Online Gambling in New Zealand in 2023

All of the online casinos listed above have been hand-picked by our team of experts, who reviewed and evaluated the most important aspects, which meet the needs and the demands of New Zealand casino players. Meaning we have considered the deposit and withdrawal options, customer support, and the best online pokies on the New Zealand market. 

• learn how to spot safe online gambling sites
• explore the legal status of online gambling in NZ
• understand different online casino bonuses
• discover popular pokies you can play for real money
• check the top payment methods
• learn more about Responsible Gambling
• read about NZ's online gambling future
• online gambling in New Zealand - FAQs
• back to our list of trustworthy online casinos

The list of recommended online gambling sites above will only give you a slight idea of what to expect from New Zealand brands. If you really want to start your  search for trustworthy casinos on the market  the right way, there are several things our expert team of reviewers go over before they include it in the list of legit online casinos.

To provide you with more insight into how we carefully identify and pick out the best NZ's real money casinos and help you do the same yourself. We’ll also share key criteria that online casinos must pass and help you learn more about our review process.

As an NZ online casino player, you cannot play at New Zealand-based online casinos, so you’ll have to rely on foreign regulatory bodies, like the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission. While it is not on the same level as the other two, you can also trust the Curacao eGaming Authority.

In order to confirm the casino’s legitimacy, you should always check the casino license, which is usually found on the site’s footer. Make sure to open the provided link to see if it’s leading to the gambling license page itself.

You should also see if data encryption is applied by checking the privacy policy page or by clicking the padlock icon in the address bar. It’s also good to check the casino’s reputation among other casino players before you start playing.

Every casino player deserves the opportunity to play in his/her own currency. In the case of Kiwis, it’s essential that you have New Zealand dollars at your disposal, as this will eliminate any currency conversion fees. But then again, it’s more important to have region-friendly banking methods that are accepted by the casino, as the payment provider will deal with such charges.

We also check the withdrawal times and limits, as they can be a crucial factor for some NZ casino players. We usually look for e-wallets and cryptocurrencies as they typically have the fastest payout times.

The top casinos online tend to provide fair bonus terms to their players, but this is not always the case. In order to identify the quality of the online casino promotion, we always check if the bonus terms are clearly displayed on the casino site and are player-friendly, or in other words, favourable.

You can find a list of the best casino bonuses available in your region further down on this page.

Usually, the most trusted online casino brands have a diverse gaming library filled with all kinds of casino game types. But when you are online gambling for real money, the quality of games and the game providers on display might be an essential thing to consider.

Nowadays, almost every online casino out there is mobile-friendly. But if you dig a bit deeper, not every mobile casino is made equal. We look for well-designed mobile gambling apps, whether they are native casino apps or are available for instant play.

We also check if the app is user-friendly and that it provides a smooth gaming experience. One more thing to consider is access to essential functionalities, such as cashier, support, profile settings, etc.

Finally, always check if NZ casino sites offer live chat support, preferably open 24/7. This will ensure that you, if ever run into trouble, there will be a customer support agent at your service.

When reviewing customer support at online casinos, we check if agents are friendly and knowledgeable and respond promptly. They should also be able to resolve any common casino queries within a few minutes.

When you apply all of the above-mentioned factors when looking at a specific online casino in New Zealand, you will be able to see the full picture and decide if the casino is worth playing at.

All of the sites in the list of online gambling sites in NZ provided above have passed through all of these filters, some fared better than the rest, and they can be found at the top of the list.

The online gambling law in New Zealand was unclear until 2003. In short, gambling is illegal unless it is authorized by the Gambling Act 2003. However, this law only applies to gambling at any online casinos based in New Zealand.

This means that online gambling operators cannot be based within NZ borders. It is not illegal for someone in New Zealand to participate in online gambling if the operator is based overseas.

