Online casino sites in New Zealand

NZ online casino sites

Do you live in NZ and want to know more about playing casino games for the chance to win real money on the Internet? Learn the online gambling laws in New Zealand, the best online casinos accepting Kiwi players and the safest deposits options available to play for real money using NZD.

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Is it legal to gamble online in New Zealand?

Online casino NZGambling is a popular pastime in New Zealand, with many Kiwis heading out to try their luck at land based casino around the country, a majority of which are owned by entertainment group, SkyCity. But when it comes to turning to your computer or mobile device to place a bet, many Kiwis are left scratching their heads as to whether it is legal to gamble online or not.

Like many countries, New Zealand’s online gambling laws are full of loopholes. All facets of gambling in New Zealand are governed under the laws of the Gambling Act of 2003, which prevents an online casino site from operating within New Zealand borders, or advertising its services to NZ players. The loophole here is there is nothing in the laws to prevent New Zealand residents from playing at an online casino that is located and licensed offshore. The Gambling Act was amended in 2005 and again in 2015, but still there is no wording in place to forbid players from turning to overseas casinos.

The bottom line is as long as the site you are playing at is licensed offshore, New Zealanders face no risk of prosecution for gambling at an online casino site and many of the world’s best online casinos happily cater to the New Zealand market. If you are concerned for your safety, we recommend using a trusted VPN (virtual private network) service for an extra layer of security when playing online.

Best pokies in New Zealand

Just like in Australia, slot machines, called pokies in New Zealand, are massively popular. Widely available in bars, pubs and hotels, the majority of gaming machines are not actually located within one of NZ’s 6 commercial land-based casinos (Christchurch Casino, Dunedin Casino, and SKYCITY in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown, and Wharf) and are instead owned and run by charities called Community Gaming Trusts. There is over 28,000 pokies machines currently active in New Zealand, with a mandatory 85% RTP (Return-to-Player) payout percentage imposed in the country.

Online pokies are hugely popular for New Zealand players and nearly all major online casino websites offer them for NZ members. Play instantly on your computer or mobile device (Android, iOS, Google) with an Internet connection at any of the casinos listed in the table at the top of this page.

Best online casino sites for Kiwis

NZ online casinos trusted and safe

As we explained above, it is perfectly legal for New Zealanders to gamble at real money casino sites provided the casino is located outside of NZ borders. Offshore casinos are perfectly safe and legitimate, provided they have official licensing from a reputable offshore gambling jurisdiction like the UK, Malta, Isle of Man, Curacao, Alderney, Gibraltar or Kahnawake.

The best online casinos are those offering a large selection of casino games from leading software providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Betsoft, Evolution Gaming, Quickspin, Play’n Go and others, which are available for instant-play with no downloads needed. A trustworthy online casino should also be protected by a minimum of 128 Bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) digital encryption, supported by a live customer help desk and audited by a trusted third-party authority like eCOGRA. All of the casinos recommended on our site tick all of these boxes, so if you stick with our top-rated sites you can rest assured you are playing at a safe and reputable venue.

Many of the best offshore casinos cater to Kiwi players, with some of our favourites including:

  • Leo Vegas – Leo has one of the largest selections of instant-play games on the Web from a bunch of the leading software providers. It also offers an award-winning mobile casino packed with portable slots, table games and even live dealer games.
  • 32Red Casino – 32Red is one of the most reputable names in the online gambling industry, offering a full casino, plus separate dedicated bingo and poker rooms. Powered exclusively by Microgaming software, 32Red houses some of the most popular online casino games in the business.
  • Rizk Casino – Rizk is a “no bullshit” online casino that provides a lively and exciting space for real money gaming. Hosting hundreds of games from multiple providers, Rizk is the place to go if you’re looking for a fun and light hearted gaming experience, with bonus offers galore.

For a full list of the offshore casino sites accepting New Zealanders, refer to our casino table at the top of this page. This table has been geo-targeted to recognise your location and will only list trustworthy online casinos that accept players from your country.


NZD deposit options at online casinos

Kiwis have plenty of choice when it comes to making a real money deposit to an offshore casino site, with the NZD frequently catered to. On the off-chance the New Zealand dollar isn’t outright accepted, you will still be able to play for real money, but may be subject to currency conversion fees as your money is exchanged into AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, CAD or other more commonly accepted currencies.

While the deposit options available vary from venue to venue, safe payment methods commonly available for New Zealanders include:


How to play at real money casinos

To play at online casinos for real money, simply sign up for an account with a trusted offshore casino like the ones recommended on our site, claim your exclusive welcome bonus and then choose a trusted payment method to make your cash transfer.

Follow the prompts to enter the amount of money you wish to deposit and the funds will hit your account immediately, unless you choose to deposit via bank transfer which can take a few days to process. Once your account is funded, you are free to play casino games like the slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, scratchies, baccarat, poker, keno and live dealer games directly over your Web browser for the chance to win real cash prizes.

Our top-rated NZD online casinos also offer Kiwis the option of playing for free in practice-mode so you can try games out before risking any of your own money.

Also read:

  • Best casino venues in New Zealand
  • New Zealanders can sign up for an account at Rizk Casino, one of our top-rated casino sites for Kiwis, where you can claim up to $100 in bonus money when depositing real money for the first time. You will also get a free spin on the coveted Wheel of Rizk for your chance to claim an instant prize.