Online Casinos in NZ – Valentina’s Reviews of Real Money Casino Sites in New Zealand

Written by:

Valentina Lopez

Fact checked by:

Rebeca Jimenez

Published:

March 23, 2025

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Table of Contents

Welcome to the Jersey Gypsy column, where our resident travel reporter, Valentina, roams the globe in pursuit of stories and is currently visiting New Zealand.

I’ll admit it…when I think of New Zealand, I think of Lord of the Rings first and foremost.

I know better now, of course. After visiting for nearly two weeks, I know that it’s a land of beautiful beaches, rich culture, and wonderful people.

Perhaps the most surprising thing to me, however, was discovering that people down here take their pokies and tables seriously — and it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement. That’s why I researched the best online casinos NZ locals recommended.

Top Online Casinos in New Zealand

I gave each of these sites a spin or two, and I’ll let you know my favourites along with reviews in a bit.

First, though, I have to say that it was shocking to see how dominant the gambling culture is down here.

I came expecting to spend most of my days lounging on beaches and climbing breathtaking hills — and I did plenty of both, trust me — but it seems like many people like to blow off steam at the end of the day by heading home and firing up their favorite online casino.

It quickly became second nature to me as well. I found myself wanting to squeeze in a quick few spins after getting home from the pub or before heading out to dinner, and discussions about wins, losses, and favorite games were commonplace everywhere I went.

As someone who’s spent plenty of time gambling all over the globe, trust me when I say I felt right at home. And I couldn’t be more excited about finding the best New Zealand casinos online.

It also seemed to strike a sense of balance that I’ve never really felt before when playing online. Rather than using the games as an escape from reality, they quickly became an accessory to it — a way to unwind after spending the day with friends or in nature.

Maybe it’s no wonder that New Zealand has some of the best online casinos in the world. It seems like they have a lot of things figured out (including how to dispose of troublesome gold jewelry, apparently).

First New Zealand Online Casino I Tried: Jonny Jackpot

• Games I played: Thunderstruck II, Big Bite, Fat Banker, Immortal Romance II, Multifire Roulette Wildfire, Bet Stacker Blackjack
• Hours spent testing: 4
• Bonus I claimed: NZ$1,000 welcome package + 100 free spins
• How I did: Won NZ$75

One pet peeve I have about many online casinos is that they’re all cookie-cutter in terms of presentation. Site A might as well be Site B, just with a different name and a fresh coat of paint.

That’s not the case at Jonny Jackpot, the rare casino with personality. Everything is centered around the titular character, a smooth operator who apparently loves to gamble.

That’s evident from the homepage, which comes complete with the games “Jonny” is enjoying the most at the moment. It seems like a gimmick, but I found it was actually a fantastic way of discovering what the hottest games on the site were at any given moment.

And since the site claims to have thousands of pokies, you’ll need all the help you can get finding the best online casino games. It’s just one of the many small touches the developers used to create the most satisfying gaming experience possible.

What I liked:

It’s not hard to find a NZ real money casino that has thousands of online pokies on tap, but most of them are horribly organized, making it incredibly difficult to find one worth playing.

That’s not the case here. From the first moment you log on, “Jonny” makes it easy to find something exciting to add to your dance card.

There’s also a helpful menu that shows you everything they have to offer: drops & wins, jackpots, and a whole lot more.

It’s especially helpful given the quality of games you’ll find here. The Big Bass series, Rich Wilde games…just about every A-list title are available here.

Jonny Jackpot is more than just a pokies site. There are also dozens of table games, and their live dealer action is top-notch.

What I didn’t like:

The games here are absolutely beautiful. Whether it’s the jaw-dropping graphics of pokies like Thunderstruck II or the sleek sophistication of their table games, you’ll be immersed in the action the entire time.

Well, except when the games are loading, that is.

All that firepower takes some time to get ready, apparently, as I dealt with longer loading times here than at any other site. It’s not a huge deal, especially as it only happens when you switch games, but it is a bit of an annoyance.