If you’re of legal gambling age, which is 20 in New Zealand, you’re allowed to play at off-shore sites. Still, you will have to trust the licensing of foreign gambling regulators like the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission and Curacao eGaming Authority.

Note, if the operator is based overseas, your legal protections depend on the host country's legal system, which is why it is always important to check if the online casino is licensed since regulatory bodies enable players to lodge a complaint against any online casino holding their license.

Online casinos are known for their valuable casino bonuses, which come in all shapes and sizes. They provide you with an opportunity to check out the casino, try its games and take it for a test run.

Typically, once players sign-up, they will be greeted with a  welcome bonus offer, but there are plenty of other bonuses in store for existing players too.

Welcome bonuses at NZ online casinos are widespread; they consist of a deposit match and are often combined with free spins. They can also be split into several deposit bonuses, but these welcome bonuses tend to lose their value on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th deposit. 

Then you have no deposit bonuses, which are the most sought-after types of bonuses, as they don’t require making a deposit. Below, we’ll provide you with a brief overview of the most frequent bonuses, as well as links to dedicated pages for each bonus type.

No deposit bonuses are particularly popular with new players. In New Zealand, these bonuses are usually offered as free spins, but they are offered as bonus cash on rare occasions. 

These types of bonuses come in relatively small amounts and don’t offer a high winning potential. Still, they do provide you with the opportunity to try out the casino before committing.

You should note that no deposit bonuses are subject to wagering requirements, which are typically higher than the ones coming with the welcome bonus offer, and they do have a cashout limit. Claiming is usually done by entering NZ no deposit bonus codes.

As the name implies, free spins offer players free rounds on specific slot games. These types of bonuses are gaining popularity among online casino players, and more and more online gambling sites introduce them as part of deposit bonuses and no deposit bonuses. 

If you look at our list of NZ online casino brands, you will notice that free spins are often paired with a sign-up deposit match. They can also be offered as promotions for existing players and new slot promotions or loyalty rewards. 

Usually, you will have to meet a certain wagering target before requesting a withdrawal. Although they are a rarity, some casinos even offer wager-free spins.  But as things stand, free spins are commonly introduced as Kiwi no deposit free spins bonuses.

Almost all online casino sites offer games from third-party game developers. But there are a few that offer games that are developed in-house. Some of the top software providers on the New Zealand market are Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play - to name a few.

When you look at the gaming library, it’s quite clear that slots are a stand-out game category, and this is why they take up the bigger portion. The situation with NZ casinos is no different, as they provide slots in abundance. 

Besides slots, New Zealand online casino operators feature other game types   such as tables, live casino games, arcade, keno and even bingo games.

Residing in one of the most liberal gaming markets in the world definitely comes with several perks, such as access to almost all casino games available online and unrestricted access to game developers. The greatest hits, such as Starburst, Book of Dead, Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, are all on the menu for all NZ casino players.

Below, we provide you with a list of a few stand-out video pokies, so you can get an idea of what kind of gambling games for real money to expect in your region.

Players at Kiwi online casino brands can expect a well-composed selection of payment options, including e-wallets, prepaid vouchers, credit cards and bank transfers. Each of these payment methods has its advantages and disadvantages.

However, there are no region-specific options, which are typically offered to players from other markets. Below, we provide you with a list of top-performing payment methods at NZ gambling sites. 

• Skrill

Skrill is the most commonly used banking method at online casinos in New Zealand. It provides a safe and convenient way of making deposit and withdrawals for online casino players. This e-wallet supports NZD currency and usually provides suitable transaction limits. Also, Skrill allows same-day cashouts.

• Neteller

Neteller is very similar to Skrill, as both methods belong to the same company - Paysafe Group. Neteller frequently included as a banking option for Kiwis at online casinos. Neteller offers zero fees, instant deposits, and fast payouts, and it allows players to load funds into the account directly from their bank account or credit card.

