Vegas Palms

The Vegas Palms Online Casino New Zealand has an air of freshness and rustic charm about it with its tropical setting the second you touch down on its website. Tucked between the Manhattan of casino chips and hibiscus flowers is a handsome match-up bonus for newcomers intending to enter its iGaming lounge from Aotearoa New Zealand.

The ticking meter from the progressive jackpot is a reminder of how much Kiwis can claim from wagering on Vegas Palms. The literature on the landing page is the most New Zealand-focused one we have come across. It acknowledges the country’s world-first milestones of bungy jumping, women’s right to vote, the late Sir Edmund Hillary’s Mt Everest feat, the late Baron Ernest Rutherford’s atom-splitting scientific conquest as well as Hollywood filmmaker Peter Jackson whose blockbuster King Kong™ is among the list of online casino pokies.

However, we aim to enlighten Kiwi gamblers on whether Vegas Palms’ ambitions of firsts match the fizz of the tropical cocktail mix on its landing page. The Digimedia Ltd-owned enterprise has been operating since the turn of this century. Vegas Palms is a member of the Fortune Lounge Group of online casinos. It comes under the licence of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) and waves the eCOGRA flag of fairness.

Range of Games

Vegas Palms receives a tick for its more than 600 games in its library. While it’s not up there with rivals who offer more than 1,000 games, Vegas Palms believes “choice is king” in letting Kiwi iGamers explore. Its catalogue is easy to navigate under the horizontal bar menu of new & exclusive, popular, slots (pokies), tables, live casino, video poker, progressive, variety, and Vegas. The online casino does say New Zealanders can play demo games for free before chancing their arm with real money, but that isn’t obvious from the thumbnails. We suspect Kiwis will have to sign up first.

Pokies

When an online casino operator makes a point of engaging with New Zealanders by showing it knows their important accomplishments, then one expects it to also know that pokies is a favourite pastime for Kiwis seeking a flutter on the gambling playground. Vegas Palms does that with aplomb when it speaks the Kiwi lingo. Its website acknowledges that New Zealanders call slots “pokies”, just as Australians do.

It's a smorgasbord of pokies that includes 3 and 5-reel fare, through to progressive jackpot variants for those who want a bit more adrenaline rush. The pokies themes take Kiwis into a realm of adventure, fantasy, filmdom, game shows, horror, mediaeval times, mythology, rock culture, sports genre, and even Victorian-era industrialism. For those Kiwi gamblers who wish to cut to the chase to try to claim a share of the jackpot with a minimum wager, the progressive path will keep you in the straight and narrow.

Here’s a snapshot of pokies:

• Alaskan Fishing
• Goldaur Guardians
• Immortal Romance
• Jungle Jim El Dorado
• Playboy Fortunes
• Reel Gems Deluxe
• Shogun of Time
• Tiki Reward

Card/table games

Vegas Palms hangs its hat on the cornerstone of the Microgaming Gold Series of card and table games. That includes the 3 Card Poker Multi-Hand Gold, Atlantic City Blackjack Gold, and the Classic Blackjack Gold.

If Kiwis have had a gutsful of the regular card/table game, then worry not. They should give the video poker variants a go. It’s the rapid-fire poker that keeps gamblers on the edge of their seats through a process of elimination. The online casino operator offers the likes of Aces and Faces, Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, and Tens or Better, to name a few.

Live-dealer games

The live casino section of Vegas Palms makes no bones about who rules this arena. Evolution Gaming prepares this virtual iGaming playground. New Zealanders who find their fix on the card/table games know the transition to the live-dealer platform comes with the promise of a gaming experience that attempts to mirror the brick-and-mortar ambience as much as possible.

The selection of games is limited but that doesn’t mean Kiwi players can’t have fun. The online casino operator keeps its pledge of introducing “firsts”. New Zealanders have the benefits of engaging with croupiers and dealers in person while playing baccarat, online blackjack, and online roulette variants. The firsts include bet-behind options, hot numbers, side bets, statistical soup, as well as some wicked twists to the traditional table games.

