See our selection of the best casino sites below and choose the best site for you.
Kia ora Kiwi punters! Okay, we're about to dive into the world of online casinos, and we get that it's a big topic with lots to cover. Whether you're a newbie to online casino sites, or whether you know how to play any tune on the pokie piano, we promise you're about to learn something you didn't know before.
With so much on offer, it's pretty easy to get confused about how to get started, and where to get the best deals. But if you stick with us, everything will be sweet.
We say that because we're a team of international and local gambling experts who have decades of combined experience in both online casinos and real bricks and mortar casinos. We also take real pride in making sure the information we give you is from a uniquely Kiwi perspective - we know what it's like to play from this end of the world, and we hope that's reflected in the work we do for you.
And that's the reason we do this work - to give Kiwis the best possible advice, tips, and reviews on all that online gambling has to offer. We want Kiwi punters to be able to beat online casinos at their own game with the right advice, strategy, and knowledge.
This page is going to be pretty broad, covering pokies, live dealer games, table games, and more. The aim of the game today is to help you find the highest paying casino sites available to Kiwis, and even chuck in some cheeky bonuses and promo codes along the way.
Grab a cuppa, sit back and get ready for the ultimate guide on the best casino bonus sites in New Zealand today.
To figure out what makes a top casino actually takes us a lot of work, because we have to contrast and compare each and every site on a whole heap of factors. We need to look at things like game selection, fast payouts, customer service, top casino bonuses, as well as safety and security.
We don't muck around with this stuff, and we spend hours and hours checking each site. We even use our own money to make deposits, bets, and withdrawals, so we can tell you exactly what to expect. There's nothing like putting your money where your mouth is when you recommend something!
With that being said, let's go into detail about how we rank the top online casinos in New Zealand. Every online casino we review takes these points into consideration. If you stumble across an online casino we haven't reviewed yet, you can refer to our best casinos criteria to make sure you've found a winner. We're good like that.
Affiliate Disclosure:At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you. All product reviews and recommendations are still impartial as our editorial standards are designed to be commercially independent and follow a professional methodology.MoreLess
Wagering requirement is x50 on bonus money credited - Wagering requirement on deposit bonus must be completed within 21 Days - Minimum deposit to claim Welcome Bonus is $10
Wagering requirement is x50 on bonus money credited - Wagering requirement on deposit bonus must be completed within 21 Days - Minimum deposit to claim Welcome Bonus is $10
As we said above, there is a whole heap of things to consider when ranking the top online casinos in New Zealand. Over the years we have developed a system that we think serves Kiwis really well in terms of giving you advice about how these best casino bonus sites treat New Zealanders, and what you can expect with your overall gambling experience.
And look, there are literally thousands of online casinos out there, and a lot of them are completely legit and legal for Kiwis to play on. But, by the same token, most of those online casinos are complete rubbish. Only the best online casinos make it to our site - we've put too much effort into our reputation to risk recommending Kiwis a bad casino.
Okay, let's delve into exactly what we look at to see if an online casino makes the cut for a recommendation from us.
Great Welcome Bonuses
With so much competition in the gambling industry, online casinos try really hard to get your attention, and ultimately, your business. The most common way for them to do this is to offer you a welcome bonus. This will generally come in the form of a deposit bonus, where they will match your deposit with a certain number of free bets. For example, if you deposit $30, they will give you a bonus of $30 in return for you to spend on their games.
However, there are always terms and conditions that need to be considered. Our experts read the small print for you, and check for things like wagering requirements, what games you can bet on, what bonus codes to use, etc. Basically, we're aiming to make sure that we find the best casino bonuses and that you're getting exactly what you sign up for.
Variety of Online Casino Games
It's not uncommon for an online casino to offer thousands upon thousands of games. Which sounds cool right? Except some of those games might just be rubbish to pad out their numbers. Maybe they don't have your favourite table game or your favourite pokie.
We check every online casino to make sure that not only do they have a large variety of games, but they have decent games from good software developers.
Easy Sign-Up Process
We fully get what it's like to sign-up for one of these big international online casinos from the other end of the world in New Zealand. It's a big scary world out there, so you want to know what is involved in the signup process, and what sort of details you need to hand over.
We do the sign-up process ourselves, with our own personal details, so you know exactly what is involved if you decide to sign-up. We also look at how quick and convenient the process is - the last thing you want is to wait 48 hours while they process your details!
Common Payment Methods Accepted
You're probably just used to using your Visa or Mastercard to pay for stuff online. Or maybe even PayPal. But there is actually a whole range of pretty cool payment options available for Kiwis when it comes to online casinos.
We test depositing and withdrawing on the payment methods, and let you know how quick and convenient each of them is. Ideally, deposits are instantaneous, but we'll let you know either way!
