Guide To Online Casino Bonuses in New Zealand
What is a casino welcome package? In the fiercely competitive market, online casino sites use welcome packages to attract new players. These casino sign-up bonuses take many forms, from a deposit bonus offer to free spins on trending slots, or even a combination of the two.
Once you've registered with an online casino, it should work hard to secure your ongoing loyalty. The best casino sites will provide a loyalty or VIP program where you can earn loyalty bonuses, cashback bonus deals, pokies bonus spins, access to exclusive slots and other casino rewards as an incentive to continue playing for real money.
Claiming an online casino bonus and enjoying regular casino promos may sound extremely exciting, but terms and conditions are always attached to them. Most require you to make a deposit to unlock the bonus – the no deposit bonus is an exception – and you usually need to complete wagering requirements before you can withdraw your winnings.
This page explains how most online casino bonus structures work to help you uncover their true value and choose the best online casino bonus for your needs.
How To Find And Compare The Best Casino Bonuses
Bookmark this page to find the best casino bonus deals. I'm constantly scouring the market for new and exciting casino bonus offers to help my readers gain the best value possible.
Whether you're looking at a pokies bonus or a deposit match offer to boost your bankroll, there are certain factors that you should always pay attention to before deciding which casino bonus to accept. Your primary consideration will naturally be the size of the deposit bonuses offered or the number of free spins in a slots bonus (and on which slots to play them). You must also take into account the deposit bonus percentage, the deposit amount required and the wagering requirements. Only then will you arrive at the true bonus value.
For example, one casino might offer a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $500 with a 35x wagering requirement. A rival online casino could offer a 200% bonus worth up to $250, with an 80x wagering requirement. On balance, you might decide that the first option is more appealing because it has a far lower rollover requirement, and your chances of withdrawing cash at the end of the day will be higher, even if the bonus percentage on the second offer is higher.
In an ideal world, you would enjoy a 600% matched deposit bonus, with 200 free spins thrown in and no wagering requirements. However, no sensible online casino would offer such a generous bonus, so you'll need to pick from the offers that are available.
In reality, you will always have to make a compromise. The most generous casino bonus often comes with the highest rollover requirements, so you have to find the best balance possible. And that's where I come in – to help you make the best decision, I am constantly comparing casino bonus offers at hundreds of NZ online casino platforms, then list the best casino bonuses on this page. In my casino reviews, I also present you with the most important bonus terms in a clear and concise fashion, which should give you a better idea on which casino bonus to claim.
Latest Casino Bonuses in New Zealand
The online casino industry is incredibly competitive, and players are thoroughly spoilt for choice. Casino operators regularly launch new sites and casino games in an effort to attract NZ players, but they must offer a compelling casino bonus if they are to compete with the major brands.
You can benefit from some extremely generous casino bonus deals if you sign up for an account with new casinos in New Zealand. You will often find that new online casinos offer bonuses with lower than average wagering requirements.
New casino platforms should provide slick software, an impressive range of casino games and all the latest innovations if they are to stand out. Combine this with attractive welcome packages, and you can see why it is well worth creating accounts with new casinos.
Established operators also work hard to protect their market share. They regularly improve their welcome bonuses, VIP programs and loyalty schemes in a bid to attract new customers, so it always pays to keep an eye on the market for the latest casino bonus.
Popular Online Casino Bonus Types
The casino bonuses available online fall into several different categories. It helps to gain a thorough understanding of each bonus type, as this helps you to find the most attractive options. These are the main types you might see on offer:
Welcome Bonus
An online casino welcome bonus is a catch-all term that describes the package that the casino will offer you if you sign up and make your first deposit (or deposits). It can contain several different casino bonus types, including bonus funds, free spins, cashback or loyalty points. Since this is usually the first offer you get when you join a new gambling site, it is often a very attractive one, aiming at luring in new customers.
- A welcome bonus can be a single deposit match, or it can be a series of bonus matches that are awarded across several deposits.
- An example of a slots bonus combo package would be a casino that gives 20 free spins when you register, then gives you a 100% match bonus plus 50 free spins on your first deposit, and offers a casino bonus match on your second and third deposits.
- Welcome bonuses are only available to new players.
No-Deposit Bonus
A no-deposit casino bonus is a booster that certain sites will give you without requiring a deposit. Usually offered on registration, this type of bonus is often used to persuade players to join a new casino.
- Your no-deposit bonus may be allocated automatically, or you may need to opt in or apply a bonus code to redeem it.
- A no-deposit bonus allows new players to explore the casino platform, test the games and win some before they make their first deposits. Yes, it is possible to play online pokies for real money without even making a deposit first.
