Online casinos are now more popular in New Zealand than ever. I think that some of the main reasons for this are the high levels of security used these days by the reputable operators who control them to protect your account and the daily life-changing jackpots that are up for grabs.
Other contributing factors that I strongly feel are helping these sites become more mainstream are the generous bonuses with low wagering requirements that people can claim, the thousands of online pokies you can choose from, their accessibility from almost any device and any location, and the convenience they offer, among other things.
If you are considering joining one of these sites and live in New Zealand but don’t know anything about them, such as which payment methods they accept or how old you must be to join them, don’t panic.
I’ve compiled a brief guide containing everything you need to know about joining one of today’s most trusted NZ pokie sites for the first time.
I will specifically focus on the deposit and withdrawal options commonly accepted on these sites, which can easily be used to top up your account and cash out your winnings when the time comes.
Is online gambling legal in New Zealand?
Although the 2003 Gambling Act in New Zealand was introduced to prohibit New Zealand citizens from placing real money wagers online at websites that are based within the country’s borders, it was left open to interpretation about gambling at offshore sites that operate outside of NZ jurisdiction because it did not prohibit New Zealanders from playing on foreign-controlled sites.
In other words, the millions of online gamblers who regularly play their favourite online pokies at foreign-controlled sites, myself included, don’t have to worry about the authorities knocking on the door because we are not breaking any laws (at the time of writing, that is).
The law could one day change, so you should always try to stay up to date with the latest online gambling laws by regularly visiting popular review sites like the AskGamblers New Zealand information portal.
This trusted website is run by a dedicated team of professionals, many of whom are experts in the chosen fields and have decades of combined experience in the industry. The thing I love most about this website is that each site has been carefully handpicked because it specifically caters to New Zealand citizens.
In other words, their carefully curated list of highly recommended NZ sites has everything an NZ person could ever want from a site like this.
You may notice that many of their handpicked sites are fully licensed and regulated by various other globally renowned (mid to top-tier) licensing authorities, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao eGaming or the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, to name a few.
The reputable operators of these sites are all ok with accepting real cash wagers from anyone aged 18 or above in New Zealand.
Which three online payment methods do most NZ sites accept in 2024?
After registering an account on any of their featured sites, the next thing you will probably want to do as soon as your new account has been activated is to make a deposit so you can start playing your favourite online pokies or classic favourites, such as blackjack, roulette, poker, craps or baccarat in the real money mode.
The most popular online payment solutions for New Zealanders commonly accepted on these sites include a range of prepaid cards/vouchers, eWallets (which I also know people refer to as digital wallets, mobile wallets or electronic wallets), and credit & debit cards.
Some sites also now accept cryptocurrencies. In other words, New Zealanders are literally spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a deposit/withdrawal method. Some of the most popular methods currently accepted are the following:
- Direct/instant bank transfers – POLi, Trustly, etc.
- Credit/debit cards – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.
- eWallets – PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, eZeeWallet, and many others
- Mobile wallets – Apple Pay, Google Pay, Pay by Phone, etc.
- Prepaid cards/vouchers – Paysafecard, Neosurf, CashToCode, Flexepin
- Cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin, Ethereum, DogeCoin, Litecoin, and others
Some sites will only accept five to ten of these online payment options, and others will accept anywhere from 20 to 30 or more.
Before signing up anywhere, I always like to head straight to that site’s cashier/banking section to see if my preferred payment method is accepted, and I suggest you do the same. You don’t want to sign up anywhere only to find that your preferred method isn’t accepted.
I’ve also found that getting used to several different online payment methods instead of sticking to just one means I will always find a site where I can play. For example, I only used to look for sites that accepted PayPal; if they didn’t accept it, I would look for somewhere else to play that did accept it.
These days, I am more flexible and can choose between using PayPal, my Visa debit card, Skrill, or Neteller. Almost every site I’ve joined accepts one or more of these payment methods, so I don’t have to be too picky these days when deciding which sites to join.
On a final note, when you register an account with an online casino, I strongly advise you to set deposit limits, if available, or at least set yourself a reasonable budget before depositing to ensure you remain within your budget; please remember to gamble responsibly at all times.
What I mean by that is NEVER to gamble while tired, intoxicated or under the influence, and try to avoid chasing your losses. Also, learning the rules and payouts/odds before playing anything you’ve had your eye on can help you place more strategic wagers.