Best Online Pokies sites In New Zealand for November

Online Pokies NZ: The Ultimate Guide

This guide was created specifically for online pokies NZ players who love to play real money pokies. We have also handpicked a list of online sites in New Zealand with the best online casino bonus to get you started.

You will find valuable information about the types of slots you can enjoy online and how the pokies and related offers work. Not only that, we tell you everything you need to know about exciting new online pokies which you can play for real money, and the leading software providers, plus which payment methods are available to you.

Once you have read this article, you will be armed with all the information you need to enjoy the best online pokies in the business!

History of Pokie Machines

The first online casino in NZ launched back in the mid-1990s, with a limited selection of basic video pokies and virtual table games. Players were faced with rudimentary graphics, lag times, interruptions and a poor selection. 

However, the industry quickly matured. Major high-street bookmakers like William Hill and Ladbrokes piled in, land-based casinos launched video pokies online, and digital sportsbooks branched out into real money casino games like online roulette.

Increased competition forced operators to launch increasingly attractive online pokie-focused promotions and broaden their ranges. That led to an explosion in the number of software providers working in the space, and the overall level of quality and variety on offer soared. 

By the mid-2000s, progressive jackpots went past the $4 million mark, inspiring millions more New Zealand players to get involved in the action.

The growth in online pokies accelerated with the launch of iOS and Android in 2008, and casinos offering mobile phone pokies have continued to grow ever since. Now, 3D pokies are pushing the sector in intriguing new directions, and virtual reality promises to make real money pokies even more exciting in the years ahead.

Types of Online Pokies

The online pokies sector has grown increasingly sophisticated in recent years. Online pokies NZ players now have a thrilling array of different real money pokies to choose from, and many of them follow entertaining themes. To make some sense of this huge amount of pokies, we can broadly divide them into the following five key categories.

Video pokies

These are the original online pokies, and they continue to dominate the online pokies industry. Video pokies online include the classic 3-reel and the more elaborate 5-reel pokies, which can contain exciting features like Wild and Scatter symbols, thrilling bonus games, plus live-action backgrounds and animations to keep you entertained. 

Check out my recommended top 3 video pokies of 2024: 

Online pokies have been given another exciting dimension with the advent of 3D pokies, which are growing increasingly prevalent. The play is exactly the same as online video pokies, but the graphics have been given an update, there is a stronger narrative, and the overall experience is more immersive. 

And here are my top 3 picks for the top 3D pokies of 2024:

Fruit Machines

These pokies mimic the classic machines found in bars and arcades across New Zealand. They have 3 reels with a payline in the middle, and the symbols generally include classics like fruit, bells and the number 7. They give you the option to hold or nudge reels, adding another layer of intrigue. 

My top 3 fruit machines at online pokies sites for 2024 include:

The trend for themed pokies has accelerated over the past few years. Branded slots follow a narrative based on a famous movie, TV show or band. 

Some of my recommended the most popular themed pokies for 2024 are: 

Arguably the most popular category of pokies of all time, Jackpot slots give you the chance to win huge prizes off relatively small stakes. Here’s how it works: a small portion of each player’s stake contributes to the jackpot, which continually rises until a player finally triggers it. There have been many instances of players receiving seven-figure and even eight-figure prizes lately. Here are the different types:

• Standalone Jackpots | Playing progressive pokies with a standalone prize means the jackpot comes entirely from the single pokie game. For each bet, the game takes a percentage that contributes towards the progressive jackpot. Once one lucky player grabs the grand prize, it will reset and start increasing again. Because standalone jackpots connect to just one game, the rewards are not as big as other types of progressive jackpot pokies.
• Global Jackpots | If you’re after the biggest jackpots, a global progressive is the best option. Also known as a Wide Area Network jackpot, these are several pokie machines where the prize pot accumulates from bets made on every version of the game across a vast network. Because wagers come from a large pool, the prizes can become absolutely massive.
• Local Jackpots | Another form of progressive jackpot pokie is the local jackpot, also known as an in-house jackpot. This type of progressive pokie features a jackpot pool from several pokies available at a single casino. These are usually listed together in the game lobby and are essentially the casino building the jackpot by taking a portion of each bet made on these pokies online. These progressive jackpots grow larger and faster than a standalone jackpot, but not as much as a global/network jackpot.

