NZ Online Casinos Reviews

Online Casinos

Finding an online casino that meets your needs can be time-consuming if you are unsure what to check. But thanks to online casino reviews in New Zealand, you can quickly get all the details you seek in one go. However, to do that, you need to find reliable platforms to source your information. That's where platforms like ours come in to save the day.

We are one of the best NZ online casino review sites. Our team is made up of dedicated casino gamers, ready to ensure you always have an enjoyable and safe time while online. That's why all our reviews are detailed, guaranteeing you're well-informed about what to expect before you join a casino accepting NZ players. So let's check out what it takes to create a casino review and why they are important in casino gaming.

Lizzie W. Written & published: 28.08.2020 By author Lizzie W.
Richard B. Reviewed & updated: 14.03.2024 By gambling expert Richard B.

Top online casino reviews: Why gamblers should read them

Depending on the kind of experience you seek online, there are many different things you're likely to research as you look for the ideal site. It could be you're more interested in the bonuses, or you'd only like real money casinos regulated by specific licensing bodies. Whatever the case, you need to check various platforms to get the right information before signing up as a new member. To save time, you can get a detailed breakdown from a reputable NZ online casino review site.

A casino review covers many aspects of any given platform. The aim is to ensure you get enough information to help you decide whether that casino is one you'd like to join. And if it isn't, you'll also get to see what it lacks, just in case it's an element that's not a deal breaker for you.

Reading the best online casino reviews only takes a few minutes, but helps you land the right online casino for you in NZ. You'll have sections with detailed information about the various casino aspects, plus a summary section in case you don't have the time to go through it all. So instead of spending many hours combing through online sites looking for gamer comments about the best online casino reviews on your chosen site, you can use an NZ online casino review like the ones we have to make your decision within minutes.

 

How the best casino reviews are created

It takes a lot of research to come up with the best online casino reviews for our readers. So to ensure we always create in-depth breakdowns for you, we have a checklist that each of our team members adheres to. That's in addition to creating user accounts at the various casinos, so we get the exact experience as other registered NZ players. The criteria we check include

  • Licenses acquired
  • Available payment methods
  • Security measures in use
  • Offered bonuses and promotions
  • Customer support options
  • Gaming assortment 
  • Software developers on board

If the above check out, then we can proceed to check other areas like the accepted currencies and compatible mobile platforms, among others. Let's see what you should focus on when checking each of the above elements.

 

Online casino banking

Enhance your gaming thrills by making real money wagers on your chosen games. NZ casinos offer leading options to help you make safe online payments whenever you need to. These range from fiat currency payments using credit and debit cards, eWallets, bank transfers, and more to crypto transactions using options like Tether and Bitcoin. Here are the popular fiat currency payment options for Kiwis.

  • POLi

    POLi

    POLi is an Aussie-founded online banking option launched in 2006 by Centricom. It's currently only available to Kiwi and Aussie players, with transactions incurring no fees. And since it's an online banking option, New Zealand gamers looking to use it must have operational bank accounts at Kiwibank, ANZ, Westpac, ASB, TSB, BNZ, or The Co-operative Bank.

    This option is popular thanks to its fast transactions and top-notch security since you don't provide your banking details to transact. POLi can only be used for deposits, which means you’ll need to find a different withdrawal method. All payments are instant and done directly to and from your bank account. So there's no need to transfer your funds to a different payment service provider to transact with your chosen casino.

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  • neteller

    Neteller and Skrill

    These two eWallets are extremely popular when it comes to online casino transactions. They're digital payment solutions managed by the PaySafe Group, an established FinTech service provider. As such, you can expect the use of firewalls and high-end SSL encryption to keep your transactions safe. These two options also enable users to set up two-factor authentication on their user accounts to verify every login attempt.

