Sportsbet is one of Australia's largest online bookmakers, owned by Flutter Entertainment with major sponsorships across NRL, AFL, and NBL. Despite its visibility in New Zealand, the platform is no longer accessible to Kiwi customers due to regulatory changes.
New Zealand punters searching for Sportsbet will quickly discover that this popular Australian bookmaker is no longer available to Kiwi customers. Despite being a household name due to extensive sponsorships of sporting properties visible in New Zealand, Sportsbet closed its doors to New Zealand residents following significant regulatory changes. This comprehensive guide explains why Sportsbet is unavailable, what alternatives exist, and what this means for New Zealand sports bettors.
No, Sportsbet is not currently available to New Zealand customers. The platform, which is owned by Irish gambling giant Flutter Entertainment and licensed in Australia's Northern Territory, previously accepted New Zealand punters but has since blocked access from Kiwi IP addresses and closed existing accounts.
Sportsbet operates exclusively for Australian residents aged 18 and older. The company's terms and conditions explicitly state that to open a betting account, you must reside in Australia. This restriction was implemented as part of broader changes affecting how international bookmakers operate in relation to the New Zealand market.
The closure of Sportsbet to New Zealand customers stems from regulatory decisions made by the New Zealand government regarding online gambling. Understanding these changes requires examining both the regulatory landscape and the business calculations made by major gambling operators.
New Zealand announced the creation of a newly regulated online casino market, representing a significant shift in the country's gambling policy. However, this new regulatory framework specifically excluded sports betting from the liberalized market. Instead, the government maintained TAB as the sole legal domestic provider for sports wagering, effectively creating a monopoly for sports betting while opening up casino gaming.
This regulatory approach created a clear choice for international gambling companies: they could either continue offering sports betting to New Zealand customers and forfeit access to the potentially lucrative new casino market, or they could cease sports betting operations in New Zealand to position themselves for casino licensing opportunities.
Flutter Entertainment, which owns Sportsbet along with numerous other gambling brands globally, made the strategic decision to prioritize access to New Zealand's new casino market over maintaining sports betting services. This meant shuttering Sportsbet's operations for Kiwi customers to comply with the regulatory requirements for participating in the casino market.
The decision reflects the significant revenue potential that Flutter sees in the regulated casino market compared to the sports betting segment, where they would face continued competition from TAB's monopoly position and regulatory uncertainty.
Before the closure, New Zealand punters who used Sportsbet had access to one of Australia's most comprehensive sports betting platforms. However, there were some limitations specific to Kiwi customers that are worth understanding.
Sportsbet only offered AUD accounts on its platform, meaning New Zealand customers were required to deposit, bet, and withdraw in Australian dollars. This created an additional layer of currency conversion costs and exchange rate considerations for Kiwi punters, making the platform less economical than bookmakers offering NZD accounts.
Despite the currency limitation, Sportsbet provided New Zealand customers with access to extensive sports coverage, including rugby union, rugby league, cricket, football, basketball, and numerous other sports popular in both Australia and New Zealand. The platform featured competitive odds on major events, live betting capabilities, and various promotional offers, though these were often tailored more toward Australian sporting events and customers.
New Zealand's sports betting market underwent significant regulatory changes that reshaped access to international bookmakers. The government announced a newly regulated online casino market while maintaining TAB as the exclusive legal sports betting provider for domestic operations.
This regulatory framework forced major Australian bookmakers including Sportsbet to cease serving New Zealand customers. Companies seeking access to the new casino market were required to shutter their sportsbook brands operating in New Zealand, creating a monopolistic environment for TAB.
With Sportsbet and other international bookmakers blocked from the New Zealand market, TAB has become the only legal domestic option for sports betting. This monopolistic position has generated significant criticism from New Zealand punters who previously enjoyed access to competitive international platforms.
One of the most common complaints from New Zealand bettors is that TAB offers inferior odds compared to international bookmakers. Without competition from offshore operators, TAB faces less pressure to provide competitive pricing on sporting events. Punters consistently report that odds available through TAB are less favorable than those previously offered by Sportsbet, Bet365, and other international platforms.
TAB's platform also lags behind international competitors in terms of features and betting variety. Functions that have become standard on modern betting platforms, such as comprehensive same-game multi options with cash-out capabilities, are either absent or limited on TAB. International bookmakers typically offer more extensive markets, better live betting interfaces, and more sophisticated betting tools.