- Rollover requirements apply, and a deposit is usually necessary before you can withdraw any winnings from your casino bonus.
Free Spins (No Deposit)
A "free spins no deposit" offer is similar to a no-deposit bonus, usually offered on registration. Instead of receiving bonus funds, the casino will give you a pokies bonus made up of a bundle of free spins.
- Usually, you can use any winnings from your slots bonus spins to explore other casino games.
- You need to wager your casino winnings a certain number of times, depending on the slots bonus terms, before you can make a withdrawal.
- You may need a bonus code to redeem the spins.
Deposit Match Bonus
A deposit match bonus is usually one of the components of a welcome package. If you meet the eligibility criteria and you make the required deposit, the casino will match your deposit amount by a stated percentage.
- Most welcome packages will give a bonus percentage of 100%, but the offers can range from 25% to 500%.
Free Spins
This bonus allows you to have a certain number of free spins on online pokie machines at a casino. Sometimes, a casino will offer a combination of a deposit match bonus and free spins. For example, you might receive a 100% match bonus of up to $500 plus 100 free spins.
- You need to read the terms and conditions to determine the value of these free spins.
- Rollover requirements and free spin game limitations may apply.
Bonus Code
The method that casinos use to allocate their bonus offers can vary, and one of the most popular options is through deposit bonus codes or promo codes. Basically, a bonus code is a freebie coupon, and casinos typically use them to give away bonus funds or free spins.
- When you make your qualifying deposit, simply use your bonus code when prompted during the transaction, and your rewards will be allocated to your bonus balance.
- We have seen deposit bonus codes used in various ways. Some casinos structure their entire welcome package with bonus codes and others offer exclusive rewards through casino bonus codes that are sent via email or other private channels.
No Wager Bonus
Casino players have become a lot more knowledgeable about play-through requirements, and some casinos have capitalised on this by offering cash bonuses with no wagering requirements.
- Cashback bonuses and cash spins both fall into the no wager bonus category.
- Cashback is a percentage of any losses you may have incurred over a given period. The casino will pay your cashback into your cash balance.
- Cash spins are spins that have no rollover requirements on their winnings.
- No wager bonuses generally need to be played once before they can be withdrawn. Winnings from no wager free spins can be withdrawn immediately.
Mobile Casino Bonus
Some online casino operators offer unique bonuses for mobile users. Mobile casinos are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, many casinos now adopt a mobile-first strategy. Casino bonuses can be claimed regardless whether you're registering, logging in or depositing from a mobile device, but there are mobile-only bonuses which are available only when you're registering or depositing from a mobile device, so look out for these offers.
You can benefit from many exciting mobile bonus offers when you wager using a smartphone or tablet. Pretty much all casinos allow players to clear their bonus on games played on mobile or via their app, whether your device runs on Android or iOS. Casinos are set up in a way that everything is integrated (mobile and online), so there is no difference if you play the same game on a desktop device or a mobile device. In a way, we could say that the best mobile pokies are the best pokies in general.
The only issue that you might have is that not all games are available on mobile and online just yet. It’s rare, but there is a chance that your favourite online game is not yet on mobile, so you won’t be able to clear a bonus playing on this game. Still, there are many.
There are also multiple real money casino apps that can give you the experience that you're looking for on mobile, so they are worth giving a try.
Reload Bonus
A great casino will often dish out regular reload bonuses to keep customers loyal.
- A reload bonus is generally smaller than the casino registration bonus, but they are offered regularly.
- Reload online casino bonuses can be offered daily, weekly or monthly. For example, you might receive a 25% deposit bonus up to $100 or 20 free spins if you make a deposit on the weekend.
Loyalty Points
Many online casinos have a rewards program that allows you to collect loyalty points for every wager.
- You can exchange loyalty points for a bonus code, free spins or other rewards.
- Loyalty points also define your player status, and the more you collect, the better the rewards will be.
VIP Online Casino Bonuses
Players that place large wagers or a high volume of wagers should benefit from a VIP program. VIPs can expect the following:
- Tailored casino bonuses
- Improved customer service
- Expedited payouts
- Hospitality invites and much more
Live Casino Bonus Offers
Live casinos reproduce the thrill of the casino floor by putting you in contact with a live dealer, who will be based in a studio or a land-based casino.
- Several sites offer specific live casino bonus packages.
- You can wager real money on popular table games and other exciting games while interacting with the dealer and your fellow players.
Promotions
You will occasionally find short-term promotions tied to calendar events, days of the week or new pokie releases.
- Sometimes software providers bankroll promotions when they release a new game in a bid to generate publicity.
