New Zealand is known for its Islands, volcanoes, and rich culture. The people of this island have it all, even a rich gambling history. Gambling has been on the Island before the Europeans stepped on the volcanic shores, as Maori people have been trying their luck with small and large odds for centuries.
Gambling has evolved in New Zealand, and it is considered one of the largest industries in the country. Punters all over the Islands keep placing their stakes on several activities, from regular casino games to sports betting. Gambling in New Zealand has even adapted to the modern trend of digitalization and online activities.
While the 2003 Gambling Act restricts gambling service providers from offering online gambling, it does not explicitly stop punters from registering and playing with the available offshore casinos.
Since you can legally place bets and make money from online casinos in New Zealand, here are other things you should know before you start placing those bets.
What is the legal age you can start playing at online casinos?
New Zealand Legislation does not effectively cover Online Gambling within the islands, the 2003 Gambling Act only regulates the activities of service providers, restricting them from offering online gambling options, but it does not address the status of intending punters.
The closest regulation on the age limit for online gambling in New Zealand is the national age restriction on offline (or traditional) gambling. Anyone 18 years and older can participate in most gambling activities in New Zealand. They can place bets in Restaurant Pokies, purchase tickets and win from all lottery services, but they have to be at least 20 years old before they can enter any of the land-based casinos or play any casino games on the Islands.
While we can expect these rules to apply to New Zealand’s online casinos, the exception is that the Department of Internal Affairs and other New Zealand Gambling bodies do not regulate these offshore casinos and cannot impose any age restrictions on them. The only restriction that would apply to offshore casinos is the law of their registered location. If the online casino operates from Europe or from North America, the age restriction in those areas will apply to their New Zealand customers.
How much money do Kiwis spend at online casinos every year?
Before the events of 2020 and the lockdown, online gambling in New Zealand only had large prospects and increasing popularity. However, months of staying indoor with limited social contact and brevity of activities must have increased the number of online gambling payers because Kiwis had spent over NZ$252 million on online casinos by the fourth quarter of the year. This was 116% higher than online casinos have ever recorded in New Zealand.
What are the most popular online casino games?
New Zealand is not behind on the latest online casino games. At least the offline casinos keep up with the latest trends in online casinos. The available online casinos offer several gaming options, including slot machines. Most people in New Zealand now call these slot machines Pokies because they have a lot in common with video pokers and are becoming even more popular than video pokers. Aside from Video pokers and slot machines, online casinos in New Zealand also offer blackjack, French, European and American Roulette, and most times, some Baccarat. Some of the online casinos add some excitement to their gaming options by including incentives and bonuses. The most common bonuses are welcome bonuses, match bonuses and reload bonuses. Some Slot machines also offer progressive jackpots to increase the payout their customers can get if they win.
What are the most popular NZ online casinos?
Although the stringent regulations against online gambling in New Zealand restrict access to online casinos, punters in the Islands still have access to the best online casinos. Thanks to the interconnectivity of things, punters in New Zealand have access to an endless list of online gambling options from all over the world. While none of the casinos operates from within New Zealand, they have huge customer bases on the island depending on the benefits they offer the players. The most popular online casinos in New Zealand are:
Jackpot City
Jackpot City won the heart of many people as soon as it first launched in 1998, but the brand presence has grown in New Zealand these past few years because of its enticing incentives and the 97.85% payout rate. Customers in New Zealand are also drawn to the casino’s 600+ games, including slots, blackjack, poker, and live dealer options.
Spin Casino
Spin Casino prides itself as a futuristic casino, harnessing the best of modern technology to create the casino of the future. New Zealand players like the Spin Casino for its simple user interface and its intuitive structure.
Skycity Casino
Every punter in New Zealand has either played at the Skycity Casino or wants to play there. Before setting up its offshore online casino, the casino has established its credibility as one of New Zealand’s favourite brick-and-mortar casinos. The online casino operates out of Malta and has a growing presence in America and the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Playing at New Zealand online casinos are becoming the most advanced option because they offer varieties and are not subject to the restrictions that constrain other gambling services in the islands. These limited regulations often affect the assurances players can get about the quality and legality, but this list is an excellent guide to getting it right.
