Ethereum Casinos in New Zealand: ETH Payments
A practical guide to checking ETH deposits and withdrawals, payment options, bonus conditions, games and safeguards at casino sites.

Table of Contents
- What ETH Acceptance Means for a Casino
- New Zealand’s Online Casino Licensing Transition
- ETH, Cashing Out and New Zealand Tax Treatment
- Casino Sites, Slots and What Can Be Verified
- Using Ethereum Alongside Other Crypto Payments
- Confirming That a Casino Accepts ETH
- Casino Games Paid for with Ethereum
- Ethereum Casino Bonuses: The Terms That Change the Value
- Live Dealer Play and Licensed-Site Safeguards
- No-Deposit Offers and the Cost of the Conditions
What ETH Acceptance Means for a Casino
An Ethereum casino is defined by what it accepts at the account level: ETH can be used to make deposits and receive withdrawals. The distinction is practical, not decorative. A site that mentions Ethereum but does not support ETH in both directions does not meet this definition. Nor does a site qualify simply because it offers casino games and displays cryptocurrency-related branding.
The two sides of the transaction matter equally. Depositing ETH establishes that the casino can receive it; withdrawing ETH establishes that it can return it. Together, these functions make ETH part of the account’s payment process rather than a reference in the site’s marketing. If only deposits are supported, the payment arrangement is incomplete for anyone who expects to take funds out in ETH.
That boundary helps separate an ETH casino from a casino that accepts other forms of payment but not ETH. It also avoids treating the word “crypto” as a sufficient description. Cryptocurrency is a broad label, while ETH identifies the currency relevant to this choice. A casino may support crypto payments without accepting ETH specifically, so the general label alone does not establish that ETH deposits and withdrawals are available.
Choosing an Ethereum casino in New Zealand calls for checking the details that matter to you, including licensing and payout information. This list offers a concise starting point for that review.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000064 Neospin lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000064.
License: Malta Gaming Authority, licence no. MGA/B2C/370/2017 Play Grand lists a Malta Gaming Authority licence, number MGA/B2C/370/2017.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000091 7Bit Casino lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000091.
Payout speed: 1-3 business days Wintino lists a payout speed of 1–3 business days.
Payout speed: 1-3 business days Lamabet lists a payout speed of 1–3 business days.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000002 Ricky Casino lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000002.
License: Malta Gaming Authority, licence no. MGA/B2C/394/2017 N1 Casino lists a Malta Gaming Authority licence, number MGA/B2C/394/2017.
License: 07017519840 · Payout speed: 1-3 business days Zotabet lists licence number 07017519840 and a payout speed of 1–3 business days.
License: Curaçao Gaming Authority, licence no. OGL/2024/165/0185 BitStarz lists a Curaçao Gaming Authority licence, number OGL/2024/165/0185.
The same distinction applies to an Ethereum-themed site. A logo, page title, or mention of the Ethereum network does not demonstrate that the cashier accepts ETH. The useful test is whether the payment options actually include ETH for both funding the account and withdrawing from it. Without that two-way support, the site’s Ethereum association does not amount to ETH acceptance in the operational sense.
For a player comparing an eth casino online with a conventional casino, the payment method is one part of the service definition. It does not, by itself, describe the games, the account conditions, or the quality of the operator. “Accepts ETH” is a narrow claim: ETH can enter and leave the account. It should not be treated as shorthand for every other feature that might matter when choosing where to play.
This is also why “best ETH casino” is not a complete description of a decision. The essential threshold is whether the casino supports deposits and withdrawals in ETH. Once that is established, other aspects of a casino need separate assessment; they cannot be inferred from the payment method. The label identifies a functional match, not an overall verdict.
A careful comparison therefore starts with the payment wording rather than the imagery. The relevant information should make clear that ETH is an available deposit method and an available withdrawal method. If the wording only says that the site accepts cryptocurrency, the currency itself remains unspecified. If it mentions ETH only in connection with deposits, the withdrawal side remains unconfirmed. Those are different gaps, and neither should be filled by assumption.
The phrase “Ethereum casino” can also be understood too broadly. It does not mean that every part of the casino runs on Ethereum, that every casino function uses ETH, or that the casino is operated by the Ethereum network. The term describes the payment capability at issue here. A casino may accept ETH without the payment method defining its games or other account features. Keeping the term within that boundary prevents a payment claim from being mistaken for a claim about the entire service.
