings Limited, and Malta-based Silvereye Entertainment Limited as defendants. Silvereye is a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group and operates the Skycity Online casino platform under a Malta Gaming Authority license. Skycity first disclosed the proceedings to the NZX on March 6, stating that the lawsuit seeks to “test the lawfulness of the online gaming operations operated by Silvereye on behalf of an overseas subsidiary of Skycity.”
The claim includes an application for leave to proceed as a funded class action covering New Zealand player losses between February 2020 and February 2026. Skycity denies liability and has said it will actively defend the proceedings. BusinessDesk has reported the class-action window could cover at least NZ$64.5 million in online revenue.
The Skycity claim structurally parallels a ruling issued days earlier by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which held that Malta-licensed operators cannot rely on their home-jurisdiction authorization to defeat civil restitution claims from players in EU member states where their activity was prohibited. That ECJ ruling is only binding in European courts but provides structural precedent for similar claims elsewhere against MGA-licensed platforms.
The bet365 proceedings name Hillside (Gaming) ENC, Hillside (Sports), and bet365 CEO Denise Coates personally as defendants. The company has formally objected to the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts to hear the matter.
The Super Group proceedings name Super Group CEO Neal Menashe personally, alongside corporate entities including Bayton, DigiMedia, Digamma, GM Gaming, Baytree Alderney, and Baytree Interactive. Super Group operates the Betway and Spin brands globally, as well as the Kiwi’s Treasure online casino, which has been marketed directly to New Zealand players.
The legal action follows June 2025 amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020, which made it illegal for offshore operators except TAB NZ to accept racing or sports bets from New Zealand residents. From May 1, the Online Casino Gambling Bill is expected to extend prohibitions to online casino advertising, establishing a licensing framework for up to 15 operators under a December 1 market-exit deadline for unlicensed providers.
Bet365, Super Group, and Skycity have all publicly expressed interest in applying for New Zealand licenses when the auction opens, meaning all three operators now face the prospect of defending historical liability claims in New Zealand courts while simultaneously pursuing regulated market access in the same jurisdiction. The outcome of bet365’s jurisdictional challenge, in particular, may shape how the broader question of offshore-operator liability plays out as other jurisdictions consider similar claims against Malta-licensed platforms.