Here’s a snapshot of some live-dealer games:

• Baccarat
• Blackjack 5
• Caribbean Stud Poker
• Double Ball Roulette
• Dream Catcher
• Live Casino Hold’Em
• Party Table
• Private Table

Casual games

Take a bow, Vegas Palms. It recognises the need for a “casual games” section where New Zealanders can bank on some easy-going time online to make some money. This category is worthy of special mention because it offers games that stray from the traditional casino fare. Vegas Palms’ software providers maintain the cutting-edge graphics, energetic animations, and toe-tapping audio in the games.

Those Kiwis who aren’t too serious about gambling will enjoy the casual games that aren’t subject to minimum betting requirements. The titles include:

• Ancient Keno: This concept of the game hails from a bygone China era. It’s strikingly similar to the Saturday Night Lotto in that Kiwis can pick their favourite numbers to win. They can select up to 20 numbers, between 1 and 80, before the RNGs will roll out 20 balls. Vegas Palms’ software will light up every time your winning number falls.
• Bingos: It’s surprising Vegas Palms didn’t pick on the fact that Kiwis call bingos “housies”. However, this online bingo mirrors the original version. New Zealand players will need to match numbers by a simple mouse-clicking smear or finger contact on touch screens via mobile devices. To claim your winning, just hit the “Bingo” button.
• Online scratchcards: No more rushing down to the corner “dairy” (shop) to buy scratchies to litter the floor with glittery cards. The online scratchcards require a similar mouse-click action to reveal three matching symbols for a win. Themes such as basketball (Slam Dunk) and surfing (Turtley Awesome) will find traction with New Zealanders.

Payout Percentage

The overall payout percentage at Vegas Palms Casino NZ tends to float between the 95% to 98% mark. It is within the comfortable cut-off threshold of many reputable online casino operators. The best ones tend to nudge the 99% vicinity. This is where we advise the Kiwi gamblers to do their homework in reading the online casino operator’s terms & conditions.

To fully understand payout percentage, New Zealand players need to comprehend what return to player (RTP) is. RTP is the result of comparing the money paid out from wins against the sum of cash wagered at any given online casino. At Vegas Palms, for argument’s sake, an average RTP of 97% comes with the understanding that for every $NZ100 a Kiwi gambler wagers, the online casino will fork out $NZ97 in winnings. However, it’s vital to note that this is in theory a six-figure number of gamblers wagering over an extended time, rather than some perceived sense of religious returns on spontaneous individual bets. Only some lucky New Zealanders will share those returns.

What complicates things from New Zealand players’ perspective is Vegas Palms failing to post the RTPs of individual games. Not satisfied, we poked and prodded on its website to find a couple of blogs via the burger menu on the right-hand corner of the page, next to the “login”. A mention of 11 Champions™, hailed as Microgaming’s high-volatility slot (pokies), had coincided with the Euro 2020, yielding a 95.93% RTP.

While the blog posts in 2019 are too old to provide Kiwis with any certainty on RTPs, we’re not suggesting Vegas Palms is unfair. The eCOGRA and Alderney Gambling Control Commission’s credentials endorse the online casino operator’s integrity and sense of fairness with random number generators (RNGs) to protect Kiwis.

Regrettably, Vegas Palms lands an uppercut to New Zealanders’ jaw if newcomers accept the 200% match-deposit welcome bonus of up to $NZ100 on placing a minimum $NZ10 wager. The staggering 70x wagering requirement pales in comparison with rivals who offer anywhere from 25x to 45x wagering requirements. Also referred to as the playthrough, Kiwi gamblers have to meet the requirements before they can withdraw any winnings. Vegas Palms is making all the right noises, but a reasonable playthrough rate will be music to Kiwis’ ears.

