Admin, Author at BestCasinos.co.nz

Fresh New Zealand travel restrictions spell bad news for casinos

November 30, 2021 by Admin

An ill omen has emerged for the immediate future of New Zealand’s tourism industry, with an announcement of new regulations prohibiting inbound travel by foreigners. The closure of the country’s borders has been extended beyond initial expectations and means that the country’s casinos will have to survive without foreign gamblers until an unknown point in 2022.

Fresh data from Johns Hopkins’ Center for Systems Science and Engineering, reveals a concerning trend where the country’s mid-August 7-day average of three new cases now stands at 191.

New Zealand has already been operating under nationwide restrictions for most of the year, with its borders mostly closed. From January 2022, citizens mired abroad will be permitted to return home, but international visitors will face stringent entry requirements.

Enduring Lockdown

The country’s COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, stated that any prospective foreign visitors would only be able to visit in the new year if they were willing to enter quarantine until the end of April. Casinos operators like SkyCity Entertainment Group will be particularly hard-hit as they rely heavily on foreign visitation for revenue.

“Closing our border was one of the first steps we took to keep our country safe from COVID-19, and it’ll be the last thing we open up, following our transition into the traffic light protection framework system and lifting of the Auckland boundary,” Hipkin elaborated.

“We are making this announcement today to give families, businesses, visitors and airline and airport companies certainty and time to prepare. It’s very encouraging that as a country, we are now in a position to move towards greater normality,” he concluded.

SkyCity under a cloud

With Chinese VIP clients reportedly responsible for around 40% of SkyCity’s growth, the interruption of this vital revenue by the global pandemic has placed the organisation in a perilous position.

In addition to these troubles, the casino operator is also undergoing a transformative process to appease regulators, recently announcing that it would cut all ties with junkets. This latest action is a proactive remedial measure in response to the recent legal difficulties that Crown resorts Australia has found itself embroiled in.

SkyCity’s has its hopes of somewhat easing the damage partially pinned on the planned December 3 reopening of its Auckland property. The resumption of business comes with the introduction of New Zealand’s new “traffic light” COVID-19 protocol system.

SkyCity Auckland looks to early December reopening

November 26, 2021 by Admin

The New Zealand government has confirmed its intent to transition to a new COVID-19 alert system, allowing venues to operate under a trio of restriction tiers.

Auckland is expected to fall under the most severe, red setting, which means venues may only accept vaccinated individuals with specific capacity and social distancing restrictions in place.

SkyCity made the recent commitment that all staff and visitors to its New Zealand casinos and resorts would have to be fully vaccinated to gain entry, irrespective of the alert setting. The company’s SkyCity Auckland venue is expected to reopen from December 3 with its casino, entertainment and accommodation facilities all being open to the public.

“The SkyCity Auckland property will reopen in a staged manner with health and safety measures in place to reflect the Ministry of Health’s latest recommendations and guidelines,” the operator explained in an official statement.

SkyCity Auckland had previously closed doors on August 17 following a COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak in what is New Zealand’s most populated city.

New Leadership

The reopening is not the only significant event that the company has recently announced. The name of the person who will fill the seat of outgoing SkyCity chairman Rob Campbell has been revealed.

Julian Cook is the new appointee to the SkyCity chair role, leaving the former director to assume the job of group chairman from January 1 2022. The company expressed that it is committed to ensuring that the coming weeks are an “orderly transition and handover period.”

In an October announcement, Campbell advised that he was standing down at the end of the year to turn his attention to other work commitments.

“We have made significant progress over the past year to refresh the SkyCity board and I am delighted that Julian has been selected by the SkyCity board to lead SkyCity and the new chair from January 1,” he said.

Cook has a diverse background, previously serving as the chief executive officer of retirement village operator Summerset Group Holdings from 2014 to 2021 and while also assuming the role of a director at Macquarie Group from 2010.