Luckily, the welcome bonus comes with a lot of cash and free spins, which goes a long way towards building your patience.

Drop in on Jonny Jackpot yourself

Second NZ Online Casino I Tried: Spinjo

• Games I played: Reactoonz, Book of Allways, Moneyfest, Peppe’s Pepperoni Pizza Plaza, Immersive Roulette Deluxe
• Hours spent testing: 3
• Bonus I claimed: NZ$5,000 welcome package + 300 free spins
• How I did: Won NZ$55

Spinjo was built on one very clear and established truism: everyone loves robots.

The site leans heavily into a futuristic theme, with space-traveling cybermechs and sleek rocketships on every page. However, the gambling action here is decidedly down-to-earth, with a focus on some of the most popular games on the planet today.

As is implied in the name, the main focus here is on the pokie selection. Most of their other games are of the live dealer variety, but if you’re mainly interested in spinning reels, this is the place to do it.

What I liked:

There are a lot of online casinos out there that are stuffed to the gills with games, but once you start looking around their libraries, all you find are the generic versions of better, more popular pokies.

That’s not the case at Spinjo. They have all the name-brand games, including some of the absolute biggest in the business. Elvis Frog? Yep. Snoop Dogg Dollars? Of course. Gates of Olympus? You’d better believe it.

All in all, there are thousands of titles from over 150 software developers here. That’s right — Spinjo boasts more developers than some casinos have actual pokies.

Spinjo takes care of its players as well, with promos like daily cashback, loyalty tournaments, and even game tips for some of their hottest titles. Some of these perks require VIP status to obtain, but it’s quick (and fun) to get there.

What I didn’t like:

Spinjo is maybe the best site in NZ for pokies lovers. If you’re more of a table games person, however, you may find the selection here less impressive.

Don’t get me wrong — they have quite a few games to choose from. The problem is, they’re all in the live dealer section. If you’re not into playing with a real person looking on, you’re out of luck here.

On the bright side, they make up for it by giving you one of the best welcome bonuses in the business. We can put up with a little socializing if that kind of scratch is involved.

Check out the massive pokie selection at Spinjo 

Last NZ Casino on My List: Spin Casino

• Games I played: Silverback Multiplier Mountain, Links of Glory, Pinata Explosivo, Marshall Money, Atlantic City Blackjack
• Hours spent testing: 2.25
• Bonus I claimed: NZ$1,000 welcome package
• How I did: Lost NZ$45

It may sound a lot like Spinjo (and targets the same audience), but Spin Casino does a good job of differentiating itself from every other contender in the New Zealand market.

The site’s not as flashy as some of the others you’ll find; instead, it’s straightforward and to the point. You’re likely here to play pokies, and they’re going to make it as easy as possible for you to do just that.

You’ll also find it incredibly easy to pay for every spin here, as there are new offers waiting for you every day that you log on.

If you’re after substance rather than style, Spin Casino just might be your new home.

What I liked:

While I found the selection at Spinjo to be a bit better, I’m not sure if there’s a site in the world that can compete with Spin Casino when it comes to progressive jackpots.

There are millions of dollars being handed out here on a regular basis, as well as smaller prizes being won literally every single day. You can chase the big fish or play one of the smaller “Must Win” jackpots; either way, you’re likely in for an exciting time.

If that doesn’t get your blood pumping, then there are also pokies tournaments running all the time. While I didn’t have time to play in any of them, they certainly look thrilling — and the payouts are impressive as well.

The table game selection here lies somewhere in between Jonny Jackpot and Spinjo, as there’s a decent selection of both regular and live dealer games, but likely not enough to sway hardcore enthusiasts.

What I didn’t like:

Yes, there are fresh bonuses waiting in your inbox every day you log on. However, while this is great for anyone who plays daily, it may trigger FOMO for people like me who only check in occasionally.