- You can often benefit from free spins, bonus credit or prize draws.
Refer a Friend
Many casinos will reward you for encouraging friends and family to sign up. The bonus amount that you receive will generally be tied to the amount your friend deposits.
Trivia: 'Bonus' is a Latin word meaning 'good', which later started to mean something given to a person on top of what is expected. Its first recorded use in print was way back in 1759.
Finding Bonuses for Individual Casino Games
You will often notice that casinos tie bonuses to certain games. It could be designed to promote that particular game, or it could be because it is a relatively low-variance game that would not cost the casino much to offer a bonus on it. Some of the most popular games usually used for an online casino joining bonus are Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Jack and the Beanstalk and Twin Spin.
New games are often promoted with free spins, so look out for the newly launched pokies. The game developer may even help to fund these bonus spin bundles.
Sometimes a casino will give you a choice between two or three different welcome bonuses. Players can benefit from the ability to tailor online casino bonuses to their requirements. You might also be able to choose between a live casino bonus, deposit match bonuses for mobile and so on, depending on the type of games you like to play.
The Pokies Bonus
Pokies are the most popular and most played games at NZ casinos. Which is why at most sites you will find hundreds of slots to choose from. This makes it a tough pick to work out the good from the bad.
The popularity of games is there for all to see. You have the ability to win huge sums of money from tiny stakes. In fact, the wins that progressive jackpot pokies produce can literally be amazing, which is a feature that not too many casino games can boast. This is why so many New Zealand online casinos will often have some type of deposit bonus slots offer up on their site.
Which Pokies Can I Get a Bonus For?
With thousands of games to choose from, the number of pokies that you can get a bonus for is pretty large these days. However, even though some games are more popular than others, it does not mean that you can get an online pokies bonus for every game out there.
Below, we have listed the best games to get a pokies bonus for:
- Starburst
- Gonzo’s Quest Megaways
- Twin Spin
- Book of Dead
- Big Bass Bonanza
- Thunderstruck II
- Money Train 3
- Blood Suckers Megaways
Finding the Deals: Online Pokies Bonus Offers
By searching and reviewing hundreds of online casinos available in New Zealand, I try to bring you the best pokies bonus offers that can boost your play and give you more value for your money.
I spend a lot of time going through the T&Cs of any online slots bonus I come across. It’s only once I’ve completely gone through these that I can assess if a bonus is worthy of promotion or not. Here I want to put your mind at rest that it's part of my job to stay totally impartial. Yes, I want to make sure that you get the right pokies bonuses for the games that you want to play, but I won’t push a site based on reputation just for the sake of it. The range of bonuses on offer means I simply don’t need to push bad offers.
It’s also important to make sure that you keep bonus expectations in line. Casino bonuses generally aren’t easy to clear, and you have to work hard to get your free cash.
That being said, they aren’t impossible either, and the casino dangles the carrot to make sure you have to work a little for your money. Some make you work harder than others, which is where we come in to alert you which offers the best value.
Types of Online Pokies Bonuses
Online casinos are ever-changing, and the bonuses that come with them are one of the easiest things that they can change. Any two offers rarely are the same, but there are plenty that have a similar theme to them.
Special Offers on Pokies
A wide range of casinos now promotes several special offers on certain games. They are almost always linked with the launch of new pokies, and in return, it gives players the chance to play these games for free but with real money.
The offers range, but they typically include things like pokies tournaments, extra prizes based on your wins, cash, gadgets, cars and many more.
Reload Pokies Bonus
These offers are for existing players once they have made their initial deposit and usually claim the welcome offer that goes along with this. Casinos will offer a pokies bonus on a player's 2nd, 3rd, 4th and even up to 5th deposit at that casino.
Cashback Pokies Bonus
A cashback pokies bonus is different than other types of online casino bonuses. Here what you get is a sort of refund. If you opt-in for a cashback pokies bonus, the casino where you are playing will give you back a percentage of the losses you incur when playing a qualifying slot. You'll find cashback offers either as part of an online casino welcome bonus or as a weekly offer for regular customers. The percentage of the losses you get back depends entirely on the casino. They might have different tiers depending on the amount you deposit.
Casino Bonus Deposit Options
Most casino bonus types will be triggered when you make a real money deposit. You should have a variety of deposit methods available if you choose one of the top NZ casinos.
The best online casino payment methods include: credit and debit cards, e-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill or PayPal, and while these are the most popular ones, it is also possible to make payments via wire transfer, prepaid vouchers like Paysafecard, prepaid card providers like GiroPay, or slightly more niche options, such as Sofort, Trustly, SEPA, Zimpler, Siru, Boku and EntroPay. Some online casinos will accept cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ripple and Tether, as deposit methods too.
