Press Releases
Kiwis Deserve Safe Gambling That Gives Back
The Government’s new Online Casino Gambling Bill, currently under Select Committee review, is a step in the right direction toward creating a safer, fairer, and more transparent gambling environment for New Zealanders. As the country’s leading source of information on legal online gambling, we at PlayCasino.co.nz support the push to regulate offshore operators and introduce licensing, age checks, harm minimisation measures, and tax contributions.
But we believe the bill has a serious flaw: it makes no provision for the ongoing funding of community sport, which currently receives over NZ$170 million annually from gaming machine grants.
This gap in the legislation threatens the very fabric of Kiwi sport — the local clubs, youth teams, and community programmes that rely on consistent, ring-fenced funding from gambling grants. If licensed online operators are going to take market share away from the current retail sector, then it is only fair and responsible that they contribute back to the communities they serve.
We Believe in Smart Regulation That Gives Back
The bill includes strong proposals for reducing harm, enforcing local oversight, and holding operators accountable. That’s excellent — and long overdue.
But regulation is not just about minimising harm. It’s also about maximising benefit. And right now, community sport stands to lose big.
As Martin Snedden, Chair of Cycling New Zealand, rightly put it:
“Sport has thrived for decades off the back of community gambling grants. It all goes to clubs, not professional sport.”
We couldn’t agree more. If these new offshore casinos are to be welcomed into our regulatory framework, then they must be required to support the public good, just like the domestic gaming trusts they’ll be replacing.
Public Submissions Close 17 August – Let’s Make Our Voices Heard
This is not a done deal. The bill is still under Select Committee review, and the Government is accepting public submissions until 17 August. That means every New Zealander has a chance to weigh in and help shape the future of online gambling in Aotearoa.
We’re calling on our readers, our fellow players, sports lovers, parents, club organisers — everyone who cares about keeping our communities strong — to speak up.
We’ll be publishing a simple guide to help you make a submission quickly and easily. The more people who raise this issue, the harder it will be for lawmakers to ignore.
How We See It: Four Principles for a Better Gambling Bill
- Safer Gambling for Players
We fully support age verification, harm prevention, and enforcement of responsible gambling standards. - Legal Options for Kiwis
Licensing offshore operators gives Kiwis safe, controlled alternatives to the black-market casinos they’re already using. - Fair Play for Communities
If operators are earning revenue from Kiwi players, they must return some of it to the grassroots clubs that hold our communities together. - Transparency for All
Licensing is meaningless unless it comes with clear rules — and clear benefits — for the whole country.
We want the Online Casino Gambling Bill to succeed. We want safer play. But we won’t stay silent while community sport is pushed to the side.
We’ll Only Recommend Licensed, Responsible Operators
Once New Zealand’s online gambling market is regulated, we at PlayCasino.co.nz will only promote and review licensed casinos that meet the highest standards of safety, fairness, and transparency.
But we also want to see those operators contributing back — not just to tax revenue or harm services, but to the clubs and communities that make New Zealand what it is.
Final Word: Gambling Should Be Safe — and It Should Give Back
This bill is a chance to build a future where gambling works for players and communities, not just for offshore companies.
Let’s not miss that chance.
About PlayCasino.co.nz
PlayCasino.co.nz is New Zealand’s go-to platform for finding safe, legal, and high-quality online casinos. We help players compare casinos, understand payment options, claim free no deposit bonuses responsibly, claim free spins bonus, and stay informed about the latest casino news and regulations.
We’re committed to responsible gambling, local transparency, and promoting only trusted operators — now and after regulation. Find the list below.
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| 1 | SlotBox Casino | 100% up to $1,000 + 100 Free Spins | N/A |
| 2 | Grand Rush Casino | $4,000 Free + 40 Spins on 7 Chakras | N/A |
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The post Kiwis Deserve Safe Gambling That Gives Back appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Mindway AI Welcomes Yardena Almagor as Customer Success Manager to Drive Client Relationships and Enhance Customer Experience
The post Mindway AI Welcomes Yardena Almagor as Customer Success Manager to Drive Client Relationships and Enhance Customer Experience appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Martin Lycka to Welcome Former Liverpool and Leeds Star to Safe Bet Show at SBC Summit 2025
Safer gambling expert Martin Lycka will welcome former Liverpool and Leeds defender Dominic Matteo to SBC Summit 2025 for a live edition of The Safe Bet Show in collaboration with EPIC Global Solutions.
Matteo made 155 appearances for Liverpool between 1992 and 2000 before moving to Leeds United. During his time at the club, he played a key role in their run to the Champions League semi-finals and later went on to captain the side. He also enjoyed spells at Sunderland, Stoke City, and Blackburn Rovers, and represented Scotland at international level.
