SkyCity Malta, a subsidiary of New Zealand’s SKYCITY Entertainment Group, has launched its new online casino, SkyCityCasino.com, in partnership with Gaming Innovation Group Inc (GiG).
The site, to be operated out of Malta by GiG, will provide users based in New Zealand with a full suite of casino games, slots and virtual sports.
“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,” said SKYCITY CEO Graeme Stephens.
“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’’.
While New Zealand is still debating the merits of a regulated online gaming industry, it is not illegal for residents to play on offshore sites with the country’s offshore online gambling market estimated at around NZ$160 million annually.
SKYCITY said it “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.”
Plans to launch online gaming were first announced by SKYCITY in May although the company said at the time that it didn’t have any immediate intentions to monetize the platform.
