When you are in New Zealand, life is not hard for online casino gamers. Unlike in neighbouring Australia where the only sportsbook is legal, New Zealanders are allowed to gamble even on offshore online casinos. Since the opening of the first casino in the country in 1994, many have moved in. Regardless of whether you are in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, you will always find a place to gamble.
Over the years, the various types of gambling have held different legal statuses in New Zealand. For instance, bookmaking was declared legal in 1961 after it had been banned in 1920. Under the new law, the Totalizator Agency Board (TAB) was established and betting on horseracing was allowed everywhere except on the course.
In 1933, ‘Art Unions’, the country’s first national lottery was established. Currently, the Gambling Act 2003 governs gambling in New Zealand. Anything that is not covered in the four classes of legal betting in the act is considered to be outside the law. The law prohibits online casinos and bookmakers in the country. However, citizens are free to play online casino games if the companies are based overseas.
Although New Zealand has a relatively small population, it has a large gambling industry with the locals spending around NZ$2 billion in a year betting sports, slots, and casino tables. Some of the best global online gambling brands enjoy huge benefits from this lucrative market. Therefore, these players need to have enough information to select safe and secure websites and to help them stake their hard-earned money wisely.
Gambling in New Zealand
Some of the most popular games in the country are video poker, roulette, blackjack, and online pokies (slots) among others. Internet gamblers in the country can deposit, play any game, and cash out easily after winning in NZD. The presence of many websites provides them with many options but also makes it challenging to identify the best ones.
New Zealanders just like the Australians love ‘pokies,’ the land-based slot machines as they are called locally. Charitable organizations introduced the machines in the country in 1991, placing them in hotels and bars. Their number in the country has increased to over 19,000. If you want to know how many casinos are in New Zealand, they are only six. In 2002, they generated a revenue of over NZD 500 million.
Netball, football, rugby union, and cricket are among the most popular games in New Zealand. Rugby union is the favourite sport at the domestic level. Both cricket and rugby have a large following when international matches are considered. The two sports dominate the country’s betting market.
Netball and football also have a large market although not comparable to the former two. The popularity of netball improved significantly due to the success of the country’s national team, the Silver Ferns. Various online bookers based overseas provide the New Zealanders with a chance to bet on their favourite local teams.
New Zealand could be considered to have fair gambling legislation. Although some current laws are restrictive, the citizens are allowed to bet on overseas-based online casinos. Given that the country’s gambling legislation has been changing over the years, maybe in the future, the government will allow the establishment of local online companies. Nevertheless, the current laws have not stopped the Kiwis from playing their favourite games online.
New Zealand Online Casinos and Bonus Offers
We have prepared a New Zealand Guide Casinos Online to make your gambling life easy. Online gambling players can use this article to find the best reviews and bonuses in New Zealand. It is important to consider the various promotions provided by the various online casinos in the country. Some companies have reward programs for their customers. Others will reward you when you are betting to encourage you to stake more. Some of the tactics used by most online casinos in New Zealand to attract and keep their customers are:
- Welcome bonus – Most New Zealand online casinos employ welcoming bonus to attract new customers. Under this tactic, players get a chance to win real money on joining. The package also allows the players to access casino games even they have not staked. Although the package is different in the various gambling sites, it mainly aims at encouraging one to play on that casino. Regardless, it is advisable to read the bonus terms & conditions before creating a casino online account.
- Free Spins – New Zealand poky players can enjoy free spins on various online casinos. This bonus gives the players free tries at online pokies. Besides, this reward is part of a welcome bonus and is designed to encourage new members to join the website. The bonus is also common when new pokies are introduced. In this case, they help in encouraging the players to try the new games. Given that pokies are among the most popular casino games in the country, this bonus is very important.
Although this bonus is very important, it is advisable to be cautious. You should consider the wagering requirement. Although you will be allowed to spin free, there may be a minimum bet you may be needed for qualification. When you establish that the offer is available as a no deposit bonus, higher chances are you will need a higher bet than other bonuses. Going through the terms & conditions is also advisable, as you will come across the requirements. Whereas some companies may require you to make a minimum deposit to enjoy the bonus, others may need you not to exceed a particular wager.
- High Roller Casinos – If you are a heavy gambler, and you like to make big bets, then High Roller Casinos are the best for you. These casinos are popular as they offer big rewards. Nevertheless, they need big risks. These online casinos are ideal for New Zealand players who can handle big stakes. Regular players, who win often in online casinos, tend to increase their stake. To win massive amounts of money, they risk big amounts of cash.
Top Online Casinos
Before joining any gambling site, it is advisable to identify the best New Zealand online casino. We have prepared a list of some of the best websites to make your gambling life easy and safe. Our top 10 casino list can be helpful regardless of whether you to play video poker or blackjack.
You are assured that the company will not go silent during payouts.
-
- Jackpot City – This is one of the best casinos as it has a $1600 welcome bonus. Players on this website have access to over 630 casino games. Furthermore, it uses secure banking options. With a payout speed of 1 to 2 days and a win rate of 98.10 per cent, JackpotCity is among the most reliable online gambling sites in New Zealand.
- SpinPalace – Players on this website have access to more than 655 high-quality games and enjoy a $1000 bonus. The company has a payout speed of 1 to 3 days and a win rate of 97.59 per cent.
- Casumo Casino – This casino is especially popular among modern and innovative players. The award-winning casino provides the players with numerous games and bonuses.
- Royal Vegas – This website offers a $1200 bonus. Players on this casino have access to other free cruise promotions. Besides, there are 400 games on this site.
- Casino Cruise – Upon sign up, the website offers a $1000 welcome bonus and 55 free spins. On the first 4 deposits, the company gives 200 free spins. The website is reliable as the Malta Gaming Authority licenses it.
- Dunder Casino – Players on this website have access to over 900 games from different developers. Unlike other companies that will keep your money for long, Dunder has a cashout time of up to 24 hours. Dunder is easy to use.
- Ruby Fortune – This is another good online casino in New Zealand. The company has been around since 2003; hence, you should not be afraid on their website. The casino offers a €750 sign up bonus. Players have access to over 400 games.
Although two casinos may have the same games, their rewards may differ. Always consider the company more rewards. In our list of online casinos, we have considered companies that are safe and secure to deal with. These casinos are genuine, and you should not be afraid of losing your money upon making a deposit or winning. If your hobby is gambling, you should consider a company with a mobile casino to enable you to play easily.
