Flutter Entertainment has confirmed to SBC News that its Betfair brand has ceased operations in New Zealand due to recent legislative changes.
The New Zealand government has been working to update its laws governing betting and gambling. Amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020 received royal assent on the last day of June. These changes have effectively closed the New Zealand betting market to offshore operators, leaving state-owned TAB NZ – managed by Entain – as the country’s sole legal betting operator.
As a result, offshore operators like Betfair have been advised to cease their operations in New Zealand. Betfair is owned by Flutter Entertainment, one of Entain’s largest global competitors.
In a statement, Betfair said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the upcoming change and poorer user experience. Unfortunately, Betfair has to make the upcoming change to comply with the Legislative Amendment.”
Foreign gambling companies that continue to target New Zealand customers may face enforcement action from government bodies such as the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and the New Zealand Gambling Commission (NZGC).
For Betfair and Flutter, the loss of the New Zealand market is likely to be a minor operational adjustment. While this may appear as a win for Entain – who has been managing TAB NZ under a 25-year concession since 2023 – it is unlikely to significantly affect Flutter’s global standing.
Flutter remains the world’s largest gambling group by revenue, reporting an 8% increase in Q1 2025 to $3.66 billion. Despite its exit from New Zealand, the company continues to be a major player in Australia through its Sportsbet platform, in addition to Betfair’s ongoing presence.
Betfair is just one part of Flutter’s extensive international portfolio, which includes FanDuel in the US, UK and Irish brands Paddy Power and Sky Bet, Italian operators Sisal and Snai, Sportsbet in Australia, and new assets in Brazil and other markets.
The regulatory changes to online betting in New Zealand come amid broader reforms – the government has confirmed plans to launch a regulated national online casino market with the issuance of 15 licenses. This has sparked concern among some industry stakeholders, particularly SkyCity Entertainment Group. Entain, however, expressed no significant concern in response to SBC News’ inquiry.
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