Best Sites in New Zealand for 2023

A high-payout casino is one that offers a selection of fast and reliable payout methods that suit your needs and be clear about how long it takes to process withdrawals. After all, no one wants to wait weeks to receive their money after a big win. 

The most lucrative wins come from games with high RTPs and low volatility. For example, a game with an RTP of 96% will pay back $96 for every $100 wagered on average. A high-payout casino should have high RTP rates for its games across all categories. Some of the games that offer the biggest payouts include Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, and Jackpot Giant, with jackpots that can reach millions of dollars.

Bear in mind that the RTP percentage is only theoretical and thus getting better payouts isn't something that necessarily happens, most casino games are games of luck. 

Best Mobile Casinos and Apps 

Mobile casinos and apps offer convenience, flexibility, and portability, allowing you to play your favourite mobile pokies and other casino games on the go. Every mobile casino should offer compatibility with different devices and operating systems, seamless functionality, a user-friendly design, and a strong variety of games.

Some casinos have also created dedicated casino apps, giving you the choice of whether to play on their native app or a mobile version of the main site. Apps usually offer faster loading times, better graphics, and a more immersive experience. On the other hand, the mobile version doesn’t require you to download anything – you simply access it directly from your mobile browser, making it a bit more convenient.

Here are the best casinos for mobile games in 2023:

Another way to gauge the quality of an online casino is to look at what awards it has won. Being recognized as the best in the industry for a particular category is not an easy feat, and is a testament to the operator’s reputation, innovation, quality, and customer service, among other attributes.

Recent award winners include:

• 888 Casino, which won Casino Operator of the Year at the 2022 ERG Awards, commonly considered the Oscars of the online gaming industry.
• Videopokies won Online Casino Operator of the Year and Pokies Operator of the Year at the 2022 International Gaming Awards (IGA)
• Leo Vegas won Online Gaming Operator of the Year at the 2022 IGA.

How to Choose the Best Online Casino in New Zealand

The easiest way to choose the best online casino in New Zealand is to check Casinos.com of course! We have reviewed hundreds of casino sites, and regularly update our lists of sites that excel in different areas. 

However, if you want to do your own research, there are many factors that go into choosing a casino, such as licensing and regulation, security, game variety, payment methods, bonuses, customer support, and unique site features. In this section, we'll take a closer look at each one.

Licensed and Regulated Casinos Are More Trustworthy

It probably goes without saying, but it's important that you pick an online casino in New Zealand that you trust. But how can you separate them when they all claim to have your best interests at heart? 

Well, the answer is to choose a casino that holds a valid license from a reputable authority like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) or the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). These authorities have strict rules and standards that the casinos have to follow to retain their license. This means that each casino must: 

• operate in a legal and ethical manner
• use random number generators to ensure games are completely fair
• protect your personal and financial data using encryption and firewalls
• pay out your winnings promptly and securely
• have a dispute resolution process in place and a customer support team
• support responsible gambling and offer self-exclusion options.

On the other hand, if you play at an unlicensed casino, there's a risk you may not be able to deposit or withdraw your money with your preferred casino payment methods or currency, or in extreme cases you may not be able to win anything or get your money back if the casino closes down.

At Casinos.com, we only recommend licensed and regulated online casinos to play at. We check their license certificate is valid and remove any from our lists that fall foul of the regulations.

Security Measures Protect Your Data and Your Cash

The best online casinos don't skimp on security measures. They invest in advanced technology to protect your data and transactions, giving you the confidence that your personal and financial information is secure. 