• Qiwi Wallet

Qiwi Wallet is an alternative e-wallet option just like Skrill and Neteller, and it can be funded directly from your debit or credit cards. This payment option also accepts NZD, and it’s a good option for players looking for quick deposits and withdrawals.

• ecoPayz

This banking option has been around for several years, and it’s also an e-wallet option widely accepted at online gambling sites for NZ players. ecoPayz offers speedy withdrawals, several security layers, and it’s straightforward to set up and use. 

• Paysafecard

Paysafecard, or locally known as Paysafe, is a prepaid card widely available across New Zealand. With this payment method, no bank account or credit card account is necessary. This payment method also doesn’t charge you for making transactions. This option is a deposit-only payment option at online casinos, but they present a great way to manage your spending at an online casino site.

• VISA/Mastercard/Maestro

Credit and Debit cards are the most widely accepted payment methods and are certainly the most used deposit and withdrawal methods for New Zealand players. Using VISA, Mastercard, or Maestro provides efficient and quick transactions. The only downside to these payment methods is that withdrawals take 3-5 days on average before they appear on your account, and the casino may charge you fees. The good thing is that almost all online casinos accept credit and debit card payments.

• Bitcoin/Litecoin/Etherium/Tether

Cryptocurrencies offer the fastest withdrawal times, and it’s no wonder why casinos that accept Bitcoin have become so popular among Kiwis. Cryptocurrencies not only provide speedy cashouts, but they also provide 100% anonymity and privacy. The drawback of cryptocurrencies is that they are not so easy to set up. The other drawback is that there are not many online casinos that accept cryptocurrencies.

Every legit online casino operator in NZ will provide players with several resources to prevent problem gambling. They usually include information on tools to help you play reasonably, along with advice on gambling control measures on their dedicated, responsible gambling pages.

There are several self-control gaming limits NZ casino players can use:

• Deposit Limits
• Wagering Limits
• Loss Limits
• Session Limits
• Reality Check
• Self-Exclusion

The tools above are some of the most commonly found at online gambling sites. But several local and international expert problem gambling solutions can help players that have developed gambling addiction such as:

These organizations have therapists, advisers and support groups, in a word, an expert team to guide you through the process of identifying and treating your gambling issue. Those seeking help can reach out to any of the support services listed above.

Since the current law in New Zealand doesn’t prohibit players from playing at online casinos based outside the borders, more and more international operators have started gaining NZ traffic.

This isn't a surprise due to the high number of remote online casino sites in New Zealand driving the growth, with convenient payment options, exclusive bonus deals, local support, and safe and reliable gaming platforms.

In the UK, all operators have the be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This is why we expect the New Zealand Gambling Commission to begin granting online gaming licenses to online casino operators within the region in the future. This is the only way online gambling can be fully maintained on the grounds of New Zealand.

Nevertheless, currently, online gambling in New Zealand is flourishing, and we can expect it only to resume. A direct proof of this are new NZ casinos, which offer far more attractive bonuses, forward-looking interfaces and a better game variety to online casino players.

The current law on online gambling states that online gambling sites cannot be based in NZ. However, this means that players in New Zealand can legally play at online gambling sites that are based overseas.

Due to this, many remote operators are accepting Kiwi players, offering them some of the most competitive bonuses on the market, huge gaming libraries, specialised support and region-friendly payment options.

Currently, online gambling is thriving in New Zealand, but its future will largely depend on the government's future legislation review. Nonetheless, we expect that online casino operators can start legally operating within the borders under NZ Gambling Commission licenses in the forthcoming period.

Our experts gave you the top choices for online casinos in New Zealand further up this page. Each of the casinos in the final selection went through a strict review process.

Here you'll find a complete list of online casinos that accept NZ players. There are 150+ options to choose from in total and all have been carefully evaluated before being added to the list.

The state of online gambling varies from country to country, but there is a lot of overlap between online casinos, especially those that target English-speaking markets. In case you’re looking for online casinos that target other regions, you can check out the links below for region-specific offers.