If you’re based in New Zealand and looking for an online casino operator where you can pay with PayPal, there should always be some very basic, general requirements that you should look for. Of course you want good value for money from your chosen outlet but you should also be safe and treated fairly whenever you go online.
So what makes one casino stand out from another and what are the basic rules that you need to be aware of when you play at one of these outlets? Here are some points that you need to keep in mind when making your choice.
Deposit Options in NZD and Quick Payouts
The ability to fund your casino account in your own, native currency has huge benefits. It means that you don’t have to calculate exchange rates every time you go online and there is no risk of an operator carrying out a conversion and taking away a change for doing so.
Look for a casino that offers instant pay outs for most of their funding options. Any profits that you make are yours so you shouldn’t have to wait around while they are held up, either by the operator or by a third party payment provider.
Banking Options for New Zealand Players
All casinos should provide the ability to pay by all the major debit and credit cards as a basic requirement but if you want some more flexibility, for example paying with PayPal, it’s important to be able to access some eWallets as well.
Providers such as PayPal, POLi, Skrill, Neteller and PaySafeCard will open up a casino’s customer base and they also give you more options as you play through your account. Choice suggests that an operator will do what they can to look after their customers and a casino with a good set of payment options is a positive sign.
Best Bonuses
All casinos should be looking to provide a welcome deal and some ongoing promotions if they are going to compete in a competitive market. Even in a country such as New Zealand where online gambling has its restrictions, it’s simply vital to stand out from the crowd by giving more value for money.
Aside from the obvious requirements such as the size of the bonus in question, what terms should you be looking out for to ensure that the promotion is better or worse than any of the other casinos that you’ve been considering?
Acceptable Wagering Requirements
Casinos, when they issue a welcome or a reload bonus will almost always stipulate a wagering or rollover requirement. This means that you must play through the amount of the deposit and bonus combined a certain number of times before you can withdraw any profits.
As a general rule, the higher the bonus the more times you will have to play through and this could reach up to 40x in some instances. The exact numbers will vary depending on who you are playing with and it’s down to the individual player to decide whether they are happy with the amounts in question.
Availability in $ NZD
Just because a casino doesn’t offer its bonuses in NZD doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t play there and it could be that you’re OK with playing through USD, EUR or another form of overseas currency. However, it just makes life that much easier when you know exactly what is on offer without having to access an online converter or by working out calculations in your head.
Bonuses in NZD are more transparent, you know exactly what you’re getting and there are no conversion charges so this is a big positive when a casino gives you this option.
Safe and Fair Gaming
Is Gambling Legal in New Zealand?
Gambling in New Zealand is legal but it is heavily regulated by the Gambling Act of 2003 which was brought in to tackle the issue of the rise in online gaming. Essentially, when you are playing online you can transact with an operator providing they are based overseas and not in New Zealand itself.
This is quite a common clause around the world but you are protected if you follow the rule and that operator has to acquire a specific license in order to trade in NZ.
What makes a casino legal in New Zealand?
There are just six land based casinos in New Zealand which have to adhere to rigorous rules in order to trade but when it comes to online operators, they cannot be based here. Any casino offering online gambling services to residents of New Zealand must have their physical base outside of the country and they must offer real money services, subject to obtaining a license.
Full details of that license and how players are protected are listed in full by the very lengthy Gambling Act document issued in 2003.
Gambling Problem Websites for NZ Players
The New Zealand Government promotes responsible gambling and any operator who is authorised to trade here must do likewise. If any NZ citizen feels that they might have an issue with gambling then there are places where they can turn to with sites operated by the government and also by a number of charitable organisations.
A quick search of the internet will bring up a full list of options but two of the more popular bodies in the country can be found at www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz and https://www.pgf.nz/ and these are the first port of call for many who feel they need help.
Top Three Casinos for New Zealand Players
Rizk
Rizk claim to be New Zealand’s most popular online casino and the plus points start with a dedicated .nz address so it’s clear they have a focus here. The welcome bonus is a healthy $150.00 which trebles your maximum deposit of $50.00 and there are ongoing promotions too.
Transactions can be carried out in NZD so this is clearly a Kiwi-friendly site but it goes beyond that to offer hundreds of slots and table games plus a live casino which is popular with players from all over the world.
Guts
Guts is a relatively new casino having first come online in 2013 but it’s worked hard in that time to give NZ players everything they need. Once again, there is a .nz version and you can trade in your own currency so it’s easy to navigate your way around here and find that you’re getting great value for money.
The welcome deal is a very generous one up to 400 NZD and there is perhaps a greater choice of ongoing promos here than you’d find anywhere else. Again, a live casino and great choice of games just adds to the overall experience.
Casino.com
This is a very straightforward site which is easy to navigate and many players like it for the simplicity that matches the name. There are other benefits of course including a $400.00 welcome bonus and other promos which can all be accessed using your local currency.
Casino.com has some longevity and trust and also it has one of the widest sets of games on the web, including live casino so if you want to try a range of options rather than sticking to the old favourites, this is a great place to sign up with first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings?
No taxes are paid on any winnings that you may receive from an online casino in New Zealand because the government decrees that you have gained from a hobby and not from a profession. Gambling is seen as recreational and over time, any profit made by one individual will be offset by losses elsewhere.
In addition, the government obtains revenue from operators rather than its citizens so, if you are an amateur enthusiast, you can play freely and any profits that you make from this pastime are yours to keep.
