The Best Online Casino in NZ – Top Casino Sites for New Zealand Players

Written By Scott Lawson Published on 09.09.2020 Last Updated on 19.07.2024

We will cover all of the topics listed above on this page, as well as giving you a rundown of the top New Zealand casinos for different categories, such as blackjack and roulette. We will also talk about customer service and the legal situation in NZ so that you have a complete and detailed overview of the best casinos in New Zealand.

You will also find some frequently asked questions from our readers at the bottom of the page, so if you have a specific query, then we suggest that you have a look there for your answer.

Best New Zealand Online Casinos Ranked

If you are here to get our recommendations for the best New Zealand online casinos, then you do not have to wait any longer. In the table below, you will find our picks for the top online casino in NZ based on our tests of all of the available sites using our strict reviewing criteria.

We want our readers to have the greatest possible experiences while gambling online, which is why we consider all aspects of a site’s offering to be important. The sites below performed well across the board, providing excellent holistic gambling destinations for New Zealanders.

The Best Online Casinos in New Zealand ? Top NZ Online Casino Sites

• ?? LeoVegas (Best Online Casino for NZ Players)
• ?? Royal Panda (Top Welcome Offer in New Zealand)
• ?? Betway (Best NZ Casino Site for High Stake Games)
• ?? Lucky7even (Exciting New Operator for Kiwi Players)
• ?? 888casino (Superb Selection of High-Quality Table Games)
• ?? SpinYoo (Wonderful NZ Online Casino for Mobile Players)
• ?? Casumo (Top-Rated Casino in NZ and Overseas)
• ?? Slots Palace (Favourite NZ Games from Many Providers)
• ?? Casino Rocket (Abundance of Safe Payment Methods)
• ?? Dream Vegas (Great for Fun Real Money Games)

Obviously, the competition among the best online casino sites in New Zealand is fierce. That is why every operator tries to focus on a certain casino product in order to stand out from the crowd. Some rely on having a huge variety of slots, while others concentrate more on the availability and quality of the table and live dealer games. Check out the list below and discover the best New Zealand online casinos by category.

As you can see, not only the quality and quantity of games are important. Many online gambling operators invest a lot of time and money in developing mobile-friendly platforms so that their players can enjoy gaming on the go. Kiwis also often look for fast payments and high RTP games. Have a look at the following table and see our step-by-step guide for picking the best online casino in NZ.

You can rest assured that all of the sites that we recommend are legitimate and trustworthy operators. They are all recognised international casino brands that hold various gaming licences from respected authorities around the world. This speaks to their safety, security and fairness.

If you are new to online casinos, then you may not know how to sign up at one of these sites. The good news is that registering at NZ online casino sites is straightforward. Just follow the steps below and you will be playing great games in no time.

With so much choice in front of you, it can be difficult to pick the right site in the first place. That is why we have created this guide, to help you find the perfect online casino in NZ for you. It is important to think about what you are looking for from your operator. In the next few sections, we will run through the different aspects of sites, so have a look at which parts are most important to you from our review criteria.

One of the other great ways to educate yourself about the best online casinos New Zealand players can access is by keeping up to date on the latest news and developments in the industry. Below are the most recent stories from the top online casinos in NZ and other related news.

New Zealand Casino Review Criteria

New Zealanders can access a wide range of sites, with dozens of them offering top-quality gambling experiences to their players. So how do you go about picking the right operator for you? It is not an easy task, but our team has developed a set of criteria that we use to rank and compare sites.

This not only allows us to be as fair and objective as possible when giving ratings and recommendations, but it means that we can also teach you how to recognise the best NZ online casino sites for yourself. Read through the following sections to learn what a top-quality operator looks like, and what to avoid.

Casino Game Catalogue

The main reason that players choose to log in to online casinos in New Zealand is to play real money games. There’s no secret about that, which is why the first item on our list of review criteria is the game selection.