Fast Withdrawals
If you've had a big win, you'll be pretty keen to withdraw that money into your bank account, but some online casinos are quicker than others. We test each online casino to see exactly how long it takes to withdraw your winnings, depending on the payment method used.
Unique Site Features
It's easy enough to make a run of the mill online casino site, so we keep an eye out for online casinos that show some effort and innovation, whether it's with design, tech, or other immersive elements.
Casino Reputation
This is a huge consideration when it comes to ranking an online casino. We really want to dig deep to make sure that each online casino will treat Kiwis right. So this means not just testing the site ourselves, but talking to our network of industry insiders and checking out online gambling forums to see what's what.
Security and Support
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get some help from an online casino that operates on European time. We contact each online casino with a "problem" in NZ time, so we can tell you how prompt and helpful they are, not to mention how convenient their support is for Kiwi punters.
Licensing and Legislation
Believe us when we say we won't recommend an online casino if it's not 100 percent legit and legal for Kiwi players. We always verify that an online casino is registered by a relevant commission that makes it legal with the NZ Gambling Act of 2003. Beyond that, we also check if they are registered with eCOGRA, the independent fairness agency, and that they use random number generators (RNGs) to make sure everything is fair and legit.
Mobile Experience
Online casinos may have started out as computer only affairs, but these days it's much more common for Kiwis to have a punt from their mobile device. For this reason, we check out what the mobile experience is for each online casino. We want to make sure that they are easy and quick to navigate, and that you don't lose any features when you swap from a computer to your phone or tablet. We'll also have a look to see if they have a dedicated mobile app, and let you know if it's worth downloading.
Our Team of Online Casino Industry Experts
All of the above criteria cannot be properly checked without a huge team of industry experts that work across the board. Our team features professional casino players, software developers, online payment experts, as well as pros from the gambling industry as a whole. Our team have experience across the entire online casino industry, from VIP program management, game testing, and even responsible gambling programmes.
Basically, when you read one of our reviews, you are looking at decades and decades of experience - and we're bloody proud of that.
The team at Gambling.com has achieved a lot since we started in 2006, but we reckon our hard work was really rewarded when we received the prestigious EGR Global (eGaming Review) award for our services to our readers.
Finally, our team also has a dedicated presence in NZ - it's important to understand what Kiwis like when it comes to having a punt, and we're super proud of providing a unique Kiwi perspective, rather than some generic approach.
We hope you find our work helpful, and that it puts you on the right track for some great online gambling fun!
Best Real Money Online Casinos in New Zealand
The question a lot of Kiwi punters ask is "Can I win real money playing at an online casino?". Well, the answer is absolutely! It’s completely legit and legal for Kiwis to play and win with an online casino, provided the casino is in compliance with NZ gambling laws.
Of course, in the modern world we live in, "real money" can mean different things. For sure, you can play for NZ dollars on nearly all of the online casinos we review. So, if you deposit by credit card, your winnings will go to your credit card, while if you had paid via bank transfer, your winnings will be wired straight into your bank account. In some rare cases, casinos we review won't accept NZ dollars, but they will likely take US or Australian dollars, which you can just convert to NZ dollars.
On the other hand, some online casinos will accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Litecoin. If you're not into that stuff you don't have to worry about it. But if you are, that could be right up your anonymous alley!
Finally, while it's rare, there are some online casinos that will use an in-house currency. These are generally called social casinos, and it's where you will play with a made-up/pretend currency. Think of the games you play on Facebook. Keep in mind, we generally don't cover that stuff, because we know that most Kiwis visiting us are looking to win some real money!
In saying that, a lot of online casinos will let you play their games in a demo/free mode. You won't win any real money in these games, but then again, you won't lose any either. Playing a casino game in this demo/free mode is a great way to learn the ropes of a particular game without having to fork out your own cash.
Best Online Pokies Casinos
Trust us, it's no secret that Kiwis just love pokies. That's why we put so much energy and focus into covering the best online pokies sites for our NZ audience. But what makes a good pokies casino?
Yes, it's the number of pokies on offer, but we also want to look for the variety, the gameplay, and the technical innovation on offer.
A lot of the time, this comes down to the software developers that have provided the games for any given online casino. There are dozens and dozens of online casino software developers, but there is only a handful that really pumps out gem after gem.
Rest assured, if a new pokies site comes out that is worth your time, we'll let you know!
Beyond the welcome bonus offer we covered earlier, there is a whole heap of different bonus offers for Kiwi punters, but let's have a quick look at the main ones.
