SkyCity faces proposed class action over online gaming operations

SkyCity Entertainment Group has received notice of legal proceedings challenging the lawfulness of its offshore online gaming operations, with a proposed funded class action seeking recovery of customer losses over a six-year period.

The proceedings have been brought against SkyCity, SkyCity Auckland Holdings Limited and Silvereye Entertainment Limited, a Malta-based entity licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority that operates online gaming services on behalf of SkyCity Online, an overseas subsidiary of the operator.

According to the notice, the action seeks to test whether the online gaming operations conducted by Silvereye for SkyCity Online were lawful.  

The filing also includes an application for leave to pursue the claim as a funded class action on behalf of individuals who incurred gambling losses between February 2020 and February 2026. 

SkyCity said it denies any liability in relation to the claims and intends to defend the proceedings. The operator has not disclosed further details regarding the substance of the allegations or the jurisdiction in which the case will proceed.

Silvereye, identified in the proceedings as a third party, is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and provides operational support for SkyCity’s offshore online gaming activities.

The case introduces further legal scrutiny for the New Zealand-based operator at a time when regulatory oversight of cross-border online gambling activity continues to attract attention across multiple jurisdictions.

Further updates on the proceedings are expected as the court considers the application for class action status and any subsequent procedural developments.

Earlier this year, the operator named a new Finance Chief in a leadership update, appointing Blair Woodbury as CFO with the role scheduled to begin in March. The move formed part of a wider period of operational adjustment focused on governance and compliance across its portfolio.