New Zealand Online Gambling

For the size of its population, New Zealand has a lively sports betting and land casino market, valued at NZ$435m and NZ$62m respectively (2022 figures).

An official figure for the percentage of the NZ population that took part in New Zealand Lotteries Commission games in the 2000s, was an outstanding 67%. More strikingly, however, is the NZ Racing Board report where residents wagered more than NZ$1,2b on horse and dog races.

These numbers make it apparent that Kiwis love sports betting, but there is also an online casino player base that has lots of room to grow.

The reason why we can’t provide an official figure for online casino gambling is because the law prohibits domestic companies from providing these services. But if you are wondering whether New Zealand online gambling is legal, the answer is – it is not explicitly prohibited.

In other words, New Zealanders are allowed to create an account, deposit funds, play and withdraw winnings from overseas online casinos and sports betting sites.

The general rule is that New Zealanders prefer playing at well-reputed sites licensed by Gov’t authorities like the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Some of the most popular NZ online casinos and sportsbooks, like Tony Bet, bet365, and LeoVegas have already set the bar with quality games and intriguing bonuses. Other reputable NZ casino sites that you’ll find on this page have followed suit.

Read on to learn more about online gambling in New Zealand.

Is Online Gambling Legal in New Zealand?

Regulated lotto and horse betting have been a social pastime in the country since the 1900s. The NZ government legalized slot machines in the 1980s and the first legislation to regulate land casinos was signed in 1989. This is to say, Kiwis are no strangers to games of chance.

The extant piece of legislation that regulates these activities, both land-based and online, is the Gambling Act of 2003. To note, the NZ government has looked into the possibility of limiting access to online gambling but its residents still have unrestricted access.

According to the act, domestic companies are prohibited from operating or advertising online casinos or sports betting, except for the two national companies: New Zealand Totalisator Agency Board, known as NZ TAB, and the aforementioned Lotteries Commission.

The honors of providing sports betting has been with the TAB since 1996. The agency has more than 600 locations where players can bet on horse racing, rugby, cricket, football, tennis, and other sports across different leagues and competitions.

On the other hand, most punters today are attracted by the competitive odds and the sheer variety of sporting events available at offshore betting sites. The same is true for online casinos. Both options are legal, as long as it is New Zealanders who seek these venues out and not the other way around, through direct marketing.

As can be seen from the numbers above, the NZ real money online casinos and betting market is robust and there is lots of interest in sites that are licensed through the UKGC and MGA.

Established brands, like Betway, bet365, and Leo Vegas that offer casino games, sports betting, and competitive bonuses, are some of the most-often frequented venues in the NZ corner of the internet.

New Zealand Online Casinos

Barring domestic online casino operators from operating leaves a significant and underserved population of casino enthusiasts in the country. The law doesn’t concern the players, so they are free to explore an abundance of venues online.

On the other hand, some Kiwis ought to receive a bit of guidance in recognizing the best NZ online casino that is safe and legitimate, as well as which brands are worthy of opening an account.

For starters, there is a group of main attractors that make people choose one online casino over another: the games, the bonuses, and the perks. The underlying term for all of the above is the word “quality”.

Game of chance aficionados won’t deposit their money at sportsbooks and casinos that don’t have hundreds of sporting events or casino games made by trusted providers.

By that extension, bonuses need to be competitive to enhance the gaming experience. Add to the menu extra features like competitions, random drawings, kickbacks, 24/7 customer service, and the like – and there we have a recipe any New Zealander will enjoy.

And people do. NZ’s favorite casino games at land-based premises are poker and blackjack. Online pokies are a separate category that doesn’t fall behind the above. As it is common knowledge today, video slots are the main attraction at online casinos.

Good casinos should have at least five progressive jackpot slots which should resonate with players in NZ due to their tradition with the national lottery – i.e. people love huge jackpots! Another big area of interest is live dealer games which substitute perfectly for the actual land casino experience.