Some of the main factors that affect security include:

• Encryption: This is a process of converting your data into unreadable code that can only be decrypted by authorized parties. A secure online casino should use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption to protect your data.
• Data protection: This is a set of rules and practices that govern how your data is collected, stored, used, and shared by the casino. Trustworthy online casinos will clearly explain – in plain English – what data they collect and why, as well as how they use it, who they share it with, how long they keep it, and how you can access, update, or delete it.
• Privacy policy: This is a document that outlines how the casino respects your privacy and protects your data from third parties. The privacy policy must comply with the relevant laws and regulations, such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
• KYC: This stands for Know Your Customer, and is a process of verifying your identity and age when you register or make a withdrawal. At the best online casinos you’ll be asked to provide proof of your identity, address, and payment method.
• Security audits: The most reputable online casinos are also regularly audited by independent testing agencies, such as eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), iTech Labs, and GLI (Gaming Laboratories International). These audits check that the games are fair and random, the software is secure, and that the casino complies with industry standards.

A Healthy Variety of Games to Suit Your Tastes

This is the fun part – after all, playing games is the reason anyone signs up for an online casino in the first place. But how do you separate one casino from another, especially when they all seem to offer a wide range of games to play, including real money pokies, table games, and live dealer games.

However, as we've already seen, operators tend to excel in different areas, so the trick is to pick one that has a healthy selection of the games you're interested in. Poker fans will mainly be interested in exploring online poker sites, while baccarat aficionados should check out what baccarat sites are available.

Another huge factor here is the software providers they work with. Do they feature games from just one or two software companies or several? Do they partner with the top software providers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, and Play'n Go? Some casinos even offer exclusive or branded games that you won't find anywhere else, so it pays to do your research.

Convenient Payment Methods that Pay Out Quickly

The thrill of winning at an online casino can be a tremendous rush. But having to wait ages for the casino to process your withdrawal request can be incredibly frustrating. That is why payment methods matter and having a variety is always good. If you have a preferred payment method that you use otherwise on a daily basis, you would normally be looking for a site that supports that payment method.

The time it takes for deposits and withdrawals to register comes down to two factors: the payment method chosen and the casino's internal procedures.

Most casinos will provide a range of payment providers and methods to choose from, but they will vary wildly in how they operate. The fastest casino withdrawals are usually e-wallets, while at the other end of the scale, bank transfers or cheques can take a week or two. Debit and credit cards fall somewhere in the middle, and since so many people already have them, some people may want to consider online casinos that accept visa, as an example.

It's also the case that certain methods are usually not allowed to be used for redeeming bonuses since they can be used to commit what's known as bonus abuse, which is where a person signs up for several bonuses at the same casino because of the anonymity offered by the tool. So make sure you read the terms and conditions of any payment method that interests you in preventing a nasty surprise later down the line.

Bonuses that Enhance Your Gameplay

At first glance, many New Zealand online casino sites seem to offer a wide range of generous bonuses and promotions for both new and existing players. These bonuses can be anything from deposit matches, free spins or even no deposit bonuses, and appear to boost your bankroll for free and improve your gaming experience. 

However, the truth is a little more complicated. The expression "There's no such thing as a free lunch" could be rephrased as "There's no such thing as a (completely) free bet" in the world of online gambling since all bonuses will come with various terms and conditions. 

They say to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and nowhere does this ring truer than in the world of casino bonuses. So take your time to fully understand what's involved with each offer so that you're able to make an informed choice about whether it suits you.

Helpful and Prompt Customer Support

At even the most professional and efficient casinos, there may be moments when you need to seek answers from the support team. Whether this process is frictionless or frustrating comes down to two factors: the range of ways you can get in touch with a representative and the actual response time.

The best casino sites in New Zealand will offer multiple ways to contact customer support, such as live chat, phone, email, and FAQs. These channels are in place to meet customers' individual preferences since some people prefer calling a representative directly while others are happy to use a chat service or write an email.

Response times also contribute greatly to customer support quality. Of course, this will depend on the method of contact chosen, but there's no doubt that some operators answer queries quicker than others. Reading reviews for a casino on Casinos.com will give you a strong idea of its response time since that's one of many areas we put to the test.

Customer support is often underrated and players only become aware of it once they need their help. We make sure to check and evaluate a casino's customer support, so we can pass on our verdict in time and you'll know what to expect. 