Withdrawing winnings extracted from free spins will be capped off at 100 casino credits (in the player’s currency of play), no matter how much remains in the cash balance. Baccarat, craps, Casino War, progressive jackpots, Red Dog, and Sic Bo don’t count towards a playthrough. However, the percentage of the sign-up bonus (which must be claimed within seven days) that may be wagered on selected games is as follows:

Our advice to New Zealand gamblers is to go through the promotional terms and conditions on the Vegas Palms’ website with a fine tooth comb to avoid heartaches.

Software providers

The logo at the foot of the landing page of Vegas Palms Casino NZ removes the guesswork. Yes, Microgaming provides the power point for the online casino operator’s platform to woo Kiwi gamblers to its pokies paradise. Vegas Palms makes no bones about how proud it is to subscribe to Microgaming’s progressive jackpots that have yielded a global windfall to the tune of €1 billion ($NZ1.6 billion).

Staying within the gambling industry’s quality control of software manufacturers, Evolution Gaming is the king of the live-casino platform. Having two marquee software providers in its corner, Vegas Palms won’t lose sleep over dragging momentum into its virtual playground.

However, Kiwi players will only have to visit the online casino operator’s Vegas section, via the burger menu, to work out that NetEnt plays a pivotal role in keeping its iGaming software humming. The establishment tees up NetEnt for forging ties with 20th Century Fox™ and Universal Studios™ to bring filmdom’s lovable characters to life in the gambling industry. The likes of Creature from the Black Lagoon™, Dracula™, and Frankenstein™ add zest to the pokies package.

If that’s not enough, NetEnt will take New Zealanders into the rock ‘n’ roll realm of Guns ‘n’ Roses™, Jimi Hendrix Online Pokies™, and Motorhead™ themes. However, Vegas Palms claims that NetEnt’s games are structured to yield a 98% payout percentage will excite New Zealand gamblers, but it is at odds with its 50% returns on wagering requirements. NetEnt’s hero titles include Gonzo’s Quest™, Jack and the Beanstalk™, and Starburst™.

Loyalty Programme

Loyalty, rewards, or VIP — call it what you like because Vegas Palms has it. The inline casino operator’s loyalty programme is free, kicking in the second Kiwis sign up to play. Cash wagers equal loyalty points that can be exchanged for bonus credits to play and win as well unlock other perks.

On registering to a real money account at Vegas Palms and making their first deposit, New Zealanders will automatically earn 2,500 loyalty points. Players begin at the Silver tier and have the opportunity to work their way up to the Diamond level. The four-tier loyalty programme maps a distinctive points system to scale each rung.

The Gold tier requires Kiwis to muster a minimum of 10,000 reward points within a calendar month. It’s 25,000 to scale to the Platinum level and 75,000 to Diamond, both within a calendar month. Birthday bonuses qualify from the Gold level (25,000 loyalty points) to the Diamond (100,000). We advise New Zealand gamblers to visit Vegas Palms’ rewards terms & conditions to read the finer details to ascertain when the unused loyalty points expire and how they are converted to euros.

Here are the allocations for every bet Kiwi gamblers wager at Vegas Palms:

• 1 credit wagered on pokies = 1 rewards point
• 5 credits bet on table games = 1 rewards point
• 10 credits wagered on Sic Bo and all roulette games = 1 rewards point
• 20 credits bet on video poker games, craps, and all blackjack games except classic blackjack titles = 1 rewards point
• 100 credits wagered on Classic Blackjack and all Aces Video Poker = 1 rewards point

Other Vegas Palms’ loyalty rewards come via promotional emails and digital drops. Those New Zealanders who partake in the monthly promotional events will have the opportunity to snare exciting rewards such as casino credits, cruise liner tickets, free spins, and sports cars in the Porsche mould.

