Best New Zealand Online Casinos (2020)

Real Money Casinos in New Zealand

With very few land-based casinos in New Zealand, playing at a online casino is a great alternative. With hundreds of high-quality options for playing real money roulette, online slots, baccarat, video poker and blackjack online (or even real money poker), the rush of authentic casino action is always just a few clicks away. It's no surprise that more and more people here are checking out the best casinos and online gambling New Zealand has to offer.

Online Pokies and Slots

What are pokies?

Pokies, also known as online slots, are online casino games where players spin the reels with the aim of gaining matching symbols across one or more paylines.

Things to look out for:

• Free spins: These are usually triggered during the game but may also be offered as a promotion to new players. A free spins feature sees the reels spin a certain number of times without costing the player any money, for the chance of extra wins.
• Software developers such as Konami, Microgaming, and Netent: Games from these developers tend to have the best graphics, features and gameplay.

Using RNGs for fair play

All online pokies must use Random Number Generators (RNGs) which ensure gameplay is fair. They create random outcomes for every spin, so no advantage can be given to either the casino or the player. Regulators from all licensed jurisdictions will carry out regular checks to ensure RNGs are being used.

Play for free

To get used to the gameplay before you bet with your own money, you can play free casino games here.

Online Roulette

How do you play roulette?

• In online roulette, a ball is spun around a wheel and you bet on the result.
• You can bet on the single number the ball will land on, or a variety of different sections of the board.
• Potential winnings increase (and chances of winning decrease) for bets on fewer numbers (or one single number).

American vs European roulette

The main difference between American and European roulette is that American roulette has one extra slot on the wheel (00). This makes the house edge in American roulette nearly double that of European roulette. Payouts are the same across both types, meaning the chances of winning are higher with European roulette.

Things to look out for:

To get used to the gameplay before you bet with your own money, play free pokies.

• Software developers such as Microgaming and NetEnt: These providers offer high quality games.
• The variety of roulette on offer: European roulette has a smaller house edge.
• A casino with trusted licensing: See our casino recommendations.

Live dealer roulette

Live roulette gives you the chance to interact with the dealer and other players and boasts impressive visuals.

Evolution’s Immersive Roulette offers multiple camera angles and slow-motion replays, while NetEnt offers Automatic Live Roulette for those who prefer a dealer-free live experience.

Online Blackjack

How do you play blackjack?

• Online blackjack is played directly against the dealer.
• You are dealt two cards and must get as close to a total of 21 without going over. Face cards count as 10, all other cards count at face value. Aces can be 1 or 11.
• You can either ‘stand’ (keep your two cards) or ‘hit’ (add another card). You can ‘hit’ as many times as you like.
• If you go over 21, you ‘bust’ and lose the hand. If your hand value is higher than the dealer’s and under 21, you win. If the dealer’s hand is higher, you lose. A draw results in a push.

Blackjack has one of the best payouts and highest return-to-player (RTP) percentages of any online casino game (over 99%).

Live dealer blackjack

There are many variations of live blackjack from high quality developers including Evolution, Microgaming, and NetEnt. The main perk of live blackjack is the added excitement of playing directly against a dealer you can see and interact with.

There are also some interesting variants, including Evolution’s Blackjack Party, run by two dealers, and NetEnt’s Common Draw Blackjack, where all players are dealt the same hand.

Online Baccarat

How do you play baccarat?

• Online baccarat is an online casino game played against the dealer.
• You can bet one of three ways: on a player win, a dealer win, or a tie.
• Each player (including the dealer) is dealt two face up cards. The hand that is closest to a value of nine wins. Cards 2-9 are face value, 10-K are valued at 0, and an ace is valued at 1.
• If a hand is above a total of nine, the two card values are added together, and the first number of the total is dropped.
• If you have bet on the correct result, you win. If you have not, you lose.

Live dealer baccarat

There are interesting variants of live baccarat, including Dragon Tiger, available from Evolution Gaming and others. In Dragon Tiger, you bet on a game between the Dragon and the Tiger instead of playing yourself. Microgaming’s Live Baccarat Turbo is also good fun, providing faster gameplay for quicker results.

Online Craps

How do you play craps?

