News
5 Important Facts About New Zealand’s Gambling Market

Whenever there is a focus on the gambling market within the Asia-Pacific region, Australia, which is one of the largest gambling markets in the world, tends to hog all of the attention.
As in many other aspects, Australia’s quieter cousin New Zealand is often wrongfully overlooked by industry pundits, online casino operators, and affiliates. However, they can no longer afford to do so.
New Zealand’s gambling market might not be as large as Australia’s, but it is rapidly becoming a major consumer market that is on track to become a significant global industry player. To help illustrate this point further, here are five essential facts that you need to know about New Zealand’s gambling market.
Source: Unsplash
1. A Huge Portion of New Zealanders Gamble
One fact that is often crucially overlooked is the sheer number of New Zealanders that regularly play real-money casino games. According to some of the most recent studies, a whopping 80% of New Zealanders, equal to about 3.8 million people, gamble on a regular basis. The bulk of these gamblers stick to lotteries, but this is changing fast.
2. Overall Gambling Spend Per Head is Rising
Not only is the number of gambling fans in New Zealand high, but the amount they actually spend is high, and rising. Last year, New Zealanders spent around $2.4 billion, or about $648 per head. This figure is a full $49 million higher than the year before, which, in turn, was significantly higher than the year before that. It is clear that the gambling market is going through an unprecedented growth phase.
3. Online Competition is Heating Up
While there are only a small handful of land-based casinos in New Zealand, the level of online competition is growing rapidly. Among the estimated 1300 online casinos that offer services in New Zealand, the biggest market player is the online platform SkyCity, which offers online pokies, blackjack, poker, roulette, and even live casino games to players across the country. Expect online operators to increase their marketing efforts in NZ in the years ahead.
Source: Unsplash
4. Gambling Revenues Often Go to Charitable Causes
Few people realize that, as part of New Zealand’s unique gambling laws, many of the revenues from casino gaming go straight to charitable causes. Under the law, all public gaming in New Zealand is expected to return profits to the community. Such profits are used to house homeless people in cities such as Auckland, fund new infrastructure such as transport and convention centres, and pay for various other non-commercial causes. Another country that has a similar system in place is Finland, a nation that New Zealand is often compared to.
5. Slots Are By Far the Most Popular Casino Games
Finally, it is important for industry watchers to know that the most popular type of casino game in New Zealand by far is the pokies. Similar to the situation in Australia, pokies are found in bars, pubs, and hotel lobbies across the country, which has contributed to their popularity. Pokies also have a role in the culture of New Zealand, in much the same way that they do in Oz. The pre-eminence of pokies is unlikely to be challenged in the near future.
These are the facts that any industry pundit should know about gambling in New Zealand.
Affiliate Announcements
KVA launches new website: stronger quality mark and clear recognition for consumers

The Responsible Affiliates Quality Mark (KVA) has launched its updated website. The modernization is the result of months of preparation and stems from the first meeting of the Alliance for Combating Illegal Online Gambling in May 2025. During this meeting, participants, including the KVA, emphasized the importance of enabling consumers to more quickly and accurately identify which players in the online gambling market are reliable and legal.
The foundation of the KVA: Thorough inspection and legal security
The KVA was founded in 2021, shortly before the opening of the legal online gambling sector in the Netherlands. At the same time, the KVA Code was developed, which all affiliated members must comply with. Compliance with this code has a legal basis: it is contractually established between the KVA and its members.
The KVA Code is based on current legislation and regulations in the Netherlands and is amended as needed. The code consists of six fixed components:
- Contributing to channelisation and combating illegal supply.
- Responsible use of marketing channels.
- Careful and balanced design of expressions.
- Preventing deception.
- Tailoring advertising to addiction prevention.
- Compliance with the Decree on Non-Targeted Remote Gambling Advertising.
All members are fully assessed annually. They receive a comprehensive advisory report, supplemented with random samples and audits based on signals. Compliance assessments are conducted by KVA Compliance Officers, who operate independently within the organization under contract. This guarantees a legally anchored and reproducible assessment structure.
The foundation of the KVA remains unchanged. However, the updated website provides a clearer and more accessible overview of what the KVA Code entails.
Increase recognition
Previously, consumers weren’t always clear about the KVA quality mark when they encountered it on an affiliate website. With the updated website, the KVA aims to improve this by making the quality mark’s function more transparent. Individual certificates for each affiliated website immediately show how it was assessed, how often inspections are performed, and when the last assessment was conducted. We also specifically explain which KVA Compliance Officer assessed the website, for transparency reasons. The certificates increase consumer recognition.
The new website contains several extensions and improvements:
- KVA certificates per website : Each affiliated member has its own page with a certificate, which shows how the assessment was made, whether the organization behind the website has been verified, and who performed the last audit. All the different certificates can be found on the member page: https://kva.nl/leden/ . Many of our members have now set up links from the quality mark to their own certificates.
- KVA Team: Clear information is now available about the team behind the KVA: https://kva.nl/het-team-van-kva/
- Transparency statement: a page explaining the organizational structure behind the KVA: https://kva.nl/transparantieverklaring/
- Advisory Board : The role of external advisors has been given a more prominent role. The KVA is supported by Yvon Jansma (Center for Responsible Gambling), Peter-Paul de Goeij (online gambling specialist), Eric Konings (VNLOK), Anne-Jaap Snijders (Book of Sports expert), and Björn Fuchs (VNLOK chairman). Advisory Board page: https://kva.nl/de-raad-van-advies/
- Responsible Gambling page : comprehensive information for consumers about signs of problematic gambling behavior, tips for responsible gambling, and referrals to support agencies: https://kva.nl/verantwoord-gokken/
- Publications section : an overview of studies, reports, and warnings issued by the KVA. This regularly highlights the risks of illegal online casinos, misleading affiliates, and new marketing tactics: https://kva.nl/publicaties/
Informing and protecting consumers
With its updated website, the KVA is positioning itself more emphatically as a consumer information hub. It regularly issues warnings about the risks of illegal gambling through social media and accessible articles. In doing so, the quality mark aims to contribute to the channeling objective: encouraging participation with legal providers and combating illegal offerings.
Steven Vrolijk, representative of the KVA: “With the updated website, we’re taking the next step in professionalization. The quality mark will be more recognizable for consumers, while members can continue to rely on a robust and legally sound assessment procedure. Through our role within the Alliance, the constructive contact with the regulator, and the input of experienced market experts, we want to continue contributing, together with our members, to channeling legal supply and tackling the illegal sector. Naturally, we thank all members and affiliated partners for supporting our initiative.”
News
N1 Partners is giving away a trip to a surf camp at SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon

