Local Kiwi casino firm, SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited, has reportedly announced that it will be launching an iGaming service by year end. Considering such operations are currently illegal in its home nation, the firm is facing official opposition form New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

European host

According to the New Zealand Herald newspaper, SkyCity’s Communications GM, Colin Espiner has revealed that the service will probably be hosted in Europe, in lieu of the fact that most online gaming ventures are based there, and that it will most likely be run by a subsidiary in association with an already established tech partner.

Kiwi Market

The Herald further reported that the online service will target international players, although domestic punters may be able to get access by disguising their location via VPN software. The casino also intends to employ Search Engine Optimization technologies to lure foreign customers, since it will be banned from advertising its envisioned iGaming enterprise to New Zealand online casino players

Taxes

In the hopes of deflecting any criticism, Espiner announced that his firm intends to donate up to $27 million a year to the NZ government via a voluntary goods and services tax. Should this be refused, it was purportedly disclosed that the cash would then go to the company’s own trust program.

Ultimately, Espiner divulged that his firm expects the start-up costs for such a venture will likely yield little to no profit in its first year, but that any later proceeds will be repatriated and subjected to local taxes.