    Neteller and Skrill serve as a conduit between your bank and casino account. It’s a good option for players who do not like direct bank transfers with their casino. Both options also tend to be free to use for deposits and withdrawals at most NZ online casinos. As a plus, you’ll enjoy reasonable minimum and maximum transaction limits if you choose Skrill or Neteller. To get started, you need to sign up for an account on the respective payment provider’s site. Once that’s done, the casino you choose will only require your email address to help process payments. However, to get the cash stored in these eWallets, you’ll have to transfer the funds to your bank account. Though minimal, withdrawing from your eWallet or funding it for transactions to your casino will incur fees.

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  • paysafecard

    Paysafecard

    Another payment option managed by the PaySafe Group is paysafecard. This solution differs from Skrill and Neteller by being a digital prepaid card. It's one of the safest payment options available since the money you will deposit at the casino isn't tied in any way to your banking details.

    To use paysafecard, you need to visit the service provider's site and purchase a voucher. There are different denominations available, so pick the one that suits you for one deposit since this is a single-use payment option. Once you complete the purchase, your voucher will provide you with a 16-digit PIN. This is unique to your purchase, and it's what you'll input on the deposit page of your chosen casino to fund your account. Deposits through Paysafecard happen instantly and at no cost. But since this is a prepaid voucher, you can't get withdrawals through it. Instead, the safe and secure casino you choose will offer alternatives to help you receive your payouts.

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  • visa

    Visa and Mastercard

    Credit and debit cards are some of the oldest online casino payment options. And Visa and Mastercard are among the accepted cards at most NZ online casinos. Regardless of which one you pick, you get to enjoy superb online security with all your transactions. For Visa and Mastercard debit cards, your deposits and withdrawals are debited directly from and to your bank account using your card's details. While deposits will happen almost instantly, withdrawals may take up to three days. Alternatively, credit cards are a loan facility given by your bank to enable your transactions. As such, the card has a limit and is not tied to your bank balance but is subject to the same transactional timeframes as the debit version.

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  • muchbetter

    MuchBetter

    This mobile app payment option is for online gamblers on the move since it is available via a downloadable app. Similar to operating an eWallet account, the major difference between MuchBetter and options like Neteller and Skrill is that you need the app to transact. You should download the Android or iOS app on your smartphone or tablet to get started. Create your account by filling in the necessary details, and complete the verification by inputting the OTP that's sent to your phone number. Once the account is operational, you can fund it by sending money from your bank account, among other payment options. Payments with your casino are processed instantly and mostly at no cost.

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Online casino bonuses

New Zealand players are always looking for ways to boost their gaming experience with real rewards. The best way to do this without breaking the bank is by making use of casino bonuses. These promotions come in different forms, with varying terms and rewards applicable to those who claim them. But besides the T&Cs, expect your chosen casino to offer deposit or no deposit promotions.

Once you find an offer that interests you, check the attached terms. These will specify how to claim the offer, what you get, the games you can play, the maximum wager amount per round, and how much you can win from bonus gameplay. The terms will also indicate if there's a wagering requirement attached, different game contributions, and the validity period after claiming the promotion. 

Checking the promotional T&Cs also lets you know whether an offer is right for you. If you're okay with the claiming and wagering requirements, then proceed to get it. But if not, then look for a different site since most casino sites for Kiwis have bonuses available.

  • Deposit casino bonuse

    Deposit casino bonuses

    Judging by their name, you can probably glean that a deposit is necessary to help you claim it. This is the most popular promotion at online casinos since it ensures you fund your account, which is a plus for the casino's profit margin. The promotions can come as welcome bonuses for new players on the site. They can also come in the form of reload promotions for existing players who've used up their new member bonus. The minimum deposit amount to receive the advertised offer will be specified in the bonus T&Cs. But with most NZ gaming sites, you can expect it to be around NZ$20 or NZ$25.

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  • No-deposit casino bonuses

    No-deposit casino bonuses

    Most players look for these bonuses since they don't need to deposit anything to receive the offer. As such, they tend to be available to newly registered players at an online casino. You can receive a number of free spins or casino credits after signing up. These will be valid on certain games. Another perk that comes with these is they can come without wagering requirements, in which case all your wins get credited into your real money balance automatically. As such, these are hard to find. But we still keep an eye out for them and update the best casino reviews to ensure players know where to get them.

