The Evolution of Gambling in New Zealand: A Historical Overview

Is online gambling legal in New Zealand? Technically, no, but that doesn’t mean you have no options for getting your betting fix. Before we discuss those options, let’s take a look at the interesting history of gambling in New Zealand.

New Zealanders have had a love affair with gambling since at least the 1800s. In the 1830s, European immigrants to the country enjoyed games such as dice, cards, and billiards. Chinese gold miners who came to the country hoping to strike it rich brought with them games from their culture, like fantan and pakapoo.

Starting in the 1840s, betting on whale-hunting ship races became a popular pastime. A few decades later, New Zealand’s fascination shifted to horse racing. In fact, people loved horse racing so much that they invented a betting machine in the early 19th century. Gamblers could buy betting slips and receive payouts for wins from the machines without ever speaking to a human bookmaker.

The fun and games lasted until 1910 when New Zealand declared all types of gambling and sports betting illegal. Of course, this didn’t completely stop people from enjoying their favorite games. They simply moved gambling “underground,” where it eventually became controlled by the mob.

The country has since loosened gambling restrictions somewhat, but the 2003 Gambling Act prohibits online gambling in New Zealand. However, the law only applies to domestically based casinos. This means that while New Zealanders cannot bet at domestic online casinos, there is no law stopping them from gambling at offshore casinos.

How To Choose the Best Online Casinos in New Zealand

Although it’s against the law to gamble at domestic-based online casinos, that doesn’t mean you can’t get your fix elsewhere at an offshore casino. There is no law prohibiting New Zealanders from betting at offshore casinos, and these gambling sites are perfectly safe as long as you only stick to licensed casinos.

If you’ve never gambled at an offshore casino before, you’re probably wondering how to choose the best online casino in New Zealand. Here’s what to look for.

Reputation: Just because a casino boasts big bonuses and slick graphics doesn’t mean that you can trust it. Before signing up, check the casino’s reputation through a site like Optimobet, which curates the best online casinos and recommends gambling sites that guarantee a good experience. You can also check out user reviews to see what players like and don’t like about the casino.
License: Offshore casinos may not be officially regulated, but the best ones have a license from a gambling authority. To obtain a license, a casino must meet stringent security and fairness requirements. Avoid any casino that isn’t licensed, as you risk losing your money if you play at an unlicensed gambling site.
Payment methods: Offshore casinos accept many more payment methods compared to their land-based counterparts. In addition to credit and debit cards, you can deposit with cryptocurrency, bank transfers, money orders, and e-wallets. Crypto is the best payment method because it’s fast and very secure.
Website security: Stick with gambling websites that encrypt all transactions, which safeguards your money when making deposits or withdrawals. To determine whether a site is encrypted, look for “https” in the URL.
Customer support: You may never need to use a casino’s customer support team, but you’ll be glad they’re in your corner if something does go wrong. The best online casinos in New Zealand offer 24/7 customer support and multiple ways to get in touch, such as email, live chat, and phone.

Legislation and Licensing in New Zealand

Although online gambling is currently illegal in New Zealand no thanks to the Gambling Act of 2003, the country does plan to regulate the activity by 2026, from which it expects an average annual revenue of NZ$500 million. In the meantime, you’re free to gamble to your heart’s content at offshore casinos.

Not all forms of gambling are outlawed in New Zealand. Sports betting and horse racing are permitted, albeit only through the country’s sole betting provider, TAB New Zealand. Online lottery sales are legal and managed by the New Zealand Lottery Commission.

The country also has five land-based casinos in Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, Auckland, and Queenstown. These casinos offer slots (pokies), live dealer games, and table games such as baccarat, blackjack, and poker. You must be at least 20 years old to gamble at a brick-and-mortar casino in New Zealand.

Land-based casinos could tide you over until online gambling becomes legal in New Zealand, but they do have some drawbacks. For one, you’ll have to travel if you don’t live near a casino, and the bonuses pale in comparison to those you can get at online casinos.

Payment Methods in New Zealand’s Casinos

Online casinos accept a good variety of payment methods. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones below.

Credit and debit cards: Most New Zealanders like to stick with their tried-and-true credit or debit cards when depositing at an online casino. Credit and debit cards are convenient because you don’t have to sign up for another account. You’ll probably have to pay a transaction fee, however, and withdrawals can be quite slow, sometimes taking up to three days.
Bank transfers: With a bank transfer, you’ll deposit money into your casino account directly from your bank account. As with credit and debit transactions, you’ll likely have to pay a fee. Some casinos also have deposit and withdrawal minimums with this method.
E-wallets: E-wallets, such as PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay provide a quick, easy, and safe way to transfer money to your online casino account. Deposits happen almost instantly, and if the casino charges transaction fees, they’re usually low.
Cryptocurrency: Crypto, such as Bitcoin, Tether, and Dogecoin, is by far the best payment method at online casinos in New Zealand. Deposits are instant, and withdrawals usually take a couple of hours or less. Plus, crypto is 100% anonymous, which may appeal to you if you’d rather not share your identity.

Leading Providers of Slot Games

If slots are your forte, you’ll be in heaven at the best online casino in NZ. Online gambling sites offer hundreds, sometimes thousands, of slots to choose from. Some of these have big progressive jackpots worth over $1 million.

Top slot software providers include:

Evolution Gaming: Evolution boasts one of the biggest slot game catalogs out there. Its catalog features hundreds of slots, game shows, and crash games (also called “provably fair” games).
NetEnt: NetEnt, famous for games like Stardust and Gonzo’s Quest, is another top provider of slots for online casinos. Evolution Gaming recently acquired NetEnt, but the company continues to produce high-quality slot games.
Microgaming: Microgaming was the first software provider to introduce progressive jackpot games like Mega Moolah, which regularly features jackpots worth over $1 million. You’ll find its games at many of the top online casinos in NZ.
Playtech: Playtech is best known for its Marvel and DC Comics slot games such as The Dark Knight and Superman. Its catalog also includes movie-themed games from films like Gladiator and The Matrix.
Novomatic: Novomatic is renowned for its Egyptian-themed pokies, most notably, Book of Ra. It’s also known for high-volatility games with big potential payouts, such as Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe.

Responsible Gambling Practices

Gambling at an online casino in NZ for real money is a ton of fun, so much so that it’s easy to go overboard with your spending. To keep your gambling in check, follow these responsible gambling practices:

Set a budget for your gambling and don’t go over it. Many online casinos have a budget tracking tool that allows you to keep track of your play.
Don’t chase your losses. There’s no such thing as being “due” for a win after a losing streak.
Never borrow money to keep gambling, and don’t use money set aside for necessities, like groceries and rent.
Take frequent breaks while gambling. Taking breaks helps to clear your head so you don’t get too caught up in the game.
Limit alcohol use when gambling. Alcohol clouds your judgment and makes it easy to overspend.
Don’t think of gambling as a way to make money. The odds are in the house’s favor, so you’re more likely to lose than win.
Understand how the games work before you place a bet. Many online casinos offer a demo mode so you can try the game before betting real money.

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