It can be frustrating to check in and see that you missed a great offer yesterday, or that there’s a potentially better offer coming down the pike tomorrow.

Also, while Spin Casino tends to offer more bonuses than other sites, those bonuses are usually a bit smaller.  It’s just a question of whether you prefer more frequent, smaller offers, or one big offer every now and then.

Check out Spin Casino for yourself

My Verdict: Comparing the Three Online Casinos I Tried in New Zealand

The online casino scene in New Zealand is all over the map. There are some online gambling sites that I’d likely recommend avoiding, but there are also some that are as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world.

I’d put Jonny Jackpot, Spinjo, and Spin Casino in the latter category.

Still, there’s plenty to look at when comparing the three sites, and I tried to give them an objective shake in a few key categories.

Best Overall Game Selection: Jonny Jackpot

If you like to play a bit of everything, there’s no better place to do it than Jonny Jackpot.

Much like online casinos in Australia, the other two sites primarily specialize in pokies. But Jonny Jackpot has a balanced library, with dozens of table games and some exciting live dealer options as well.

That’s not to say that their pokies selection is deficient; far from it. You’ll find thousands of the hottest pokies here as well.

Both Spinjo and Spin Casino have incredible pokies selections, but the table game selections at either site can’t quite match up to Jonny Jackpot.

Best Pokies: Spinjo

This is the category with the fiercest competition and, honestly, you could make a case for any of the best online casinos New Zealand offers here.

I went with Spinjo because their library is a real “who’s who” of the top pokies on the market today. If you want the hottest titles in the world right now, you can find them at Spinjo.

Spin Casino is right on their heels in the #2 spot, and Jonny Jackpot is no slouch in this category either. No matter where you go, you’ll find some incredible games to play.

Best Payouts: Spin Casino

Spin Casino won this award for several different reasons. One is the incredible array of jackpots they have on tap, from massive progressive payouts to daily must-drop jackpots.

Not only that, but they have more promos than any other site I’ve seen. There’s literally a brand new offer every day. Withdrawal times are excellent at Spin as well, giving it the trifecta.

Of course, you’ll find jackpots and fast cashouts at the other two sites as well, but they lag just a bit behind Spin in this category.

My Favourite Online Casino Overall: Jonny Jackpot

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the online casinos in New Zealand. For whatever reason, I never suspected that this little island would be hiding some of the best online gambling action in the world.

However, if I had to pick just one site to play at, it would be Jonny Jackpot. It has a little bit of everything, from thousands of hot pokies to thrilling table games.

It’s not a blowout victory by any means, and I won’t argue with you if you prefer one of the other sites. At the end of the day, though, give me the site that does everything well over the two specialists.

Analyzing the Data: How New Zealand Online Casinos Compare

Up until now, everything I’ve shared has been my opinion based on my time spent playing on these sites. However, I thought it might be useful to my readers to provide some objective data on each site so that we can see how they stack up against each other.

Game Selection Comparison

Digging into the data reveals that my initial impressions were largely correct. Spinjo does have the best pokies library, whereas Jonny Jackpot is likely the best site overall.

Spin Casino is a bit of a curious case, as they don’t have a huge number of pokies for a site that specializes in the game, but the emphasis there is clearly on quality over quantity. You’ll find many of the biggest hits in the industry at Spin, so you’re not likely to complain about all the fluff they didn’t include.

Bonuses and Promotions Comparison

Jonny Jackpot and Spin Casino have very similar welcome bonuses, although Jonny Jackpot tosses in a few bonus spins to sweeten the pot.

At first glance, Spinjo would seem to clearly have the edge here, as they give new players considerably more money and free spins. As all experienced gamblers know, though, that’s only part of the story.

However, Spinjo also has the highest wagering requirement among the three sites, meaning the bonus will be the hardest to earn. It also has the highest minimum deposit among the three sites.

At the end of the day, each of these bonuses is excellent in its own right, but this is just another example of why you shouldn’t be swayed by the total number of the bonus — the fine print matters, after all.