Unique Site Features Can Provide a Better User Experience

The final factor to look out for is whether the casino has gone the extra mile to deliver a truly memorable playing experience. There are a number of features that a casino may lay on to make playing more fun or spending time at the online casino more enjoyable.

These features can include:

• An attractive design, including a clear interface, appealing visual elements, and intuitive navigation.
• Gamification, which turns your play into a game itself by adding elements such as levels, missions, achievements, rewards, and leaderboards.
• Tournaments, where you compete with other players for special prizes … or just the sheer glory of being the best.
• A loyalty program, where you can be rewarded for your activity at the casino in the form of benefits and perks.

Whenever you come across an online casino, one of the first things you'll be presented with will be a bonus trying to tempt you to sign up. They can come in many shapes and sizes, and the best ones give players a boost to their bankroll or the chance to try out new games for free.

In this section we'll look at the most common types of bonuses in more detail, then discuss the terms and conditions you should be aware of. 

Welcome Offers

One of the most common types of bonuses offered by online casinos is the welcome offer. As the name suggests, this is presented to new players in a bid to get them to sign up at the casino. Welcome offers can come in different forms such as match bonuses, free spins, cashback, and more. But while they can boost your bankroll and give you more chances to win, they are limited to new players only and come with wagering requirements.

No Deposit Bonuses

A rare treat if you can find one, a no deposit bonus is usually given to players without requiring them to make a deposit, and can include free cash, free spins, and free play. Sounds too good to be true? You're right to be a bit skeptical. No deposit bonuses can be a great way to play for free, but they often come with extremely high wagering requirements and usually have a low value.

Deposit Bonuses

Deposit bonuses are given to players when they deposit cash at the online casino. These include match bonuses, percentage bonuses, and fixed bonuses, and the idea is to increase your bankroll and give you more chances to win. The downside is they often have minimum deposit requirements and expiry dates.

Free Spins

Free spins give you a chance to spin the reels of an online pokie game for free. This popular pokies bonus can come in different forms such as no deposit free spins, deposit free spins, and wager-free spins. The benefits of free spins are obvious – you get to play pokies for free and potentially win real money. However, they often come with game restrictions and win limits.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses reward regular players and give them more chances to win, by adding more cash to your bankroll. They may be given out weekly or monthly, or as a reward for continuous loyalty. They often have lower value than welcome offers and come with frequency limits.

Other Common Casino Bonuses

There are also other common types of casino bonuses such as cashback bonuses, referral bonuses, VIP bonuses, and tournament prizes. These can offer benefits such as recovering losses, inviting friends, getting exclusive perks, and competing with other players.

Wagering Requirements

One thing you need to be aware of when it comes to bonuses and promotions are wagering requirements. These are the amount of money that you must wager overall before you can withdraw any winnings from your bonus. 

For example, let's say you're offered a 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $400, and it comes with a 35x wagering requirement. This means you would have to play that bonus credit through 35 times before you can claim any winnings. In other words, before you could actually withdraw any money, you'd have to keep betting any winnings you get from that bonus until you had placed $14,000 in wagers. 

And if your favourite game only counted 10% towards the requirement, this figure would go up to a whopping $140,000!

Other T&Cs To Be Aware Of

Wagering requirements aren’t the only conditions to take into account. The other major factors to look out for are:

• Game contribution – this is the percentage of each game type that contributes towards the wagering requirements. For example, pokies usually contribute 100%, while table games may contribute 10% or less. The higher the game contribution, the better the bonus.
• Excluded games – not all games are allowed to be played with the bonus. For example, some progressive jackpot pokies or live casino games may be excluded. If you play these games with the bonus, you may forfeit the bonus or any winnings from it.
• Time limits – it’s vital to know how long the bonus is valid for. For example, some bonuses expire after a few days or weeks, while others last for months or even years. The longer the validity, the better the bonus.
• Bet restrictions – bonuses often come with rules about bet sizes, maximum win amounts, and withdrawal limits, so don’t assume that you have a free hand to bet and win whatever you like.

