A United States-funded organisation is spearheading a class action lawsuit against SkyCity.com‘s Malta-based online gambling site, launched in 2020.
The US-funded group remains unnamed so far.
The class action concerns gambling losses on SkyCity Online from February 2020 to February 2026.
Casino operator SkyCity said in a market statement that the class action group is “seeking to test the lawfulness of the online gaming operations” run by Europe-based Silvereye for SkyCity’s Malta subsidiary.
SkyCity set up the Malta operations after overseas online operators, targeting New Zealand residents, eroded its potential revenue.
SkyCity believed the Malta operation would enable it to legally run a SkyCity-branded platform while complying with New Zealand laws, including tax rules and host responsibility standards.
According to reports, the class action group is testing this belief, seeking refunds for every New Zealand gambler who lost bets on the Malta-based SkyCity platform, arguing that the site was illegal.
SkyCity denied any liability and vowed to vigorously defend the proceedings. It said it is still assessing the legal action and will refrain from further comments.