Before we recommend an online casino in NZ, we make sure that it offers its members the opportunity to play hundreds of different, high-quality casino games, covering the various different gaming categories. There should be a broad and diverse range of classic and video slots, blackjack, roulette and other table games at the very least. Many sites also include lotto games, arcade and scratch cards as a bonus.

The Top Slots Available in New Zealand

In New Zealand online casinos, as around the world, slots are by far the most popular category of game. With seemingly countless different themes and dozens of distinct approaches to layout and gameplay, there are more options here than in any other type of casino game.

The huge diversity, which can lead to some sites offering more than 1,000 different slots is one of the reasons why online slots are so popular with Kiwi players. The simplicity of the rules is another charm. In addition, you can find slot games online that showcase state-of-the-art graphics, with some beautiful animation and captivating characters.

Best New Zealand Blackjack Offers

If you ask anyone on the street about casino games, one of the first suggestions will always be blackjack. It is the most popular card game at real money sites, and for a good reason. It is easy to learn and enduringly fun to play. Unsurprisingly, the best online blackjack sites in New Zealand are among the most preferred in the country.

While the number of blackjack games at New Zealand casino sites will never compete with the scale of the slots selections, you will still find a dozen quality blackjack variants. The variants tend to stick fairly close to the classic rules, simply adding fun twists or interesting themes to the product.

Best New Zealand Online Roulette

Along with blackjack, roulette is one of the mainstays of any decent gambling site. You will find that most top NZ online casinos house multiple great roulette tables, with European, French and American versions available.

The other variants that you will see at online casinos in New Zealand are double-ball, pinball and multi-wheel roulette. These popular variations add some interesting spins to the classic setup, but there are always plenty of options for those players who like to keep things simple and who just want a quality product with smooth gameplay and attractive graphics.

New Zealand Live Casino Platforms

Along with the more common automated games that you will see on the best casino sites in New Zealand, like the slots, blackjack and roulette options discussed above, the other products that draw in large numbers of players are the live casino games.

This is perhaps the most talked-about game type available right now, with increasing numbers of NZ players choosing real dealer casino games over the random number generated (RNG) alternatives. The reasons for their popularity are that it allows players to enjoy the company of real croupiers and chat to them and often to fellow players – via live chat – while still being able to enjoy the convenience and comfort of playing from home.

You can see some of the top live casinos in New Zealand below. Most of the sites that you will see carry games from Evolution, which is the undisputed master of live casino gaming, winning multiple awards every single year for its products.

Full List of the Online Casino Games Available in New Zealand

Casino games are popular worldwide and have continually evolved over time with many unique variants of the games emerging all the time. All that being said, the core games on offer have not changed much since the very first land-based casinos started to open up in the late 19th century.

These days, online slots have proven the most popular, especially for the broad demographic of casino players, however, the traditional table game has proven to be the most popular with high rollers given it shares both elements of luck and player strategy. You can see a full list of the most common casino games in New Zealand below.

First-Class Online Casino NZ Software

If you have not played at many of the best online casinos in NZ in the past, you may not be familiar with how the sites function. The games that you can play are created by software companies that then sell the rights to these products to the casinos, which are also known as operators in this industry.

This setup means that at any given Kiwi casino site, you will have access to games from a range of developers, allowing for the scale of the libraries and for a great deal of diversity therein. There are dozens of experienced and skilled software developers working in the industry, meaning that every year there is a long list of exciting releases.

Some of the most well-known software developers choose to focus on slot games alone, with names like ELK Studios and Slotvision producing innovative and captivating slots. Others create games across the range of possibilities, with Microgaming and NetEnt being great examples of the tech giants that dominate the industry.

Given New Zealand’s gambling laws, there aren’t any providers based in the country. But you will find games from internationally recognised and celebrated studios like those mentioned above at any of the best online casinos in NZ. Have a look below to see some details of some of the biggest names.

