Guts is a long-running online casino brand that New Zealanders sometimes come across when researching casino apps. This guide sets out the plain facts: what it is, who owns it now, how it is licensed overseas, and — most importantly — how New Zealand’s rules changed in 2026.
It is written to inform, not to promote. Nothing here recommends signing up or depositing. Online casino play carries real financial risk, and the New Zealand legal position is now very different from how it looked even a year ago.
What Guts Casino Is
Guts launched in 2013, originally run by MT SecureTrade Limited as the flagship brand of the Gaming Innovation Group (GiG).
In 2020, GiG sold Guts — along with sister brands Rizk, Kaboo and Thrills — to the Betsson Group, and the brand is now operated through Betsson’s Zecure Gaming subsidiary from Malta. As part of that move, Guts also withdrew from the UK market.
Its games come from many studios — Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play’n GO and others — with live-dealer tables from Evolution. The catalogue is large, though reported counts vary widely, so any single figure is best treated as approximate.
One point matters more than any feature: Guts is an offshore brand, and its availability to New Zealanders is not guaranteed — which is now central to the legal picture.
The New Zealand Rules Changed in 2026 (Why This Matters Most)
For years, New Zealand had no domestic licensing system for online casinos. Offshore sites reached players here without local oversight and without New Zealand consumer protections attached.
That has changed. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026 and created, for the first time, a licensing system for online casino gambling in New Zealand.
The regulator is the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). Only a limited number of operators — capped at 15 — can hold a licence, allocated through a multi-stage process.
The reform was designed to add consumer protection and tax accountability to a market that previously had neither.
Licensed operators must meet strict conditions: letting players set time and spending limits, offering self-exclusion tools, following advertising restrictions, and — notably — a ban on credit-card deposits.
There is also a hard deadline. Existing offshore providers could keep operating under transitional arrangements only until 1 December 2026. After that, an operator must hold a DIA licence to lawfully serve New Zealanders.
Because who is licensed can change, the reliable way to check any operator’s New Zealand standing is through the Department of Internal Affairs, not the operator’s own marketing. See our overviews of online casino licensing in New Zealand and the regulation and legal framework.
Ownership, Licensing and Fair Play, Explained Simply
Since 2020, Guts has been owned by the Betsson Group (through Zecure Gaming) and runs under Betsson’s Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licensing.
That is a genuine, well-regarded credential — but it is an overseas one. An MGA licence is a Maltese licence, not a New Zealand one, and it does not by itself authorise a site to serve New Zealanders under the 2026 Act. Older references to a UK Gambling Commission licence for Guts are out of date, because the brand left the UK market in 2020.
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| RNG (Random Number Generator) | Software that makes each game outcome random rather than fixed. |
| RTP (Return to Player) | The share of all money wagered a game is designed to pay back over the long run — a 96% RTP implies a roughly 4% built-in house margin. It is a long-term average, not a per-session promise. |
| KYC (Know Your Customer) | The identity checks a regulated operator runs before paying out, using ID and proof of address. |
| Max-bet limit | A cap on how much you can bet per round while a bonus is active. |
| Wagering requirement | How many times a bonus must be bet before related winnings can be withdrawn. |
You can read a fuller explanation in our guide to RTP explained.
How the Platform and Apps Work
Guts runs in any modern mobile or desktop browser, with the layout adjusting to phone and tablet screens — there is no app to download, which avoids the security trade-offs of installing gambling software from outside an official store.
Because it runs on Betsson’s shared operator platform, its banking, support and game systems resemble other Betsson brands rather than being unique to Guts.
Understanding Bonuses and Wagering Requirements (General Guide)
Casino promotions — welcome match offers, free spins, live-casino bonuses and poker cashback — are the most misunderstood part of online gambling, so it is worth explaining the mechanics rather than any specific promotion.
The key concept is the wagering requirement (also called playthrough): the number of times you must bet a bonus before winnings from it become withdrawable.
Here is an illustrative example, not a live offer:
A $500 bonus with a 35× wagering requirement means placing $17,500 in bets before the associated winnings can be withdrawn.
A few points worth knowing: some casinos apply the wagering requirement to your deposit plus bonus, which raises the total further; bonuses usually carry a maximum-bet limit while active (a bet above it can void the bonus); and separate welcome offers for the casino, live casino and poker each have their own terms. Slots normally count 100% toward wagering; table and live games far less. Under the 2026 regime, bonuses and inducements are also restricted for licensed New Zealand operators.
The practical takeaway: read the terms before opting in. Our casino bonuses overview breaks down the categories.
Payments, Verification and Withdrawals
Sites courting New Zealand players typically support accounts in New Zealand dollars (NZD), using cards, e-wallets and bank transfers. Before a first withdrawal, a regulated operator runs the KYC identity check described above.
A practical note: specific payment brands, withdrawal caps and processing times change often, so any fixed list should be treated as approximate. One 2026 change is worth repeating: licensed New Zealand operators may not accept credit-card deposits, a deliberate measure to stop people gambling with borrowed money. See our guide to the credit-card ban.
Staying in Control: Responsible Gambling in Aotearoa
Gambling should only ever be treated as paid entertainment — never as a way to make money or clear a debt. The odds are structured so the operator profits over time.
Regulated operators must offer control tools: deposit and loss limits, session reminders, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion. Our guide to self-exclusion tools explains how these work.
Free, confidential help is available in New Zealand at any time — you do not need to be in crisis to use it.
Factual information disclaimer
This article is provided for general information only. It describes facts about Guts Casino and New Zealand’s online casino rules; it does not encourage gambling, does not recommend signing up to or depositing with any operator, and is not legal, financial or professional advice.
Gambling involves financial risk and can be harmful. Nothing here should be read as a suggestion that you gamble. Laws, licensing and operator details change — always confirm the current position with an official source before making any decision.
If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free and confidential support is available: the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 or at gamblinghelpline.co.nz, and the New Zealand regulator, the Department of Internal Affairs, at dia.govt.nz.
Who owns Guts Casino now?
Guts launched in 2013 under MT SecureTrade Limited, part of Gaming Innovation Group. In 2020, Gaming Innovation Group sold Guts — with Rizk, Kaboo and Thrills — to the Betsson Group, which operates it today through its Zecure Gaming subsidiary.
Is Guts Casino licensed in New Zealand?
No. Guts operates under the Betsson Group’s overseas Malta Gaming Authority licensing, not a New Zealand licence. Under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, only Department of Internal Affairs–licensed operators may lawfully serve New Zealanders from 1 December 2026.
Does Guts still hold a UK licence?
No. Guts withdrew from the UK market in 2020 following the Betsson acquisition, so any reference to a current UK Gambling Commission licence for Guts is out of date. Its active overseas licence is with the Malta Gaming Authority.
What is a wagering requirement?
It is the number of times a bonus amount must be bet before winnings tied to it can be withdrawn. For example, a $500 bonus with a 35× requirement would need $17,500 in bets first — and if the requirement applies to deposit plus bonus, the total is higher still.
Why do casinos ask for ID before paying out?
This is the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Operators verify identity and address to meet anti-fraud and anti-money-laundering rules before releasing a withdrawal. Completing it early usually makes the first payout smoother.
Where can I get help if gambling becomes a problem?
Free, confidential support is available in New Zealand through the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655. Support is available at any time, and you do not need to be in crisis to reach out.