Surf On the Waves to Success: N1 Partners at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025
From September 16 to 18, the N1 Partners team will take part in SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon — one of the largest events in the iGaming industry. Thousands of professionals from around the world will gather at Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO Arena to discuss trends, exchange insights, and build new partnerships. N1 Partners is known for preparing something special for every event, and this time the team will bring a vibrant surf-inspired atmosphere to booth F84.
Surfing the Wave of Opportunities with N1 Partners
At every conference, meeting the N1 Partners team is a chance for affiliates to advance in the N1 Puzzle Promo and get closer to the grand prize of the year — the Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter. In Lisbon, this journey takes on a fresh theme — surfing, as a symbol of freedom, energy, and moving forward.
At the N1 Partners booth, the team will recreate the vibe of a real surf camp, giving partners the chance to discuss business opportunities and take part in activities designed to help them “catch the wave” of success.
What Visitors Will Find at Booth F84
- Surf Bar serving signature bubble teas and retro-surf–style cocktails
- Surf Balance Board Challenge: test your balance, claim guaranteed prizes, and get the chance to win an all-inclusive surf trip
- Meeting zones designed for productive negotiations and top-tier deals in a comfortable setting
A Dream Trip for the Winner
N1 Partners will raffle off a certificate for an all-inclusive surf camp trip, which includes flights, villa accommodation, training with a professional coach, and a branded surfboard delivered directly to the winner.
How to participate:
- Visit booth F84
- Register for the giveaway
- Be present at the raffle (stay tuned for the exact time on N1 Partners’ social media)
Full terms and conditions will be available at the booth.
See You in Lisbon
SBC Summit Lisbon is the perfect opportunity to meet the N1 Partners team, explore new projects, learn about the latest brand launches, and discuss exclusive partnership opportunities. At booth F84, visitors will find live business conversations, branded merch, and additional puzzles to bring them closer to the grand prize of the N1 Puzzle Promo.
Why N1 Partners
Working directly with an advertiser, partners of N1 Partners benefit from:
- 14+ licensed casino and sportsbook brands with Reg2Dep up to 70%
- top deals across 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €650, RevShare up to 45% + NNCO, and hybrid models
At booth F84, the N1 Partners team will be focused on real business. Whether you run SEO, PPC, FB, or other traffic sources, you’ll discover how to turn them into even greater profit with N1 Partners’ offers.
Don’t wait: book your meetings with N1 Partners’ affiliate managers now and make your SBC Lisbon experience as productive as possible.
News
CasinoHawks spreads its wings with bold rebrand for UK market

Affiliate marketing powerhouse unveils new identity and content strategy to strengthen player trust in competitive online casino market
CasinoHawks, the UK-facing affiliate brand of Game Lounge, has unveiled a bold new look and content strategy designed to strengthen its position in one of the world’s most competitive online gambling markets.
Launched in 2012, CasinoHawks has built its reputation as a trusted source of casino knowledge for British gamblers, providing detailed reviews, expert-led insights, and industry news for more than a decade. Its latest refresh represents a significant step forward in creating a more modern, engaging, and unmistakably British identity for the brand.
The new strategy places a sharper focus on delivering value to UK players through locally relevant, expert-driven content. Reviews are now written exclusively by UK-based specialists, ensuring recommendations reflect the needs of domestic audiences.
Alongside this, the site’s visual identity has been refreshed with a new colour palette, updated branding, and a reimagined logo – with the hawk symbolising sharp insight and the checkmark representing trustworthiness and compliance.
Keith Geary, Director of Casino at CasinoHawks, said: “We wanted to distinguish ourselves from international sites by feeling more familiar to UK players. At the same time, this was the perfect opportunity to modernise the brand and create a more engaging and user-friendly experience.”
The rebrand builds on a strong track record of product innovation and marketing milestones. CasinoHawks launched its popular Bonus Wagering Calculator in 2022, debuted a dedicated YouTube channel in 2023, and earned the QMRA Quality and Compliance stamp of approval in 2024.
The new branding is supported by a content strategy designed to elevate CasinoHawks beyond a standard affiliate model. By investing in deeper insights, greater transparency, and a more relatable tone of voice, the brand aims to set a new standard for player-first content in the UK casino affiliate space.
Geary added: “Our goal is simple – to empower UK players with the tools and insights they need to make safe, informed decisions. This rebrand is just the beginning of a wider strategy to build stronger connections with our audience and reinforce CasinoHawks as the go-to destination for casino knowledge.”