Since retiring at the end of the 2008/09 season, Matteo has become a leading voice in the safer gambling space, drawing on his own experience of struggling with gambling addiction. He now works with EPIC alongside his wife, Jess Matteo, where they serve as Lived Experience Facilitators to help raise awareness of gambling-related harm among professional athletes.
Matteo’s gambling addiction began towards the end of his career while playing for Blackburn. At its worst, he placed a £500,000 bet on a single horse race and accumulated debts of more than £1 million. His recovery began with the unwavering support of his wife Jess, whose role he describes as instrumental in helping him rebuild his life.
That support proved vital once again in 2019, when Matteo was diagnosed with a brain tumour that required life-saving surgery and radiotherapy. Remarkably, the tumour had been dormant since childhood — leading Matteo to reflect that he had unknowingly played his entire professional career with it.
The couple have since dedicated themselves to educating players across the EFL, Scottish Premiership and PREM Rugby on safer gambling measures. Their work focuses on building awareness, helping players spot early signs of harm, and connecting them to the right support.
Matteo’s story brings a powerful perspective to SBC Summit’s Player Protection Stage, where he and his wife Jess will join Lycka for a live conversation on Tuesday, 16 September, from 16:30 to 17:00. Jess will share her insights on what it means to support a loved one through gambling addiction, including how families can find the right advice and access meaningful support.
Their session comes as SBC Summit 2025 prepares to host its first-ever Legends Charity Game, featuring football icons such as Kaka, Luís Figo, Cafu, Alessandro Del Piero, Patrice Evra, and more. Against that backdrop, Matteo’s appearance offers a timely reminder of the need to educate both current and former players on the risks of gambling harm.
Ahead of the live show, Lycka said: “Dominic’s journey is one of incredible resilience. His willingness to speak openly about his struggles and his fantastic educational work with athletes is deeply impactful.
“Having him and Jess join me for this live edition of The Safe Bet Show brings an essential human perspective to the wider conversation on player protection. I’m honoured that I’ll be able to share the stage with them both in Lisbon.”
The Player Protection Stage will run across all three days of SBC Summit, from 16 to 18 September. Day one will focus on regulation, day two will explore the role of technology in player protection, and day three will be dedicated to research.
Secure your pass for SBC Summit 2025 today and join over 30,000 attendees!
Get your tickets below: Save 50% with code EUROGAMINGPARTNERVIP
The post Martin Lycka to Welcome Former Liverpool and Leeds Star to Safe Bet Show at SBC Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Leading iGaming content provider 7777 gaming is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Winpot, a prominent Mexican casino brand, marking a significant step in expanding its presence in Latin America.
Through this collaboration, Winpot’s online players will now enjoy access to 7777 gaming’s diverse portfolio of engaging casino titles, including fan favorites Cash 100 Sugar Star, Club Mr. Luck 10 and Mayan Gold. These top-performing games will be available immediately, with additional titles set to launch in the coming months bringing even more variety and excitement to Winpot’s growing digital audience.
Zhana Aleksandrova, Business Development Director for Spain and LatAm at 7777 gaming, commented: “We’re proud to partner with Winpot, one of the most respected gaming brands in Mexico. This collaboration is a key milestone in our strategic expansion across Latin America. With our shared commitment to quality, entertainment, and player engagement, we’re confident that Winpot’s audience will respond enthusiastically to our games.”
Winpot, known for its strong presence in the land-based casino sector in Mexico, has been expanding its digital footprint with a vision to offer world-class content to local players. The addition of 7777 gaming’s modern, gamified content is part of that mission.
Tsvetan Dzhurov, Commercial Manager at Winpot added: “7777 gaming brings a refreshing and innovative perspective to the online casino space. Their portfolio is a perfect match for our player base in Mexico, offering both excitement and variety. We believe this partnership will contribute to an even more engaging experience for our customers.”
This partnership reinforces 7777 gaming’s commitment to delivering premium gaming content to regulated markets across the globe and signals its continued growth in Latin America’s booming iGaming sector.
About 7777 gaming:
7777 gaming is an innovative and data-driven B2B igaming provider, founded in 2020 with the mission to revolutionize and challenge the status quo in the industry by offering 360-degree platform, state-of-the-art online casino games, iLottery, Jackpot, and marketing solutions, draw-based games, scratch cards, and much more.
The product is built by a dedicated team of visionaries with over 20 years of experience. The games and the RNG are tested and compliant in several highly regulated jurisdictions worldwide. Besides, the company achieved and maintained ISO 27001 certification. 7777 gaming holds a gambling license in Bulgaria and Romania and an MGA Certificate to provide its online casino games to these markets.
7777 gaming is already partnering with the leading aggregators and platform providers in the igaming industry.
Contact us:
https://www.7777gaming.com
Social Media:
The post 7777 gaming teams up with Winpot to enhance online casino experience in Mexico appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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