Is New Zealand Trying to Catch up With Australia in the Casino Stakes?: Image: Adobe Stock
Australia and New Zealand have long been in competition with each other in various fields. Rugby, for instance, is one of the most important sports in the region, and the two nations have long been battling it out for supremacy on the world stage. Tourism is another, with Australia currently around 6 million ahead on average arrivals each year.
Australia has famously led the way in the gambling industry over the years and has over 20 casinos to New Zealand’s six. But the gap between the two nations could be shrinking online. Indeed, the Kiwi online casino industry is seeing some exciting innovations that could put it on par with Australia’s in the future.
One of the key ways for brands in the bustling online casino industry to cut it in the modern age is to replicate the main facets of the best in the business but then innovate on top of that. This is clearly what’s happening in New Zealand now, as companies from the country seek to gain attention among the international big guns.
Live casino has been one of the biggest trends in the sector over the last few years, and the most successful new businesses have realised that and advanced it further. For example, live casino online NZ now comes with unique new twists on the format. These include hybrid RNG titles that combine the best elements of virtual casino play with live dealers. These include games like Powerup Roulette and Boom City. The aim of these titles is to generate full immersion and make players feel as if they’ve been transported to a neon-lit gambling zone.
Just like with sports, films, and tourism, the healthy competition between Australia and New Zealand could lead the two countries to be at the forefront of future innovations in the casino industry.
There’s no doubt that many Australian brands will have seen the good work being done by NZ casinos and thought about ways they could replicate it themselves. Likewise, New Zealand sites will often look to Australia for inspiration about what’s working well in the region.
The online casino industry seems poised to enter a new phase soon, with live streaming perhaps being a stepping stone towards even more immersive offerings. Virtual reality is still an unknown quantity, but many people predict that it will have a massive impact on the sector.
There’s a good chance that one day live streaming could be paired with VR to give players the sense that they are sitting at casino tables without the screen separating them. Developers in New Zealand and Australia may already be working on ideas like this because they are clearly interested in advancing the live-streaming concept.
It’s clear that New Zealand brands are making waves in the online casino industry. However, rather than threaten Australian offerings, they could help push forward innovation in the region. Both countries could have a major part to play in the future of online casinos.
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