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Online casino games

If the bonuses are worth claiming at any given casino, the next thing to check is the games you'll use promotions on. After all, that's the main reason people visit new online casinos. The selection offered on any given site determines how loyal players will remain. A casino worth visiting will have games spanning different gaming categories.

  • Pokies

    Pokies

    Regardless of which online casino you join, you're guaranteed to find more pokie titles than the releases in other gaming categories. That's because they are easy to play. So newbies and experienced players can enjoy themselves on the site since no special skills are needed to play pokies. Pokie variants come in numerous themes and genres. Some popular themes include ancient Egypt, holidays, Christmas, and Halloween. But besides that, the layout and in-game features are additional deciding factors for players. As such, you can choose to play classic or video pokies.

    The classic variants have a layout resembling old-school pokie machines. That's usually a 3x3 grid with up to five paylines and very few in-game features. These include nudges and respins to help you earn more. But some players prefer feature-packed games. That's where video pokie games come in, with free spin rounds, pick'em features, and special symbols to trigger options like sticky wilds and instant cash prizes. Some even come with enhanced reel mechanisms, enabling players to have hundreds of thousands of win ways available in a single spin.

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  • RNG table and card game

    RNG table and card games

    RNG table and card games are some of the top options for players who prefer skill games. So any casino worth your time should have these available. Some of the skill games at NZ online casinos include roulette, blackjack, and craps. Video poker is another option you’ll come across, and they play out as fast as pokies while offering skill game thrills. Depending on what you'd like to play, be sure to study the instructions before getting started. Each game comes with variants, which may all have subtle differences to make the gameplay more thrilling. You can also find minimum deposit casinos that enable you to play your rounds for free. So you can use the free play to hone your gaming skills as you learn game rules.

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  • Live casino games

    Live casino games

    Another category available in almost all online casinos is live dealer games. These are live stream releases that have gained significant popularity with NZ table and card game fans. That's because they offer a real-time gaming experience with actual dealers filming every action from the software developer's studios. Live casino titles offer immersive gameplay since you can interact with the dealer through a chat feature. You can also watch other players enjoy their sessions, just as on the casino floor. That's another way to learn new strategies to help you make better plays during your sessions.

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Game software developers

One of the easiest ways to check if a site is legit is by browsing the list of game suppliers partnering with your chosen casino. Whether it's one, two, or many developers, the more renowned they are, the more likely you will land on a worthwhile site for NZ players. Well-known game providers avoid shady sites since that may negatively affect their industry reputation.

Software suppliers are many these days, so don't be surprised if you come across a site with over 100 developers on board. A variety of game providers is one of the criteria we use when creating online casino reviews in New Zealand. That's because besides offering you a more varied gaming experience than sites with a handful of suppliers, you're also bound to only find fair games. These will guarantee industry-standard payouts whenever you're on a winning streak.

Some of the developers most NZ players look out for at their chosen casinos include Microgaming, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. These are companies with years of experience in the online gaming scene. So you can trust that their continued success is due to offering industry-approved gaming options that comply with regulatory standards. That's in addition to launching fan-favourite releases across various gaming categories since these are developers skilled in creating RNG and live dealer options.

 

Gambling legalities

The first rule all real money casino gamblers must adhere to is checking the legality of the site they've chosen. This happens to be among the first things you'll find out whenever you read our online casino reviews in New Zealand. Only choose casinos that hold valid licenses from well-known regulators in the industry. This is a detail that if you cannot find easily on the site, then try a different casino.

