Here is a substantial guide to online casinos in Aotearoa New Zealand to make it easier for you to pick what suits your individual needs. We also recommend the top 10 online casinos that Kiwis can trust, feel safe on, and make sure they don’t trip on the legal wires when playing on them.
When people in New Zealand gamble more than $NZ2 billion every year but have only six land-based casinos in the country catering to their needs for a flutter, something must give way.
Something does. It’s the online casino industry. That means anyone living in New Zealand can play on overseas digital gambling platforms, provided they are 18 years or older.
Kiwis must feel like kids in a candy shop, unsure of what they want when they see hundreds of different online casinos offerings countless games on the internet. Online casinos have been one of the fastest-growing industries in the world in the past two decades.
Online casinos offer gamblers the opportunity to play popular casino games via the internet for free and real money. It’s a virtual form of gambling. Put another way, it’s providing an internet platform for people to wager on games based on taking risks in the hope of coming away with larger sums of money than they invested.
New Zealand is a relatively young nation when it comes to gambling. It didn’t embrace commercial gambling until the 1990s. However, there’s no disputing its population loves a flutter.
Online casinos offer people an opportunity to engage in wagering via PCs and mobile phone apps. It doesn’t have the atmosphere of the excited chatter and whirring noises of land-based casinos in Queenstown, Dunedin, Auckland, Hamilton, or Christchurch, but that doesn’t mean Kiwis can’t have fun.
Some online casinos operators come remarkably close to capturing that feeling with their live-game modules. Players can watch live dealers perform their roles and even talk to them, as well as fellow players via chat rooms.
Online casinos fundamentally operate on a web-based network of platforms. This is where all the games are linked, enabling gamblers to either play against the casino or other players.
All a player needs is a device, such as a laptop, tablet or mobile phone, a reliable internet connection, and access to some money.
The casino will guide you through an uncomplicated registration process before helping you create an account and depositing some cash in there.
From there you’ll have the opportunity to select what sort of games you want to place your bets on. Any money you win will be channelled to your bank account. The choice is yours to withdraw it or to carry on playing, especially if Lady Luck isn’t in your corner.
In New Zealand, the Department of Internal Affairs lays down the legislation for all gambling operations to follow within its boundaries. All the legal responsibilities for operators and members of the public are centred around the Gambling Act 2003.
The Act is the primary law that governs gambling in the country and what it classifies as “interactive gambling”, pertaining to online wagering platforms. It is illegal to establish or engage in interactive gambling activities in the country unless you have been granted a licence to do so.
The Act makes an exemption for the New Zealand Lotteries Commission (NZLC) and the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB). Bar the NZLC and the NZRB, no one is permitted to engage in any form of sales promotion of gambling.
The piece of legislation also provided a framework to establish the Gambling Commission New Zealand in 2004 to regulate such activities, including online gaming. Only the commission and the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) have the authority to offer online gaming within New Zealand’s boundaries.
However, the laws do not prohibit New Zealanders from placing bets on overseas digital gambling platforms. That’s why you have hundreds of global operators who grant Kiwis access to their platforms to place a wager via the internet.
Online gambling is open to anyone who turns 18, although the land-based casinos are restricted to those who are 20 or older. For the record, tourists visiting New Zealand are permitted to gamble without any prohibitions.
With so many eye-catching websites on the internet, it’s easy for New Zealand gamblers to become a little dizzy when making an educated choice on what online casino is tailored to their needs.
It can be quite overwhelming, if not stressful, to wade past offers of no deposits, bumper cash bonuses, and free spins. Where do you start?
Well, don’t despair. We have done ample homework for you here to recommend our top 10 online casinos listed below:
This online casino is New Zealand’s No.1 for a reason. When Jackpot City started its operation under the Bayton Limited group in 1998, its mission was to offer every player the best gaming experience possible. It has since built its reputation on the sturdy platform of one of the world’s most trusted online casinos.
Jackpot City has created its culture on a reliable and fair system of operating. It stands by its platform with a professional customer service team. Jackpot City has the rubber stamp of the Malta Gaming Authority’s licence. To seal its service, Jackpot City comes with the certification of eCOGRA, an endorsement from external testing agency that only offers it to casinos that deliver their businesses with transparency.
