Best Online Pokies Sites in New Zealand for December

Pokies might just be New Zealand’s favourite form of online gambling. And it’s easy to see why. Online pokies in NZ offer endless opportunities for fun, and best of all, you might even bag a real money win. These online slot games come with progressive jackpots, Megaways features, and hundreds of themes. They definitely appeal to every sort of player.

So, are you looking for the best online real money pokies? We’ve got a complete guide for you right here, on this page.

Top 20 Online Pokies

Believe it or not, there are hundreds of different sites where you can play real money pokies online in New Zealand. From household names to brand-new gambling sites, there’s no shortage of choice out there. But deciding which online casino in NZ works best for you can be a bit of a daunting task.

The team at Casinos.com is here to help! We’ve done a whole lot of research into the best real money pokies sites, to help you find your perfect match.  

In the next sections, we'll share our top picks for the best sites. We’ll let you know which casino has the best progressive jackpots and, most excitingly, our top casino for this month. 

If you want to play online pokies with real money, Sushi Casino is our top recommendation. The site has a unique Japanese theme and a modern vibe. Expect lots of graphics and animations for an immersive experience.

All of our top 10 online pokies NZ players love are here, like Big Bass Bonanza, Majestic King, and Sugar Rush. Sushi Casino also has bonus buy games, progressive jackpots, and a great selection of Megaways games.

Sushi's Best features: 

• Promotions to win gadgets and cars
• Four VIP levels
• Bonus buy games available
• Regular jackpot promotions
• Live casino games available 

Spinaro Casino is our top casino for the best real money pokies. The game selection here is better than we’ve seen pretty much anywhere else. There's something for everyone, from top Bonus Buy games like Book of Ra Deluxe and Bill & Coin to massive jackpots. Spinaro also has regular promotions, a VIP program, sports betting and live casino sections.

Spinaro's best features: 

• Bonus Buy games available
• Take part in special tournaments like Drops & Wins (Pragmatic Play slots)
• Good variety of Megaways games
• Progressive jackpots like Mega Moolah are available
• 150+ game providers

Progressive jackpots are some of our favourite types of games. Where else could you stand a chance to win up to seven or eight figures on one spin? NetBet has the best selection of progressive jackpot pokie machines we’ve seen at any NZ online casinos. 

There are “10 Minute Jackpots” like 777 Strike and Bass Boss, which drop all the time. Plus, bigger jackpots like the Mega Moolah and WowPot series are available, too. Or you can try pokies like Book of Mega Moolah and Mega Moolah the Witch’s Moon.

NetBet's best features: 

• 10 Minute Jackpots drop all the time
• Seven-figure jackpots like Mega Moolah are available 
• Progressive jackpot roulette available
• Excellent range of game themes like mythology and animals
• Regular tournaments and free spins promos

Bet365 is a household name, so it should come as no surprise that it’s our top pick for the fastest transactions. Except for bank transfers, which take up to two days, all deposits into your Bet365 account are instant. 

If you withdraw to your bank card, you can get your money within as little as one hour. Plus, Bet365 hosts all of the best online pokies in NZ for real money. There are jackpots, exclusive games, and so much more.

Bet365's best features: 

• Convenient payment methods like bank cards and Apple Pay
• Withdrawals can be as quick as one hour
• No deposit or withdrawal fees
• High withdrawal limits of $55,000
• Strong selection of pokies

Playing top NZ online pokies is even more fun when you can bag a great bonus to help boost your balance. When you sign up, you can get deposit match offers at Casimba. Plus, there’s more to look forward to every day. 

From boosts to free spins frenzies to prize drops, there are plenty of reasons to keep coming back. And it doesn’t hurt that Casimba offers a range of thousands of pokies, including jackpots and new releases.

Casimba's best features: 

• Generous welcome package on your first three deposits
• Daily promotions like free spins and reloads
• Earn loyalty points to redeem for bonus credits
• Five different VIP levels
• Wide selection of pokies and table games

Mr Vegas is home to lots of online NZ pokies with high payouts. We’d recommend you have a go at high RTP pokies like 1429 Uncharted Seas and Blood Suckers. We were also thrilled to see that Mr Vegas offers the Mega Moolah games, where you could stand a chance to win huge prizes.