Cashout Comparison

I was surprised to see such a disparity in payment methods accepted by these sites. The fact that Jonny Jackpot doesn’t accept crypto honestly shocked me, although they do accept a wide variety of e-wallets.

The refusal to take crypto results in longer cashout times than the other two casinos, although you should still have your money in a couple of days.

If fast cashouts are a priority for you, then Spinjo is the clear winner here — and Bitcoin should be your payment method of choice. However, you have plenty of options no matter where you play, and all these sites have sterling reputations when it comes to seeing that their customers get paid.

New to Online Casinos in New Zealand? Here’s My Advice

Playing your favorite casino games online is a thrilling experience — but like any thrilling experience, it can be a bit scary the first time you do it.

Fear not, though. Playing pokies and other games at online casinos in New Zealand is both fun and easy, and thanks to the tips below, you’ll be a pro in no time.

Do Your Research

While there are plenty of options when it comes to playing casino games online in New Zealand, that doesn’t mean all of those options are trustworthy.

As with anything else, there are trustworthy operations and bad actors out there. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to spot untrustworthy casinos.

Start by reading reviews, then check out the sites themselves. Are they licensed by reputable gaming commissions? Do they have third-party audits and accreditations? Are big companies like Visa and Mastercard willing to do business with them?

If not, that should set off warning bells in your head.

Always Read the Fine Print

The best NZ online casinos know the importance of good marketing. That’s why they always claim to offer massive bonus amounts — after all, the bigger, the better, right?

That’s not always the case. There are other factors that impact how useful a casino bonus is likely to be, and these factors are almost always hidden in the terms and conditions.

Check things like the minimum deposit amount, wagering requirements, and expiry period. A huge bonus does you little good if it takes forever to claim it (especially if it expires a week after being issued).

Sometimes, it’s better to take a smaller bonus that you actually stand a chance of redeeming rather than chasing a pie-in-the-sky windfall.

Feel Free to Shop Around

There’s no shortage of online casinos available to players in New Zealand, so it’s not like you have to pick one and stick with it. If you sign up for a site and find that it doesn’t meet your liking for any reason, a better casino is just a click away.

Plus, signing up for multiple sites gives you more opportunities to claim welcome bonuses. Talk about a win/win.

Oh, and if you like a cheeky punt in between playing casino games, I’ve also made a report on betting sites in New Zealand.

Beginner’s Guide To New Zealand Online Casinos

Finally decided on a reputable online casino or three? Here are some tips to maximize your bankroll, ensuring you can have as much fun as possible.

Scope Out the RTP

All games have a set payout percentage; this is called their RTP, or return-to-player. Simply put, if a game has a 99% RTP, that means that players will get back $99 for every $100 they spend.

Obviously, the higher the RTP, the longer you’ll be able to play before needing to reload. It’s smart to do your research and find the games with the highest RTP before you start playing.

As a general rule, most table games like blackjack will have a higher RTP than pokies (assuming you use proper strategy, of course). Still, there are some pokies out there with impressive RTPs, so don’t just blindly avoid them.

Check the Promos Page Often

The welcome bonus is what gets players through the door, and many people stop thinking about bonuses once that big payday is gone.

That’s a mistake, though. Sites offer reload bonuses and other perks often (usually on a weekly or even daily basis), so it’s a good idea to check the promos page to see what deals are available to you.

After all, there’s no better way to stretch your bankroll than by using the casino to top it off.

Don’t Limit Yourself to Just One Game

Playing a new game at a brick-and-mortar casino can be intimidating. All those people watching you, some old grumps could snap at you if you play “incorrectly”…it’s a nerve-wracking experience.

Luckily, that’s not an issue online. You’re free to play whatever you want without judgment, so why not experiment with a few new games?

There are some newer games that are incredibly fun, like Aviator, Plinko, and fish table games. You can also try some more obscure games like baccarat and sic bo, just to change things up.