You should note that some casino bonus terms specifically exclude deposits made through Neteller or Skrill, and some casinos exclude all cryptocurrencies. If you want to claim the casino deposit bonus, make sure your chosen payment method will not disqualify your deposit.
Your best bet is to use a debit card for your initial deposit and then switch to an e-wallet for subsequent deposits. Many players like to use PayPal, but some online casinos don't accept it, so you can check out my list of all the best PayPal casinos.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting an Online Casino Bonus
Claiming the latest online casino bonuses is simple. Just follow these steps:
- Use Casinos.com to identify the best and most reputable online casinos that offer the best casino bonuses in New Zealand.
- Sign up with your personal details, choose a password, verify your email address and provide proof of ID.
- Read the terms and conditions thoroughly.
- If necessary, use the relevant bonus code to claim your bonus funds, or opt in to claim the bonus if the casino requires this step.
- Make a deposit using your preferred payment method. You will then unlock the online casino welcome bonus, and the funds will be credited.
How Do Welcome Bonuses Work?
Most casino signup bonuses work in the same general way; you need to register for an account and meet the eligibility criteria to claim the offer. You also need to complete the playthrough requirements within a set timeframe before withdrawing any funds.
These online casino welcome bonus offers are only available for new players, but with so many New Zealand online casinos, there is an abundance of offers to claim. With that said, all casino welcome bonuses are slightly different from one another. So, it is always advisable to shop around for the best welcome bonus casino sites are offering.
Below is how I would recommend you to go about finding and claiming a bonus offer:
- Find an Online Casino: Check out our recommended online casinos here at Casinos.com and compare the welcome bonus for each. Choose a site with the best online casino bonuses based on your unique requirements.
- Register for an Account: Click on the link in our review articles to head to the online casino site. Once there, click the “Register” or “Signup” button and fill in the registration form. You will need to provide personal information and set up a username and password.
- Make a Deposit: Most welcome bonuses require you to make a deposit. Therefore, head to the deposit section and choose your preferred payment method. For example, if you're playing at a top PayPal casino, choose that as your payment method. Enter the deposit amount and click “Confirm”, ensuring you’ve hit the minimum deposit requirement.
- Claim Your Welcome Bonus: The online casino welcome bonus should appear in your account after your first deposit. Use this to play casino games and win real money. The games available to you depend on the type of bonus offer.
- Fulfil the Wagering Requirements: Almost all casino signup bonus offers have wagering requirements. Sites always outline this figure in the T&Cs. Fulfil these requirements within the allotted time frame so you can withdraw your winnings.
Cashable vs Non-Cashable Welcome Bonus
I've already described the main types of welcome bonus offers available at casinos. However, there is another way to separate bonuses; all offers will be cashable or non-cashable (also called a “sticky” bonus). You must understand the difference between these types of promotions and how this can affect your payout.
Cashable Welcome Bonus
Cashable online casino bonuses are the simplest type of welcome bonus. Once you have met the wagering requirements, you can withdraw your initial deposit and the bonus amount as cash. In other words, your combined bankroll after claiming the bonus is the money you have available to cash out after, of course, you have cleared the playthrough requirements.
Non-Cashable Welcome Bonus
Non-cashable or “sticky” bonus offers do not allow players to withdraw the welcome bonus amount. Therefore, the amount you can cash out (having met the wagering requirements) is your combined bankroll minus the bonus amount. For example, you could get a bonus of $100 and with it, you may win $200, but you can only cash out the $200 while the bonus amount stays with the casino. In other words, it's just to boost your playing balance.
This is where the phrase “sticky bonus” comes from – the welcome bonus never leaves your account and sticks with the online casino.
Choosing the Best Welcome Bonus
If you ask me, I'll tell you that choosing a casino welcome bonus can be quite challenging. All welcome bonuses are different, so they are not easily comparable. With different bonus amounts, wagering requirements, and percentage matches, there is a lot to consider. How can you determine which is the best?
Here are a few tips on spotting the best welcome bonus offers available at online casino sites:
- Type of Bonus: No-deposit bonuses are among the best casino welcome bonuses as they require no upfront investment. Welcome packages are also great as you are continuously rewarded, while free spins might be your preferred bonus type if you’re an online pokies fan.
- Terms & Conditions: Always read through the T&Cs of any casino welcome bonus you’re interested in claiming. What initially appears as a lucrative welcome offer can have unfavourable terms and vice versa.
- Wagering Requirements: The best welcome bonus offers have low wagering requirements. The industry average is between 30-40x, so we recommend aiming for these requirements or lower.