Vital Mandate

Michael Ahearne, the chief executive of Skycity advised the company’s annual meeting that the new traffic light system would enable it to reopen its major casinos and hotels.

“Accordingly, our intention is that all SkyCity properties in New Zealand will operate as vaccination-only venues when the new framework comes into effect – a decision that has been made with the health and safety of our staff and customers in mind. The vaccine mandate would apply to all its 2900 employees, as well as customers, contractors and visitors to any of its New Zealand venues.

“As one of the biggest entertainment venues in New Zealand, and a significant employer in New Zealand, we need to take measures to help keep Kiwis safe,” he said.

Ahearne emphasised the negative impact that the current lockdowns were having on the company, costing it around $1 million a day in lost revenue, rendering the determination of a full-year earnings forecast impossible.

“Trading over the course of the first half of the financial year has been materially impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions, in particular, the ongoing lockdown in the Auckland region and, consequently, the company’s first-half earnings are expected to be impacted from the difficult trading conditions,” he concluded.

Skycity, Adelaide

Westpac puts the squeeze on gambling-related credit card payments

November 23, 2021 by Admin

Major bank, Westpac has responded to the ongoing scourge of problem gambling with a punitive measure for customers using its credit cards for online gambling transactions

The bank has decided to charge higher interest on what it describes as “quasi cash” credit card payments, including transactions for Lotto, TAB and other online gambling services.

The bank levies a 22.95% interest for ‘cash advances’ on its Hotpoints Mastercard and has stated that from November 30, all payments to gambling accounts, for cryptocurrency purchases will be categorised as cash advances. Assuming the cardholder does not clear their balance by their monthly payment date; all regular purchases performed with Westpac’s standard Mastercard will incur interest of 20.95%.

The Problem Gambling Foundation responded to this measure, by calling for a review of existing gambling laws and for action similar to that taken by the British Gambling Commission that banned payments from credit cards to gambling companies outright.

This ban was imposed by the commission, following the publication of research that pointed to a significant percentage of problem gamblers using credit cards to fuel their addiction.

Andree Froude, a spokesperson for the Problem Gambling Foundation advised that online gambling numbers were on the increase and “obviously credit cards provide a means for them to do that when they don’t really have the money”.

“I think the move to ban credit cards would be a good one,” she asserted.

Froude added that The Gambling Act was almost 20 years old and that in the time since its creation, technological advances have left it sorely in need of an update.

She further stated that the Department of Internal Affairs had completed a review of online gambling a few years ago and that those results would be made available soon, accompanied by options for regulation.

A spokesperson from Westpac said that the majority of “quasi-cash transactions are used to fund online gambling.”

Not Enough

Froude mentioned that institutions like Westpac have a lot more work to do in the fight to empower gambling addicts with the tools to help themselves. She pointed to Kiwibank, which in April announced that it would offer voluntary credit card gambling blocks to problem gamblers. This is to help them stop gambling with borrowed funds and so far, 127 customers have requested the block, representing an average of $13 000 saved in gambling spend saved per year.

Kiwibank initiated this measure after noting a rise in online gambling harm over the Covid lockdowns.

While Westpac’s Australian operations offer similar voluntary measures to Kiwibank, its New Zealand subsidiaries do not.

iGaming gains can’t save Skycity from H1 lockdown losses

November 19, 2021 by Admin

New Zealand casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group has had a mixed bag of news to report with its flourishing iGaming business contrasting sharply with losses taken over the first half of its financial year as a result of land-based closures.

The first month of SkyCity’s 2021-22 financial year, July 2021, saw online revenue come in at just below $3 million, a 30% improvement, year-on-year.

This revenue then increased to $4.0m in August, breaking all previous records, as New Zealand returned to national lockdowns to combat the spread of Covid-19. As a result, SkyCity’s Auckland and Hamilton properties had to close, with the casino and entertainment facilities at its Queenstown venue being momentarily restricted.