Don’t be shy about playing at the live dealer tables, either. These games often have incredible odds and are extremely fun; plus, the dealers are charming and often desperate to have someone to talk to!

(You don’t have to talk to them if you don’t want to, though. They can’t actually see you.)

Casino Bonuses

Real money online casinos in New Zealand offer a variety of bonuses to attract and retain players, each with its own perks and requirements.

Welcome Bonus

This is typically a match on your first deposit, such as a 100% match up to a certain amount. It’s designed to give new players extra funds to start playing. The best NZ online casino at the moment – Johnny Jackpot – offers as much as $1,000.

Free Spins

These allow you to play certain slot games for free, with any winnings usually subject to wagering requirements. Some casinos include free spins as part of a welcome package.

Reload Bonus

Similar to a welcome bonus but offered to existing players, it’s a percentage match on subsequent deposits to encourage continued play. NZ online casinos sometimes also offer cashback as a reload bonus. This returns a percentage of your losses over a set period, helping to soften the blow of a losing streak.

Refer-a-Friend Promo

You get a reward when a friend signs up and makes a deposit using your referral link, creating an incentive to spread the word.

My Final Thoughts on the Best New Zealand Online Casinos

If any of my readers knew about the incredible online casino scene in New Zealand and didn’t tell me, then shame on you.

The action down here is truly incredible. I found some of the best sites, packed to the gills with fun games, as well as some amazing promotions.

New Zealand is absolutely on par with any place in the world when it comes to gambling online.

Of course, I can also understand why many people would be hesitant to bring it up. Who would want to admit that they stayed inside and played pokies when they’re surrounded by so much natural beauty here?

Well, I’m sorry, but the secret is out now. While I absolutely recommend spending as much time as possible lounging on the beaches here and hanging out with the locals down at the pub, there’s no better way to unwind at the end of the day than with a few rounds at an online casino.

You can keep your “Lord of the Rings.” I just want to be known as the “Lord of the Reels” from now on.

Online Casinos NZ – FAQs

What’s the Best Online Casino in New Zealand?

This is the exact question I tried to answer during my time here, and based on recommendations from locals and my own experiences, I’d say Jonny Jackpot is the top site for New Zealanders.

Having said that, Spinjo is a great spot for pokies, while Spin Casino is fantastic for table games. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference, but you can’t go wrong with those three sites.

Can I Win Real Money Playing at Online Casinos in New Zealand?

Yes, you can play casino games for real money in New Zealand. However, as with any form of gambling anywhere, remember that it’s smarter to play for fun than for profit.

Can I Get Free Spins at Any NZ Online Casinos?

Yes, many sites give away free spins as part of their welcome bonus. Of the sites I tried, Spinjo gives away the most, as you can get 300 bonus spins when you make your first deposit.

What Games Can I Play at Online Casinos in New Zealand?

You can play pokies, blackjack, roulette, you name it. Basically, any game you can find in a brick-and-mortar casino can also be found online — and they often pay off better, too.

Which Payment Methods Do New Zealand Online Casinos Accept?

This will vary by site, but in general, you can deposit with your credit card, an e-wallet like Neteller, or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Can I Play Online Casino Games for Free in New Zealand?

Again, that depends on the site. Some allow you to play their games in demo mode, while others don’t. However, almost every site has low-limit games to cater to Kiwi players who aren’t looking to risk too much money on a single spin or hand.

How Do I Pick Which Online Casino to Use in New Zealand?

My advice is to read reviews of any real money online casino site in NZ you’re considering, and then just take a look around. Does it have all the games you want to play? Will it be easy to get your money on and off the site? Does the casino reward its players with bonuses and other perks?

If you can answer “yes” to all of those questions, you’ve likely got a winner on your hands (and let’s face it — this is one instance where shopping around can be a ton of fun).

Got a suggestion for where Valentina should travel next or what to explore on upcoming adventures? Reach out at [email protected] – always looking for something new to try!