Why Trust Real Money Casinos Guide?
We go into great efforts in order to guarantee your experience at any online casino we recommend. And if you do a little homework, you’ll see that most people feel the same way about our recommended casinos. Each one comes with great endorsements from a number of sites and players! However, as we are an independent one-stop shop for relevant advice on online casinos, please keep in mind, they aren’t our casinos and we suggest you keep your eyes peeled for news and updates. Our promise to you is that we will do our utmost to give legitimate information that is to the best of our knowledge – Lucrative, current and Good for you.
Find The Casino Best Suited For You!
The great thing about us is that we have investigated the areas of every licensed online casino that we believe is good enough for Kiwis. It has to have already passed some of our personal tests before we would let you know about what the casino and reviewed it for you.
Our recommended Real Money online casinos sites must:
- Accept NZD dollars
- Use payment systems that have good incentives for Kiwis
- Provide English customer support and written terms and conditions
- Provide mobile and web based games
- Use Kiwi friendly payment systems
- Have a reputation for paying out winners
Now that all of that is taken care of you can browse through different guides such as game rules, tips, and strategy and the different offers based on your game and bonus preferences.
Online Casino Real Money NZ
We take pride in only finding the absolutely finest online casinos on the market and giving you our honest reviews of their various aspects, from the welcome bonus and promotions to banking, customer support and game selection. We look at the casino's safety and reliability, which comes down to licensing, casino history and general player feedback. We don’t promote online casinos who have a history of not paying out money to their players or have been part of any major scandals.
We test
- Games. Yes we sit and play the games, first to make sure that they work and second to give a general overview of the selection of online pokies.
- Bonuses Non – deposit bonuses, Deposit match bonuses, promotional bonuses – it doesn’t matter. We are picking them all and their difficult to read terms and conditions to find out that they are fair, fun and useful.
- Banking methods. Are there enough? Are they legitimate? Do they charge commissions? Let’s find out. On top of that, speedy withdrawal requests, without any unnecessary delays.
All the real money online casinos we recommend have top of the line customer support and banking departments, which guarantee funds safety and ease of access as well as quick and professional handling of any issues that may arise during your play at the particular casino.
Fast Payouts
All of our recommended online casinos have fast payouts but we have to give the “man of the moment” award to Guts casino who not only a massive choice of game but their deposit and withdrawal processors are really reliable and speedy. The Genesis group of casinos like Sloty, Genesis, and SpinIt also have less than 2 hour dwell time and thus super fast payouts on e-wallets.
NZ Dollars Online Casino
This one is pretty simple, there are plenty of great New Zealand dollar online casinos so why wast your hard earned NZD on exchange rates and commissions? A high RTP slot game has a 3% house edge so the margins for winning can be pretty small. Dollar conversions start at around 3% + commissions so you are effectively doubling the house edge and cutting in half your ability to win big. It is for this very reason that it is very important to be able to deposit, withdraw and play using your local currency. There may be a rare case where an online casino is so unique or excellent that we will mention them even though they do not accept NZD but in general we only recommend NZD online casinos.
There are other factors involved as well such as fluctuating exchange rates and the strength of foreign currencies which may affect a player’s winnings. In light of this, an increasing number of casinos are trying to help players avoid these complications by creating opportunities for them to happily play in their native currencies. This allows for deposits and withdrawals to be more regulated and hold the same value at all times. Not to mention, keeping foreign exchange out of the picture is a lot less work and cuts out the middleman.
NZD Online Casino Deposits with Conversions
There will be times when making a deposit that requires conversions is unavoidable. In general, conversion fees can be confusing for players who aren’t familiar with foreign exchange rates, conversion calculations and so forth. There is a possibility that you’ll deposit more than you wished to, or withdraw less than anticipated. This is problematic for a number of reasons and this is why so many online casinos are starting to see the value in allowing players to use their native currency. They want their users to know exactly what they are doing when playing. In addition to this, it decreases the risk of the actual casinos being blamed for any major mishaps that the players may encounter as a result of being confused by conversion fees. In a nutshell, avoiding conversion fees is best for everyone.
Should you deposit in NZ dollars or another currency?
For the most part, it is clear that depositing in NZ dollars is the best option. The following points outline exactly why this is the case:
- There a number of casinos nationwide, and even across the globe, that allow their players to both deposit and withdraw in NZD. This means that you won’t be missing out on anything special if you choose to play in your native currency. If anything, the casinos based in New Zealand are designed to work most efficiently with the NZ dollar.