Online gross revenue experienced even more growth during September, rising to over $5 million thanks to a reported 11 000 weekly active customers over the month, even though lockdown measures were eased before the end of September. October saw another return to lockdowns and a decrease in revenue to $4.1m.

All of the figures mentioned far exceed pre-pandemic levels. SkyCity’s online casino revenue only reached $500 000 in March 2021, a slow progression for a service that was launched in August 2019.

SkyCity advised that it views online casino as a vital growth sector and it estimates that the New Zealand market will generate $300 million in annual revenues at maturity. The operator added that licensed operators would be able to compete better if offshore sites were dealt with more aggressively by authorities.

The Other Side of the Coin

The operator’s online success was, however, insufficient to balance out the losses caused by lockdowns of SkyCity’s land-based operations. The firm stopped short of revealing its figures but did state that its earnings for the first half of the financial year, ended 31 December, were “materially impacted by difficult trading conditions”.

The company further noted that following the reopening of SkyCity Queenstown and Adelaide, business was slow to return to anything resembling pre-pandemic levels, partially due to imposed operational restrictions.

SkyCity’s chair, Rob Campbel, advised in October that he would be stepping down from his position sometime in early 2022. The firm has advised that it had not yet initiated the process of finding a replacement and did not share any information on when it expects to announce the next person to fill the role.

Microgaming sheds its Quickfire Platform

November 16, 2021 by Admin

Microgaming made the recent announcement that it would be selling its globally-renowned Quickfire distribution business and portfolio. This deal encompasses the platform’s games and the buyer stepping up to the table is Games Global Limited.

As part of the deal, Games Global will also possess several games studios across multiple jurisdictions with the conclusion of this agreement expected to happen by the second quarter of 2022. Once it is done, the buyer will find itself in a highly advantageous position as it will be taking on regulation-ready assets across various jurisdictions.

The management of 25 studios and over 3,000 games, including the platform’s progressive jackpot network and distribution systems that have 260 customers and 980 brands will now pass to Games Global. With this, the previously-held balances of power and influence within the global iGaming industry have shifted enough to guarantee an interesting era ahead.

Starting from the Top

Walter Bugno, the CEO of Games Global, expressed excitement at being able to make such a spectacular entry into the industry as the company is a fairly new venture, having only been established in early 2021.

“We see a very vibrant gaming market at present across the world, with many new regulated markets coming online. The creation of a new large-scale independent supply chain that Games Global will be has not been witnessed for many years,” he said.

Bugno emphasised that his company’s mission is to offer a “best-of-breed product” that creates unmatched end-customer experiences.

Not All the Way Out

Microgaming’s CEO, John Coleman, appeared elated at what he characterised as mutually beneficial and advised that this deal was the conclusion of a lengthy process.

“Games Global will acquire the game IP and distribution business previously known as Quickfire, and Microgaming will continue to support its traditional core business while increasing its reach with the addition of new business and managed services,” he explained.

Quickfire’s influence appears to have rubbed off on Microgaming as the company intends to continue offering turnkey solutions to its key customers.

Kiwibank reveals rise in demand for gambling block function

November 12, 2021 by Admin

Kiwibank’s initiative to offer customers the ability to block payments to online gambling websites has drawn praise from many quarters with other financial institutions being encouraged to follow its lead. The tool was created in collaboration with the Problem Gambling Foundation and has seen increasing interest from consumers.

With the Covid-19 pandemic came an increased interest in and engagement with online gambling in New Zealand. Gambling spending grew from around $4.1 million a week at the beginning of 2020 to $6.25m a week during the lockdown, according to the Ministry of Health’s data.

Kiwibank responded to this trend and the potential harms associated with it by being the first bank in the country to allow customers the option of blocking payments from their credit and debit cards to online gambling websites, after a successful pilot project in 2020.

Julia Jackson, the Kiwibank head of sustainability explained that the rise in activity during lockdown is a global phenomenon as people eased their boredom and stress with online gambling.

