Is Live Casino Gaming Legal in New Zealand?
Yes, it is legal to play live casino games in New Zealand.
The legality of online gambling in New Zealand, including live casino games, is allowed but strictly regulated by national laws if playing live casino games is offered by a company located in New Zealand or licensed by the New Zealand government.
For example, you can gamble online through the New Zealand Lotteries Commission or the TAB, which are the only organizations legally allowed to offer online gambling services in the country.
You can also choose to play live casino games for real money at online casinos registered overseas. While it’s not illegal to use these international sites, they aren’t regulated or protected by New Zealand law. This is why it’s important to use a trustworthy website to guide you in finding the best live casinos in New Zealand so you can have peace of mind and enjoy your experience.
This is where we come in. In this guide, you'll find all the safe live casinos for Kiwis, carefully selected by our New Zealand gambling experts.
Top Recommended 5 Online Casinos for Live Dealer Games
What is the best online live casino?
Our experienced casino team considers these to be the best live casino sites for Kiwi players.
These live casino online real money sites are all licenced and regulated by authorities, and some of them have partnerships with external organisations. These factors make operating companies trustworthy and reliable.
Their live casino offerings are diverse, and they consider New Zealanders' tastes very well.
All of these platforms support transactions in NZ dollars and include popular NZ casino payment options such as Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard and more.
🔽 See below for an overview of each live online casino.
- 1Casino Days:
Best real money live casino in New Zealand
- 2LeoVegas:
Best live casino for mobile gaming
- 3JackpotCity:
Best live casino lisenced by Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- 4Spin Casino:
Best live casino online for blackjack
- 5Platinum Play:
Best live casino online for easy navigation
Casino Days - #1 Best Live Dealer Casino
The live casino section at Casino Days offers 450+ games, including more than 100 in popular categories such as live blackjack, live roulette, and live baccarat. Among NZ favourites are "Blackjack Amsterdam" by OnAir Entertainment, "Mega Roulette" by Pragmatic Play, and "Dragon Tiger 1" by Bombay.
The casino is renowned for its professional, real-time dealer services, with leading providers like Ezugi and Pragmatic Play. Ezugi hosts over 50 live casino tables, while Pragmatic Play presents over 70 diverse games. The selection is broadened further with options like poker, game shows, and live dice games.
To find these live casino games, just navigate to the Live Casino section on their platform, where live games are neatly categorised into groups.
Pros
- Massive selection of 450+ games
- Rich variety of safe and fast NZ banking options
- Multiple layers of security and safety measures
- Official mobile app for Android
Cons
- Curaçao licence provides less player protection than other strict licences like MGA
- No sports betting available
LeoVegas - #2 Best Live Dealer Casino
LeoVegas Live Casino provides various games designed to meet different tastes, attracting a broad spectrum of Kiwis players. The platform is renowned for its range of live dealer games from leading industry providers, including Playtech and Pragmatic Play.
Highlights of their gaming suite include Playtech's Mega Fire Blaze Roulette, which offers the thrill of potential jackpot wins and impressive multipliers up to 10,000x. From Pragmatic Play, games like Mega Wheel Live and Sweet Bonanza Candyland offer interactive game show experiences with chances for significant payouts, such as Candyland's potential 20,000x bet multiplier.
LeoVegas is also recognized for its excellence in mobile gaming, with a user-friendly live casino mobile app that has won numerous awards. LeoVegas prioritizes responsible gaming with round-the-clock customer support and the LeoSafePlay initiative, which promotes safe gaming practices
Pros
- Exclusive live casino games
- Trustworthy live casino providers
- One of the best mobile casinos in New Zealand
Cons
- Limited amount of game providers
JackpotCity - #3 Best Live Dealer Casino
The live casino lineup in JackpotCity includes popular games like On Air Speed Roulette, which offers a quicker version of traditional roulette, and Casino Hold'em, which introduces a more interactive form of poker. The 9 Pots of Gold Live Slot brings a treasure-seeking theme to slot gaming, while Mega Wheel features large payouts with a game show ambience.