New Zealand Sports Betting

With sports betting being available throughout the country in 675 NZ TAB locations, people are quite familiar with how betting works. In fact, like their Aussie neighbors, Kiwis know how to take a punt on a good footie or cricket game to make the show more engaging.

On the other hand, offshore sites offer more competitive odds and bonuses that the TAB finds difficult to match. This is one of the main reasons why many New Zealanders bet at the betting companies listed on this page.

At any one moment, there can be more than a hundred sporting events available at good and adequately licensed offshore sportsbooks. The top betting sites in New Zealand make it easy to navigate on your mobile or PC.

A site that is legit should also have a digital betting slip that isn’t buggy – meaning, you can alter it with ease by removing or adding games before you conclude the bet. Internationally recognizable brands offer this, alongside rich and functional sites with SSL security and 24/7 customer care service.

To be on the safe side, sites that don’t have major football leagues like the Premier League and La Liga among others, as well as the top basketball competition like the NBA, shouldn’t be given the benefit of the doubt.

Nearly all do currency conversions automatically when depositing or withdrawing, but some venues let you select New Zealand dollars right at the get-go. Although not crucial for the gaming experience, it’s nice playing at sites that care for that detail.

Also, we suggest checking out the licensing information at the bottom of the page to make sure the venue complies with the laws of governments like the UK, Malta, Gibraltar, and others we’ve listed below.

New Zealand Online Gambling At A Glance

Even without a single domestic online casino or sportsbook, players in New Zealand have an abundance of venues with international reputations to choose from. In addition to playing online casino games, many Kiwis play games that are available on the national lottery website and mobile apps.

There are six notable resorts and casinos in New Zealand. Tourists and domestic players can enjoy a wide variety of casino games and amazing vistas from the SkyCity Casino in Auckland, which is right next to the tower itself. YOu can also play online at the Skycity casino with a bonus code.

The Christchurch casino, Grand Casino in Dunedin, and SkyCity Queenstown are a few among the rest that are worth visiting for their posh interior and the quality of the gaming experience.

Bonuses & Promotions For Online Gambling in New Zealand

Sports bettors and casino players in New Zealand can benefit from welcome bonuses and ongoing promo codes for NZ that can be easily claimed to enhance the experience. There is no “catch” in receiving bonus money in your bankroll. The main requirement, besides being of legal age, is that you are a new player at that specific casino.

New players should know there are a few key points in the terms and conditions of both casino and sportsbook bonuses:

• Wagering Requirement, otherwise known as play-through rate is the number of times (i.e. 10x) you need to bet or wager your bonus funds before being able to withdraw them to your account.
• Expiration Period, is the number of days, weeks or months during which you can use your bonus funds or free spins.
• Qualifying Bet, is the amount of money that needs to be spent on a given wager in order to unlock funds in the accompanying bonus offer.
• Qualifying games, sports or matches. In some cases, the bonus is relevant to specified games or sporting events and usually gets promoted as such.

By browsing this page for deals, New Zealanders can discover exclusive offers to play at venues that are renowned for their generous promos, unmatched catalog of games and an outstanding reputation among experienced players.

If you happen to be new to online betting and casinos, we are going to break down the essential elements that comprise a solid bonus in each of the usual categories.

Online Casino Bonuses NZ

There are three main bonus categories that players in NZ can claim to play with and win.

• The quintessential casino bonus is the so-called welcome bonus, available to players who are new to that casino brand. These tend to be generous offers, typically for a 100% deposit match up to a specific amount. For example, depositing NZ$50 provides you with a total of NZ$100.
• No deposit bonuses are rare but always welcomed by new and seasoned players alike. Simply put, this is an introductory sum of free money for bets or spins that you can get just for signing up.
• Free spins are another great way to welcome players to a casino they haven’t tried before. Some of the best welcome bonuses also include free spins on popular online pokies, but you can also get them as an independent bonus. 50 spins on a high-potential game can sometimes be better than any matched deposit.