Safe and Secure Online Casinos for New Zealanders

Safety when playing online is undoubtedly one of the most important factors of any casino site. Ultimately, we are discussing real money gambling sites, into which you pay money and give your personal details. So, you need to know that the operators are taking this responsibility seriously.

Before we recommend any online casino in NZ, we thoroughly check the security and player protection measures that are in place. Firstly, we never recommend any sites that don’t hold reputable gambling licences from respected gambling regulators, such as the Malta Gaming Authority.

Secondly, all of the sites that we suggest to you employ top-end data encryption technology. This means that you can rest easy knowing that your private personal information is being protected from hackers and malware when you play at any of the top NZ online casinos.

All casino games should be independently tested for fairness prior to being marketed to players and should regularly be audited by respected authorities. All of the products coming from the biggest software developers on the market hold accreditation from organisations like eCOGRA, GLI or iTechLabs.

These three auditors provide fully independent third-party testing of games and fairness. So, when you see their symbols on gaming websites, you can rest assured that the games are safe to play and not unduly weighted against you.

New Zealand online casinos should also make sure to support gambling charities and initiatives that work to reduce problem gambling and its effects on society. You should see logos confirming this support in the footer of any decent online casino in NZ. Operators have a social duty to try and protect players from harm.

New Zealand Best Mobile Casino Options

Another important factor that we consider when reviewing or rating any NZ casino site is its mobile compatibility. It is no longer sufficient for an operator to provide a great desktop casino. With a large percentage of players choosing to log in on mobile and tablet devices, New Zealand online casino sites should absolutely be designed with smaller screens in mind.

Whether this is done via a downloadable app or by designing the browser-based site for all device types is really down to personal taste. Some of the older brands still choose to create dedicated apps, while newer sites tend to utilise HTML5 technology so that players can play instantly in-browser. Which setup you prefer is totally up to you, but either way, it is essential that the best NZ online casinos create great mobile options with hundreds of top games.

Customer Service in English

We all hope that there will not be any problems when gambling at real money casinos in New Zealand. And, if you stick to one of the sites that we recommend, we do not expect you to run into major problems. But things do go wrong sometimes, so it is essential that sites provide excellent customer service.

Most sites nowadays offer live chats that are available around the clock, which is especially important for New Zealanders who may be logging in to sites that are based in Europe. We suggest that you pick a site with 24/7 support so that you can avoid issues caused by time differences.

If you are not a fan of live chats, then some operators offer hotlines or support telephone numbers, which are usually open during normal business hours. Alternatively, you can almost always send an email to the operator, although the waiting times for responses vary from site to site and often stop this from being your best course of action.

The Best Online Casino Bonuses in New Zealand

Welcome bonuses are some of the most exciting things that you can find at the best online casinos in New Zealand. They can give you a boost as you are starting out with the operator, and often give you a chance to try out some new games.

Many bonuses are structured so that you get bonus funds paid into your player account when you make your first deposit. These are called match bonuses. As an example, you might find an offer that will match your deposit 100% up to $200.

The other most common type of bonuses at Kiwi casinos are the free spins offers. These will give you bonus spins on specific games when you make your deposit. It is common for deals to combine these two types of offers, giving you funds and additional spins. Check out the best bonuses at NZ online casinos below.

When we are reviewing bonus offers, there are a number of things that we look into before giving our judgement. As well as the bonus amount or the number of spins, we look at the wagering requirements – these will be explained in the next section – as well as any additional terms and conditions.

We also consider which games are included in the bonus, as this can greatly affect how generous an offer really is. While the top bonuses will let you play some of the most popular slot games on the market, you will also come across deals that force you to play on sub-par and unheard-of products.

Top Online Casino Offers and Promotions: Terms and Wagering

There are a number of terms and conditions of bonus offers that you should be aware of and look out for before committing yourself to a promotion. The first thing to look at is the wagering requirement. This is the number of times that you are required to bet the value of the bonus funds received before you complete the bonus. Anything under 30x is considered standard or even generous. Above 40x is particularly harsh.

