Gaming company SkyCity Entertainment said New Zealand's strong growth is driving a standout performance from its Auckland casino which it will struggle to repeat in its Adelaide and Darwin casinos due to Australia's softer economy. 
While sinking global dairy prices stoked fears of a rapid slowdown in New Zealand's economy for much of 2015, stronger than expected growth in the third quarter buoyed by increased tourist numbers helped to spur activity.
SkyCity, which runs casinos in popular tourist destinations Auckland and Queenstown, said it was taking time for similar economic momentum to build in Australia.
"We tend to contrast Australia against New Zealand and in particular Auckland," said SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison. "New Zealand is going well but Auckland is going even better and it's definitely a lot harder in Adelaide and Darwin. I think there are some headwinds out there particularly with the decline of manufacturing in South Australia ... but we think being able to tap into the tourist market is a big opportunity."
With Malcolm Turnbull becoming Australia's fifth prime minister in just over five years, Mr Morrison noted the strong economic credentials of New Zealand leader John Key has helped drive momentum in the domestic economy with Auckland the fastest growing city in Australasia.
"The economy is strong, you have got a very stable political environment, a prime minister who is very popular and a tax system which works for everybody. It's a bit more challenging in Australia."

Darwin enjoys boom
Darwin has enjoyed boom-like economic growth in the last 18 months, mostly due to the construction of the $US34-billion Ichthys liquefied natural gas project.
But Mr Morrison said that, with much of that workforce no longer centred in the Northern Territory capital, there had been a corresponding drop-off in casino and hotel visitation.
"In Darwin some of the big gas projects are starting to wind down and some of the workers who were occupying the hospitality space are no longer there. There's more rooms available today than there was this time last year so that's flowing through," said Mr Morrison. "Revenue growth is challenging."
SkyCity has spent $50 million renovating its Adelaide casino over the last few years and is forking out a further $300 million on the major upgrade of the facility as part of a long-mooted expansion plan.
While overall economic growth in Australia may be mixed, Mr Morrison said SkyCity was successfully luring high-roller gamblers from Asia to its suite of casinos across both countries which was driving revenue from its international business.
SkyCity expects to start Adelaide groundworks in the first half of 2016.