Licensed gambling sites always make it very clear that they're offering their games and services legally. That's by displaying their regulator's logo or relevant licensing details at the bottom of every page or on the site's T&Cs and About Us pages. The sites we review have different regulators keeping tabs on how they operate. Some of the popular ones you'll find at leading casinos include

  • Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
  • Kahnawake Gaming Commission
  • Curaçao eGaming
  • United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
  • Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
  • Alderney Gambling Control Commission

Importance of gambling licenses for casino players

Regulators must thoroughly check the games and services an online casino offers before they award a license. Some of the areas they look at include the games to be offered, the promotional offers' T&Cs, and the availability of reliable support from the casino's customer service team. They also ensure safety features are always functioning properly and privacy terms are always adhered to. We'll get more into these aspects later.

Additionally, regulatory bodies also recommend that sites use the services of third-party auditors and game-testing bodies. Popular companies working with leading casinos for NZ players include eCOGRA and iTech Labs. Such companies are responsible for checking that the RNG software used by game providers is fair and unpredictable to avoid rigging. Players need assurances that the casino doesn't have an unfair advantage with the games they offer.

Customer support options

The support options offered at your chosen casino are vital to your gaming experience. Since online gaming means you can’t visit the operator’s premises to receive assistance, the casino has to find ways for all members to get help as necessary. Most sites come with an FAQ section that can help you troubleshoot simple issues like how to download the mobile app. But you’ll need a support representative to break down your query in detail for issues such as your transactions or claiming promotions since it’s specific to your account.

With most gaming platforms accepting Kiwi players, you’ll find the support email or contact form options on the site. But we recommend you choose sites offering phone support, live chat, or both so that you can receive prompt responses. Additionally, these options should be offered around the clock since online casinos operate 24/7. That way, you don’t get inconvenienced whenever you need help during your gaming session.

Security and safety

When it comes to the security offered by a real money casino, you can check a few things on your own. The first is whether there's a locked padlock next to the site's URL on the browser's address bar. Another pointer you're on a secure site is if the casino's URL starts with 'https'. If the URL starts with only 'http' or there's an open padlock, you're not on a secure site so choose another online casino.

Besides those, your chosen platform needs to provide information on the safety measures they use to keep you safe whenever you're online. Our reviewers ensure they check whether the casino uses SSL software to keep your interactions with the site encrypted. It also needs to be clear how the operator ensures the data is stored safely on the casino's servers.


  • Privacy measures

    All online casinos collect and store client data to enable account verification and transactions. So it's important to get assurances that the casino won't use that information improperly by doing things like selling it to third parties or giving it to their partner companies. With all the casinos we review, we have to check that the terms comply with the regulator's privacy requirements. If there are sections that may expose client data without a player's consent, then the casino isn't worth the trouble.


  • Responsible gaming measures

    Another measure of your safety while online is whether you're having fun whenever you're playing real money games. A casino that cares will give you multiple ways to manage your gaming limits if you can't do it on your own. One measure could be the deposit and wager limits so you can only use a specific amount of money for each of your sessions. Another option is to set cool-off limits or reality checks so that you get restricted from playing, or reminders after sessions of a given duration elapse. If those options don't work, you should also be able to self-exclude yourself from the site. That will give you a break to try and get external help with managing your gaming limits. 

    Besides those, a reputable site for players in New Zealand should also offer online and offline resources for managing problem gambling. It can also have sections to help players check whether they have an issue managing their limits, and what to do if they think they may cross the line between responsible fun and problem gaming.

New Zealand mobile casino reviews

In this technologically forward era, casino fans don't have to worry about restricted gameplay thanks to the adoption of mobile gambling sites. You can now access most games and services offered on the desktop casino version directly on your portable devices. These could be smartphones or tablets that are compatible with the site's mobile version.

Depending on the casino you visit, you may have one of two options listed on the best casino reviews: a mobile-optimized site or a downloadable app. It’s also possible to find both platforms offered by the casino. So in case you do, here are some details about what you can expect from each.


  • Mobile-optimized casino site

    This option lets you access your favourite casino games and services on your mobile device’s browser. The experience is similar to playing on your desktop browser. You'll just type the casino’s URL into the address bar and wait for the site to load before you proceed. Mobile sites are what most players in New Zealand look for since no downloads are necessary. You only need a browser that’s compatible with your chosen casino’s mobile version, and you’re good to go. And the best part is that this version works with devices running on any operating system. So it's open to all NZ casino players looking to play on mobile. The layout of mobile platforms also tends to be adaptive, automatically adjusting to accommodate your smartphone or tablet's screen. So you won't need to zoom in and out to view different sections of the site's pages.