With bonus spins offers, the wagering requirements – also known as playthrough requirements – tend to be attached to any winnings that you might receive from using the spins. The playthroughs on spins tend to be a bit higher, often being as much as 70x the value of the winnings.

There is also usually a time limit imposed on wagering. The standard is anywhere between seven days and 30 days, though you will see strict offers that only allow for 24 hours. If you fail to complete the wagering requirements within this time, the bonus funds or spins winnings will be removed from your account.

Below, you can see some explanations of the most important bonus terms so that you know exactly what operators are talking about in their T&C texts.

The other thing to be aware of is that not all casino games contribute equally to wagering requirements. Most New Zealand online casino bonuses are aimed at slot games. There are some exceptions, of course, but on the whole, promos and slots go hand in hand.

This means that you may only be able to play slots with the bonus funds. Even if you are allowed to play other games, it is common for different types of games to have different contribution rates.

Most commonly the games that have high return to player (RTP) rates will contribute less to the wagering requirements. This means that blackjack and roulette will contribute less than slots. Often, this may be as low as 5%.

RTP: Overview of the Best Payout Real Money Casinos in NZ

The return to player rate of a game is the statistical percentage of bets placed on a game over time that will be paid out to the players in wins. It is a theoretical number that is used to ensure and demonstrate a game’s fairness, rather than a guarantee of the returns you can expect from one gaming session.

While different types of games will have different average RTP rates, a casino’s game catalogue can be judged by its average payout rate across all of the products. It can give you an idea of whether or not the site has invested in games that are not heavily weighted against the players. Here is a list of the New Zealand casino sites with the highest average payout rates.

• Dream Vegas – 96.80% Payout Rate

• Betway – 96.50% Payout Rate

• Casino Rocket – 96.27% Payout Rate

• 888casino – 96.20% Payout Rate

• LeoVegas – 96.00% Payout Rate

Of course, if you like a site and choose only to play its games that do have generous return figures, then its overall RTP rate may be of less consequence to you. We do urge you, however, to check the RTP of any game before you play it, so that you know for sure that you are not paying into and playing an unfairly weighted game.

The Best Payment Methods for New Zealand Players

At real money online casinos in New Zealand, you will have to make payments to the site in order to play. It is a requirement of ours that all sites we recommend accept internationally trusted payment methods, giving their members genuinely good payment options.

These can include credit cards, debit cards and bank transfer options. Particularly popular among players are eWallets like Neteller, Skrill and PayPal. These allow you to make deposits and withdrawals from operator sites without having to disclose your bank details to the casino at any point.

We always recommend that you use payment methods with which you are familiar. This will help you to avoid any mistakes when it comes to using your online casino wallet, but it will also help to keep you safe when playing online.

If you see a site that only accepts services you have never heard of, or if you have suspicions about the options that you are seeing, then our advice is to avoid that site. There are enough good options on the market.

Gambling in New Zealand 2024 – Latest Trends

Despite its relatively diminutive size, New Zealand more than punches above its weight when it comes to gambling. Kiwis spent around $2.4 billion on gambling in 2018 which worked out at an astounding $648 for every citizen of the country. This amount was up $50 million from the previous year. The majority of the spending was actually on slot machines or ‘pokies’ as they are known in NZ. The country boasts six glamourous land-based casinos all of which have enjoyed record-breaking revenues in recent years.

Community groups benefit greatly from gambling revenue with around $1 billion from the country’s gambling expenditure being reinvested back in different charitable organisations such as sports teams, health and education initiatives, amongst others.

The minimum age for gambling in New Zealand is 18. While the country does see some underage gambling and some problems with gambling addiction in the general populace, all in all, it has a lower rate of problem gambling than most other countries in the world. Read on to find out more.

Is Gambling in New Zealand Legal?

Gambling is legal in New Zealand, with offline casinos and gambling houses being licensed by the Gambling Commission New Zealand. This was set up in 2003, and established as part of the Gambling Act 2003.

