New Zealand picks OpenBet, Paddy Power Betfair bet platform

New Zealand’s betting monopoly has teamed with UK/Irish operator Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) and technology provider OpenBet to drag Kiwi betting into the 21st century.

On Tuesday, the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) announced its intentions to “engage” with Paddy Power Betfair and NYX Gaming Group’s OpenBet sports betting technology division for “the detailed design phase of our Fixed Odds Betting (FOB) platform project.”

NZRB CEO John Allen described this ‘detailed design phase’ as “a deep dive into the design of the FOB solution” prior to a formal submission to the NZRB’s board of directors for approval and implementation. The design phase will commence in January.

Allen said PPB/OB had been selected following “several months of in-depth analysis” of the various proposals submitted to the NZRB. Allen credited PPB/OB’s “demonstrable strengths in online (web & mobile), sport and in-play wagering, which are three of the biggest growth opportunities for NZRB.”