The live casino is powered by renowned providers like Pragmatic Play and Evolution Gaming, who are both recognized for their innovative live casino solutions.
Jackpot City’s live games are notable for their realistic features, such as live chats with dealers, the option to play on multiple tables, and customizable sound and display settings.
Pros
- Games from the best providers
- High-quality gaming experience
- Licensed by Kahnawake Gambling Commission
Cons
- Live casino is only accessible when logged in
SpinCasino- #4 Best Live Dealer Casino
Spin Casino excels in the live casino space with a wide variety of games, including favourites like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Evolution Lightning Roulette offers a unique twist on classic roulette with extra winning opportunities. Fast-paced games like Live Boom City and Blazing Dragon Tiger keep players entertained.
Games such as ONE Blackjack, Evolution Roulette, and Bac Bo combine traditional gameplay with innovative features, making them popular choices. Spin Casino also offers top-quality live games like Evolution Monopoly Live and Sweet Bonanza Candy Land, adding game show excitement with bonus games and multipliers.
Backed by leading providers like Evolution, Ezugi, and Pragmatic Play, Spin Casino delivers a high-quality live gaming experience filled with creativity.
Pros
- One of the favourite NZ online casinos
- Loads of NZ payment methods
- Transparent and trustworthy
- A great place to play classic live dealer games
Cons
- Live casino is only accessible when logged in
Platinum Play Casino - #5 Best Live Dealer Casino
Platinum Play Live Casino offers a great selection of live games, including blackjack, roulette, game shows, baccarat, poker, sic bo, and other card games. Some of the popular options available are Live Sweet Bonanza Candyland, Live Blazing Dragon Tiger, Live Blackjack Azure, and Live Speed Roulette.
Pros
- Bonus wheel for rewards
- Easy categorization
- Add your top games to favourites
Cons
- The selection of live casino games is vaguer compared to other live casinos.
How We Rate the Best Live Online Casinos
At Betting Guide, we regularly analyse and evaluate numerous online casinos to help you discover reputable operators and services. Our evaluations go beyond casino bonuses designed to attract new users. We also verify the casino's licences and reliability and assess their game selection, payment methods, and various other factors.
Our team is dedicated to selecting only internationally established and trustworthy online live casinos. While free spins and no deposit bonuses may seem enticing, we prioritise live casino online real money sites that securely protect users' funds and ensure prompt payout of winnings.
When doing online live casino reviews and assessments on our site, we consider a total of 30 different criteria to gain an objective understanding of all aspects related to the user experience.
Best Live Dealer Casino Quick Comparison
Now that you know how we pick and evaluate live casino sites, here's a quick reminder of our best live online casinos for real money:
| Best Live Dealer Casino | Rank 🏆 | Live casino 🖥️ | Number of live games 🤵♂️ | Safety & Trust ✅ | Payout speed 💱 | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | #1 🥇 | Casino Days | 450+ | Licence seal, XCM validation, Other security measures | 24 - 48h | Register for Free |
 | #2 🥈 | LeoVegas | 210+ | Licence seal, Awards, Sponsorships with professional sports teams | Up to 12h | Register for Free |
 | #3 🏅 | JackpotCity | 400+ | Licence seal, Sponsorships with professional sports teams | 24 Hours | Register for Free |
 | #4 🏅 | SpinCasino | 120+ | Licence seal, Multiple security measures | 24 - 48h (Excluding Sat and Sun) | Register for Free |
 | #5 🏅 | Platinum Play Casino | 90+ | Licence seal, Multiple security measures | 24 hours | Register for Free |
Best Live Casino Apps
In today's digital age, live dealer casino platforms must be seamlessly accessible across all devices, particularly mobile smartphones. In fact, a staggering 90% of our visitors access our content via mobile. So, for online live casinos, having a dedicated mobile app is a distinct advantage.
As Google Play or App Store have strict policies for gambling apps, users need to download APK files from live casino websites or simply add a shortcut to the home screen of their devices.
Opting for an app over a website provides players with a more direct gateway to their beloved live dealer games. These apps, meticulously optimised for mobile use, guarantee an impeccable betting experience.