As you can see, it's essential that you dig beyond the flashy headline figures before signing up for a bonus, otherwise, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise later down the line.

It's easy to sign up at one of the top New Zealand online casinos. Just follow these steps:

1. Choose an online casino: The first step is to choose a casino that meets your needs and preferences. Casinos.com is dedicated to identifying the best casinos, bonuses, and games in every category imaginable, and our in-depth casino reviews delve into the advantages and disadvantages of each operator.
2. Visit the online casino: Once you have chosen an interesting-looking casino site, visit their website. Take a look around to get a feel for it and make sure it meets your needs, and of course read the small print, especially when it comes to bonuses and payment providers.
3. Begin the registration process: To begin the registration process, click on the “Sign up”, “Register”, or “Play Now” icon. This will take you to a page where you can enter your details and claim your sign-up bonus.
4. Enter your details: You will need to enter all the required details, such as your name, address, and date of birth. Make sure to enter all information accurately, as it will be used to verify your identity.
5. Verify your account: After entering your details, you will need to verify your account. This may involve uploading some ID or completing a phone verification. Follow the instructions provided by the online casino to complete this step.
6. Start playing: That's it! You're now ready to play all your favourite games.

Payment Methods and Withdrawals at New Zealand Online Casinos

The best New Zealand casino sites will offer you a wide range of payment methods to choose from to deposit and withdraw money. They all differ in terms of how they work, their speed, and whether they come with any limitations attached, so it's important to choose the right one for your needs.

Types of Casino Deposit Methods in New Zealand

Debit and credit cards are the most popular payment methods in New Zealand as they provide highly secure transactions. Added to that, most Kiwis already own at least one debit card, so it’s easy to start making deposits quickly at Visa Electron casinos or Maestro casinos, for example. However, some banks charge fees for using them, and the withdrawal process can take longer than other methods – we're talking days rather than hours.

E-wallets like Paypal or Skrill facilitate lightning-quick withdrawals – sometimes, the money arrives in your account instantly. They’re also popular because of their convenience, as they allow you to keep all your funds in one place, which is especially handy if you have accounts at multiple casinos. However, some Skrill casinos don't offer bonuses for e-wallet deposits, and some may charge fees for transactions.

Online banking is another popular option in New Zealand, allowing you to make payments directly from your bank account. It's fast, secure, and often comes with lower fees than other methods. However, not all New Zealand banks support online casino transactions, and withdrawals can be painfully slow.

Prepaid cards like Paysafecard offer a secure and anonymous way to make deposits, but they usually come with lower deposit limits and cannot be used for withdrawals. Pay by phone casinos allow you to quickly and easily make payments via your mobile phone bill. However, they often have lower deposit limits, and some providers or casinos may charge transaction fees, so you need to check the T&Cs carefully.

Several award-winning software providers are engaged in a continual battle to release the most exciting new games each year. Here are some of the leading game suppliers to look out for.

NetEnt

NetEnt was founded in 1996 by Pontus Lindwall, who, it's fair to say, had gambling in his blood – his father built Sweden’s largest restaurant casino operator and his mother was a croupier. Today, NetEnt is a leading provider of premium gaming solutions to some of the world’s most successful online casino operators. Some of their most famous games include Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Mega Fortune.

Evolution Gaming

Evolution Gaming was founded in Sweden in 2006. The company provides a variety of high-class casino games to hundreds of the best online casinos. Specializing in live casinos, in 2021 Evolution won the Live Casino Supplier of the Year award for the 12th year running at the EGR B2B Awards. With the acquisitions in the past few years, Evolution Gaming grew to become one of the biggest, if not the biggest player in the industry. In 2020 they acquired another Swedish giant - NetEnt, then in 2021 they bought Big Time Gaming and in 2022 Evolution acquired Nolimit City.

Microgaming

This Isle of Man-based company has been one of the world’s leading software providers since it was founded in 1994. It specializes in pokies, and its hugely successful title Mega Moolah was responsible for the biggest-ever casino payout – €17,879,645 in 2015.