For a New Zealand reader looking at Ethereum casinos, the same definition applies: ETH must be accepted for deposits and withdrawals. The wording does not certify the casino’s wider suitability. It states only that ETH is supported in both directions. A casino’s general cryptocurrency label is not an adequate substitute for that specific confirmation.
The distinction can be reduced to a simple reading of the payment offer. A two-way ETH option meets the basic definition. A one-way option does not. A general reference to cryptocurrency, without specifying ETH, does not establish ETH support. And Ethereum-related presentation without a working ETH deposit and withdrawal option is branding, not the payment service described by the term.
This narrow definition is useful because it keeps the decision measurable. ETH acceptance is not a promise about the experience of playing, nor a rating of the casino. It is a statement about the currencies the account can use to receive and return funds. That is the practical meaning of an ETH casino, and the point at which the label either fits or does not.
- Confirm the site supports both ETH deposits and withdrawals
- Check for specific ETH payment wording in the cashier
- Assume ETH support based on a general “crypto” label
- Mistake Ethereum branding or logos for actual payment acceptance
New Zealand’s Online Casino Licensing Transition
New Zealand’s online casino market is moving from a system with no domestic licensing for offshore providers to a local licensing framework. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 established that framework and took effect on 1 May 2026. The change does not mean that every offshore casino immediately became a New Zealand-licensed operator. The transition has its own rules, and a licence application is a separate step from simply continuing to operate.
Under the earlier arrangement, the Gambling Act 2003 prevented online casinos from being based in New Zealand. Gambling provided from offshore was not licensed or supervised by a New Zealand regulator. Customers who wagered with offshore websites had no domestic government recourse if a dispute arose. The law’s focus was on where operators could be based; it did not make an individual player criminally liable for using an offshore site.
The new regime changes the regulatory position rather than turning every existing site into a locally authorised one. The Act created a transitional period beginning on 1 May 2026 and ending on 1 December 2026. Online casinos that were already serving people in New Zealand before the new law began may continue during that period, subject to its transitional provisions. This is permission to continue temporarily, not proof of a licence or a guarantee that the provider will qualify for one.
The end date matters. From 1 December 2026, providers that have not submitted a licence application must stop conducting online casino gambling in New Zealand. A provider whose application is declined must also end its New Zealand operations and leave the market. The distinction is between an application being submitted and a licence being granted: filing paperwork does not itself confer permission to operate under the final regime.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is the primary regulator of gambling in New Zealand and oversees the online casino licensing framework. The Gambling Commission has a distinct decision-making role. It hears and determines applications for online casino licences, issues licences, and approves changes to licence conditions. These responsibilities are not interchangeable: the DIA oversees the regulatory framework, while the Commission makes licensing decisions.
The licensing process is designed to limit how many brands can operate under the new system. New Zealand plans to make no more than 15 online casino licences available. A licence applies to one brand, rather than acting as a general authorisation for every brand owned by a company. Under the initial process, a single operator cannot receive more than three licences. The practical result is that the number of companies and the number of casino brands are not the same measure: one company may hold licences for several brands, but each brand needs its own licence.
An auction slot is also not a licence. Winning a place in the auction does not by itself authorise an operator to offer online casino gambling to people in New Zealand. The operator must still complete the licensing process and receive the necessary approval. Treating an auction result as final permission would collapse two separate stages into one, which the framework does not do.
The Act also changes what “licensed” means in the New Zealand context. Before the new system, an offshore casino could serve New Zealand customers without being supervised by a local gambling regulator. During the transition, some providers may continue under transitional provisions, while the full domestic licensing regime is still being put in place. The DIA expects that regime to be operating during 2027. Until then, a site’s continued availability to New Zealand players should not be confused with a New Zealand licence.
Licensing Transition
From 1 December 2026, providers that have not submitted a licence application must stop conducting online casino gambling in New Zealand.
The rules also constrain how providers can address the market. Operators may not advertise online casino gambling services to New Zealand customers during the transition. Under the future licensing regime, advertising by licensed operators is permitted only within tight rules, and sponsorships are prohibited. These restrictions matter because visibility is not evidence of regulatory status: an online casino being discussed or found on the internet does not establish that it holds a New Zealand licence.
