New Zealand gambling laws don't authorise land-based casinos to provide online gambling services. However, Christchurch Casino has bypassed the regulations and established an iGaming website in Malta known as ChristchurchCasino.com Limited.
Like the parent brick-and-mortar casino, ChristchurchCasino.com stands out with premium iGaming attractions – including 2,000+ games and a juicy online casino welcome bonus. Since the gaming platform is an offshore brand, it's accessible to gamblers in New Zealand. This online casino is the second iGaming site opened by a New Zealand land-based casino after SkyCity in 2019.
Christchurch's online casino has an operating licence from the Malta Gaming Authority. But how does this new gambling outfit stack up against other mobile casinos in the NZ gambling scene? Does it cater to Kiwis' needs or fall short of expectations? We answer these questions in this in-depth review.
Updated by Matt Bastock
Editor
Fact Checked by Owen Watters
Vice President
2,000+ casino games
Responsive customer service team
Attractive welcome bonus
Multiple payment methods
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As an experienced land-based operator, Christchurch Casino understands that promotions are crucial to attracting new customers. Therefore, it entered the online casino scene with an enticing welcome bonus that includes a cash reward and loyalty points.
As expected, this offer comes with terms and conditions, such as:
Compared to most NZ online casinos, ChristchurchCasino.com offers reasonable bonus terms and conditions. The 30x wagering requirement is fair, and the 30-day validity offers enough time to play through the bonus.
There's no live casino promotion at ChristchurchCasino.com.
ChristchurchCasino.com doesn't feature bingo games and promotions.
We didn't find any Sports games and bonuses at ChristchurchCasino.com. However, since the brand is relatively new, it might upgrade its offerings to include sports betting soon.
TRIVIA: The term "no dice" comes from the 20th century United States. Since gambling was illegal, many gamblers would swallow or hide the dice in case of a police raid. That way, they couldn't be prosecuted without proof of gambling.
Christchurch online casino's VIP system called Player's Club rewards gamblers with exclusive benefits for consistent gaming. Players gain access to the club's four tiers – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – via an invitation from the casino.
Christchurch's VIP club is different from the casino's point-based loyalty system. The loyalty reward programme is open to all existing players, and you earn points with each placed bet. Alternatively, VIP membership is strictly by invitation based on consistent gambling activity.
That said, VIP members enjoy the following perks:
Like many mobile casinos, pokies make up most of these games. We discovered more than 1,900 pokies while checking out the website.
However, expect to see a handful of other game genres, including 64 table games and 42 live dealer titles. Thanks to the website's simplistic layout, you won't struggle to navigate the game lobby.
Briefly, let's explore some of the game selections at ChristchurchCasino.com:
ChristchurchCasino.com features all the basic table games – roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and online poker. The website also includes different versions of these classic games.
We had fun playing the following titles:
Online pokies are the main offering at ChristchurchCasino.com, with the website hosting 1,940 titles from renowned names like Microgaming, NetEnt, and Big Time Gaming. These games cut across classics like Big Bass Bonanza to new games like Raging Rex and Benny the Bear.
Megaways and Drops & Wins pokies are also part of Christchurch's selection. Interestingly, the casino allows you to access some of these pokies in demo mode.
Here are some of our favourite picks from the casino's slot lobby:
While Christchurch's live casino selection isn't as extensive as other mobile casinos, there are still some exciting games to explore. You'll find the usuals (Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette), with some game shows thrown into the mix.
The games in the live dealer lobby are provided by two of the world's leading iGaming developers – Pragmatic Play and Evolution Gaming. Therefore, expect immersive and interactive gaming sessions, regardless of your preferred game.
We recommend playing the following live dealer titles:
ChristchurchCasino.com houses over 2,000+ games from leading software developers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Games Global, and Evolution Gaming, amongst others.
ChristchurchCasino.com has an iGaming licence from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), establishing its legitimacy. While we couldn't find any information about a Random Number Generator (RNG) on the website, MGA only approves licences to online casinos that meet specific requirements, such as featuring games with verifiable RNGs.