Kiwis will find Jackpot City offers an exciting range of online pokies, ranging from the latest to the classics. Its diverse collection includes video, mobile, and progressive pokies. Throw in live casino table and card games via desktop and mobile devices for an unforgettable Jackpot City experience it claims resembles an actual land-based feel built on Hollywood-style cinematography.
Jackpot City online casino doesn’t cut corners, powering its table games with the grunt of cutting-edge software providers Microgaming while live casino versions are in the deft hands of Evolution Gaming, among others.
Highlights:
Established in 2001, Spin Casino has watched the back of countless players around the world and have been doing that for New Zealand enthusiasts since 2019. A safe and trusted online gambling platform, Spin Casino tickles the fancy of Kiwi players by assuring them that even if they can’t make it to Las Vegas — the gambling Mecca in the United States — they can bank on a similar flutter from the comfort of their lounge suite.
A hidden gem in New Zealand, the $NZ1000 welcome bonus offer from Spin City brings the shine out from this online casino. Players can claim the bonus in sums of $NZ400, and two $NZ300 splits over their first three deposits, respectively. The rollover requirements for this bonus are 70 times (bonus plus deposit).
Highlights:
Opening its doors to New Zealand at the turn of this century, Royal Vegas belongs to the award-winning Fortune Lounge Group of Online Casinos. It boasts more than 700 trusted online games offering a broad spectrum of themes.
The casino’s most popular games include online slots, online blackjack, video poker, roulette, craps, and baccarat. Its online slot games champion famous titles such as Jurassic Park™, Game of Thrones™ and Playboy™.
Sporting the independent fair play certification of eCOGRA, Royal Vegas holds an operator’s licence from the Malta Gaming Authority and previously the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada. Its ties with the First Nation tribe of Canada will please New Zealand authorities because of the ethnic Māori and Pasifika cultures’ concerns over the effects of gambling here. Royal Vegas guarantees New Zealanders a safe and secure environment to place bets.
To show it means business, Royal Vegas trumps up with handsome progressive jackpots, a $NZ1,200 welcome bonus for new Kiwi players and throws in ongoing email promotions that offer prizes such as trips to the Sin City (Las Vegas), luxury cruises, cash, and bookings at exotic beach resorts.
Highlights:
The Ruby Fortune uses the qualities of the gemstone to rev up interest on its website in New Zealand, after opening its digital doors to inaugural Kiwi gamblers in 2003. It is part of the Palace Brand Casinos that belongs to Bayton Ltd, the owners of Jackpot City and Spin Casino.
Needless to say, Ruby Fortune has all the hallmarks of an operator that lives up to the quality standards of online casinos. It has a 98% payout rate and offers Kiwis 88 spins for a $1 deposit.
Highlights:
The Lucky Nugget online casino in New Zealand ticks just about all the boxes of its rivals. With a track record dating back to 1998, the Digimedia Ltd-owned establishment entered the Kiwi market in 2012.
With constant updating from cutting-edge Microgaming software, Lucky Nugget offers 160 casino games and is home to more than 300 online slot machine games. Free slot play and blackjack tournaments beckon Kiwi enthusiasts.
The security and fair play signatures of Malta Gaming Authority and eCOGRA are reassuring, even if payout takes up to three days. It has a payout rate of 95.45%.
Lucky Nugget offers a welcome bonus of $1200 to newcomers but what makes its incentive standout is the choice of two alternatives — a high roller or small player one, to be declared on day one.
A multilingual live chat and phone customer service rounds off its trusty services.
Highlights:
Founded in 2010, Bet365 rolls out the red carpet to its New Zealand faithful with a jaw-dropping global following. The online casino, on its website, champions serving more than 150 nations comprising more than 63 million devotees.
Why join its sprawling family of flutter seekers?
It’s down to simple mathematics. About 100,000 try to tame their more than 850 Playtech network-powered games. Around since the turn of this century, Bet365 offers more than 200 casino games and woos suitors with jackpots and prizes that break the $NZ1 million mark.