For an Ethereum casino considered in 2026, the regulatory question is therefore separate from the payment method. Accepting ETH does not determine whether a provider is permitted to operate in New Zealand, and an auction result or transitional presence does not amount to a granted licence. The relevant status depends on the operator’s place in the transition and, under the final system, on a licence issued through the Gambling Commission’s process. The shift is gradual, but its legal milestones are specific.
ETH, Cashing Out and New Zealand Tax Treatment
The tax distinction is between casual gambling winnings and what happens to ETH afterwards. A specialist tax explainer reports that casual gambling winnings are not taxed in New Zealand. It also cautions that actively trading ETH received from gambling may have a different result: the Inland Revenue Department treats cryptocurrency as property, and trading it can create taxable income.
That difference matters because a casino withdrawal and a later crypto transaction are separate events. Receiving ETH as winnings does not, by itself, establish that the ETH will be traded. Holding it is not the same activity as actively buying and selling it. The tax question changes when the funds are used in trading, rather than simply because the original winnings arrived in cryptocurrency.
This is not a blanket exemption for every later gain, nor does it mean every ETH withdrawal is automatically taxable. The reported distinction depends on the nature of the activity. Casual gambling winnings fall into one category; active trading of the resulting ETH may fall into another under the IRD’s treatment of crypto as property. Calling the asset “winnings” does not settle the tax treatment of later transactions.
For someone comparing Ethereum casinos, the headline value of a payout is therefore not necessarily the final value retained. The amount received is denominated in ETH, while its value against New Zealand dollars can change. If the ETH is actively traded, the tax position may depend on that activity and the IRD’s applicable treatment. No single tax result can be inferred from the withdrawal alone.
A practical record should keep the gambling event distinct from subsequent crypto activity. Retaining casino statements and transaction records can help show which ETH came from gambling and what happened to it later. This is a bookkeeping precaution, not a claim that a particular document or format is required by the IRD. Where trading is involved, advice should be based on the actual transactions and current tax guidance, rather than on the label attached to the original funds.
Tax Treatment
While casual gambling winnings are not taxed in New Zealand, actively trading ETH received from gambling may be treated as taxable income by the IRD.
The same distinction applies when weighing a casino payout against a cash amount. ETH has a market value, but that value can move after receipt. A player who keeps the ETH and one who trades it are not necessarily in the same tax position, even if both began with the same gambling win. The relevant issue is the later conduct, not simply whether the casino used Ethereum.
For a casual player, the reported treatment is relatively clear: gambling winnings are not taxed. The qualification is equally important: actively trading cashed-out ETH may bring tax into consideration because crypto is treated as property by the IRD. That is a potential consequence of the trading activity, not a reason to assume that all casino winnings are taxable or that every ETH payout is tax-free in every later use.
Casino Sites, Slots and What Can Be Verified
A site’s description as an Ethereum casino is meaningful only if ETH can be used both to deposit and to withdraw. A logo, a cryptocurrency label or a page title does not establish that full payment route. That distinction matters when comparing casino sites: accepting a coin at the cashier is not the same as supporting it for payouts.
The same standard applies to claims about pokies and live casino tables. A search result or promotional page may mention a broad game category, but that alone does not establish which titles are available, whether they can be played with an ETH-funded balance, or whether the catalogue is current. Without a verifiable game list tied to the site, naming particular slots would turn an unconfirmed claim into a recommendation.
A useful comparison therefore separates three questions:
- Does the site state that ETH is accepted for both deposits and withdrawals?
- Is the relevant payment information presented as an operating policy rather than as a general cryptocurrency claim?
- Are game categories and titles shown in a catalogue associated with that site?
These are checks on evidence, not a ranking. “Best” has no consistent financial meaning without comparable terms and confirmed features. A site can look polished and still leave the essential point unresolved: whether ETH is supported across the complete payment cycle.
The same caution applies to live play. A reference to live casino entertainment does not identify available tables or establish that a particular operator offers them. Where the catalogue cannot be checked, the claim should remain a category-level statement rather than being expanded into a list of games. No amount of confident wording improves the underlying evidence.