Without competitive pressure, TAB offers fewer promotions, bonuses, and enhanced odds compared to what was available through international bookmakers. Punters who previously enjoyed welcome bonuses, odds boosts, and loyalty programs from platforms like Sportsbet now find themselves with limited promotional value.
While Sportsbet is unavailable and TAB holds the domestic monopoly, New Zealand punters still have access to offshore betting platforms that accept Kiwi customers. These alternatives often provide superior odds, better features, and more competitive offerings than TAB.
Several established international bookmakers continue to accept New Zealand customers through offshore licenses. Platforms licensed in jurisdictions such as Malta, Curacao, and other recognized gambling authorities provide legal alternatives for Kiwi punters seeking better value than TAB offers.
These offshore operators typically offer NZD accounts, eliminating currency conversion costs that were present with Sportsbet. They also provide competitive odds, extensive betting markets, live streaming, cash-out options, and comprehensive same-game multi capabilities that rival or exceed what Sportsbet offered.
When selecting an offshore bookmaker, New Zealand punters should prioritize platforms with established reputations, proper licensing from recognized jurisdictions, secure payment methods, responsive customer support, and positive reviews from other Kiwi customers. Long-standing operators with decades of experience generally provide more reliable service than newer entrants to the market.
The current regulatory environment in New Zealand creates an unusual situation where the government has liberalized casino gambling while maintaining a monopoly on sports betting. This approach has generated ongoing debate about whether the framework serves the interests of New Zealand consumers or primarily protects TAB's market position.
There is growing pressure from punters and industry observers for New Zealand to adopt a more competitive sports betting market similar to models in the United Kingdom, parts of Europe, and increasingly in North America. However, any regulatory changes would require legislative action and political will to challenge the current monopoly structure.
In the meantime, New Zealand punters continue to have access to offshore alternatives that provide competitive options beyond TAB, though these operate outside the domestic regulatory framework.
Sportsbet is not available to New Zealand customers and will not be accessible for the foreseeable future due to regulatory decisions that prioritize TAB's monopoly on domestic sports betting. While Sportsbet was previously accessible to Kiwi punters, Flutter Entertainment's strategic decision to pursue opportunities in New Zealand's new casino market required closing sports betting operations in the country.
New Zealand punters now face a choice between using TAB, which offers the convenience of a domestic licensed operator but with less competitive odds and fewer features, or exploring reputable offshore alternatives that provide better value, more comprehensive betting options, and superior platform functionality. The regulatory landscape may evolve in the future, but for now, Sportsbet remains firmly closed to New Zealand customers.
While technically possible, using a VPN to access Sportsbet from New Zealand violates the platform's terms and conditions. Sportsbet actively blocks VPN traffic and will close accounts found to be accessing the service from restricted jurisdictions, potentially forfeiting any funds in the account.
TAB's monopoly exists because New Zealand's regulatory framework designates it as the only legal domestic provider for sports betting. While the government has opened up online casino gambling to competition, sports betting remains under TAB's exclusive control, a decision that has generated significant criticism from punters seeking better odds and features.
New Zealand law does not prohibit citizens from using offshore betting platforms. While TAB is the only licensed domestic operator, Kiwi punters are not breaking New Zealand law by placing bets with international bookmakers licensed in other jurisdictions. However, these offshore platforms operate outside New Zealand's regulatory oversight.
Sportsbet only offered AUD accounts, meaning New Zealand customers had to deposit, bet, and withdraw in Australian dollars. This created currency conversion costs and exchange rate considerations that made the platform less economical for Kiwi punters compared to bookmakers offering NZD accounts.
A return would require significant changes to New Zealand's regulatory framework, specifically opening sports betting to competitive licensing similar to the new casino market. Given Flutter Entertainment's strategic priorities and the current monopoly structure, Sportsbet is unlikely to return to New Zealand unless the regulatory environment changes substantially.
Offshore bookmakers typically provide better odds, more extensive betting markets, superior live betting features, comprehensive cash-out options, same-game multi capabilities, NZD accounts to avoid currency conversion, and more competitive promotional offers compared to TAB's monopolistic platform.
Reputable offshore bookmakers serving New Zealand customers
Explore reputable international betting platforms that welcome New Zealand punters with NZD accounts and competitive odds superior to domestic options.
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