The perks don’t stop after you use your bonus funds or spins. Ongoing promotions ensure that players are constantly rewarded for their loyalty. Online casinos create amazing offers on a regular basis, sometimes relevant to new or hot pokies or even live casino games.

Sports Betting Bonuses NZ

National sports betting operators have a difficult time one-upping the welcome bonuses promoted by online sportsbooks. Naturally, there is a wide variety of promotions for sports fans in New Zealand, and thankfully, these are regularly stellar offers.

• Free bets are one of the top promos for sports fans. Like no-deposit bonuses for casinos, this is free money to use on specific sports, games or across the sportsbook. The best part is, that some free bets are wager-free, meaning winnings can be readily withdrawn from your account.
• Risk-free or Second-chance bets can be part of a sign-up promo where the sportsbook returns your money on a losing bet. The general rule is that there is a reasonable limit for that bet or aggregate bets. Overall, it’s a pretty awesome kickback for just joining a new bookie. The best part: Winning bets are usually good to withdraw wager-free.

Many sportsbooks will match your deposit after you sign up. This kind of promo puts double the amount in your bankroll. On the other hand, wagers won from the bonus funds are subject to the venue’s play-through rate.

How Online Gambling in New Zealand Works

Residents of New Zealand need to be 20 years of age or older to be able to gamble at offshore sites legally. If this requirement checks, all you need to do is follow our safe gambling recommendations for New Zealand players and complete the steps below:

How to register an account?

Registering a casino account needs to be done in your own name and funds need to come from your personal account. The registration form requires your name, email and residential address. Accounts need to be confirmed via email or phone before you can start playing.

Desktop/Mobile play

Every online casino and sportsbook ought to run seamlessly on your PC or Mac web browser. The same is true for mobiles and tablets: you can log in and play from browsers like Safari or Chrome. Some venues enhance the gaming experience via a mobile app for Android and iPhone that can be downloaded off the official app stores.

Banking methods

Licensed, legit casinos and sportsbooks offer a variety of platforms for making deposits and withdrawals. The international gold standard consists of Visa and MasterCard in terms of credit or debit and Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, PayPal, and Paysafecard for online banking. This list is not finite as many casinos also offer regional or national payment processing platforms and/or cryptocurrencies.

Types of betting options

Residents of New Zealand can play legally at online casinos and sportsbooks. Under the first category, betting is straightforward if you play slots or online casino games. The digital interface makes increasing or lowering the amount easy.

Legit sportsbooks rarely withhold the kinds of bets that you can make on a given sport. From accumulators to live to future bets, punters can add different combinations and bets on their slips. If a given option can’t be mixed with the rest, the system simply notifies you on the screen.

Verification and Withdrawals

In compliance with the laws, real money gambling in New Zealand requires participants to fill out a KYC form to verify their account before adding funds or withdrawing winnings. The option to withdraw funds will be made available once the identity of the player has been verified and matches the name and other details on the banking method.

Support

Not every casino or sportsbook offers 24/7 live support, so those that do naturally receive more attention from the players. Communication is usually conducted via live chat or email, however, some venues also provide a phone line during working hours or non-stop.

Tips To Find Legit Online Gambling Sites in New Zealand

The venues and bonuses that you can claim on this page are here because our experts have confirmed the key requirements for the best NZ gambling sites:

• Operating license from Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC, Island of Man or Gibraltar
• Respectable welcome bonuses and promotions
• Privacy policy and company name
• International reputation and user reviews
• Features like sports leagues, the number of casino games, and providers
• Casino games tested by eCogra, iTech Labs, GLI, etc.

Why Gambling Promo Codes?

Knowledgeable players rely on our time-tested promo code aggregator to discover welcome bonuses that are rare and unique.

Our casino and betting experts sift through hundreds of offers to present our visitors with those that are really worth checking out. Right off the bat, you can compare the offers, get a sense of the key T&Cs, discover up-and-coming venues, and more – and all of this tailored to legal online gambling in New Zealand.

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