• In craps, you bet on the outcome of a roll of two dice. Online craps is less complicated than regular craps, as the ‘shooter’ (thrower of the dice) is always you.
• The game starts with a ‘Come-Out Roll’. For a value of 2, 3, or 12, you will ‘Crap Out’, and the round ends. You can bet on ‘Don’t Pass’ (a 2, 3, or 12) or ‘Pass’ (any other number) and will win or lose accordingly. A role of 7 or 11 also ends the round.
• If you pass this ‘Come-Out Roll’ you continue to roll and bet on the outcome of each roll until a 7 (or the established point total) is rolled.

Craps is a complex game, with numerous bets possible. In the early stages, it’s advisable to stick to one or two types of bet until you become more familiar with the game.

Video Poker

How do you play video poker?

In video poker, you are dealt a five-card hand, and can keep or discard any number of cards from that hand. If your five-card hand matches any of the poker hands listed in the rules of the game, you win your bet.

Typical winning hands are:

• Royal flush
• Straight flush
• Four of a kind
• Full house
• Flush
• Straight
• Three of a kind
• Two pair
• Pair of jacks or better

Playing at New Casinos

Online casinos we recommend must live up to our high expectations. Check out the criteria below.

Types of Casino Bonuses

Most online casinos provide casino bonuses for new and existing players to help boost their bankroll and keep them playing.

Bonus offers usually come with wagering requirements, meaning you must spend a certain amount of your own money to access any winnings you gain with your bonus. Always read the terms and conditions of an offer.

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses usually come in one of two forms: free spins or a deposit match bonus (sometimes both). A free spins bonus offers a number of spins on a particular game - more on this below.

Match bonuses will match your first deposit up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% bonus up to $100 would give you $100 in bonus money when you make a first deposit of $100. Some casinos offer bonuses on your first few deposits, others will only offer a bonus on your first.

No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses are bonuses you are given when you sign up to a casino before you make a deposit. These are usually free spins and tend to have wagering requirements. This means you must make a deposit and wager the required amount before you can withdraw potential winnings from the no deposit bonus.

Free Spins

Free spins can be given as part of a welcome bonus, or as an additional bonus for existing players.

Free spins provide a certain number of free spins on an online slot game - this is usually on a specific game or a choice of a few. Free spins are less likely to be attached to wagering requirements than other bonuses.

VIP / High Roller Bonuses

VIP or high roller bonuses can include higher match bonuses, special VIP games, and occasionally invites to special events. Most online casinos provide a VIP scheme, where you can work your way through the ranks (depending on how much you deposit) for higher and more tempting bonuses.

Match Bonuses

Match bonuses are similar to match welcome bonuses, except they are available for existing customers for all or some of the deposits they make. As an example, a 100% match bonus up to $100 would give you $100 in bonus money when you deposit $100, or $50 in bonus money when you deposit $50.

Progressive Jackpot Games

Progressive jackpots are seen in pokies. A jackpot builds over time as more players spend money on the game across numerous casinos. These progressive jackpots aren’t easily triggered and don’t pay out often, but are normally huge when they do.

Some of the best progressive jackpot games include Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, NetEnt’s Mega Fortune, and Playtech’s Age of Gods series, all of which have been known to pay out millions.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

There are multiple payment methods available to players in New Zealand for both deposits and withdrawals.

• Credit cards are one of the most popular methods of payment, due to the ease of paying money straight out of (and having it paid straight into) your account. However, many players are uncomfortable sharing their personal details with a casino.
• For these players, PayPal is popular, as it can act as a middleman. However, PayPal often comes with fees attached.
• eWallets such as Neteller and Skrill are popular choices due to the lack of fees and the safety and security offered.
• PaySafe, a prepaid card that you can top up with money, is also popular.
• A payment method rapidly gaining ground is eCheck. This payment method allows you to deposit directly from your bank account, acting the same way as a physical check, but with the benefit of instant payments.
• For those looking for total anonymity, there are a selection of online casinos offering the choice to pay and withdraw using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Online Casino Legislation & Regulations

Players who are over 18 are legally allowed to play at online casinos, as long as the casino is not based in New Zealand. The casinos we recommend are therefore based overseas. To help you decide which site to sign up with, check out our online casino reviews.

In New Zealand, all winnings are tax free, except for poker winnings, but only when those winnings are considered to be the primary source of income.

Always remember to gamble responsibly and never spend money you can’t afford to lose. If you’re worried about yourself or a family member, you can contact the Problem Gambling Foundation for free help and advice.