“As a bank, we started to think about what we could do meaningfully. We’re not counsellors, we can’t solve all of those problems. But we do have a unique insight into people’s spending behaviour,” she said.

The payment block is applied to merchant codes linked to gambling companies. Any online gambling transactions attempted with the customer’s card via these merchants will be immediately declined. The block can also be placed on additional cards and can be reversed at any time, following a two working day processing period.

Jackson remarked that the auto-save credit card payment function available on most online gambling websites allows individuals to overlook the amount they are actually spending on these activities.

“Eighty per cent of customers who have put the block in place have kept that block on. That’s now been seven or eight months of them not having the ability to gamble online,” she stated.

Kiwibank has reported that it has helped 127 customers side-step close to $13,000 each per year in gambling losses, which comes to about $1.7 million in total with over 200 customers requesting the function.

Jackson explained that customers need not worry about their future lending project if they choose to use this tool, saying,

“The benefit, ultimately, is we are supporting our customers to ensure that they are spending their money in a way that is promoting their long term wellbeing and helping them to get ahead. It ensures we have customers who are more financially resilient and more emotionally resilient as well, which is a great side outcome.”

Banks Under Pressure

The banking industry at large has been urged to prioritise the safety and interests of customers in the wake of the Financial Markets Authority and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s joint review of the state of the country’s conduct and culture in 2018.

The Reserve Bank Governor, Adrian Orr, had commented at the time, saying,

“To promote a sound and efficient financial system, banks have a responsibility to ensure customers receive products and services they “understand. These products and services must be suited to customers’ needs on an ongoing basis.”

Gambling counsellor Bonnie Lovich-Howitt spoke up for consumers, explaining that online gambling websites obstruct self-exclusion efforts.

“Our clients report gambling sites are like an octopus. One website will have an offer on other sites. Often unsolicited messages pop up, but we really don’t want them popping up when people are most vulnerable. I had a client who was doing really well, they hadn’t gambled in over a year, they were feeling really good, their relationship was back on track. And then they got an email from a random online gambling place. Basically, it said, you know, spend $1, and we’ll give you $100. But 40 hours later that harmless dollar cost them their whole paycheck,” she said.

Lovich-Howitt added that Kiwibank’s measure is an effective tool for individuals seeking to reduce their exposure to gambling harm and that she had urged the bank to ensure that the use of this measure would not negatively impact the customers’ ability to borrow money.

The counsellor made her final comment on the matter, saying.

“That’s crucial to the success of the block. They wouldn’t have as many people using it if customers were worried it would affect their lending. We need people to be confident to talk to the bank. Offering services helps challenge the stigma associated with harmful gambling, and financial institutions have a responsibility, as gambling is directly related to money.

“I honestly hope and believe that it’s a trend that all others follow.”

Microgaming goes big with prime November entertainment

November 9, 2021 by Admin

As the festive season draws near, Microgaming has its usual monthly release of premium iGaming content is locked and loaded and ready to thrill. This November, experience a plethora of exciting titles from Microgaming‘s exclusive independent studio and aggregation partners.

On 23 November, have night out in Vegas with Hyper Star by Gameburger Studios. This latest chapter in the developer’s ‘Hyper’ series is styled like a flashy Vegas casino and plays out of a 5×3 reel, 243 payline format. Score progressive multiplier prizes worth up to 15x as the Rolling Reels generate chains of wins and hold your breath in anticipation for the random Star collect feature that offers up to 5000x your bet in jackpot prizes. The game’s top potential is 7343x your stake, so get dressed in your best and win.

Avian antics abound on 4 November in Crazy Tooth Studios’ new Lucky Clucks slot title. The developer’s BIG BuildUp feature sees chickens lay eggs that later hatch into wilds and multipliers while the Mother Hen Prize Pot is boosted by special corn symbols and pays out the random BIG BuildUp feature kicks in. When 3 or more scatters appear on the reels, The Raise The Roof Bonus feature will activate where you can enjoy free spins with sticky wilds.

