SkyCity targets NZ online casino market with board appointment

Former Sky TV media chief Lauren Quaintance brings digital and data expertise as the operator prepares to apply for two local igaming licences.

New Zealand.- SkyCity Entertainment Group has proposed appointing Lauren Quaintance as a non-executive director as it prepares to enter New Zealand’s regulated online casino market. The company announced the proposed appointment on November 5, with chair Julian Cook highlighting Quaintance’s experience as relevant to SkyCity’s online gaming plans.

Quaintance has experience in media, marketing and digital content. She previously served as chief media and data officer at Sky Television and co-founded Storyation, a digital content marketing agency, where she also served as managing director.

She currently holds several non-executive directorships, including at Vista International, Turners Automotive, Autosure Insurance, and J. Ballantyne and Co. She is also chair of ChristchurchNZ and ChristchurchNZ Holdings.

The appointment remains subject to regulatory approval in each of the gaming jurisdictions where SkyCity operates. The process is expected to take several months. In the meantime, Quaintance will be available to support the board in an advisory capacity.

The proposed board appointment comes as SkyCity advances its plans to participate in New Zealand’s upcoming regulated online casino market. On October 13, the company confirmed that it had secured the right to apply for two online casino licences under the country’s new regulatory framework. It must still submit its applications and undergo the relevant regulatory assessments before receiving authorisation.