Find the best progressive jackpot pokies in the online casinos below:

How We Rate the Top Online Pokies NZ Sites

The places where you can play your favourite pokies are as important as the slots themselves. Which is why our team of expert reviewers performs a thorough assessment of all the different online pokies NZ sites before making recommendations. 

The key criteria they look for are pokie variety, quality, user experience and promotions. They give each online casino a star rating for these categories. Then they give an overall score to each video pokies online site, allowing you to compare them, so you'll be able to start spinning your fav pokies with your mind at rest.

Here’s the process the team follows:

Reputation and Licence

The first step is to find out whether the online casino holds a licence from a gambling regulator. Since the New Zealand Gambling Commission does not endorse online casinos, we check whether operators have a licence from the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority. Here at Casinos.com, we only recommend licensed, trustworthy casino sites, so this is an important first step.

Registration and Security

Our experts then sign up for an account at the site and monitor the simplicity of the registration process, including how easy it is to complete the casino’s KYC (Know Your Customer) steps. They will also assess the level of security provided at this stage to ensure that the online casino takes all the necessary steps towards keeping your personal and financial details secure.

Game Variety

Now the basics are covered, it’s time for the fun part! Our team will judge the casino’s game selection, including, of course, its library of pokies. Does it have the latest exciting titles released by the best software providers? Does it offer a variety of pokie types, including classic titles, video pokies, progressive pokies, 3D pokies as well as demo versions for NZ players? Any online casino that doesn’t do well here won’t make it onto any of our lists.

Play on Portable Devices

The best New Zealand online pokies sites will work well on a number of devices, including tablets and smartphones. We know this is a hugely important factor for many Kiwis looking primarily to play online pokies for real money on their phones. If the casino site has created a dedicated app, we also download and test this.

Promotions and VIP Programmes

The top casino sites, including the 10 dollar minimum deposit casinos, offer a compelling range of bonuses to new and existing customers alike. Our team will then test these casino offers and compare them against rival sites to see how much value they truly offer players. Similarly, we check out the casino’s VIP programme to see how generously they reward high rollers and loyal players.

Depositing and Withdrawing Money

Today, all of the best online casinos offer a wide range of different banking methods to choose from. Our reviewers will make deposits via various methods to see how easy the process is. They will also make withdrawals, and assess how long it takes for payouts to arrive, and research whether the casino has a history of paying customers on time.

Customer Care

Finally, the team interacts with customer service representatives to gauge how polite, professional, helpful and friendly they are. It is important that we only recommend online casinos that treat their customers with respect, so this is not a factor that we take lightly.

At Casinos.com, we only recommend trusted sites that tick all these boxes. Our reviewers also constantly pay attention to the new online pokies NZ sites that are launched as exciting new operators continue to muscle into this space. They revisit sites on an ongoing basis to check that they maintain the highest standards, ensuring that you receive up-to-date information at all times.

Bonus Options

Most sites offer slot bonuses in a bid to attract new customers. These are varied, and they come with different wagering requirements attached, so it pays to shop around for the best offers. Here are some of the bonuses you’ll typically come across.

Welcome Bonus

The classic form of casino offer, the welcome bonus, is designed to tempt new online pokies NZ customers into trying out the casino. These packages come in many forms, but usually involve some kind of matched deposit and free spins combination. Of course, check the small print, not least the attached wagering requirements, before signing up for this bonus.

Free Spins

Not to be confused with bonus spins you may activate in the course of playing a pokie, the free spins we’re talking about here are offered by the online casino simply for signing up to their site and depositing money. Free spins are a great way to play a pokie for an extended period of time, and of course, you may win some money on them. However, these types of offers always come with terms and conditions attached, such as which pokie titles you can redeem them on and wagering requirements before you can cash out any winnings.

No Deposit Bonus

From time to time, some online pokies NZ sites may also have offers that you can grab without making a deposit. If you ever see such an offer, you should consider seizing the opportunity, as you could earn a cash withdrawal without spending any of your own money if you are successful. It should be noted that a no deposit bonus casino is pretty rare in the online gaming world. 

Wagering Requirements

A hugely important factor to bear in mind is the wagering requirement, otherwise known as the rollover requirement. This refers to the number of times you need to play a bonus credit before you can think about making a cash withdrawal. You might have a 35x rollover requirement attached to the 200% welcome offer up to $500, and a 40x rollover requirement attached to the 100% welcome offer up to $300 promotion. Many players like to pick offers with the lowest wagering requirements for playing online pokies.