These progressive jackpots can go up to seven or even eight figures. Plus, you can spin the special Wheel of Vegas, to see if you can bag an exclusive progressive jackpot.

Mr Vegas's best features: 

• Over 11,000 games 
• Mega Moolah progressive jackpots
• Good mix of online roulette and blackjack games
• Weekly slots promotions
• Many slots have an RTP of over 96%

Neptune Play is home to some of the latest real money online pokies, like Spartan Spirit, Valley of the Dead, and Break the Piggy Bank. In fact, there’s an entire section in the lobby for new games, and you’ll see titles from the likes of Yggdrasil, Pragmatic Play, and many other providers. 

But don’t worry, Neptune Play doesn’t only have new releases. There are plenty of classic games, live casino games and even a sports betting section.

Naptune Play's best features: 

• No deposit or withdrawal fees
• Some withdrawals are instant 
• Regular promotions like Drops & Wins
• Lots of games with special features like Link & Win
• Loyalty program with seven levels

Online Pokies NZ: The Ultimate Guide

If you enjoy playing real money pokies online or want to get the hang of it, this guide is for you.

You’ll find lots of helpful info here on the different types of slots, who makes them, and other useful stuff. Plus, I’ll share my favourite pokies to help you kick things off.

Check out the list of the best online pokies sites in New Zealand above. They come with great online casino bonus offers, so you can pick the one that suits you best.

Types of Online Pokies

The world of online pokies has come a long way in recent years! If you’re a player in New Zealand, you'll find a fantastic range of real money pokies, many with fun themes. To help you navigate this selection, let's break them down into categories!

Video pokies

These are the original online slots, and they’re so cool that they still rule the online pokies scene today. Video pokies come in two main styles: classic 3-reel and more detailed 5-reel versions. They usually offer fun features like wild and scatter symbols; some even have bonus games. Plus, the live-action backgrounds and animations really keep things entertaining!

Check out my recommended top three video pokies:

With the arrival of 3D pokies, online slots have gotten a fun upgrade. The gameplay is pretty much the same as regular video pokies, but the graphics look way cooler. Plus, there's often a fun storyline, and everything feels much more engaging.

Here are my top three 3D pokies for you to try:

Fruit Machines

These slot machines are just like the classic ones you’d find in bars and arcades. The older ones usually have three reels and a single payline down the middle. The newer ones have five reels and multiple paylines to spice things up. They all share symbols like fruits, bells, and lucky sevens. Some even let you hold or nudge the reels, which makes them more fun to play.

Here are my top three fruit machines that you can find on online slot sites:

The popularity of themed pokies has really taken off lately. These branded slots are all about the stories from well-known movies, TV shows, or bands. Here some of my favourite branded pokies: 

Jackpot slots are a fun type of online pokies that give you a shot at winning big prizes without having to bet a lot. When you play a jackpot slot, a tiny part of your bet goes towards the jackpot. So, the more players join in on the same game, the bigger the jackpot gets. It keeps climbing until someone finally wins it.

Here are the different types:

• Standalone Jackpots. Playing progressive pokies with a standalone prize means the jackpot comes entirely from the single pokie game. The game takes a percentage for each bet that contributes to the progressive jackpot. Once one lucky player grabs the grand prize, it will reset and increase again. Standalone jackpots connect to only one game, and the rewards are smaller than those of other progressive jackpot pokies.
• Global Jackpots. If you aim for the biggest jackpots, go for global or WAP (wide-area network) progressives. This setup connects several slot machines, allowing the prize pool to grow from bets across a vast network. Since the wagers come from so many players, the prizes can get huge!
• Local Jackpots. Local Jackpot is the in-house version of a jackpot, where several slot machines at the same casino contribute to one big prize. You can usually find these jackpots listed together in the game lobby. 