Below are some of the top-notch live casino apps available in New Zealand:
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1. Casino Days
Google Play
Casino Days Android App
Rating 4.0 Size 47.26 MB Version 1.5.0 Downloads 100K+ 
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2. LeoVegas
Google Play App Store
LeoVegas iOS App
Rating 4.6/5 Size 11.5 MB Version 1.10.12 Downloads N/A 
LeoVegas Android App
Rating 4.0/5 Size 6 MB Version 4.0.5 Downloads 500K+ 
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3. JackpotCity
Google Play App Store 
Types of the Best Live Dealer Casino for Real Money
The best live dealer casinos now offer many games, not just the usual baccarat, blackjack and roulette. Thanks to technology improvements and more casinos opening worldwide, you can now find exciting new games like craps, poker, TV show games, and sic bo, making the online experience even more engaging.
Let's dive into what's popular among Kiwis, who create live casino games and new inventions that are taking place.
Popular Games at the Best Live Casino Sites in New Zealand 2024
Kiwi players have shown a strong preference for games like blackjack and roulette in live dealer settings. New Zealand has also adapted some Asian gaming cultures, which is evident in the popularity of top live casino games like Andar Bahar and Teen Patti.
Other favourites among Kiwis include various versions of these classic table games, along with baccarat, sic bo, and different show games, all of which consistently rank high on Kiwi's preferred gaming lists.
We’ve compiled the best live casino games below:
Sweet Bonanza Candyland
Sweet Bonanza CandyLand by Pragmatic Play is a standout live casino game featuring:
Spinning Wheel Mechanism: A central wheel with 54 pockets for placing bets and activating features.
High Payout Potential: Players can win up to 20,000x their stake.
Key Bonus Features:
- Sweet Spins: A slot-style game with cascading reels for large payouts.
- Candy Drop: A pachinko-like game for collecting multipliers.
- Sugar Bomb: Multiplies winnings in the base game.
Where to play? Sweet Bonanza can be found in multiple online casinos including LeoVegas NZ and CasinoDays.
Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette by Evolution Gaming revitalizes traditional roulette with RNG enhancements and striking visuals:
Art Deco Setting: Stylish and visually impressive environment.
Lucky Numbers and Payouts: Each round, up to five numbers can be hit by virtual lightning, offering multiplied payouts between 50x and 500x.
Dynamic Presentation: Game show-style format with advanced sound and lighting effects to maintain an exciting pace.
Where to Play? Experience Lightning Roulette at JackpotCity Casino.
Lightning Baccarat
Lightning Baccarat by Evolution Gaming enhances the classic casino game with exciting features and a live dealer format:
Fast-Paced Gameplay: Adheres to traditional baccarat rules but speeds up the action with added multipliers.
Multiplier Cards: Before each deal, 1-5 cards are randomly selected and assigned multipliers ranging from 2x to 8x, potentially boosting payouts if they appear in a winning hand.
Lightning Fee: A 20% fee is charged on each bet to fund the multiplier feature, adding a unique twist to the standard baccarat gameplay.
Where to play? Lightning Baccarat can be found in multiple operators, such as LeoVegas or SkyCity.
All Bets Blackjack
All Bets Blackjack Live by Playtech enhances classic blackjack with its engaging features:
Six Unique Side Bets:
- 21+3: Wins up to 100:1.
- Perfect Pairs: Up to 25:1 payouts for both dealer and player.
- Top 3: Combinations of player's and dealer's cards yield up to 270:1.
- Buster Blackjack: Pays up to 2000:1 if the dealer busts with 8+ cards.
- Lucky Lucky: Offers up to 200:1 on special combinations.
Dynamic Gameplay: Uses eight decks with unlimited player seats, creating a lively game atmosphere.
Standard Payouts: Traditional blackjack rules apply, with typical payouts for wins, insurance, and blackjack.
Where to play? For Kiwi players, we suggest trying LeoVegas Casino.