The Icy expanses of the North welcome you on November 16 in Kodiak Kingdom by Just For The Win. The game’s symbols include cougars, eagles, caribou, trout and the fierce Alaskan Kodiak bear. Climb the multiplier mountain to win amazing prizes on the pokie’s 4096 ways to win and boost your potential with multiplier wilds, multipliers, free spins for a chance at the maximum award of 25 000x your bet.

SpinPlay Games’ Mustang Riches transports you to the foreboding wilderness of the Wild West on 9 November. Encounter coyotes, eagles, and rattlesnakes as the game’s symbols while the BlazingWays mechanic increases your win ways up to 7776 and expands the reel set when you collect coin symbols. Expanding wilds appear on reels 2, 3, and 4 to get you closer to the maximum win of 7000x your bet. Horseshoe scatters trigger free spins where you have your choice of win ways.

Get conjuring on 30 November with the release of 11 Enchanting Relics by All41 Studios. The game’s EpicStrike mechanic is a lucrative scatter pays feature with 11 tiers and the Epic Pick feature launches a pick-me game where you could claim jackpots worth up to 10,000x your stake.

For some saucy slot action, Gameburger Studios launches its Playboy Fortunes Hyperspins title on 18 November. Revisit the mansion in this revamped title with the Hyperspins feature bringing you amazing winning possibilities by allowing you to individually respin the reels and complete winning combinations or activate bonus features.

The god of the Oceans swims into action on 2 November in God of Seas: Triton’s Fortune by Foxium. Employ the free spins and the randomly-triggered Triton’s Fortune feature where the reels are peppered with extra scatter symbols.

Neko Game’s rides into a off-center adventure with the release of Don Bingote on 11 November. Prizes of up to 5,000x your stake await your eager hands with the Bingote Jackpots, and get ready for a prize-grabbing bonanza in the Diamantea’s Castle Bonus where you could win up to 1646x your stake.

Classic casino fanatics are in for a treat on on 2 November with Real Roulette con Tomas by Real Dealer Studios. This Spanish-language slot showcases the best of European Roulette in an authentic casino environment.

Gong Gaming Technologies presents Royal League Zuma Riches on November 22. This title comes with the Royal League feature that activates at random to award you fixed jackpot prizes worth up to 10 000x your stake and the Golden Spins feature doubles your chances of entering the jackpot game.

There is also a fine selection of content scheduled for release from Microgaming’s aggregation partners. MGA releases the club-themed B Jones in Session on 2 November, and Eyecon’s space-faring voyage, Astroboomers Turbo launches on 11 November. Gamevy showcases Asian culture in Bonsai Spins on 3 November, where you can win huge prizes with symbol upgrades, multipliers, and wild reels.

Pragmatic Play’s Dog House Pokie puts potential in your paws

November 5, 2021 by Admin

Pragmatic Play’s new pokie is perfect for pet lovers with a taste for winning. Dog House is the brand new title from the developer and introduces a quartet of canines with quirky, individual personalities who show up as symbols on the reels alongside Kennel wilds, bones, and collars. The game’s graphics are vibrant and bright with lovable puppies waiting for you to play.

Feature Creatures

The Kennel wild symbol increases your winning potential by appearing on reels two, three, and four, substituting for all symbols besides the scatter and awarding a 2x or 3x multiplier when they land simultaneously on the same reel.

Getting into the free spins bonus round requires that you land 3 Red Paw Bonus Scatters simultaneously on reels 1, 3, and 5. You will receive a random number of free spins and wilds will become sticky, making hug multiplier wins even more possible.

The pokie’s maximum possible payout is 6 750x your bet on a single spin and with a maximum bet of $100, the winning possibilities are impressive. The 5×3 reel, 20 payline game offers an RTP of 96.51% and a host of user features, like Quick Spin to customise your game experience.

The Dog House pokie is fully optimised for mobile platforms so you can even play it while taking your actual dog for a walk thanks to advanced HTML5 technology.