Every online casino operator plying its trade in the New Zealand cyberspace knows that catering to its customers is paramount. Vegas Palms knows that only too well even though it doesn’t offer a phone service, never mind an 0800 one. Its signature red-and-white live-chat bubble on the bottom of the right-hand side of the mobile site is a constant reminder that its dedicated support staff is waiting around the clock to serve Kiwis wanting swift responses.

The live-chat bubble also can be accessed via the burger menu on the top right-hand corner of the website page. So can the contact form that automatically takes Kiwi gamblers to Vegas Palms’ email. The blog is outdated, featuring 2019-20 events and news.

Our advice to New Zealand gamblers, as always, is to go to Vegas Palms’ frequently asked questions (FAQs) before approaching the support staff for help in several languages. Now if the establishment really wants Kiwis to connect, then adding the Māori language will capture the nation’s imagination.

Emails: complaints@playersupportcenter.com, support@vegaspalmscasino.com 

FAQs: Outlines some important matters such as Kiwis need to provide when asked for “source of wealth”, and why the Mega Moolah is such a big deal.

Live chat: You have to be registered to receive support centre help. The ChatBeacon opens a “Tell Us About You” window for casino username, email address, and first/last names.

Mobile Site/Apps

The Vegas Palms Mobile Casino App, updated in August 2014, can be downloaded but it isn’t necessary. That’s because the online casino operator’s Microgaming platform enables New Zealanders to access its virtual lounge via their mobile devices’ browser for seamless interface.

Android and iOS users can find their fix on the go via the HTML5 games from their respective app stores. The Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari browsers will pave the way for Blackberry, tablets, and Windows portals as well. The Vegas Palms website says it offers demo-mode Android casino games so New Zealanders can enjoy them for free to build confidence before embarking on real-money wagering. However, we couldn’t identify which games are free. We suspect all will be revealed once Kiwis sign up to play.

Payment Methods

Vegas Palms Casino NZ does an excellent job of listing its payment providers. Every transaction comes with the assurance of the 128-bit digital SSL encryption technology to protect Kiwis’ financial data from cyber scammers. The online casino operator seals its service by offering New Zealand gamblers its CashCheck™ and PlayCheck™ tools to keep a tab on their transaction history. Follow Vegas Palms’ step-by-step method on account managing to stay on track with your transaction and game history.

In keeping with the General Data Protection Regulation, Vegas Palms pledges never to use your personal information without consulting you first. However, one of the things that hit us straight away was the absence of the PayPal option. The PP emblem is not among the popular payment providers’ logos emblazoned at the foot of the landing page.

Kiwi players can wager with other foreign currencies, but they must be aware that they’ll be levied currency-conversion fees.

Deposit

Just click to deposit methods to go to the Vegas Palms website to find who the providers are. The international financial institutions have a long-established reputation. A minimum $NZ10 deposit is required for instant deposits. Here are the eight payment providers the online operator lists as its bank transfer, debit/credit card, and e-Wallet options:

• iDebit
• MasterCard
• Maestro
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Trustly
• Visa
• Visa Electron

Note: All payment providers, bar Maestro and Trustly, offer withdrawal services, too. Vegas Palms prefers the same method for both transactions.

Withdrawals

At Vegas Palms, taking out cash is often cleared within 24 hours, depending on the type of payment Kiwis opt for. That gifts gamblers some time to reverse their decision. New Zealand newcomers withdrawing for the first time will be asked to furnish a copy of their credit card (if used), driver’s licence, or utility bill (electricity, gas, water) to authenticate their identity for security reasons.

It's important for Kiwi players to know that some e-Wallets can take up to eight days to offer clearance while gamblers from some countries also can’t withdraw via MasterCard and Visa. More importantly, Vegas Palms reserves the right to levy processing fees on withdrawals. Our advice to New Zealand players is to read the details on withdrawal methods.

Here are Vegas Palms’ preferred payment methods:

• Bank Wire Swift
• Bank transfer
• Debit/credit cards
• Payz
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Solo
• Visa

Note: The maximum withdrawal in a week is $NZ4,000.