Live Casino Dealer Studios
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming stands as a premier B2B game developer, founded in 2006 by a group of European live dealers. This award-winning company acquired Ezugi in 2018 and later, NetEnt Casino and Red Tiger. Notable games include Starburst, Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, and Real Rush.
Playtech
Playtech, founded in 1999 in Estonia, has been a pioneering force in the online gaming industry. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, they offer games such as Brag, Top Gun, and Green Lantern.
Microgaming
Operating from the Isle of Man since 1994, Microgaming is renowned for its award-winning slots and live casinos. They have received accolades like the Global Gaming Awards, Malta Gaming Awards, and EGR B2B Awards. Popular games include Immortal Romance, Wheel of Wishes, and Playboy.
BetGames
BetGames, headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, specialises in live dealer fixed-odds betting games. Established in 2012, they have 180+ global partners and supply games to over 1300 websites. Their popular titles include Wheel of Fortune, Andar Bahar, Speedy7, and Lucky Seven.
New Live Dealer Casino Games & Innovations
Streamer Live Dealer Games:
The streamer live games is a recent addition to the online live casino space.
Unlike the traditional live casino games, where a dealer at a casino table deals cards or spins a wheel with players gambling against the house or dealer, streamer live games offer a novel experience. Here, punters get to engage in gameplay alongside their favourite streamers, celebrating collective victories or, occasionally, commiserating over losses.
Livespins, one of the streamer game providers, further enriches this gaming experience. Their live chat functionality, equipped with customisable chat profiles and the ability to send gifs, fosters enhanced interaction between players and streamers.
Game Shows:
We’ve all enjoyed watching and playing along with great game shows on TV. Well, now you can take part in our unique Evolution game shows, live and online. Think you’ve got what it takes to win? Step up and play – there’s no need to apply!
The 'Game Shows' category marks a fresh twist in the live dealer casino games spectrum. Going beyond the usual realm of table games like baccarat, blackjack, roulette, andar bahar, teen patti and the like, this innovative category opens up avenues for live dealer games encompassing Wheel of Fortune, monopoly, dice games, coin flips, and even slot machines.
Let's take a look at an example from Evolution Games.
Extra Chilli Epic Spins™ is a live show version of their popular video slot, "Extra Chilli". This live show game combines Megaways slots with Piñatas and Gamble Wheels. In the Gamble Wheels, you can pick colours for extra Free Spins. Multipliers carry over from the Base Game and Free Spins. Piñatas can also boost your wins.
The inclusion of a charismatic host or hostess, coupled with their engaging narration, adds a real-life TV show atmosphere, rendering the game all the more appealing. And for those keen on interaction, the in-game live chat functionality is at your disposal.
How Live Dealer Casino Games Work
A live casino offers players a real-time glimpse into the dealer's activities, but understanding its inner workings might be a curiosity for some. Here, we provide a concise overview of the live casino setup, focusing on its essential components.
- Video Streaming Technology: Live casinos rely on high-resolution cameras to stream real-time footage of dealers and tables to players' screens, enabling a detailed view of gameplay and interaction with the dealer and other players.
- OCR Software (Optical Character Recognition/Reader): OCR software swiftly recognises playing cards and roulette symbols, preventing errors and promptly announcing winners in live casinos.
- Game Control Unit (GCU): The GCU encodes and transmits video and audio data in real-time, ensuring seamless gameplay and facilitating communication between dealers and players.
- Casino Dealer/Host: Casino dealers are trained game facilitators who manage tables from dedicated studios, enhancing the entertainment value of live casino experiences.
Can the Best Live Online Casinos Cheat in Live Dealer Casino Games?
No, they cannot because:
1. Separate Roles: Online casinos provide games from different game providers but don’t control the game outcomes. Since having rigged games can ruin their reputation and hurt the whole industry, they only work with trusted game providers who ensure fair play.
2. Strict Rules: Both casinos and game providers must follow tough rules set by licensing authorities. Different bodies, such as eCOGRA, regularly check them to ensure they meet these rules. If they don’t, they could face big fines or even lose their licenses.
3. No Benefit to Cheating: The main goal for these companies is to keep players coming back. Cheating would only harm their reputation and push players away, which isn’t good for their business.
