The Best New Zealand Casinos in 2024

Legal Status of Online Gambling in New Zealand

The legality of online gambling in New Zealand is somewhat complicated and with media outlets saying different things, it can be confusing. All forms of gambling within the country is controlled by the Department of Internal Affairs which acts under the somewhat outdated Gambling Act from 2003. Today there are only 2 authorized online casino operators domestically, The TAB and Lotto NZ.

According to the Department of Internal Affairs, it is legal for citizens of New Zealand to play at online casinos and gambling sites from other countries.

In fact, the domestic gambling operators have to conform to things that aren’t so beneficial to gamblers, such as prize limits. That is why you’ll notice that most of our recommended sites are in fact licensed in Malta, UK and Curacao. These are jurisdictions with more lenient gambling laws and according to many New Zealanders offer an overall better gambling experience.

Pick Between the Best New Zealand Casinos

There are a lot of options available to New Zealanders, so choosing between the best New Zealand casinos can be tough. If you’re going to play online, you have the option to play at one of the domestic operators, NZ Lotto or The TAB. But you’re also free to play at the myriad of offshore sites that exist in other jurisdictions.

Due to the prize limitations of domestic sites, most gamblers from New Zealand choose to play at a Malta or UK casino. This, of course, opens up even more options. So, in order to help you narrow down our top list, we’ve highlighted some important information about each site.

Here are some different ways you can pick the site that is best suitable for you:

• Pick by welcome offer – Keep in mind that many sites these days offer recurring promotions and keep rewarding their players after their first deposit.
• Pick by review score – You can get more information about the top ranking sites by reading our reviews.
• Pick by game offerings – Would you like to play online slots/pokies, bingo, poker ,table games, , live dealer games or keno in NZ? If you don’t know what you like yet, choose a site that gives you plenty of options to choose between.
• Pick by player feedback – When all else fails, you can refer to player feedback. Keep in mind that people online tend to voice negative opinions more often than positive ones. A site can have 1 disgruntled player, but you won’t necessarily hear from the players that are too busy having fun with the games.
• Ask a friend – An underrated way to choose a casino is to simply ask your friends where they play. They’re your friends for good reason, so you can probably trust their advice.

How to Register and Make a Deposit

Back in the day, it wasn’t so easy to register and get started at an online casino, but today the process have very much been streamlined. The time it takes from signing up to a new site to start playing takes no more than 2 minutes and is very easy. Here’s how you do it:

• Choose a New Zealand casino from our top ranked sites.
• Go to the online casino and click on the sign-up/registration button.
• Provide the details requested by the operator and choose an amount to deposit.
• Pick your welcome bonus and accept the terms and conditions of the site.
• Choose your banking method and confirm the transaction.

One thing to keep in mind about welcome bonuses is that most cash bonuses at NZ casinos are worth 100%. This essentially means that you get what you put in. If you, for instance, deposit 100 NZD, you’ll get 200 NZD – your original 100 and another 100 NZD as a welcome bonus. Most bonuses of this type also come with a minimum deposit limit and wagering requirement, but more on that later.

Withdrawing Your Tax-Free Winnings

Gambling winnings in New Zealand are exempt from tax, so players get to keep what they win. If you’re a beginner, there are some things about withdrawals that can be worth to mention. First off, to make a withdrawal you’ll have to make a request through the cashier section at the New Zealand online casino. Just input the amount you wish to withdraw and choose a bank account or digital wallet to transfer the money to.

The time for withdrawal depends on the payment method used, your bank and in some cases, the casino. We recommend choosing a site that offers a reliable customer support and quick handling of withdrawal requests. Keep in mind that Lotto NZ and The TAB have limits for how much you can win. Therefor, we always recommend New Zealanders to play at offshore sites rather than the domestic ones.

Welcome Bonuses Available in NZ

What can be better than starting out a gambling hobby with double the money to play with? Well, some NZ casinos will give you that AND throw in some free spins too. You can compare the different bonuses available in our list of promotions at the top of this page. In this section, we’ll briefly describe some of the bonuses available to New Zealanders, along with the most common terms and conditions.

First Deposit Bonus

Most New Zealand casinos give new players a bonus in exchange for making a first deposit and this bonus usually consists of cash or free spins. New online casinos in NZ will typically try to compete with established sites by offering a combination of both cash and free spins. Take a look at our top listed sites to find the current best offers for new players.

No Deposit Bonus

This is one of the best kinds of bonuses around, since you don’t have to wager any of your own money to get it. It’s relatively uncommon with cash bonuses that don’t require a deposit. From time to time we’ll come across no deposit free spins in New Zealand, and when that happens, you’ll find the promotion listed here. Keep in mind that the wagering requirements attached are often very high compared to bonuses that require a deposit in order to claim.

Loyalty Rewards

Many online casinos open to New Zealanders offer rewards on a regular basis and all you have to do is show up and make the occasional deposit. Loyalty rewards include but are not limited to things like free spins, cash bonuses, tournament tickets, free games and cashback. New casinos in NZ tend to use a gamification approach that include achievements and quests for players to complete. Completing these extracurricular activities can really ramp up the rewards and make the gaming experience even more exciting.

Bonus Terms & Conditions

Most reputable online casinos in New Zealand make sure that their welcome bonus is big enough to make it worth it. However, all kinds of promotions have terms and conditions that need to be met by the player in order to qualify for a withdrawal of the bonus money. Here are the most common T & C’s you’ll come across when accepting a welcome bonus.

• Min/max deposit limits – Promotions that offer cash will almost always have a minimum amount that you’ll need to deposit in order to claim the bonus. For instance, a 100% bonus may have a minimum deposit limit of 10 NZD up to a maximum of 1 000 NZD.
• Wagering requirements – Almost all promotions have a wagering requirement. This means that you need to wager either a) the bonus money, or b) the deposit + the bonus money before you withdraw your winnings from the site.
• Time limits – The best New Zealand casinos will give you plenty of time to wager your bonuses. Typically, you’ll get at least 60 days before the time is up. If you haven’t fulfilled the wagering requirement in time, the bonus will be cancelled.