Entain Tests Waters in New Zealand with New BlackRush Brand

Entain is soft-launching a new brand in New Zealand through its ElectraWorks Gibraltar license, which requires a VPN to access, Next.io wrote. BlackRush is a separate brand from the already existing FoxySpins, which has been targeting New Zealand, but the two appear to share a platform outside Entain’s global ecosystem. Apart from FoxySpins and now BlackRush, Entain is also present in the local market through a partnership with TAB NZ, and the group is effectively the only licensed entity allowed to run sports betting locally. New Zealand is set to launch its online casino market in 2027. Stella David previously signalled the group’s confidence in New Zealand during an earnings call, saying Entain would be the only gambling firm able to cross-sell, a strategy gambling companies have long seen as a strong marketing tool. The market will have 15 licences, with each operator able to hold up to three and each licence covering a single brand. David estimates the market is worth around £600 million (roughly US$800 million) per year. Entain currently makes about £200 million of that, and the new iGaming brands could push it past £300 million. Entain has created a dedicated New Zealand managing director role, held by Chris Haigh, to keep a local focus amid changes such as the online casino licensing approach. He and Australia managing director Chris Ward both report to Entain Australia and New Zealand CEO Andrew Vouris.