Online gambling is growing rapidly in New Zealand. Not so long ago (2016), a Maori man hit headlines after winning a $10M jackpot while playing a popular online slot machine.
Since then, casinos have flooded the Kiwi market and made online gaming accessible to millions of people. As you would expect, online searches for NZ casinos have increased tremendously.
For some, the only reason they’re yet to join an online casino in NZ is because they’re not sure whether iGaming is legal or illegal in the country. Here’s everything you need to know.
Online Gambling is a Legal Grey Area
New Zealand has a Gambling Act created in 2003 that acts as a guideline for players and investors in the industry. According to this act, Lotto NZ and the New Zealand Racing Board can offer lotto games and sports betting online.
No company is allowed to launch a website with real money games like slots, blackjack and roulette. If you attempt to create an online casino based in NZ, you will be committing a crime.
While the Gambling Act of 2003 prohibits local investors from launching casino sites, it does not say anything about New Zealanders gambling at offshore casino sites.
Offshore Casinos in New Zealand
Now that NZ’s laws don’t prohibit locals from using offshore casinos, dozens of foreign operators accept Kiwis. This list shows the best casino brands operating in New Zealand today.
These casinos are not only licensed and safe, but they’re also reputable. All you need is to compare payment methods, bonuses, games and security measures in each site. Then choose the right casino for you.
Pick a casino with lots of fair bonuses. Promotions like no deposit free spins, weekly cashback and VIP points helps keep you play your favorite games even when broke.
If you need a little more help in choosing the right casino, continue reading this guide.
Casino Payments and Policies
Online gambling banking policies vary from country to country. In New Zealand, you can deposit and withdraw money from casino sites safely. Of course, you’ll need to check an operator’s accepted payment options before you create an account.
Generally, most casinos support cards like Visa and MasterCard. If you have either card, finding an appropriate casino site will be ideal. As an alternative, you can use a mobile wallet like POLi, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or GPay for payments.
Some casinos also accept Bitcoin, voucher cards and electronic checks. Each payment option has its pros and cons. Prioritize convenience, security and speed. That means avoid slow payment options like wire transfers unless you have no alternative.
Digital wallets and crypto offer the fastest payments. However, they might not be ideal for high rollers who transact over $10,000 per month. Bitcoin and bank transfers support much higher limits.
If you’re a high stakes player, you could use crypto for deposits and bank payments for withdrawals. Of course, you could also use Bitcoin to withdraw money. But if you need the cash in fiat, a wire payment makes more sense.
Games and Software Providers
Casino players in NZ access the same games players from other countries play. That means you can find slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and even craps at your favorite Kiwi casino.
For the uninitiated, casino games come from third-party developers. Casinos lease these games from companies like NetEnt, Microgaming, Betsoft, Evolution, No Limit City and Big Time Gaming.
While looking for a casino, focus on its games and software providers. Choose a site with a variety of top-paying games. The best slots have 96% to 99% Return to Player rates. The best card games have casino advantages of between 1% and 5%.
An operator doesn’t need to have 50+ software providers for you to enjoy its games. It can have a small number of software providers. But if these companies create quality games, you’ll enjoy your experience.
Bonuses and Promotions
Earlier, we said a good casino site should give out fair bonuses and promotions. But what exactly are fair terms in a bonus? What promotions should you look out for?
Look at casinos with both welcome and loyalty promotions. Players get excited by welcome bonuses far more than they should. It is only after they receive the first promotion that they discover that a casino doesn’t give out any other rewards henceforth.
The best operators shower you with both welcome and loyalty bonuses. They give you no deposit and first deposit bonuses. Then they award you VIP bonuses, cashback deals and other promotions.
Crucially, consider each bonus’s terms and conditions. Check how long you need to spend your freebie. If you win money, what’s the maximum you can withdraw? Also, do you need to rollover your bonus?
Security and Trustworthiness
Although online casinos in NZ tend to be safe, don’t take our word for it. Examine each site to determine its trustworthiness. Most operators in the country acquire their licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority.
Malta has a reputation for producing safe and reliable casinos. However, don’t center on licensing alone. Also, look at website security feature like SSL encryption, anti-DDoS and password protection for your account.
Another important check is the presence of an independent auditor. Companies like eCOGRA do the hard work of checking a site’s games for fairness. They also audit a casino’s finances to verify that it pays out money to winners consistently.
While a certificate from eCOGRA, GLI or iTech Labs is great, focus more on reviews and ratings. Find out what an operator’s customers think about its services. Choose a top-rated casino.
Mobile Gaming in New Zealand
If you browse the Internet primarily through your smartphone, you’ll probably want to choose a mobile casino. Luckily, the majority of betting sites in NZ support mobile gaming.
A few years ago, you needed to install an app to play slots and blackjack on your device. Nowadays, all you need is a smartphone with a functional browser like Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
Mobile casinos support just as many games as their PC counterparts. They also give out bonuses and process payouts fast. You just need to find the right casino.