Returning Players - Best Deposit Bonus Casino Match NZ
This is kind of like a welcome bonus, but instead of just matching your first deposit, they'll match your second or even third deposit with a wee bonus. It might look something like this:
First deposit casino bonus: 100% up to $200, plus 100 spins on the selected pokies.
Second deposit casino bonus: 50% up to $300, plus 50 spins on selected pokies.
Third deposit casino bonus: 30% up to $500 plus 25 spins on selected pokies.
Cashback NZ Casino Bonus
Cashback bonuses are awesome because they essentially pay back some of the money you might have lost in the previous week. So, for example, if you lost $100 the week before, the cashback bonus might mean the online casino will pay you back 30% of your losses.
Free Spins NZ Casino Bonuses
Just like it says on the tin, a free spins bonus is where the online casino will give you some free spins to play with on selected pokies.
Free Spins No Deposit Bonuses
Free spins no deposit NZ bonuses are quite rare, but pretty sweet nonetheless. They basically mean you can get a free bonus upon signing up with a new online casino, even before you make a deposit.
VIP Casino Bonus
These are bonuses for the big spenders. It's just like a normal bonus, but bigger.
Bonus Code Offer
A bonus code offer is where you are given a special code to enter, and then you receive a bonus just for you.
As we've said, new online casinos pop up all the time. Some of them are great, some of them, not so much. We go through each new online casino, and if it's any good, we'll let you know ASAP.
To keep track of it all, it's best to bookmark Gambling.com, and check back often to see what's happening for Kiwis in the big world of online gambling.
Best Withdrawal Online Casino Sites
For each online casino we review, we'll take a look at a few things in terms of depositing and withdrawing. In general though, here's what depositing and withdrawing is normally like for Kiwis.
Traditional Banking - Bank Transfer, Pay by Phone (almost always available).
Hybrid Digital - Paysafecard (almost always available to Kiwis).
E-wallets - PayPal, Skrill, etc (less likely to be available).
Cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc (less likely to be available to Kiwis).
Digital Wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay, (rarely available).
Deposits are usually instant no matter how you deposit, but withdrawals might range from hours to days, depending on your preferred method. There also might be limits on how much you can withdraw at any one time.
To find out the specific timings and withdrawal limits for each payment method, check out each review for each specific online casino - we go into depth for each one.
Online Casinos in New Zealand Which Pay Out the Best
It's pretty tricky to figure out the best online casinos that payout because each game they offer will payout differently. This is called the return to player, or RTP. Once you take into account that an online casino might have thousands of games with thousands of individual RTPs, you can understand why we can't give hard and fast numbers on the best online casinos that payout the most.
In saying that though, if it's possible for us to find out that info, you can rest assured we'll let you know. We'll also help you put into consideration the fact that an online casino might offer heaps of bonuses that make up for any perceived level of payouts!
As we mentioned earlier, there are a ton of software developers out there, but we reckon these ones are among the best software developers in the world. Keep an eye out for these names in our online casino reviews!
Microgaming:Microgaming is pretty much the biggest software developer both in terms of the number of top games they pop out, and how many casinos trust their work. Their games include Mega Moolah, Game of Thrones, and Jurassic Park.
PlayTech:Playtech is another big player, and have been around since 1999. They have a lot of big titles including The Dark Knight, Justice League, and Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven.
NetEnt:NetEnt is based out of Sweden, and are probably most famous for their pokies such as Starburst and Gonzo's Quest.
Play’N Go:Play’n GO is another Scandinavian outfit that loves their pokies. Stand out games include Troll Hunters 2, Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena, and Rally 4 Riches.
IGT:IGT is a software developer that works not just with online casinos, but the big bricks and mortar casinos in Las Vegas and around the world. Top titles include Baywatch, Family Guy, Ghostbusters, and Wheel of Fortune.
Yggdrasil Gaming: Despite the weird name and only being around since 2013, Yggdrasil Gaming has pumped out instant classics like Vikings Go Wild, Vikings Go Berserk and Blood Moon Wilds.
Best Mobile Casinos
It used to be that you could only play online casino games on your big desktop computer or laptop. And even if you could play it on a mobile device, the game became clunky and slow to the point it was unplayable.
Thankfully things have changed, and online casino games have shifted to HTML5 technology. In English, this means that you can be playing your favourite pokies on your laptop one minute, and then the next minute switch to your mobile device continue playing like nothing happened.
The transition from computer to mobile device should be seamless and quick, and you should basically feel like there was no interruption at all. The website will remember what you've played, your bankroll, and all of your login details for ultimate convenience.
Some online casinos will also offer a dedicated mobile app. However, in our experience the Apple App Store and the Google Play store generally don't like hosting those apps, so you might need to jump through a few little hoops to get them. Either way, we'll give you detailed instructions on how to download them if you want to.