Getting Started at the Best Live Casino Online for Real Money
Are you feeling hyped to join a live casino online and start playing already? Here's a step-by-step guide to how to get started.
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Pick the Live Casino Online Real Money Site That Suits Your Needs
First of all, you need to pick the best live casino online real money site that suits your needs. Our expert team curated a list of the best live casino sites, and any of these would be a great option:
- Casino Days
- LeoVegas
- JackpotCity
- SpinCasino
These live online casino sites are carefully tailored to Kiwi players by accepting NZ banking solutions.
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Check the Safety of the Live Casino Online Real Money Site of Your Choice
Our team of experts has thoroughly checked our listed casinos. But it's always good to double-check the safety and licence information about the casino before signing up. Here is what you can do to ensure that the casino you're registering for is safe:
- Find a licence logo, usually displayed at the bottom of a website, and open the licence validation.
- Check company details and look up if the operating company is properly registered.
- Check out our casino reviews for expert insight.
- Contact us if you need more information or want to request a review.
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Register an Account at the Live Dealer Casino
Once you know which casino you want to sign up for and that it is safe, visit its website and create an account.
You can get a special welcome bonus offer if you jump to the live casino website via our link.
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Deposit Real Money on the Live Casino Site
Once your live casino account is ready, it's time to deposit your real money. The best live casino sites have a diverse selection of New Zealand's banking options that include:
- VISA
- Mastercard
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Muchbetter
- Paysafecard
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Pick the Live Dealer Game
Now that you have deposited real money into your player account, you can pick the live dealer game you want to play. The live online casinos in New Zealand have a variety of live dealer games, such as baccarat, blackjack, sic bo, and roulette, as well as top show games for Kiwis, such as Monopoly Live and Dream Catcher.
Best Live Dealer Casino Tips & Strategies
To avoid any misunderstanding here, there are no strategies that promise you a win at a live dealer casino. However, there are ways to minimise risk or make more informed decisions when betting on live casino games. These tips can help you make the most of your live casino gaming experience, even though winning can never be guaranteed.
Understanding House Edge and Payouts in Live Casino Games
When playing live casino games, it's important to consider the house edge, which indicates the casino's potential profit over time. The house edge is calculated as:
- House Edge = 1 - Theoretical RTP
For instance, a game with a 98% payout has a 2% house edge. You can find a game’s RTP in its in-game information or by contacting customer support.
Games like baccarat often have a low house edge, around 1% when betting on the banker, making them more favourable for players. Blackjack, which requires both luck and skill, typically has a house edge of 1% to 2%. In contrast, roulette can have a higher house edge, up to 2.7% for single-zero wheels and over 5% for double-zero wheels, making some bets less advantageous.
Choosing your bets wisely can significantly affect your odds and potential payouts, as the house edge varies with different bets in many live casino games.
Exploring Free Live Casino Play at the Live Casino Sites
Newcomers to live online casinos often want to try live casino games without risking real money. Unlike other casino games, live casino games usually don't offer a demo mode.
But don't worry, there's still a way to play live casino games for free. Keep an eye out for live casino bonuses and promotions, especially those designed for new players. These offers are meant to entice you to create a casino account.
By taking advantage of online casino promotions, no deposit offers, and bonuses, you can often enjoy free play in live casino games for a limited time. This is an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the world of online live casino gaming.
You can also open the live casino game of your choice and just watch how it works and the game rules without having to bet.
Start Small on the Best Live Dealer Casino Games
Begin with small stakes, especially if you're new to a game. As you become more confident and skilled, you can gradually increase your bets.
Enjoy the Experience at the Best Live Dealer Casino of Your Choice
Remember that playing live casino games should be enjoyable. If you're not having fun, it's perfectly okay to step away.
Frequently Asked Questions about Live Casinos Online for Real Money in New Zealand
Is live casino online real?
Is real live dealer casino legit?
Thomas is responsible for content on BettingGuide New Zealand. With his extensive knowledge of the gambling industry and college degree in law, he knows what you should look out for when choosing the best casino or sportsbook.
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