SkyCity Entertainment Group mandates full vaccination for NZ staff and customers

November 2, 2021 by Admin

Following in the footsteps of Crown Resorts, SkyCity Entertainment Group now requires all staff and visitors to its New Zealand casinos and resorts to present proof of full vaccination.

SkyCity’ CEO, Michael Ahearne, announced the vaccine mandate at the organisations’ Annual General Meeting recently as the country nears its 90% vaccination target that will enable the government to do away with lockdowns. A new national ‘traffic light system’ will be implemented in their place, where venues can operate, but under three tiers of restrictions, green, orange and red.

“At all levels, businesses, retail and public facilities will generally be able to remain open for vaccinated people. Accordingly, our intention is that all SkyCity properties in New Zealand will operate as vaccination-only venues when the new framework comes into effect, a decision that has been made with the health and safety of our staff and customers in mind, ” Ahearne said to shareholders.

The operator of Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth and Crown Sydney Australia’s Crown Resorts, advised in September that it was implementing a “no jab, no entry” rule for customers and compulsory COVID vaccination for all employees.

SkyCity’s 2900 employees along with all customers and contractors must now be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to gain entry to its Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown sites. Whether or not the same measure will be implemented at its Adelaide property remains to be seen.

Ahearne continued his statements, saying,

“As one of the biggest entertainment venues in New Zealand and a significant employer in New Zealand, we need to take measures to help keep Kiwis safe. While we have existing safety controls in place to mitigate the risk of exposure to Covid-19, public health information and research confirm that Covid-19 vaccines will provide the best protection for our staff and customers.”

“Supporting the vaccination targets set by the Government is going to help our industry reopen, stay open and recover faster, “he concluded.

SkyCity Auckland, the operator’s flagship property, is still closed down at the moment after halting operations on 17 August due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the city.

John Hunter adventures forth again in new Pragmatic Play pokie

October 30, 2021 by Admin

Pragmatic Play’s rugged adventurer protagonist is back for another pulse-racing adventure in the developer’s new slot title, John Hunter and the Quest for Bermuda Riches.

This is the fifth title in the John Hunter slot series and transports you to the Atlantic island of Bermuda where you join the intrepid explorer on his quest for exotic and mysterious riches. The game’s symbols include adventuring gear and ancient treasures like telescopes, goblets, and bejewelled rings. Golden idol wild symbols also appear to substitute for any of the pay symbols and help you complete winning combinations.

The slot plays out on a 7×7 reel formation with a cluster pays mechanic and high volatility gameplay where you could claim prizes with up to 5000x your bet on a single spin, with the aid of a selection of thrilling bonus features.

Feature-Packed Action

The tumbling reels mechanic complements the cluster pays feature where clusters of 5 or more matching symbols generate wins and are swiftly removed from the reels, allowing another set of symbols to fall in their place, potentially setting off a chain of wins. Wild symbols randomly transform into Cursed Wilds that generate a 2x multiplier or extra wild symbols on the reels.

The free spins feature kicks off when you land 3 or more Scatters within a winning Cluster, where you will receive 12 free spins with infinite retriggering possibilities.

A Worthy Addition

This new title joins recent successful releases like Cash Bonanza, Mystic Chief, and Piggy Bank Bills, as part of Pragmatic’s catalogue of over 200 premium HTML5 iGaming titles.

Yossi Barzely, the Chief Business Development Officer at Pragmatic Play said,

“The John Hunter series has become a staple of our portfolio, and we’re thrilled to inject new life into it with the launch of John Hunter and the Quest for Bermuda Riches. We’re always looking for new ways to entertain our customers with exciting content, and the John Hunter series presents us with the perfect opportunity to continue an epic narrative with equally thrilling mechanics.”

Pragmatic Play delivers up to five new slot titles a month, alongside its Live Casino and Bingo offerings, all included in its multi-product portfolio, available through a single API.