At the end of the day, mobile casino gaming means the best NZ mobile casinos are always at your fingertips.
Hey, we get it, like most Kiwis you’re probably going to make a beeline for the pokies as soon as you register with your online casino. But trust us, there’s a whole world of fun out there beyond pokies, and we’re here for it!
Every time we review an online casino, we check their game variety. What we mean by this, is the variety of the different types of games on offer. Do they offer table games? If so, which ones? Do they do baccarat, poker, blackjack, or roulette? If they do roulette, do they offer American Roulette as well as European Roulette? What about speed roulette.
Then there are the live dealer games, which are all of the table games we just mentioned, but with a real live human dealer, and other real live players that you can interact with. On top of that, you have lottery-type games, game show games, and even sports betting.
And finally, the life-changing jackpots offered by progressive jackpot pokies are always on our checklist!
Rest assured that when we review a casino, we dig deep to make sure you know what’s on offer — who knows, you might find your new favourite game!
For an online casino to legally operate in New Zealand, it needs to comply with the New Zealand Gambling Act. In reality, these sites don’t directly comply with NZ gambling laws, but rather they comply with other regulatory bodies that NZ law agrees with.
These major regulatory bodies are usually the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, or the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Commission. If an online casino is registered with these commissions, they are tickety-boo and legal to play in NZ.
Let’s take a look at how these gaming authorities protect Kiwi punters online.
Fairness of Gameplay
In order for games to comply with these gaming commissions, they need to be completely fair. This is basically another way of saying that they aren’t rigged in any way. This will mean they will need to use random number generators (RNGs) to ensure each game and spin is completely random and in no way organized.
Online casinos are also required to hold a certain amount of funds in reserve to make sure that all of their players can be paid out at any one time.
Personal Data Protection
Data privacy and protection is a big deal, and so all online casinos are required to prove that they have the strictest standards when it comes to protecting their user data. This includes names, addresses, and financial information.
All online casinos should also be encrypted to ensure that all data is protected from prying eyes.
Responsible Gambling and Crime Prevention
Responsible gambling is a big focus for online casinos, as it should be. Each online casino should have measures in place to help people who think they might have a problem with their gambling habits.
There should also be tools that help players self-impose certain restrictions on themselves, such as deposits limits or time spent playing limits.
Complaints and License Enforcement
If you have a complaint about an online casino, it’s usually best to voice it directly with them and they will help you out directly. Unfortunately, in some cases, you might not agree with the resolution offered. In this case, the regulator that issues that casino’s gambling license can intervene. The UK Gambling Commission, for example, requires that you have access to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service. If these ADRs find that the casino was in the wrong, they can be pinged with fines and penalties to ensure that they don’t harm or fool any other players in the future.
Best NZ Online Casino – Key Takeaway
We get it, it can be hard work finding the perfect online casino. Given that having a punt is meant to be fun, we don’t reckon it should be a chore to find what you’re looking for.
To make sure you keep up with the latest in online casino gaming, bookmark our page, and come back often to check out what’s happening. Stick with us, and you’ll get the best online casino bonuses, the safest gambling environments, and the best selection of real money gaming on offer today.
Every Kiwi punter is different, so it would be hard to suggest just one online casino site. But if you’re curious to see what suits your style, check out the top gambling sites on offer in NZ today. We’ll let you know the best bonuses, games, payment options and more.
Are online gambling sites legal in New Zealand?
Absolutely, online gambling sites are legal in New Zealand, as long as the casino is in compliance with the New Zealand Gambling Act of 2003. To make sure your chosen casino is safe, check to see our Gambling.com review of that casino.
Are casino sites in New Zealand safe?
Yes, online casino sites in New Zealand are safe and legal for Kiwi players. Just make sure the casino is in compliance with the New Zealand Gambling Act of 2003. To make sure your chosen casino is safe, check to see our Gambling.com review of that casino.
Which online casino game has the best payouts for Kiwi Players?
Well statistically speaking, Blackjack has the best overall payout for a casino game, as it has the lowest house edge (the statistical advantage the casino has over the player) of 1.5% if played perfectly. This creates an RTP (return to player) percentage of 98.5% in the long term. That said, progressive jackpot slots offer the highest monetary rewards as they often run into the millions of dollars for a single win.
Can you win money on online casinos in New Zealand?
NZ players can win huge amounts of real money at online casinos if they get lucky! Fixed jackpot pokies can often offer prizes of up to NZ$250,000 and progressive jackpot pokies have exceeded NZ$10,000,000 on several occasions over the years. However, it's important to remember that playing at an online casino is supposed to be just a bit of fun, so you should carefully control your bankroll and avoid spending beyond your means at any time.