What is not permitted is for online casinos to operate in New Zealand. That is why you will not see any brands that are homegrown on this page. In fact, foreign companies cannot gain licences to market their services to New Zealanders. However, players are not punished for playing at offshore sites. As such, many New Zealanders choose to log in and play at many great sites like the ones that we recommend.

Interestingly, while many countries deal with problem gambling as a criminal issue, New Zealand views gambling as a health issue, with problem gamblers being supported by the Ministry of Health. This is a progressive and supportive stance to take on the issue when compared with the international community.

• LeoVegas Gaming Ltd (LeoVegas) – UK Licence No 319450
• Royal Panda Ltd (Royal Panda) – UK Licence No 39221
• Betway Limited (Betway) – UK Licence No 39372
• White Hat Gaming Limited (Dream Vegas) – UK Licence No 52894
• 888 Holdings (888casino) – UK Licence No 39028

While New Zealanders can easily and safely access offshore sites, it is a shame that the country has not legalised online gambling and provided licences for trusted operators. It also seems like there is little chance of the legislation changing in the future.

Casinos to Avoid in New Zealand

Unfortunately, while there are lots of great casinos on the market, there are also a large number of rogue operators that you should try to avoid. These include companies that fail to pay out winnings to players, those that harbour money-launderers and those that do not attempt to protect problem gamblers and children from gambling.

Below, we have provided a short blacklist of sites that you should stay clear of when searching for your perfect online casino in NZ. We will update this when we come across other sites that people should be warned about. Remember that you can always play at the best online casinos in New Zealand and avoid the drama of paying into an untrustworthy casino.

If you do not see an operator on this shortlist, this does not mean that it is guaranteed to be worthy of your trust. You need to make sure that any site you choose is up to scratch. That’s why we have explained our review criteria in full, so that you can learn to spot the difference between good and bogus online New Zealand casinos.

History of Gambling in New Zealand

Gambling has always been prevalent in New Zealand, but it wasn’t until the early European settlers came that it started to become more organised. Betting on horse racing was the first major introduction of organised gambling to the country, with the first-ever betting race taking place in 1835 at the Bay of Islands.

Betting on the races became a common activity for many years, but it wasn’t until 1908 that the first gambling regulation was introduced with the Gambling Act. The Gambling Act was pushed forward by the protestant community who wanted to deter gambling, and the act essentially made it illegal to gamble unless you were at a certified racetrack.

Another 50 years later, the Totalisator Agency Board pushed for gambling laws to relax, which eventually led to the innovation of slot machines (pokies) being introduced into communities as well a crop of new land-based casinos to be set up.

Land-Based New Zealand Casinos

At present, New Zealand boasts six separate casinos based up and down the country. The first one was the Christchurch Casino which opened its doors in 1994. Soon, others followed and more and more of the country were introduced to the glitz and glamour of playing at a casino along with all its additional table games.

Three of the six casinos are owned by the SKYCITY group. The SKYCITY Auckland is perhaps the best known. It is one of the country’s largest event and entertainment venues as well as being one of the premier casinos. The complex is connected to Auckland’s famous Sky Tower attraction, a conference centre, a 700-seat theatre, two hotels and a plethora of bars and restaurants.

In addition, there are the SKYCITY Hamilton and the SKYCITY Queenstown & Wharf Casinos. The former also boasts an interactive virtual reality golf experience, while the latter is the name sponsor of the local ice hockey team, the SKYCITY Southern Stampede.

New Zealand is also home to other great bricks-and-mortar establishments such as the Dunedin Casino, which has a great long-running loyalty points programme, with each player automatically becoming a member of the “Club Casino”. Perks include discounts on food and beverages as well as gaming bonuses.

Frequently Asked Questions About NZ Online Casinos

We hope that our review of the top New Zealand online casinos has been helpful for you. But, if you still have some queries, then fear not. We have collected questions from our readers and answered some of the most common below. If you still can’t find the answer that you are looking for, then feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].