- Depositing in NZD will make the gaming experience much easier and more enjoyable. There will be no need to worry about the volatility of foreign currencies or get confused by exchange rates.
- Large sums of money can be saved as using the NZ dollar eliminates conversion fees or any other kind of exchange expenses. This means that most of the available funds can be used for game play.
Guide To Playing Online Casino For Real Money
In the world of online gambling, almost every day there are players completely new to the experience. This article is intended for these players who may find the things that experienced players see as simple and self-explanatory as somewhat confusing.
Although online casinos do everything they can to make the process as simple as possible, there are still certain unavoidable steps that could scare newcomers.
Account Registration
The very first thing you need to do to start your online gambling adventure is signing up with the casino of your choice. There is a wealth of resources on this page that should help you find just the right casino for you, especially if you are a New Zealand player (although a bulk of advice will be useful to players from all over the world).
When registering with an online casino, very often there will be two steps to the process. First, you will register for a demo account and on this step you will only need to provide your name, surname, and an email address, and input your user name (Casino Alias). In most instances, you will receive an email, requiring you to confirm your registration, and by clicking the link provided in that email, you will activate your account and be given access to "fun play" features. At this point, you are still not able to deposit or play with real money.
The next thing you need to do is complete your account registration by going to the Cashier or My Account section and filling all the required fields. Usually, these will be your date of birth, your country, state, street address, and phone number.
If you are registering with Casino.com, one of our top choices, you will be required to provide all of these details immediately, so once you create your account, it will immediately be ready for real money deposits. One thing you need to be mindful of is to fill out all the info correctly because sometimes it can be a bit tricky to change this afterwards.
Royal Vegas, on the other hand, will only require the very basic info and for you to accept their Terms & Conditions. Everything else will be added later, once you log in and decide you are ready to start playing for real.
Downloading Casino Software
Many casinos offer their own dedicated software for players to enjoy. By downloading and installing the software, you will have a full access to all of the casino games and sometimes there will even be some special perks for those who install.
Although the process is usually as straightforward as it gets, it can be a bit confusing or scary for new players. You begin by clicking a download button or link, which is usually very easy to locate on the casino page. After that, you will download a file which you need to install on your device, just like any other software out there.
Due to certain parts of code and procedures implemented in most online casino software, your anti-virus may recognize it as a malicious program. As long as you are certain you are downloading from a safe location, which covers all casinos reviewed on this page, you are safe and can disregard this warning. The software most certainly does not contain any malicious code and is not trying to steal your information; if necessary, just disable the AV until the installation completes and then turn it back on. Thousands of people download and install online casinos every day and if there was anything sinister about any of major providers, we would have heard about it by now.
For more information on this and related topic check out our casino security article to fully put your mind at ease.
Instant Play: Flash Casinos
If you are not a fan of downloading the software, be it because of security concerns or any other reason, most online casinos these days also offer the possibility of instant play via their flash page. This is a great alternative to downloading the full casino, as most games will be available and there are almost no downsides to playing using this method.
You can access a flash casino version via the casino's main page, where you log in using the user name and password combination you've created earlier, and you will be ready to play in a matter of seconds.
To find out more information about advantages and disadvantages of playing flash casinos as opposed to playing using downloaded software, check out our informative article on this particular topic.
How to: Depositing Money
To be able to fully experience an online casino, you will need to fund your account with some real money. Save from a few no deposit bonuses you can pick up along the way, this is the only way to get in a position where you can win some real money.
Depositing money is what many new players are really uncertain about. This fear is not strange or unnatural, since we are talking about real money here and it is normal for people to be concerned about it.
If you are afraid of sharing your credit card information with an online casino (although the big ones are as safe as it gets) you can always deposit using one of the many e-wallets. Neteller and PayPal are among the most popular choices for New Zealand players. For those who don't have any of these and don't want to use the bank cards, there are POLi payments and paysafecards. There are many ways to deposit money and some of them will make you feel safer than the others and will address some of the most common concerns. More details about pros and cons of particular deposit methods can be found in this article.
Need-to-knows before depositing at online casino
- Check that your choice is regulated
- Go through the terms of the Welcome bonus before accepting it, and check the wagering requirement.
- Test out free spins no deposit NZ on both your mobile and computer to make sure they work equally well
- You can opt out of being sent emails, phone calls and receiving post.
How to: Finding Your Way Around Casino
Once you've been through all the steps above, you should have your account ready and funded, and it is time to have some fun. Unlike some other things that may confuse a new player, navigating any online casino is very simple. Once you've registered with a few casinos, you will notice that the lobby structure is usually very similar and casinos do this on purpose. The last thing they want to do is confuse or frustrate their players.