  • Mobile casino apps

    This option is best for players who prefer a tailored mobile experience with their casino gaming. Players with more high-tech devices will get to enjoy more impressive graphics and audio quality with their chosen games. Besides that, you can also set up notifications to get real-time updates regarding new games, promotions, or any other casino news.

    One caveat that comes with apps is that downloads are only possible if your device uses a specific operating system. In the past, Android users were the luckiest since most NZ online casinos offered Android apps only (apk). That left out iOS players. But these days, most reputable platforms for players in the region offer PWA casino apps that support iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Crypto casino reviews

Crypto casinos are some of the newest in the online gaming scene, and NZ players are also looking forward to joining them. On these sites, you'll find that cryptos are the accepted currency. But besides that, they're fairly similar to fiat currency casinos, offering a variety of gaming options and promotions, among other services. But their most intriguing aspect is safety and gaming fairness.

If you prefer making crypto transactions, then you'll get to enjoy the enhanced security offered through the use of Blockchain technology. This cuts out third-party companies to ensure you can make fast and anonymous transactions, with considerable transaction limits and no fees. Blockchain tech further improves other methods used to secure player data, such as firewalls and SSL encryption. Another plus with these sites is that payments to and from these sites tend to be instant. So whether you use Tether, Litecoin, Ethereum, or Bitcoin, the deposit and withdrawal processing timelines remain the same.

The availability of provably fair games is another aspect to consider. This is a technology used by these platforms to check whether the games are fair and it uses blockchain. Through the use of security keys, even players have access to these keys to determine whether their favourite games always offer a safe gambling experience. So while creating online casino reviews in New Zealand for these sites, these are some of the features we check since players will expect to find streamlined services once they sign up.

Conclusion

With online casino reviews in New Zealand from reliable sites like ours, you can start your casino gaming journey in no time. We have a list of many sites accepting NZ players that meet the legal requirements set by leading online regulators. So you're sure that any platform you pick will be safe. From there, you can get to know more about what's available by reading our review on it. Go through our categorized lists to find casinos that meet your requirements, then read the best casino reviews to see which other areas they excel in.

Online casino reviews FAQ

What is an online casino review?

An online casino review is a detailed description of an online gaming site. It gives you information about the casino’s operators, acquired licenses, safety features, and responsible gaming measures. That’s in addition to letting you know which games are available, who supplies them, and the compatible platforms you can use.

Is it important to read online casino reviews?

Yes, it is. Online casino gamblers are always advised to research the sites that appeal to them before becoming members. That’s especially if you’re planning on making real money wagers on your favourite games. The fastest way to research is by getting your information from reliable online review sites like ours.

Are casino reviews really unbiased?

Yes, but only if you use trusted review sites to help you find the best casinos in New Zealand. Just as some online casinos are unreliable, some review sites offer biased opinions in exchange for compensation from the reviewed platform’s operators. This commonly occurs with reviews for fraudulent casino sites.

Is it safe to play in online casinos?

Yes, it is. By picking trusted casino sites to join, you can look forward to a safe session online. Casinos that can be categorized as safe are those with licenses from renowned regulatory bodies. They will have streamlined services in addition to using firewalls and encryption software to enhance security.

Where can I find the best casino reviews?

Right here! This platform is a leading review site for NZ players. Our team members personally sign up on each site we review to see what's in store for online casino fans. That enables us to create detailed and updated reviews that help players choose the best sites for themselves.

Do reviews also cover mobile casino versions?

Yes, they do. Gaming on the go is one of the most popular ways for players to access online casino offerings these days. So most reviews feature a mobile casino section. This details how players can access their favourite games and other online casino services on their smartphones and tablets.