Which is the best online casino in New Zealand?

After thorough reviewing of all of the legit options, we have compiled a list of the best casinos in New Zealand. You can pick your favourite from our top recommendations, but we think that all provide a great gambling experience to their players.

Are online casinos legal in New Zealand?

While online gambling is not legal in New Zealand, meaning that no operators can be based in NZ, players can access offshore sites that are based abroad with no fear of being in trouble for doing so. Check out more info about the gambling laws in New Zealand.

Which are the safest online casinos in New Zealand?

Each of our recommended New Zealand online casino sites is absolutely safe to play at. They all possess the required licences and certificates to offer online gambling products to Kiwi players. You can be certain that all of your personal and bank information is safe and secure.

Which is the best New Zealand slots site?

All of our recommended best online casinos sites in New Zealand offer hundreds of high-quality slots from some of the top software developers in the world. It is up to you to pick your favourite. Visit the slots library, explore the games, and consider their RTPs and volatility.

Which New Zealand online casino has the best payouts?

You can see the average payout rates of some of the top New Zealand online casino sites. Keep in mind that you should always consider the RTP (return to player) rates of both slots and table games. Pick titles with higher payout rates and look for demo modes before playing with real money.

What online casinos in New Zealand offer fast withdrawals?

Each one of our recommended best online casinos in NZ offers safe and fast transactions. The processing times vary, but most of the operators don't take more than a couple of days for a withdrawal to go through. The withdrawal time frames also depend on your selected payment method in New Zealand.

Which New Zealand casino site has the best bonus offer?

This depends on what you are looking for. As all of our recommended NZ online casino sites offer welcome bonuses and other promotions for regular players, you should pick the one that most suits your gaming preferences. Go for an online casino NZ bonus with free spins, a match bonus, or a combination of both.

Which online casino in New Zealand offers the most games?

The variety of online casino games at the best online casinos in NZ is truly tremendous. The top operators offer hundreds if not even thousands of titles that are available to Kiwi players. But don't just look for quantity. The quality of the games is of great importance for your online gambling experience.

Do all New Zealand casino sites take PayPal?

No, not all New Zealand online casinos accept PayPal payments. That's why it is always good to visit the payments page of the operator before committing with a registration. Look for PayPal, or any other e-wallet, as normally, they offer the fastest transaction times.

Do all New Zealand online casinos offer secure deposits and withdrawals?

Absolutely. As long as you are playing at a safe and licensed online casino in NZ, you can be certain that your deposits and withdrawals are secure. The best New Zealand casino sites use the latest security systems, have top-notch customer support, and are regularly checked for fairness and authenticity by internationally-recognised gambling organisations.

Conclusion – Find Trusted Online Casino Sites for New Zealand Players

As you can see from this review of the best New Zealand online casinos, there are lots of great sites available to Kiwis these days. You can play at some of the biggest household names from around the world.

There are numerous sites with hundreds of top-quality games, coming from the studios of the biggest and best software developers in the industry. On top of this, you can access most of the best online casino sites as easily on mobile or tablet as you can on desktop, thanks to increasing levels of mobile compatibility across the board. Should you currently be outside NZ, you may want to check out some of our worldwide online casino reviews.

The most important thing that you need to remember when looking for an online casino in New Zealand is that it should be safe and trustable. Make sure that it is licensed by a reputable authority, and that it uses high-end encryption technology.

All of the sites listed on this page meet all of the requirements in terms of safety, player responsibility and data security. So, choosing between them is really just a matter of personal preference. You can use the table to narrow down your search depending on what you are looking for from your NZ online casinos.

List of All New Zealand Casinos

Below, you will find a full list of our recommended New Zealand online casinos, along with details of their welcome bonuses. We have provided one highlight or unique selling point per site, so as to show you what each is best known for so you have an idea of what you would be getting if you choose to register as a new player.