For the most part, casino lobbies are split in a few parts, like: slots, table games, live casino (if offered), video poker, and other games. There are some exceptions to this rule, but these small differences will not represent an obstacle to you finding your way around and locating the games you look for.
On Euro Palace, for example, the lobby is divided into seven quite self-explanatory sections:
- Featured games: these are games promoted by the casino, and usually you will find some very popular slots here
- Slots
- Table games: different versions of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and casino hold'em
- Video poker: All Aces, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, etc.
- Progressives: slot games with big progressive jackpots
- Scratch cards
- Casual games: different games not belonging to any of other categories, like bingo
Interestingly enough, although there is a Live Casino on Euro Palace, it is not featured like on Casino.com, but instead, live games can be found in the Table Games lobby.
How to: Dealing With Support
Online casino support can be one of its finest points but it can also be quite a headache. While your experience in this regard will mostly depend on the experience and competence of the support staff, there are some things you can do to make the life easier.
First of all, the live support, as nice as it is to have around the clock, usually cannot help you with more serious matters. They are there to help and guide with some simple issues and assist you with some less demanding queries. If you have a question that they can't give an answer to, don't waste your time trying to somehow squeeze it out of them. Simply ask them to refer you to someone who can address your concerns properly.
Phone support can be much more helpful, especially if you have something that needs to be resolved quickly. Since many casinos offer toll-free numbers for New Zealand players, don't be shy to use them when necessary - after all, it's what they do.
For less pressing issues, you can always send in an email to the relevant department and this should get you the best response, although you will have to wait a day or two to hear back from the casino. To make sure your mail doesn't get lost or overlooked, you can always notify the live support about it, so it stays on their radar.
If you need more good tips and information about this topic, check out our casino support article.
Playing fair
When you place bets online you know you can’t always win. The luck and chance involved is actually a huge part of the fun - spinning the wheels whilst you cross your fingers and bite your lips is a familiar experience for most casino punters. That’s all well and good. Unfortunately, sometimes the Casino operators don’t play fair. When we say unfair, we are referring to a variety of unfair procedures that the casino could try to put in place to stop you from winning. Such as:
- EXTENSIVE waiting periods for winning payouts – 3 months plus
- Demanding identification multiple times in unsafe ways
- Closing your account for no reason
- Suspending your account for no reason
- Rigging the games
- Not providing compensation for lost games.
If you feel you have been a victim of unfair activity you should contact eCOGRA and be in touch with their Self-Regulation Services (SRS) department.
Popular Games
Our Say on New Zealanders and Real Money Casinos.
Real money online casinos in New Zealand is a sensation. NZ can’t really compete with the population size of all those big European countries. But when it comes to online casinos, New Zealand is stilling a giant piece of the worldwide online casino industry. Every casino out there is fighting to get a bite in the NZ market. Coming up with special promotions for New Zealanders, providing special games based on New Zealand ratings and updating famous and most played NZ slot games.
I believe that the New Zealand crowd offer a different approach to the online casino industry which distinguishes them from all the rest. As one who has been researching this market for several years. I can safely say that this approach has to do with what online casinos represent to NZ gamblers. which is, accessible and exciting interment. And yes, gambling costs money but so does almost any form of entertainment. While in any other country, gambling is much more about becoming rich in an instant, which makes sense on some level. but it is basically investing real money in a casino for the wrong reasons and it makes gambling addictive and tricky. In New Zealand, it’s all about the fun and the thrill.
In order to really enjoy gambling without getting sucked into a bad circle of trying to overcome the casino, loose, get frustrated and then try all over again. You must see the loses as part of what you’re willing to pay for the entertainment you’re getting. And this way you stay focused on how much you’re spending and avoid getting carried away. New Zealanders want to become rich in an instant just like anyone ales but it’s clear that New Zealanders are a very stable crowd in that regard and I can say for myself that this makes my job much more satisfying. Knowing that the visitors of this site find the entertainment they're looking for and end up enjoying it no matter what. Because at the end of the day the possible win is just the spice while playing safely with reasonable expectation is the dish itself. And this awareness is what makes New Zealanders stand out from all the rest.
The bottom line is, when depositing real money in an online casino, we want you to remember that the most impotent part is having fun and play responsibly. winning will follow, guaranteed!
Miscellaneous Questions and Concerns
Hopefully, this article answers most questions any beginner player might have and also offers a lot of other useful resources to guide you in your online casino adventure.