Bet365 processes credit cards and e-wallet deposits in smart time for New Zealand players at no charge.
Highlights:
Making its debut in 2012, it didn’t take long for LeoVegas to punctuate the mobile casino market. The owner, LeoVegas Gaming Ltd Casinos, operating from Malta, earned the praises of Gaming Intelligence Publication for its mobile traction in 2013 for creating a clear footprint into the future. ICE Magazine had named LeoVegas as a finalist in the Best Gaming Operator of the Year category that year, too.
The following year, LeoVegas claimed the Mobile Casino Product of the Year accolades at the EGR Innovation Awards. Enough said of its secure platform that also offers demo versions of the games so players can find peace of mind before committing with real money.
Highlights:
Part of the Genesis Global Ltd operations, Casino Planet welcomes New Zealand players onto its platform in partnership with Casoola, Casino Gods, and Kassu. Under the licensing and regulation of the Malta Gaming Authority as well as the UK Gaming Commission since 2016, Casino Planet accepts New Zealand currency but pays out bonus amounts that are stated in American dollars.
Genesis Global Ltd has no qualms playing the numbers game in the industry, dazzling players with other brand names such as Casino Cruise, Pelaa, Casino Dome, Casino Masters, and Sloty.
Casino Planet offers more than 1,350 games, including pokies, jackpots, video poker, and a range of table ones. A reputable operator, it lures Kiwi gamers with a minimum $NZ10 deposit and has a 97.5% payout rate.
Highlights:
If you’re not pushed to make church on time on Sundays then 888 Casino is your playground in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Cassava Enterprises Ltd-owned online casino offers a daily promotion that includes a Sunday Fun Day where 100 players win a prize in a raffle draw. Simply make any deposit to be in the draw.
Jackpot Manic Monday, Table Tuesday, Winning Wednesday, Traveller Thursday, Freaky Friday, and Saturday Night Live keep the warm fuzzies flowing with a range of incentives. They include free plays on designated slots and table games, 20% back on up to $NZ20 of a day’s losses, and a modest 3 to 5 times playthrough requirements for withdrawals.
In more than two decades of operation here, the multiple award-winning 888 Casino is a trusted brand and has a payout rate of 96.26%.
Highlights:
It’s a 2018 creation from the Genesis Global Ltd stable so Genesis Casino remains faithful to taking New Zealand players out of this world and landing them on another realm. On exiting Planet Earth, the online casino assures Kiwis they are unlikely to lose their way on account of the establishment’s video slots working like lights on the runway to an airport at night.
The welcome bonus offer will appeal to the New Zealand pilots who fasten their shuttle seatbelts for a starry-eyed ride into Genesis Casino’s gaming galaxy. Do note, though, they’ll be eligible to claim them only when they deposit a minimum of $NZ10 in one instance for each bonus.
Like the sister online site of Casino Planet, the Genesis Casino’s number of games on offer can be overwhelming but do not fret. It provides a compact filtering system to help you navigate your way to narrow down preferences.
Highlights:
With so many online casinos fighting for eyeballs via the internet for New Zealand enthusiasts, don’t let the clutter make you throw up your hands in despair. No, there’s no perfect casino — just the one best suited to your needs.
Let our reviews make it easy to place your index finger on the wrist to make sure your heart doesn’t start racing even before you register on a platform that is tailor-made for you.
Never mind where you are in life, you want peace of mind with what belongs to you. Consequently, it’s vital that your hard-earned money and your personal data are in trusted hands.
Here, online casinos’ licensing and independent monitoring to provide you with a fair platform to play on is paramount, as well as encryption lock tools to protect data.
Who casinos align themselves with for cutting-edge gaming software ultimately determines what your level of satisfaction will be as a player. Do they offer variety? What is the reputation of the software developer? Do they offer free titles before real money options to give Kiwis a feel for a game? Progressive jackpots or whether it’s a three-wheel or five-wheel slot machine can make a difference to players.
Any reputable business will tell you your needs are their lifeblood. Casinos who put their players first tend to establish 24/7 user-friendly support services. Live chats, email and phone numbers should be available at the drop of a hat because everyone knows the highs and lows of seeking a flutter.