For New Zealand readers, a named site should not be treated as a recommendation merely because it appears in a comparison or calls itself an Ethereum casino. The relevant distinction is between a claim and a feature that can be confirmed in the operator’s own information. Payment support, game availability and live-play claims are separate points; evidence for one does not prove the others.
A reliable overview can state the threshold plainly: an Ethereum casino accepts ETH for deposits and withdrawals. Beyond that, site-specific claims need site-specific evidence. Where no confirmed catalogue or payment detail is available, a list of “best” casinos or ETH pokies would create precision without a basis. The absence of a list is less informative at first glance, but more useful than presenting unverified names as established choices.
Verifying ETH Casinos
- Confirm ETH is accepted for both deposits and withdrawals
- Verify payment info is an operating policy, not a general claim
- Check the site’s associated catalogue for specific game titles
Using Ethereum Alongside Other Crypto Payments
Comparing Ethereum with another cryptocurrency is a cost question before it is a convenience question. An ETH transaction carries a gas fee, paid in ETH. That charge belongs to the Ethereum network transaction; it is separate from any amount the casino might show as a deposit or withdrawal charge. Whether an operator adds its own fee is a separate term and should not be inferred from the use of crypto.
A practical comparison therefore needs to keep the costs distinct. The ETH side includes the network gas charge, while any operator-imposed payment fee must be checked in the casino’s terms or payment information. If the other currency is Bitcoin or another crypto asset, its payment conditions must be assessed separately. A shared label such as “crypto payment” does not establish that the currencies have the same fees, conversion basis or withdrawal rules.
The fee is paid in ETH, so the balance required for a transfer is not simply the amount intended for the casino. Part of the ETH is used to cover gas. A comparison based only on the displayed deposit amount can therefore understate the total amount needed to complete the transaction. The relevant figure is the total ETH outlay, including the network charge, alongside any separate fee stated by the operator.
The same accounting applies when comparing a prospective ETH payment with another crypto option: compare like with like. Check which currency is debited, whether the casino states a separate charge, and whether the amount received is expressed in the same currency as the amount sent. If those details are not clear, the apparent difference between payment methods cannot be treated as a reliable cost saving.
Searches for Ethereum casinos alongside Bitcoin casinos reflect an understandable comparison, but the wording does not establish that a particular casino accepts either asset. Nor does a general crypto label confirm that ETH is supported. Payment options and charges are operator-specific, so the comparison should rest on the terms actually presented for the chosen currency rather than assumptions about what a casino may accept.
For an ETH payment, the fixed point is narrow but material: every Ethereum transaction has a gas fee paid in ETH. Any further cost depends on the payment terms shown for that operator and transaction. Until those amounts are visible, a cheaper-looking option is only a headline, not a completed calculation.
Confirming That a Casino Accepts ETH
A casino accepts Ethereum in the practical sense when its payment process supports ETH in both directions: it can receive ETH deposits and send ETH withdrawals. A logo, a mention in a payment list or an app-store description is not enough to establish that the complete process is available. Deposit and withdrawal options should be checked separately; support for one does not prove support for the other.
The relevant details are the currency and network shown at the point of payment. A deposit should be initiated only from the casino’s ETH instructions, using the address and any other details displayed for that transaction. The amount sent must be in ETH, not a different token that happens to use related technology. The payment record should then be checked against the casino balance. A transaction shown as sent by a wallet is not the same thing as a deposit visibly credited by the casino.
The reverse check matters just as much. Withdrawal terms should identify ETH as an available payout method and specify where the destination address is entered. A balance that can be funded in ETH but cannot be withdrawn in ETH is not equivalent to end-to-end ETH support. The transaction record and the casino account should be checked for the outgoing payment and its status.
Confirming ETH Acceptance
Initiate a deposit using the casino’s ETH instructions and verify the amount is credited to the balance.
Identify ETH as an available payout method and verify the ability to enter a destination address.
Ensure the transaction status is traceable in both the personal wallet and the casino account.
Timing needs a source attached. A specialist review reports ETH confirmations in roughly one to a few minutes, but that is a reported estimate, not a guaranteed processing time for every casino transaction. Blockchain confirmation and the casino’s own crediting or payout steps are distinct parts of the process. A transaction can be visible in a wallet before the casino account reflects it, while an initiated withdrawal may still be awaiting the operator’s processing. Treating one timestamp as proof that the entire payment is complete confuses separate stages.
