The Malta Independent 23 May 2025, Friday
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MGA Licensed Casinos Are Introducing Keno for NZ Players

Friday, 7 July 2023, 13:51 Last update: about 3 years ago

New Zealand's online casino industry is growing fast, just like in other significant parts of the world. New Zealand online players spend millions of dollars on gambling yearly.

In a study published by casinoalpha, the most popular casino games in New Zealand include Keno, which differs from the usual list of gambler preferences. Players from different countries prefer slots and table games like Roulette or Blackjack. Only rarely do other games enter the list.

What is Keno?

For those who don't know Keno, they are lottery-type games that originated in China. Keno has increased in popularity mainly due to its ease of play and potential for big wins. 

Playing Keno involves circling numbers between 1 and 80 on a ticket. You can't choose all the numbers; you can only add numbers to specific spots. The spot numbers would vary depending on the type of Keno and casino you're playing at.

The game's main aim is to match as many of your chosen numbers to the winning numbers drawn by the computer. The prize can range from $1 to $250,000.

A brief history of gambling in New Zealand

Gambling has always been a human lifestyle, and it's difficult to trace when gambling began in a country like New Zealand. However, from recorded timeline events, New Zealand citizens were betting on card games and sports events in the 19th century.

The first casino in New Zealand opened officially in 1994. This casino was named Christchurch Casino and is still in business to date. Today, the casino offers NZ casino players 500+ slots and over 30 table games. 

New Zealand has some of the most popular gambling centres in the world. In 2020, SkyCity, a famous casino venue in New Zealand, reported that tourists and citizens have brought in over $320 million in revenue from online casinos. 

Keno's rise in popularity and NZ players

According to an article by Newshub in 2022, nearly 70% of lotto ticket shop sales were made in poor areas. The data revealed mainly decile 6-10 areas of deprivation index(1 on this index indicates an affluent area, and ten is the poorest) were the main contributors to ticket sales.

Keno offers a chance to win big prizes, and it's not uncommon that the poorer community mostly plays it. Online casinos are equally changing the game; now that players can experience casino games from their mobile devices, playing Keno has never been easier. 

MGA Licensed Casinos Introducing Keno

Malta Gambling Authority (MGA) licensed casinos have seen a rising trend in demand for Keno games in New Zealand and are rising to the occasion. With the introduction of Keno to their library, these casinos are expanding their library to cater to NZ players who love the lottery-styled game.

MGA controls both land and online casinos, and they ensure strict regulatory standards for providing a safe and sure gambling environment for players. They ensure player protection and safe gambling measures for New Zealand players.

If you choose to play Keno on MGA-licensed casino platforms, you can expect the following:

  1. Secure and regulated platform to enjoy your game 

  2. Keno games that leverage the best of the latest technology 

  3. Protection of player's deposits and withdrawals

  4. Protection of player's right 

  5. Live Keno draws and an excellent user interface 

Keno will impact NZ’s gambling industry

The introduction of Keno games by MGA-licensed casinos, which isn't the most popular category in many regions of the world to New Zealand, shows commitment to how well they understand player demands. 

Are you a casino player from New Zealand who loves Keno? If you wish to play online, you should play at an MGA-licensed casino—they offer the best.


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