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