An app does not change the test. An app casino that displays Ethereum branding still needs to show ETH as an available deposit and withdrawal method within the actual account payment flow. If the app directs transactions to a browser, the same checks apply there. A promotional graphic or a wallet connection alone does not confirm that deposits and withdrawals are supported.
For a useful confirmation, the account interface should show ETH for deposits and withdrawals, the transaction should be made using the displayed instructions, and the resulting status should be traceable in both the wallet and the casino account. That is a more reliable standard than a payment badge: acceptance is a working two-way process, not a label.
Casino Games Paid for with Ethereum
Ethereum as a payment method describes how money enters and leaves a casino account; it does not identify which games are available or how each game works. An operator that accepts ETH accepts it for deposits and withdrawals. That fact alone does not establish that wagers are made directly on the Ethereum network, that game outcomes are recorded on a blockchain, or that every game can be played using an ETH-denominated balance.
The distinction matters because payment support and game selection are separate checks. A site may describe its cashier as accepting ETH while presenting games through a conventional casino interface. The payment label does not tell whether the account balance remains in ETH, is converted to another unit, or is displayed in a currency selected by the operator. Those details depend on the site’s own account and payment terms.
Nor does an Ethereum payment method establish anything about a game’s mechanics. It does not confirm a particular return rate, volatility, provider, or availability of pokies, table games, or live play. Such details must be established from the operator’s current game information, not inferred from the currency accepted at the cashier. A catalogue can change independently of its payment options.
The same separation applies to the phrase “Ethereum gambling.” It can refer simply to funding a casino account with ETH; it need not mean that the games themselves are decentralised or that a smart contract determines each result. A blockchain payment rail and a casino game are different parts of the service. Treating them as one feature makes the label sound more informative than it is.
For a meaningful comparison, the relevant questions are therefore distinct: whether the casino accepts ETH for both deposits and withdrawals; what unit the account uses after a deposit; which games are currently listed; and what rules govern those games. The first point defines ETH acceptance. It cannot answer the others by implication.
ETH acceptance is a payment capability; it does not mean games are decentralized or that outcomes are recorded on a blockchain.
This also limits what can be concluded from a casino’s promotional description. “Play with Ethereum” may describe the route used to fund an account, rather than a promise that every game supports direct ETH wagering. Without clear terms, the wording does not establish the balance denomination or the game catalogue. A payment badge is evidence of a payment option, not a verified inventory of casino games.
The practical boundary is narrow but useful: ETH can be the deposit and withdrawal currency while the games remain ordinary casino products delivered through the operator’s platform. Game availability and payment support should be assessed as separate features, with neither treated as proof of the other.
Ethereum Casino Bonuses: The Terms That Change the Value
An Ethereum casino bonus is not worth its headline amount by itself. Its practical value depends on the conditions attached to it: how much wagering is required, which games count towards that requirement, and whether a cap limits winnings. A specialist casino review describes these as terms to check, rather than as features shared by every offer.
A wagering multiple determines how much play is required before bonus-related funds or winnings can be withdrawn. The figure matters only alongside its calculation base. A multiple applied to the bonus alone has a different cost from one applied to the bonus and deposit together. Without that distinction, a prominent offer amount says little about the work needed to reach a withdrawal.
Game contribution changes the calculation again. If a game contributes only partly towards wagering, spending the same amount on it clears less of the requirement than spending that amount on a game with full contribution. The bonus terms should identify which game categories count and at what rate. If the contribution rules are unclear, the stated wagering requirement cannot be translated into a reliable play-through cost.
A winnings cap sets a ceiling on what can be withdrawn from bonus play. That ceiling may make a large advertised bonus less useful: once the cap is reached, additional winnings do not increase the amount payable. The relevant figure is therefore not merely the credit shown in the account, but the amount that can remain after wagering and any cap have been applied.
Ethereum does not change these calculations. It is the payment method, not a substitute for reading the promotion’s conditions. A bonus described as suitable for ETH users still needs to specify eligibility, the wagering base, game contribution and any winnings limit. A bonus code is only an entry mechanism; it does not improve the underlying terms.