Playtech

Founded in 1999, Playtech is the world's largest supplier of online gaming and sports betting software. They provide operators all over the world with famous games such as Age of the Gods, White King, and Big Bad Wolf, as well as games for specific brands such as Marvel, HBO, NBC, and DC Entertainment – including titles like Justice League, Superman, and The Dark Knight.

Play'n GO

Play'n GO was founded in 2005, also in Sweden. The company is somewhat of a pioneer in the gaming industry as they were the first to recognize the potential of mobile gaming. Today they provide titles to regulated casino operators in over 25 jurisdictions, including Diamond Vortex, Riddle Reels, and Rally 4 Riches.

Other Software Providers

Other exciting developers to look out for include Novomatic, Ygdrasil, Ash Gaming, Quickspin, and Thunderkick.

In this section we're going to dive into the differences between playing at an online casino and a more traditional bricks-and-mortar establishment. Both have their advantages and disadvantages you should be aware of when deciding where to play.

No longer seen as niche and perhaps risky, online casinos are now an established part of the New Zealand gambling scene. They owe much of their popularity to their convenience and accessibility – you can play all of your favourite casino games anytime and anywhere. An enormous advantage casino sites have over land-based ones is the huge range of games they can offer, including multiple variants of popular games like roulette, blackjack, and real money pokies. They also provide attractive bonuses and promotions, as well as flexible betting limits.

One clear disadvantage of online casinos is the lack of social interaction and atmosphere found in land-based casinos. Traditional casinos also have a wider range of amenities to enjoy, including restaurants, bars, and entertainment shows. However, visiting a land-based casino requires travel, which not everyone is able to do comfortably. Additionally, the minimum betting limits at land-based casinos may be higher, and players may need to wait for their preferred games or tables to become available.

Ultimately, the choice between online and land-based casinos depends on your personal tastes and priorities. Some people have a clear preference for one or the other, but many players are able to enjoy both formats, picking the one that suits them best at any given moment.

One of the biggest concerns for new players is the misconception that the games are unfair, giving players little to no chance of winning. And it's a valid concern – after all, you're putting your money on the line.

But the good news is that the best New Zealand online casinos only provide games with clearly laid out Return to Player (RTP) ratios built in to ensure that the games pay out regularly. An RTP of 98%, for example, means that 98% of all money wagered is paid back out to players in winnings, meaning that you have a theoretical 98% chance of winning with any given bet.

The games also use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to make them mathematically fair. This means that the outcome of any game is completely random and cannot be influenced by any external factors. Therefore there is practically zero chance of a licensed casino scamming you or rigging the games in their favour. 

Who Watches Over Online Casinos?

But how do you know that operators are actually playing by the rules? Well, the best online casinos are licensed by authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. These bodies have stringent rules that operators must follow to get or keep their licence, including being regularly audited to ensure they are fair.

Which Laws Regulate New Zealand Online Casinos?

Online gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Gambling Act of 2003 is the law that governs all gambling activity in the country, including online gambling. Although technically, remote gambling is not legal, Kiwis can still play online at casinos based elsewhere. Many of these casinos, such as the ones reviewed by Casinos.com, are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gambling Authority, both of which issue the most trusted and reputable gambling licenses in the world. 

The legal gambling age in NZ is 18 years if you want to play online (but you must be at least 20 to visit one of the 6 land-based casinos in New Zealand).

How Do Casino Sites Promote Responsible Gambling?

Many people play at online casinos for fun or because they dream of winning big, but others are worried about becoming addicted or losing a lot of money. To address this, the best online casinos support responsible gambling, which encourages betting in moderation so that it stays fun and doesn't get out of control.

Casinos therefore put in place responsible gambling measures to ensure the safety of players. These include self-exclusion options, betting limits, and support services to help players gamble responsibly. Plus, the upcoming credit card ban will also force players to only gamble with money they have, not money they don't. But the truth is that many casinos already follow this practice, so it may be worth finding one that does.