Guide to Casino Gambling in New Zealand
Bonus1 reviews online casinos and brings you the latest bonuses and promotions. This guide is an introduction to online gambling in New Zealand, explaining the regulations and laws applicable to your jurisdiction. Continue below to discover the right casino for your needs, and expert insights by our dedicated team.
List of legal NZ online casinos
- Spin Casino
- SkyCity Online Casino
- Casino.com
- Novibet Casino
- Lukki Casino
We only work with legal casino sites in New Zealand. Our list is curated to include licensed gambling sites that have been rated highly by our experts and users. We regularly update our bonus list to bring you fresh deals and new opportunities.
Disclaimer: Bonus1 might receive an affiliate fee when you play at online casinos we advertise. Nonetheless, our assessment criteria and review process are never compromised by financial interests, and objectivity is maintained at all times.
New Zealand gambling laws
Casinos in New Zealand have been legal since 1989. On the other hand, online gambling sites are not regulated on a local level, and it is illegal for an NZ company to offer online casino services like poker and pokies to Kiwis.
On the other hand, the NZ Gambling Act 2003 highlighted that overseas online casinos can provide their services to NZ players as long as they do not openly advertise in the country.
This leaves an extremely large pool of options open to Kiwi gamblers. To help, Bonus1 reviews the best online casinos accepting NZ players against the same strict criteria we enforce to casinos in regulated markets like the UK and the US.
The situation might shift completely by 2026 – the Minister of Internal Affairs announced that the Government plans to issue licenses to physical NZ casinos to operate online. This would result in a vastly different iGaming landscape, but we have to wait and see.
Official gambling bodies in New Zealand
The New Zealand Gambling Act 2003 led to the establishment of the New Zealand Gambling Commission. This body is responsible for regulating physical casinos in the country and will take a similar role for online casino sites when/if they become available.
How to spot legit casinos in New Zealand
The best way to stay safe while gambling is to only play at casinos we have approved. Our team follows a rigorous review process and an expert rating system to highlight the strong and weak areas of every online casino we promote. We do not even consider unlicensed or illegal casinos, so you can tick this box off when choosing a casino from our top-lists.
Areas we look at include bonuses and promotions, safety, transparency, reputation, company details, gaming options, wagering requirements, customer support, app performance, and user experience. Each area is carefully assessed across sub-categories and our reviewers put every feature of the casino to the test.
In reality, most Kiwi online casinos share similar elements:
- 1,000+ games
- First deposit bonus and a weekly promotions for existing users
- Mobile compatibility
- 24/7 customer support through live chat or email
- TLS encryption
- Deposit limits and exclusion options
Areas that take a casino to the next level include native apps, no deposit bonuses, partnerships with 20+ iGaming studios, networked tournaments, progressive jackpots, phone support, and other extras.
One thing you should never neglect is to ensure the casino holds a strong gambling license from a body regulating online casinos. For example, never play at New Zealand online casinos that are not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission or the MGA.
NZ online casinos to avoid
The iGaming market is extremely saturated. Backyard casinos operating without an official license are all over the internet.
Telltale signs include support for cryptocurrencies, Curacao or similar offshore iGaming licenses, hidden owners, obscure games that haven’t been tested by reputable commissions, and more. Our blacklist includes an ever-growing number of illegal online casinos you should avoid like the plague.
Having said that, some international online casinos hold decent reputations among players and have operated without problems for years. It is important to differentiate between online casinos that operate offshore but treat players with respect and pay without problems; and those that never respond to player requests, disappear when you file a withdrawal request, and constantly have you upload extra documents to pass verification.
So that we don’t ever compromise your safety, we only deal with licensed operators by the best iGaming authorities in the world. If any problem arises with them, you can take the case to the licensing authority and reach a resolution without added stress.
Playing at online casinos in New Zealand
You must be 18+ to begin playing at NZ online casinos. The first step is identifying a legit casino – don’t worry, we have you covered. Use our links to visit the official site. If we provide a promo code, copy/paste it into the registration form to unlock an exclusive bonus.
Signing up involves sharing a few personal and address information, such as your full name, age, home address, mobile number, etc. Online casinos ask for verification documents to double-check the information so that they don’t let underage or non-qualified users access their services.
When you complete the registration and verification procedure, you can visit the lobby on any desktop or mobile device. The majority of recommended casinos also have native apps for Android and iOS users. You can find links to the respective stores on their websites or search for them directly in your app store.
After you have spotted a game that interests you and are logged in, you must either activate a no deposit bonus or make a first-time deposit. Online casinos support a plethora of banking options with instant payment times; they include bank cards, online bank transfers, mobile wallets, digital wallets, and prepaid vouchers. The payment limits are flexible, too, so don’t stress about the amount of money you must commit to begin playing at online casinos.
After your casino balance is positive, simply click to launch a game, set your bet level, and have fun!
Features most NZ gambling sites share
The iGaming industry has been steadily developing since the 1990s. The original online casinos were powered by a single gaming studio, like Microgaming or RealTime Gaming, and supported credit card payments only. Of course, playing on the move was out of the question, and support took days to respond.
Today, the recommended online casinos provide an extremely high standard of service that guarantees the following:
- Safety: Digital gambling sites host important information players share with them, including banking and personal details. To approve an operator, they must safeguard those with advanced SSL encryption software as a minimum. A valid and active iGaming license is another non-negotiable criterion a casino must meet.