A clean comparison records each offer in the same order: bonus value, wagering calculation, eligible games and withdrawal cap. Where any item is absent or ambiguous, the apparent value cannot be measured on equal terms with a fully specified offer. The most generous headline is not necessarily the better deal; the decisive amount is what the conditions permit to be withdrawn.
Live Dealer Play and Licensed-Site Safeguards
A live-dealer table and an Ethereum payment option are separate features. A casino may accept ETH without that establishing whether it offers live tables; likewise, a live broadcast does not establish that ETH can be used to fund play. The combination needs to be confirmed independently, rather than inferred from a site’s general description.
Sets a boundary on the total amount of funds a player can add to their account.
Interrupts access to the casino services temporarily.
Blocks further participation for a chosen period under the operator’s process.
For New Zealand, the more consequential distinction is between a site’s presentation and its regulatory status. The country’s licensing framework assigns oversight to the Department of Internal Affairs, while the Gambling Commission handles licensing applications and decisions. A site describing itself as “licensed” does not, by that wording alone, establish that it holds a New Zealand licence. During the transition to the domestic regime, the legal position also depends on whether an operator is permitted to continue under the transitional provisions. A live table’s polished production is not a substitute for that status.
Licensed operators are required to make several controls available: players must be able to set deposit limits, take time-outs and exclude themselves from gambling. These tools address different points in the decision cycle. A deposit limit sets a boundary on funds added; a time-out interrupts access temporarily; self-exclusion is intended to block further participation for a chosen period under the operator’s process. Their value depends on clear settings and on the operator applying them, not on the presence of a responsible-play link alone.
Live dealer play can make the session feel continuous: a dealer acts on camera while the game proceeds. That presentation does not change the financial function of the safeguards. Deposit limits concern the amount entering an account, while time-outs and exclusion concern access to play. They remain relevant whether the interface shows a live table, a digital game or another casino format.
For a comparison involving Ethereum and live tables, the useful checks are therefore distinct: whether ETH is accepted, whether live-dealer play is actually offered, and whether the operator’s New Zealand status is valid under the applicable framework. The responsible-play controls should then be assessed as operational features, not decorative assurances. A payment method answers how funds move; it says nothing about the quality of the safeguards around play.
No-Deposit Offers and the Cost of the Conditions
A no-deposit promotion removes the initial payment, not the conditions attached to a possible withdrawal. Its value depends on what must happen before winnings can be cashed out, and on how much of the credited bonus counts towards those requirements. Without the full terms, “free” describes the entry point, not the final amount.
A specialist casino review reports that bonus offers may set wagering multiples, restrict how games contribute towards wagering, and cap winnings. These terms determine whether a nominal bonus can produce a withdrawable balance. A wagering requirement means the bonus, or another stated amount, must be wagered before withdrawal; the terms must specify which. The multiple alone is not enough to calculate the requirement if its base is unclear.
Game contribution changes the calculation. If a game contributes only partly, a wager does not necessarily reduce the remaining requirement by its full amount. A game with no contribution may not advance it at all. The offer’s wording therefore matters more than the headline value: contribution rates, eligible games and any excluded play can affect how much wagering remains.
A winnings cap sets another boundary. Even if play satisfies the wagering terms, a cap may limit the amount that can be withdrawn from bonus-derived winnings. The practical value is thus the amount remaining after the stated wagering rules and cap are applied, not the balance displayed while the bonus is active. If the terms do not explain how a cap applies, the eventual cash-out amount cannot be established from the promotion summary.
For an Ethereum casino promotion, the payment method does not remove these conditions. A bonus labelled as available without a deposit should not be treated as a cash-equivalent credit unless the rules show how it can become withdrawable. ETH acceptance and bonus eligibility are separate questions; neither should be inferred from the other.
A sound comparison records the bonus value, wagering basis and multiple, game contribution rules, winnings cap, and any stated conditions for withdrawal. If one element is absent or ambiguous, the value cannot be calculated reliably. In New Zealand, promotional claims also sit within a market where operators are prohibited from advertising online casino gambling to local customers during the transition. A search result or third-party description is not proof that an offer is available or that its terms remain current. The arithmetic starts with the written conditions, not the word “free.”
Prepared by the Casino Slots Tips NZ editorial staff.
