SkyCity Entertainment Group completed the rollout of a mandatory card-based gambling system across its three New Zealand casinos in Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown, officially launched on July 23, 2025. This system requires all patrons to use the “SHOW by SkyCity” identification card to participate in slot machines and table games. Although players may still use cash, quick payments, or TITO tickets, the registered card, which includes photo ID and can be obtained online or on-site, is compulsory.
The move aims to enhance social responsibility, increase operational transparency, and mitigate gambling-related harms while aligning with heightened regulatory standards.
“I welcome this implementation as a decisive step toward a safer gambling environment,” stated Minister of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti, who hailed the initiative as a crucial advancement in protecting vulnerable players and bolstering regulatory compliance. “SkyCity’s commitment reflects recognition of the challenges we face and the importance of proactive measures.”
The card system responds to regulatory pressures grounded in the Department of Internal Affairs’ Casino Control Act 1990 and recent amendments aimed at strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks and responsible gambling practices.
Following critical audits that revealed insufficient safeguards across the industry, this program institutionalizes player tracking and enforcement of spending limits, consistent with the Gambling Act 2003’s revised provisions on harm minimization and accountability.
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Market reactions have been cautious as SkyCity reported a 22% decline in EBITDA to NZ$113 million and a net profit reduction to NZ$6 million, reflecting short-term financial impacts linked to the card rollout and related transformation costs. Analysts note that while revenue contraction is evident, the system enhances operational transparency and player safety, factors expected to stabilize market confidence. The initiative contributes to the company’s five-year strategic plan emphasizing debt reduction, sustainability, and responsible growth, including plans to extend the system to their Adelaide casino in 2026.
