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.
News
LEONBET and Simon Msuva Continue the Journey with a Nationwide Media Tour Following The Msuva Story
Following the release of The Msuva Story documentary, LEONBET and its brand ambassador, Simon Msuva, are continuing the campaign with a nationwide media tour to share the footballer’s inspiring journey and encourage young Tanzanians to pursue their dreams with determination and confidence.
The media tour saw Msuva visit leading radio stations across Tanzania, where he discussed his football journey, the challenges he overcame, and the message behind the documentary. Through these conversations, LEONBET and Msuva encouraged young Tanzanians to believe in their ambitions, work hard, and never give up on their dreams.
The documentary chronicles Msuva’s rise from a young football enthusiast to one of Tanzania’s most recognisable professional players, highlighting the determination, discipline, and resilience that shaped his career.
“As someone who started with a dream, I want young people to know that every challenge can become an opportunity if you keep believing in yourself,” said Simon Msuva. “I hope my story inspires the next generation to pursue their goals with confidence and determination.”
As part of the campaign, LEONBET and Msuva also hosted a special community football event featuring local teams Taifa King (Temeke) and Wekewa FC (Kinondoni). Held at Mwembe Yanga Grounds, the friendly match brought together football, entertainment, and community engagement, with Simon Msuva attending as the guest of honour and meeting young fans throughout the day.
The initiative reflects LEONBET’s ongoing commitment to supporting sports development and creating opportunities that inspire young talent across Tanzania. Beyond sponsoring professional athletes and sporting initiatives, the company continues to invest in projects that strengthen local communities and promote positive role models.
Through The Msuva Story and the accompanying media tour, LEONBET and Simon Msuva hope to remind young Tanzanians of one simple message:
“Every dream is possible if you believe.”
Affiliate Success
ReferOn Wins “Best Affiliate Management Platform” at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026
ReferOn has been named the Best Affiliate Management Platform at the prestigious iGB Affiliate Awards 2026, marking another major milestone in the company’s growth. Announced live at iGB LIVE, the recognition follows a year of relentless product innovation, customer growth, and a continued focus on simplifying affiliate operations.
Turning Complexity into Clarity
Managing high-volume affiliate programs requires processing millions of data points every day. ReferOn was built to eliminate that complexity through automation, real-time insights, and streamlined workflows.
This year also marked the introduction of Refie, ReferOn’s integrated UX layer. Instead of forcing affiliate managers to navigate complex backend data, Refie turns raw operational data into clear, actionable insights. From onboarding to daily performance tracking, it helps teams spend less time on administration and more time driving strategic growth.
Alex Bukin, CEO of ReferOn, commented: “Winning the iGB Affiliate Award is a remarkable achievement for our entire team. As affiliate programs grow, so does the complexity behind them. From day one, our ambition has been to remove that complexity, so operators can focus on growth instead of operational friction. This recognition reinforces our belief that great B2B technology should be simpler, more intuitive, easier to work with, and built around the people who use it”.
Having secured major industry awards over the past 18 months, — including ‘Affiliate System of the Year’ at AffPapa and ‘Best Affiliate Software’ at SiGMA — ReferOn looks ahead with a roadmap that remains focused on making affiliate management even more intelligent, transparent, and effortless. Our upcoming developments will continue to simplify complex workflows, expand AI-powered assistance, and provide operators with even greater visibility and control over their affiliate operations.
Affiliate Success
Kongebonus becomes first Norwegian affiliate to win Best Casino Affiliate at iGB Affiliate Awards 2026
Kongebonus has become the first Norwegian affiliate to win Best Casino Affiliate at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026, a landmark recognition that names the independent Norwegian guide as the world’s leading casino affiliate for 2026.
The award was presented on 2 July during iGB L!VE London, where the iGB Affiliate Awards celebrated the affiliates, programmes, networks, suppliers and individuals helping to drive the iGaming sector forward.
iGB Affiliate described first-time contestant Kongebonus as a “Norwegian local hero”, noting that the platform claimed the award in a close race and ended Gambling.com Group’s two-year reign in the highly competitive category. Independent judges praised Kongebonus’ “super smart” approach, highlighting its combination of innovation, engaged player community, and strong editorial presence across Google News and the media.
The recognition reflects Kongebonus’ focus on detailed operator testing, transparent casino reviews, community-led content and player protection. The platform tests casinos with its own money before reviewing them, publishes its full methodology and continues to invest in responsible gambling resources, including practical guidance and support signposting for players.
David Nilsen, Editor-in-Chief at Kongebonus, said: “Winning Best Casino Affiliate at the iGB Affiliate Awards is a huge moment for Kongebonus and for everyone who has helped build the platform. To be recognised in a category alongside some of the biggest and most respected names in the affiliate industry is something we are incredibly proud of.
“I’ve spent more than ten years on the inside of this industry, and I’ve seen how big the gap can be between what a casino promises and what the player is actually left with. Closing that gap is the whole reason we test the way we do.
“What this award tells us is that being the most trusted guide matters more than being the biggest one, and that’s the only thing we’ve ever set out to build.”
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