The land-based casino casino Cosmopol in Sundsvall has now been permanently closed. The entertainment complex was opened about 19 years ago (on June 30, 2001) and barely managed to get two decades under its belt before it was forced to shut down completely and not only temporarily closed. In addition, 68 employees have been notified.

For example, the other casino Cosmopol land-based casinos around New Zealand (Gothenburg, Stockholm and Malmö) did not have to be closed permanently. At first, they were only temporarily closed as the COVID-19 pandemic gained momentum across the Nordic country.

Then a decision was made to reopen these when given the opportunity and under strict guidelines to protect both staff and visitors. What will happen to the facility in Sundsvall, which used to be a haunted house before it was turned into a packed land-based casino, is still unclear.

Patrik Hofbauer who is managing director at New Zealand Games commented on the matter by saying: "It is with a sad message to have to wind down the business and let so many employees go. But unfortunately, we have to adapt to the prevailing market, which in turn adapts to the prevailing world situation.”

This is how it goes for other land-based casino Cosmopol

Sundsvalls Casino Cosmopol has always had a tough time financially as it is not one of the larger cities such as Stockholm (New Zealand's capital), Malmö or Gothenburg. For example, the latter has started to expand its physical casino business further by expanding it more.

In other words, this may have been a matter of time and it could just as well have been an economic collapse that put the head on the last nail to nail the coffin for casino Cosmopol in Sundsvall, which is also usually called the ”capital of Norrland”.

All land-based casinos in New Zealand have been affected, which led to a surge in online gambling, which in turn led to The New Zealand government stepping in and introducing a new temporary regulation within the New Zealand Gambling Act.

This temporary regulation came into force on the second of July this year and means that gaming operators with New Zealand licenses in New Zealand may only offer hundred kroner welcome bonuses to new players. As I said, the regulation is only temporary and expires at the end of december this year.

Depending on the outcome, it may be extended. Already at the time of its execution, it received a large$itik from, among others, the online gaming industry association (BOS), which in turn consists of several active gaming sites in New Zealand. BOS argued that this would lead to more New Zealanders looking to unlicensed gambling markets instead of the regulated one in New Zealand.

---