- Restricted Games: Some casino signup bonuses only allow you to play certain games while clearing the bonus. Others let you play whatever, but the games contribute different amounts. Check that you can play the titles you enjoy when clearing the welcome bonus.
- Availability in Your Location: Some casino welcome bonuses are only available in certain countries or jurisdictions. Sites always detail this in the terms and conditions, so check if it's available in your location to avoid disappointment.
- Time Limits & Expirations: Most casino bonus offers have an expiry date. Similarly, wagering requirements also come with time limits. The longer you have to clear the welcome bonus, the easier it is to do so.
- Excluded Payment Methods: Some welcome bonuses restrict what payment methods you can use when funding your account. Watch out for this, and if your preferred payment method isn’t available, you might be better off signing up for a different online casino.
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Understanding First Deposit Bonuses
This casino registration bonus is tied to the first deposit you make at a particular online casino. The amount of bonus credit you receive depends on the amount you deposit. For example, you might see a 100% match bonus up to $100. If you deposit $100 of your own money, you'll unlock the full bonus amount, giving you $200 to play with.
There is generally a minimum amount that you must deposit to qualify for this bonus. The minimum deposit amount can range from $1 to more than $50. If it is $20, for example, you would receive $40 to wager on casino games when you trigger a 100% matched deposit bonus.
How Do Free Spins Bonuses Work?
Several casinos will offer you free spins when you register. It essentially allows you to test drive a casino without having to risk your own money. The free spins will often be limited to just one particular pokie or a handful of pokies.
The free spins will generally be worth the lowest possible stake on a particular pokie. For example, if you are given 30 free spins on Starburst, you can spin the reels 30 times with a wager of $0.10 for each spin. Some casinos offer bonus spins with higher values, which can have a big impact on your winnings.
Once you have played your free spins, your winnings will be added to your balance. Free spin winnings are normally treated as a casino bonus and are subject to wagering requirements before you can make a cash withdrawal.
What are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements refer to the number of times you will have to wager your bonus credit before it becomes eligible for withdrawal. They are also known as rollover requirements or play-through requirements.
These requirements have a significant impact on the value of online casino bonuses. For example, you might receive a $100 casino bonus with a 35x wagering requirement. This means you will need to play the bonus 35 times before you can make a withdrawal. The same bonus amount with 70x wagering will double the amount that you have to bet before you can claim your winnings.
Rollover requirements are designed to protect casinos from bonus abuse. Without these requirements, you could simply deposit $100, receive $100 in free credit, withdraw $200 and walk away with a tidy profit. It also gives the casino time to sell itself to you.
The hope is that you will fall in love with the casino while playing through your match bonus credit 35 times and remain a long-term customer.
Not all casino games contribute 100% towards play-through requirements. Although pokies can deliver massive payouts, table games like blackjack and roulette have a lower house edge if the player understands good strategy. For this reason, table games may contribute very little or nothing at all to the rollover requirements. In general, the online pokie bonus is a lot more common than a bonus that can be used on other games. And even when they offer a bonus, blackjack sites are a lot more cautious with how much bonus they offer and under which conditions.
Generally, video pokies count 100% towards the play-through requirements. However, you might find that roulette only contributes 10%. It means that for every $10 you wager on online roulette, only $1 of that counts towards the wagering requirements. In this example, a roulette player who claims a $100 bonus with a 35x rollover would need to wager $35,000 before making a withdrawal because roulette only contributes 10% to the requirements.
Why You Should Always Read Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions
Online casinos love to shout about how generous and exciting their bonuses are, but there is always a catch. There will be rollover requirements imposed upon the online casino bonuses, and these are generally buried in the terms and conditions.
It is, therefore, imperative you scrutinise the bonus terms and conditions before determining how attractive the various casino bonus packages actually are.
We will explain wagering requirements in more detail in the subsequent section, but there are plenty of other factors to look out for. These include game eligibility, minimum deposits, maximum bonus caps, bet sizes, maximum win amounts, time limits and withdrawal limits.
If you don't read the terms and conditions properly, you could be in for a nasty surprise further down the line. You might find your bonus has expired, or you might not be able to withdraw as much as you thought you were entitled to. In some cases, you may also miss out on your bonus completely if you don't use a deposit code.
You should also avoid any casinos that don't clearly display the bonus terms and conditions. The best casino bonus deals provide clear links to the fine print. If you don't see terms and conditions, you should consider walking away, as it could be an unlicensed online casino or a site that will deny payment when you try to make a withdrawal.
Casinos.com only recommends legitimate, trustworthy online casinos and the latest bonuses you find on this page are all above board, with no bogus terms.