Therefore, while there's no dedicated page to validate the presence of an RNG on Christchurch's website, expect fair game outcomes.
While signing up at ChristchurchCasino.com, we submitted specific details to verify our identities. The website also collected more relevant data as we gambled or accessed other services.
These details are crucial to Christchurch's Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Some personal information you'll submit to the casino while creating an account or gambling include:
Safety is an important factor to consider before signing up at an online casino. Fortunately, ChristchurchCasino.com employs the TLS v1.2 and SSL encryption protocols to safeguard customer information.
The casino also provided tips on how players can protect their accounts, such as keeping their passwords and other relevant information private.
Gambling is an entertaining leisure activity. However, gamers can sometimes slip into the dark side of mobile betting, leading to dire financial and lifestyle consequences.
To protect players from gambling addiction, ChristchurchCasino.com offers an extensive range of helpful tools, such as:
Besides these tools, the casino proffered some vital tips to help gamblers manage their betting activities. Furthermore, there's a self-assessment survey for players unsure if they have a gambling problem.
Finally, ChristchurchCasino.com provided helplines to gambling support groups, such as The Salvation Army Oasis and the Asian Family Services. You can access these sites from the Responsible Gambling page at the website footer.
You can reach Christchurch's support team via email ([email protected]) or live chat. Live chat responses typically take 30-60 seconds. As such, it's the recommended option if you're seeking instant resolution to complaints. Visit the casino's Help Center to find answers to registration, banking, and bonus queries.
Christchurch Casino is one of New Zealand's top-rated land-based gambling outfits, and the brand displays its experience with its online gaming platform. Besides the impressive game selection, Christchurch offers generous welcome bonuses and promos for extended gameplay.
We also liked the variety of payment options available. The casino allows deposits and withdrawals via popular banking methods like Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, AstroPay, Google Pay, and Bank Transfer.
Despite lacking a mobile app, ChristchurchCasino.com is mobile-optimised, ensuring you can play on the go. However, one area that requires improvement is the website's layout. While the simplistic design aids navigation, we'd love to see more colour and innovation with the online interface. Nonetheless, ChristchurchCasino.com still delivers an exciting gaming experience for Kiwis looking for new adventures.
Withdrawals at ChristchurchCasino.com typically take about two business days, depending on your chosen banking method. However, this timeline might be longer for new players, as the casino will verify your identity before allowing you to withdraw any funds from your account.
ChristchurchCasino.com has an iGaming licence from the Malta Gaming Authority – one of the world's leading iGaming regulatory bodies. As a licenced entity, the casino adheres to global fairness standards. Therefore, expect randomised game outcomes while gambling on the Christchurch Casino website.
Yes! ChristchurchCasino.com leverages up-to-date security technology like TLS v1.2 and SSL encryption protocols to safeguard customer information on its website. However, you also need to keep your passwords and other relevant account details private for improved security.
ChristchurchCasino.com holds a valid licence from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). As such, there's no need to question the brand's legitimacy. You can verify the casino's licence by clicking on the MGA logo at the bottom of the website.
Gambling regulations in New Zealand don't permit land-based casinos to offer online gaming services. However, Christchurch Casino has bypassed the laws to establish an online platform in Malta. Since the website is offshore, it is legal and accessible to New Zealand players.
ChristchurchCasino.com is managed by Two Islands Enterprise LTD, a Malta-based company with a registered address at 85 St John Street, Valletta, VLT1165, Malta. Setting up the platform in Malta allows Christchurch Casino to provide online gambling services to New Zealand without breaking the law.
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Matt Bastock is a Content SEO at Casinos.com. He has years of experience researching, writing and editing articles about sports and gaming, including the world of online casinos and sports betting. Matt enjoys playing many casino table games, especially poker and blackjack. He also loves watching professional sports, particularly English and European football, as well as US football, rugby and cricket.
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