The casino builds up the jackpot by taking a small cut from each bet placed on these slot games online. Local jackpots tend to grow quicker and bigger than standalone ones. But they aren’t quite as massive as global or network jackpots.

Finding sites where you can play top online pokies NZ isn’t too difficult - after all, there are hundreds of sites out there. But how do we ensure the casinos we recommend are worth your time? Well, each site goes through our strict rating process, which works like this:

1. Create a casino account: One of our team members opens up an account at the casino site so we can test the entire experience from start to finish.
2. Check out the bonuses: We compare the welcome offer against some of our other best online pokies sites. We also read the T&Cs in full to tell you all about the wagering requirements and other limits.
3. Make a deposit: we use one of the payment methods available for NZ players (like a bank card) to make a deposit and review the process. Bonus points if it’s one of those 10 dollar minimum deposit casinos, so you don't have to spend much from the start.
4. Test the games: Now for the fun part - we try out a selection of the best online pokies in NZ and make sure we’re happy with the overall casino experience.
5. Play on mobile: Mobile pokies should work just as well as on desktop, so we test those across devices like iOS and Android.
6. Request a withdrawal: If we get lucky, we’ll withdraw our funds. Here, we’re rating sites based on the accepted methods, withdrawal timelines, and whether or not there are any fees.

Casino Bonus Options

Most sites offer slot bonuses in a bid to attract new customers. These are varied and come with different wagering requirements. So, it always pays to shop around for the best offers. 

Here are some of the bonuses you’ll come across at the best online pokies sites in NZ:

Top online pokies sites often run special tournaments, where you could bag special prizes by playing your favourite games.

Some sites run tournaments as often as every week or month, and to get involved, you only need to wager on selected games. These games might all be related to a theme, like summer or Christmas, or they might be the site’s most popular games.

When you wager on the games, you’ll earn points, and work your way up a leaderboard. When the promo ends, the players at the very top will get some excellent prizes as a reward. So, what can you win? Well, that depends entirely on the casino. Everything from casino bonuses, to tech gadgets like iPhones could be up for grabs.

The best online pokies sites in NZ also run tournaments in conjunction with software providers. In some cases, you’ll need to wager on selected games from the provider to be in with a chance of winning prizes. The Spinomenal Tournament is one such example. Other tournaments like the Pragmatic Play Drops & Wins promo give you the chance to win random cash prizes on any spin.

Best Pokies Software Providers

You can't have pokies without the developers who make them! A few times a year, these studios drop some really fun games for us to enjoy. Here’s a look at some of the coolest ones out there.

• Microgaming, now called Games Global, has been cranking out online games since 2022. Their fan favourites include Mega Moolah, Immortal Romance, and Thunderstruck II.
• Playtech is known for hits like Gladiator, Top Gun, and The Walking Dead. They’re also famous for the Age of the Gods series and O'Reilly's Riches: Gold Hit.
• Over in Sweden, NetEnt has given us gems like Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Mega Fortune, not to mention Gordon Ramsay’s Hell's Kitchen.
• Play’n GO is another Nordic powerhouse, serving up popular games like Book of Dead, Fire Joker, and Reactoonz.
• IGT is a pioneer in branded pokies, known for classics like Cleopatra, Golden Goddess, and Cats.
• Pragmatic Play focuses on pocket casinos and cinematic 3D slots. Their big titles include Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, and Gates of Olympus.
• Relax Gaming is an award-winning provider that’s always dropping new pokies. The Money Train series, Dead Man's Trail, and Temple Tumble Megaways are their famous titles.
• Novomatic works with top New Zealand online casinos to create new video pokies. Look out for Sizzling Hot, Book of Ra Deluxe, and Lucky Lady's Charm Deluxe.
• Nolimit City stands out with its quirky and unexpected games. Check out titles like Mental, Tombstone R.I.P., and Deadwood.
• Light & Wonder, formerly SG Digital, is famous for Raging Rhino Mighty Ways, Stargate Megaways, and Invaders Megaways.