If there are still some questions that you feel were not answered here, make sure to check our FAQ section, where we deal with some of the most common players' questions, like how to find a good casino, what's the situation with legality of online gambling, etc.
When gambling, you should primarily stay safe and secure. For more tips on the questions like fairness of online casinos, gambling addiction, and much more, visit our Responsible Gaming page. If you are wondering how and why are certain casinos listed on our site and others are not, visit our Online Casino Reviews section to find out what are the factors we take into consideration when deciding if a casino should or shouldn't appear on our site.
NZ Online Gambling
We have poured over all the legal and accounting requirements, jurisdiction and licensing, and gambling laws to give you everything you need to know about online gambling in NZ. We take a look at online casinos that are available in New Zealand to see which ones are safe and can be trusted.
Online Gambling Jurisdictions and Licensing Standards
Trusted online casinos are governed by laws and accounting standards in the jurisdiction they are registered. They need to ensure they do not support illegal activities like money laundering and underage gambling. They are audited by their respective jurisdiction and fines or sanctions can be imposed to those online casinos that do not adhere to the rules.
It is important to note which licensing the online casino has and whether or not they are abiding by the standards set forth in that jurisdiction. These laws are not the same as New Zealand laws, but given most of these jurisdictions are either in the UK or have UK similar legal systems, just like NZ, the accountability is very similar.
Legal Online Gambling in NZ
Online gambling is legal in New Zealand. All international online casinos are considered legal under NZ law and SkyCity is going to have a branded casino in New Zealand, also legal under NZ laws. For more information on legal online casinos, check out our page on the topic.
Safe Online Casinos NZ
How can you tell if online casinos are safe or a scam? Well, you can check out sites like ours that do the work for you or you can check for yourself. We recommend checking each casino you are interested for the following:
- Is the online casino licensed, click the link from the website to see if the license is real
- Is the casino audited by external parties like eCOGRA or GLI
- Is the casino reviewed on major affiliate websites?
- Is the website always encrypted with SSL (https)
Secure Online Casinos NZ
Ensuring your game play and financial transactions at online casinos is secure and discreet, you need to make sure that at all times the website is encrypted with SSL. The URL will have https at the start. This is important for both the casino and the casino games you are playing, but also for any deposit or withdrawals you make. When a new browser window opens for financial transactions, ensure that it is also SSL encrypted.
Your Accounting at Online Casinos
If you want to win at online casinos it is necessary to make sure you have high standards with your bookkeeping. Always define how much you are going to gamble with and stick to it. It is important to keep track of how much you are winning or losing.
Also keep in mind that Online Pokies can give you a false impression that you are winning when you are not. The technique that the online casinos use to do this is called “near misses”. This is when you have a “win” on the pokie machine but the win is less than the bet. You still get the same light and sound show from the pokie game taht coems with a real win, except you have lsot a small amount of money.
Responsible Online Gambling
Problem gambling is a, well, problem in NZ. The statistics show (pdf) that 2% of adult gamblers in New Zealand are either problem gamblers or “at risk”. Also in that report, 48.8% of those reporting to the Problem Gambling Foundation say that the cause was non casino electronic gaming machines (pokies).
Please be aware of your limits and keep in mind that online gambling should be fun. If it stops being fun and you feel you may have a problem, please contact the Gambling Helpline.
Online Gambling FAQ
If you are looking for the best Canadian online casino please visit our sister site Casino Canuck in Canada.
About Us
Who we are:
We are a group of former chartered accountants that look at the online casino industry in New Zealand and abroad. We verify that each online casino we review meets certain safety, security and accountability guidelines. We dig deep into licensing and jurisdictions to ensure that the online casinos are legitimate and live up to the high expectations that we require before doing any online gambling. ASRB.co.nz was a website used by the Accounting Standards Reviews Board which was renamed in 2012 to the External Reporting Board. We liked the name so when they let the domain go we decided to become the Online Casino Accountability Standards Review Board in an homage to the former website. Update: As of 2019 we have merged with real-money-casinos.co.nz.
What do accountants have to do with online gambling in NZ?
Chartered accountants are responsible for local and international standards of financial statements, Business tax returns and business practices. Their deep understandings of the legislation, jurisdiction, accounting, financial and responsible gambling systems give them a unique look at whether the online casinos catering to New Zealand are trustworthy and legitimate. We are not promoting ourselves as chartered accountants but merely the using our specialized knowledge to give you a better understanding of what it takes to be a trusted online casino.