Every newcomer should be offered incentives to savour an enjoyable experience. Easy-to-claim welcome bonuses should also come with realistic wagering requirements. Daily, weekly, or monthly promotions as well as loyalty schemes and VIP clubs show which online casinos put Kiwis’ welfare first.
Kiwi players want the smoothest avenues to make deposits and withdrawals when engaging with online casinos. As a rule of thumb, traditional banking methods, phone payments, and bank transfers are generally go-to zones. Credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards, fall in that category.
Ditto hybrid digital methods, such as Paysafecard. Digital wallets (Google Pay, Apple Pay), Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin), and e-wallets (Skrill, PayPal) are less likely to be available to New Zealanders.
In a world where the fingers do all the talking nowadays, mobile devices have replaced the handkerchief and wristwatches of yesteryear. New Zealanders are no different, wanting to play games on the go with a swipe and a click of an app.
Online casinos should provide traction with a mobile site that is free of buffering and freezing images, no matter whether it is downloaded or straight off a browser.
Some online casinos are quick to process deposits from players but not that fast when it comes to paying out. Kiwis can be excused for feeling short-changed when they start biting their fingernails after a windfall. By the same token, casinos must have some reasonable time to authenticate the identities of those claiming prizes.
It’s good for New Zealand players to know how long it’ll take. Quality establishments clearly state their return to player (RTP) and currency on their websites for the benefit of all. They also reveal any fees to be levied upfront.
This is particularly relevant to countries such as New Zealand where some ethnic and indigenous peoples feel gambling has a crippling effect on them. Casinos that cater to different multiple languages and have a history of licensing with similar demography tend to have a better connection with Kiwis.
New Zealanders have their preferences when it comes to online casino games. Here’s a list of how some of the games rank with Kiwis and what are the top online casinos to go to for the best bang for your dollar:
With an RTP of 94%, it’s no surprise that Kiwis have kept in touch with the pokies (also known as online slots overseas) from the days of clunky three-reel machines that projected colourful, fruity images. Modern slots nowadays can offer up to 50 pay lines, jackpots, bonus rounds and games, as well as snazzy symbols.
The slot machine that is the mother of all pokies in Aotearoa New Zealand is the Mega Moolah. It’s not surprising considering the progressive jackpot African safari-themed game claims to have the biggest payout in the world. A Kiwi punter reportedly won $NZ6.7 million on it in 2020 to become the third multi-million-dollar winner from New Zealand that year. It’s ideal for low-budget gamers and high rollers with a minimum bet of NZ25 cents to a ceiling of $NZ6.25 a spin. Some online casinos, such as Jackpot City, accessible to New Zealand players offer $NZ1 deposit bonus for Mega Moolah spins.
Best pokies online casinos: Barz, Royal Panda, National, Spinni, Plaza Royal.
Kiwis can play up to a dozen types of random number generated (RNG) online roulette games in New Zealand. They include the European, French, American, Advanced, Master, European Gold, Double Zero, Wheel of Riches, Premier, Multi Wheel, Spingo, and Diamond Edition versions. The online purists will say play the live dealer version for an authentic experience. The live-deal version is projected from a land-based casino or a studio.
Best roulette online casinos: Jackpot City, Spin Palace, Play Amo, Planet7Oz.
The variants of online blackjack games include live dealer, multi-hand/single-hand, Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, Switch, Surrender, Insurance, to name a few. Unlike pokies, blackjack (also referred to as 21) requires player skills and strategies to turn the odds in their favour. Blackjack players are competing against the dealer, not against each other.
Best blackjack online casinos: LeoVegas, Kasimba, playzee.
The origins of baccarat in Italy and France are sketchy and the land-based table version can be trying for those who don’t handle pressure too well from a live dealer and fellow fidgety players.
However, online baccarat removes all the complexities for players in processing the results to determine who is closest to achieving the desired value of 9 from a hand.
Punto Banco, also known as American Baccarat, is the most popular among the three variants, including Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque. Many online casinos offer free plays for one of the easiest online card games.
Best baccarat online casinos: Jackpot City, Spin, Europa.