Payouts and RTP

When playing pokies online, one thing you need to know about is RTP, which stands for "Return to Player." You'll usually see it represented as a percentage.

The RTP tells you how much money you can get back from a pokie over time. For example, if a game has an RTP of 94.75%, that means, on average, you'd get back about $94.75 for every $100 you bet.

But keep in mind, pokies are games of luck. In some sessions, you'll walk away with winnings; at other times, you might lose a bit. So, while RTP gives you a ballpark idea of what to expect, it doesn't guarantee results.

A lot of the best slots out there have high RTPs; for instance, Mega Joker from NetEnt has a solid RTP of 99%.

Now, where can you find this RTP info? Check out the paytable! That's where developers usually list important details about the game, including the RTP.

The paytable shows the prizes you can win in cash or as multipliers. So if you see "100x," you could win 100 times what you bet on a single line. It also shows you any bonus rounds and the minimum and maximum payouts. Use this info to figure out what to expect when trying out new online pokies!

If you are new to the online pokies scene in New Zealand, I have compiled a list of games you can play for real money. These slots feature beautiful graphics, exciting bonuses, and generous payouts. Here they are:

Like all casino games, online pokies for real money have specialist features and vocabulary that you will see bandied about from time to time. But never fear, because this list covers the most important of them.

Pokies RNG (Random Number Generator)

A random number generator, or RNG, works out what happens every time you hit spin on a pokies game. When you click spin, the RNG generates a random number through the game’s software. It then produces a real result, meaning you win or lose. This setup keeps things fair and random, so there’s no way to cheat the system.

The only way to have an impact on the outcome is by playing skill-based games like blackjack or online poker. If you want to sharpen your card game skills, look out for these games at some of the best blackjack sites or poker casinos.

As you probably know by now, when you play online pokies to win real money, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get lucky. Pokies are luck games, and there’s nothing you, as a player, can do to influence whether or not the symbols will land in your favour. That said, there are a couple of things you should always do before you play.

• Choose a licensed casino. You should only play online poker for real money at licensed online casino sites. You can use our list of the best online pokies sites to find a safe casino. If you play at an unlicensed site, you risk losing your money. The games might also not be fair, so there’s no guarantee you’ll even have a chance of winning. 
• Use casino bonuses. The best NZ online pokies sites offer bonuses for new and regular players. Claiming a deposit match can help boost your balance, while free spins can introduce you to new titles. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions carefully, so you know what to expect. 
• Find your perfect real money pokie. Don’t just go for how the game looks. Make sure to check out its RTP, volatility, and payout rates. Also, take a look at the bonus features and see if there are any big jackpots to win.
• Start with demo mode. Trying out demos is a great way to see how smooth the gameplay is and if you actually enjoy it. Once you find one you like, you can move on to the real money pokie version. 
• Stick to your budget. Before diving into real money pokies, it's smart to set a budget and stick to it. Use any responsible gambling tools, like deposit limits or session reminders, to help you stay on track.
• Play smart. Even though NZ pokies online are random and fair, you can follow a few tips to boost your chances of winning. For example, if a pokie has a progressive jackpot that requires a specific bet size, you might want to increase your stake. The same goes for a high volatility slot, where you could win bigger. But don’t forget always to gamble responsibly - set a budget and stick to it. And use responsible gambling tools to stay in control. 
• Have fun, don’t focus on winning. Our most important tip is to have fun when you’re playing online pokies. Try not to see it as a way to make money, but enjoy the thrill of watching the reels spin. Choose games with interactive features like bonus rounds, and make sure you play a game with a theme you love. 

Pokies Payment Methods

Lots of great pokies sites in New Zealand have a good range of online casino payment options. Most of the time, deposits are instant, but how long withdrawals take can depend on the casino and the method. 

Generally, e-wallets are your best bet for fast casino withdrawals, while bank transfers can take a few days. If you're looking for quick payouts, check out our guide to NZD casinos - it’s got all the info you need!