If you had asked the average person about online casinos 10 years ago, the majority would probably have no idea what you were talking about or they would only think about online poker rooms.
Asking the same question today, nearly every person will have at least heard of online casinos and many would be able to list their favorite casino sites.
In 2000, online casinos were a hobby for tech geeks and the casino obsessed. Since then, they’ve moved completely into the mainstream and their popularity has exploded.
The leading online casinos for players in New Zealand are easy to find and on par with the leading online casinos around the world. They can also provide a very similar experience to that of a traditional land-based casino.
With so many people excited to try online casinos for the first time, it brings into focus just how much there is to know to ensure you have a great experience while playing.
With so much to learn, we’ve put together an A to Z guide to online casinos in New Zealand. At the end, we’ve also included a list of some of the highest rated online casinos that are operating in the country.
Bankroll
A bankroll is the amount a player has available to play with. The term bankroll can make anybody feel like a high roller. It’s smarter, however, to think of the bankroll as a budget. Setting a budget is an essential part of ensuring that playing at an online casino is an enjoyable hobby.
Bonuses
Online casinos attract new players with welcome bonuses and use special bonuses and promotions as a way to encourage players to keep coming back.
Free spins are a popular type of bonus that is used to introduce players to new or famous slot games.
A deposit match bonus credits players with bonus funds equal to a percentage of what they’ve deposited. Other common bonuses include bet protection, cashback and no deposit bonuses.
Crypto casino
Crypto casinos are online casinos that accept only cryptocurrency for deposits and withdrawals. They operate through the blockchain, which provides heightened security and anonymity. Crypto casinos often have exclusive games.
Encryption
Encryption is a key part of the security software at any online casino. Encryption keeps player data and funds safe from hacker attacks. 128-bit or 256-bit SSL encryption is typically the standard. When your connection to an online casino is encrypted, there will be a lock icon visible in the address bar.
Licensing
New Zealand’s gambling commission is only concerned with land-based casinos so online casinos rely on trusted international regulatory bodies to provide their licenses. The most common licenses among the leading online casinos are from the UK, Malta, Gibraltar and Curaçao.
Live casino games
Live casino games are the most exciting development in online casino gaming. They closely mimic the experience of visiting a land-based casino.
Live casino games use a combination of technology and a dealer in a studio to create an interactive experience. The most popular live casino games are blackjack, roulette and poker.
Payment methods
Payment methods are the ways that players can make deposits and withdrawals. The most common payment methods are bank/wire transfers, credit/debit cards, e-wallets and payment apps. Cryptocurrency is occasionally accepted.
Many online casinos only allow withdrawals to be paid out using the same method that was used to make the deposit.
Progressive jackpots
A jackpot is the amount a player can win from a particular game. Progressive jackpots are jackpots that grow as players contribute to them, which means that they have some of the biggest payouts in the industry.
These jackpots have a high number of players competing for them and they rarely payout, so they can grow to be quite large.
Random number generator
Random number generators (RNGs) are used by online casinos to ensure that their games are fair. RNG software prevents games from being rigged and keeps games at a consistent RTP.
RNGs generate the cards that are dealt, the symbols that fall on the slot reels and the results of dice rolls in games.
Return to player
The return to player (RTP) is the average rate that a game plays out to players over time. Most slot machine games have an RTP between 95-98%.
As an example, Wolf Gold has an RTP of 96.1%. This means that if over time a player spends $100, they’ll expect to get $96.10 back on average. Of course, some players will do better, and some players will do worse. This is simply the average.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is a system that online casinos have introduced to help protect players from developing problematic gambling habits.
Self-exclusion gives players the power to temporarily block themselves from playing. This gives players time to cool down and avoid getting sucked in to trying to chase a win.
Wagering requirement
A wagering requirement is the number of times a player must bet their bonus funds in order to collect winnings made from bonus credit. Wagering requirements also typically have a time limit attached, which typically ranges anywhere from 7-30 days.
An average wagering requirement is between 30-35 times the initial amount. However, they can be as high as 60x.
Highly rated online casinos
SkyCity Casino
SkyCity is the most famous casino brand in New Zealand. They have successfully made the jump from traditional land-based casinos to the online world, taking everything they learned along with them.
Reflecting their history in the industry, SkyCity knows the importance of a balanced games library. They offer a good selection of slots, table games, live casino games, slingo and even scratch cards.
The welcome bonus that SkyCity offers includes a 100% deposit match of up to NZ$200 and 70 free spins. Players are also given 150 Club Points and 100 SkyCoins, which are for the brand’s loyalty program.
This bonus isn’t mind blowing, but it does have a fair wagering requirement and time limit, which makes it worthwhile for most players.
Captain Spins Casino
Captain Spins Casino is a new brand on the market, and they’ve already done a great job of establishing themselves.
One of the reasons that they’ve been so successful is because they have a huge games library of over 1,500 games. The vast majority of the games are slots, from providers such as Microgaming and Elk Studios.
Captain Spins accepts most major payment methods for deposits and withdrawals. The most commonly used methods are credit/debit cards, Paysafecard, Skrill and Neteller.
They do have a high withdrawal minimum of $50. This is higher than many of their competitors and may annoy players who like to have access to all their funds at all times. In addition, most payments take between one to three days to be processed.
CasiGo Casino
The user interface of CasiGo Casino is a part of the appeal. It is cleanly designed and very easy to navigate. This makes it simple to navigate to any of the casino’s 3,000 games.
Those games are from 80 different developers and include slots, table games, scratch cards, dice games and live casino games. This is the best choice for players who love variety, but it could be overwhelming for players who aren’t quite sure what games they like.
CasiGo has several different promotions available. There is a welcome bonus that includes a deposit match and free spins.
There is also a deposit match bonus and a no deposit bonus as alternatives for new players. What sets CasiGo apart is their loyalty program. It has five tiers, and the benefits increase with each tier. Reaching the top tier does require a massive financial investment, however.
TonyBet
TonyBet is one of the original online casinos operating in New Zealand. They have taken their decades of experience and created a high-quality online casino with plenty to attract new players and keep returning players happy.
They have a massive games library, mainly made up of slot machines along with a range of table games, live casino games, keno, bingo and scratch cards.
One negative side of their years of experience is that the site’s interface looks a bit outdated and can be awkward to navigate.
One way TonyBet has stepped into the future is by adding a mobile app. Games can be played on desktop, or on mobile using the mobile-optimized site or mobile app.
They accept several methods for payments and withdrawals. The withdrawal process unfortunately can be very drawn out, with credit/debit card withdrawals taking up to a week to process.
Abo Casino
Abo Casino has only been operating since 2021, but they’ve quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the highest rated online casinos for players in New Zealand.
They draw players in with a great welcome bonus that’s divided into four parts. There are plenty of games to enjoy on the site, with many different types of games.
Abo Casino doesn’t have a dedicated app, instead they have a fully optimized site for both desktop and mobile.
The main options for deposits and withdrawals are credit/debit cards, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies. There are no fees for deposits or withdrawals, however they do have a deposit minimum of $30.