Just ask any New Zealander. Fun is the name of the game when it comes to bingo. Online casino bingo adheres to that philosophy, too. Variety becomes the spice of online life in this game.
No doubt, the 90-ball version wins hands down because of its similarities with what countless Kiwis used to play at church, school, and community halls around the country late last century.
They come down to 30-ball ones and what is called Slingo — a cross-pollination of traditional bingo with slot machines. Mobile options add great value. Chuck in the free-spin and wheel-spin bonuses and you realise why it’s so popular in New Zealand.
Best bingo casinos: 888 Ladies (part of 888 Casino), Bet365, Mr Green.
Land-based casinos within the country hosting major tournaments on New Zealand soil are playing a significant role in stimulating the growth of poker in the online casino landscape.
The $NZ170,000 windfall in poker from the “Godfather of Kiwi hip hop”, Danny Leaoasavaii, at the SkyCity Casino in Auckland in 2010 had made mainstream media headlines, catapulting him to the status of “Godfather of Kiwi poker”. Known in the hip-hop circles here as “Brotha D”, the artist had eclipsed 218 international players for the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour title.
More than a decade on, online casinos with win rates of above 97% are reaping the benefits of that exposure in New Zealand. Jackpot City Casino leads that charge with 2427 enthusiasts claiming its offer in December 2021 alone, ahead of Spin Casino on 198.
Best poker online casinos: Jackpot City, Spin, Europa, Magic Red, Tropez.
When New Zealanders enter this domain, they expect to see dealers in the flesh and blood parked behind a table rather than some animated figure on their online casino sites.
Yes, it’s a HD streaming experience and that’s as close as one will get to a land-based casino atmosphere. There’s no mistaking the smell of money, though. You’ll even be able to chat with other players and the live dealer. Keep an eye out for casino bonuses and the variety of games.
Best live online casinos: Jackpot City, Spin, and Europa.
More and more New Zealanders are taking their mobile phones for a walk rather than their dogs, in keeping with a global trend. It’ll be marketing suicide for any newcomers to the online casino industry to enter the arena without mobile programmes.
Most online casinos are now created on HTML 5 platforms which, in some cases, negate the need for apps. Just because games are available online doesn’t mean Kiwi players can access them via their mobile devices.
However, it’s just a matter of time before that equation changes with the advent of advanced technology as some casinos spearhead that drive.
Best mobile casinos: Casumo, Casimba, playzee.
It’s human nature for Kiwis to find your trusted online casinos after some serious research before they dig the trenches for a committed digital flutter. But new online casino sites can mushroom just about every month.
Those who are adventurous will find newcomers tend to offer attractive bonuses, provide the latest mobile options, and roll out the most refined gaming software among the newest games.
With a pay rate of above 97% and some forking out withdrawals in just 1-2 days, it’s a no-brainer. No doubt, you’ll need to sidestep the dodgy ones guilty of unfair RTPs, game software pirates, rigged games, and hidden wagering clauses, to name some of the unacceptable tactics.
Best online casinos: Spinyoo, Race, Playluck, betzest, Parimatch.
Most online casinos are free but the odd one may ask for a fee. Again, most of them ask for similar details across the board. Make sure you check the blacklisted casinos highlighted on the internet reviews and ones that are untrustworthy. Ensure the sites accept Kiwi players.
Play free games to get a feel for them and check out which casinos have the most hassle-free payment methods (We’re using Jackpot City Casino here as an example):
Having done your homework on what fits your requirements, go to the casino’s website landing page through our links in the list above.
Click on the “sign up” or “register” logo on the top strip. You will have a “Welcome Bonus” logo in your face, but you can come back to that.
The country, New Zealand, will show automatically.
You’re required to add your personal information here:
Fill in the residential address details.
Tick the three boxes.
Hit the purple “Register” button.
After you’ve verified your account on receiving the email from Jackpot City Casino you may login with your username, email, and password.
You can now start claiming your bonuses.
Oliver is responsible for the New Zealand market on BettingGuide. He has a keen interest in sports betting and Rugby in particular. Oliver has a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Auckland.
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