- Transparency: The company behind the casino, terms of service, business address, founder, gambling help, and eligibility criteria must be clearly visible on the online casino site and easy to understand. If we spot unclear clauses or unfair rules, we lower the casino’s rating and raise caution.
- Bonuses: The welcome bonus or package must include a first (or more) deposit bonus that boosts your money at a 100% or higher rate. Free spins and no deposit bonuses also help achieve higher bonus ratings. Low wagering requirements, no max winning caps, high max bet, varied game eligibility, and reasonable qualifying deposit underpin the casino’s welcome bonus true value. Promos for existing users that casinos often extend are referral programs, VIP schemes, tournaments, reload bonuses, and weekly free spins. Regular cashback and birthday bonuses are other perks you might encounter.
- Games: The bare minimum is 1,000 online casino games. In most cases, the lobby is 90% packed with pokies. Live and virtual table games, scratchcards, keno, bingo, jackpots, game shows, and instant-win games are also widely available. The quality of games and variety of features depends on the companies behind them. Top-rated casinos rent games from 10+ studios that are licensed to operate in the country; major brands include Big Time Gaming, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and Nolimit.
- Support: Live chat is the gold standard for casino customer support. Bots might initiate the dialog but access to real agents is a prerequisite for us. Email support, FAQs, a Help Centre, and a contact form are the main alternatives to resolve problems or ask for help at casinos. Phone support is also provided by some online casinos, but not all.
- Compatibility: Most of our readers play casino games on mobile. All approved online casinos are fully compatible with smartphones and tablets, and the user experience is identical to the desktop or laptop casino. Native apps might also be available for installation via the website or by visiting the virtual app stores and searching for the casino brand.
- User Experience: All main categories are one-click away from the menu, the games can be filtered by provider or category, and access is instant via all devices and browsers. Registration, verification, and payments go through instantly or within 24 hours.
- Responsible Gaming: Deposit, spending, and loss limits with customizable settings can be manually activated. You have the option to take a break or self-exclude from the casino at any point. Casinos also include links to responsible gambling bodies and support groups.
Areas that help operators stand out from the crowd include a distinctive theme, competitive bonuses, lenient wagering requirements, unique payment options or limits, and above-board customer services. You should consult our casino reviews and pay attention to the aspects that matter most to you, knowing that Bonus1-approved operators universally provide the above features.
Bonus1 helps you play casino games with an edge
We don’t just review casinos and their bonuses at Bonus1. Our team shares game guides, news stories, editorial pieces, banking method insights, and more. You should bookmark our site or sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest posts from our authors.
NZ online casino news
Watch this space for the latest developments in the market. We never fail to share legal iGaming developments, major new game releases, gambling awards, and events. Staying on top of the latest happenings can help you discover new bonus opportunities and games with unique features while staying in the know about upcoming iGaming regulations.
Reviews of Kiwi casinos
We work around the clock to review all legal online casinos in New Zealand and secure exclusive welcome bonuses for our readers. You can find our expertly written reviews of NZ casinos by our local editorial team and see what they experienced playing there. Check back regularly to never miss out on new no deposit bonuses or time-sensitive contests.
Responsible gambling in New Zealand
Gambling responsibly goes beyond finding a safe and legal online casino. While most of our work revolves around this aspect, we regularly share posts to help you effectively manage your casino bankroll and stay in control of your gaming.
Further, the online casinos we promote, and our RSG page, include links to local support groups and contacts for gambling help. To stay on top of your gaming, we recommend proactively utilizing deposit and session limits at gambling sites. Self-exclusion is the ultimate step to abstain from gambling. NZ players can also utilize the following responsible gambling bodies to manage their gaming or ask for help:
Frequently Asked Questions about online gambling in New Zealand
What is the minimum gambling age in New Zealand?
The minimum gambling age at New Zealand online casinos is 18 years old. The same is set at 20 for land-based casinos in NZ.
Are online casinos legal in New Zealand?
Online casinos operating overseas are legal in New Zealand. Approved casinos are licensed by reputable gambling authorities like the UKGC or the MGA.
Who regulates gambling in New Zealand?
The New Zealand Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2003 to regulate gambling activities in NZ. Online casinos operating offshore are not subject to its control, and are generally licensed by other authorities.
Are there any restrictions at NZ online casinos?
Online casinos in New Zealand must be based offshore and comply with the regulations set out by their licensing bodies. For instance, UKGC licensed casinos must comply with the body’s regulations when offering their services to NZ players.
Which online casino has the best bonus for Kiwi players?
At Bonus1, we regularly update our list of online casino bonuses, and the best depends on your needs. Check out our reviews and see our expert assessment of every bonus at the operators we tested.
How to verify my casino account?
Online casinos verify their players’ identities right after registration. You might need to upload an ID or Passport, an official document showing your registered address, a screenshot of the banking method used, etc. You will usually be asked to share the above before your first withdrawal, depending on the operator.
What payment methods do NZ casinos support?
NZ online casinos process transactions via debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), online bank transfers (PayID, Trustly, Instant, Wire, BPay), prepaid cards, eWallets (Skrill, Neteller, PayPal), mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and more methods.