Best Pokies Software Providers

Pokies cannot exist without pokie-makers. Thankfully, the online pokies NZ industry is blessed with a wealth of extremely talented software providers. They all compete to launch the most exciting pokie titles each year, and the real winner is the player, as online pokies just keep getting better and better. These are the most important pokie providers in the industry:

• Microgaming | The Isle of Man-based company has been one of the world's largest online pokie providers since 2022, known as Games Global. It supplies hundreds of titles, including Mega Moolah, Game of Thrones, Immortal Romance, and Thunderstruck II.
• Playtech | What do Gladiator, Top Gun and The Walking Dead have in common? They are all online pokies produced by Playtech, an innovative software developer known for creating exciting and high-quality branded pokie machines. The software giant is also famous for producing the Age of the Gods pokie series and O'Reilly's Riches: Gold Hit, among many others.
• NetEnt | This Swedish software supplier is responsible for some of the best online pokies of all time, including Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Mega Fortune. It has also produced branded video pokies such as Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, and NetEnt casinos are very popular among players.
• Play’n GO | Yet another developer with Nordic roots, Play’n GO is a Swedish software company with a myriad of successful pokies to its name. Some of Play’n GO’s most notable hits include Book of Dead, Fire Joker, and Reactoonz.
• IGT | International Game Technology is a multinational software firm headquartered in London, with further offices located in Las Vegas, Rhode Island and Rome. A pioneer in the field of branded video pokies, IGT is the brains behind such popular online pokies as Cleopatra, Golden Goddess, and Cats.
• Pragmatic Play | Equally as famous for its broad selection of table games as for its extensive library of online pokies, Pragmatic Play is a software firm with a particular focus on pocket casinos and cinematic 3D slots. Alongside its most popular releases, like Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, and Gates of Olympus, Pragmatic Play also offers an exclusive full-featured casino management platform.
• Relax Gaming | An award-winning software provider, Relax Gaming was founded in 2010. It works with several of the best online pokies sites and releases new online pokies on a regular basis. They include Money Train 3, Dead Man's Trail, and Temple Tumble Megaways.
• Novomatic | Celebrating its 40th birthday in 2020, Novomatic began as a producer of physical pokie machines for brick-and-mortar casinos. Now, this Austrian software provider works with several of the top NZ online casinos to release new video pokies on a regular basis. Notable pokies include Sizzling Hot, Book of Ra Deluxe, and Lucky Lady's Charm Deluxe.
• Nolimit City | This software firm is renowned for quirky releases such as Mental and Tombstone R.I.P. It has a particular focus on smartphone casinos and 3D pokies.
• Light & Wonder | After acquiring top pokie developers NYX Entertainment and NextGen, the digital division of Light & Wonder has become famous for producing a range of thrilling real money pokies with exclusive bonus features. Top titles include Raging Rhino Mighty Ways, Stargate Megaways, and Invaders Megaways.

Online Pokies Tournaments

The best online pokies NZ sites that we recommend often host tournaments based on a particular pokie – typically either a classic game or a hot new release. You can join this tournament and bid to complete the challenges in order to climb up the board and win prizes. Exciting prizes include cash, trips, cars and gadgets. 

These online pokies tournaments are generally hosted in collaboration with the software provider in order to boost the profile of a particular game. They provide players with a great opportunity to earn valuable prizes, and they are always worth seeking out at the top New Zealand online pokies sites.

Payouts and RTP

The key concept you have to familiarise yourself with when playing pokies online is RTP, which stands for ‘Return to Player’. This percentage refers to the amount of wagered money a particular pokie will return to you over a prolonged period of time. It essentially refers to the house edge. If a pokie has an RTP of 94.75%, it means the average player will eventually get back $94.75 for every $100 staked.

However, pokies are games of chance, so some players will make a profit, and others will make a loss in a playing session. The RTP gives you an idea of the average return you can expect. You should look for as high an RTP as possible. NetEnt’s Mega Joker has offered an RTP of up to 99%, while Jackpot 6000 goes up to 98.8%, making them some of the best pokies for players.

Every pokie will have a payout table which you can access through the information section. It should tell you the symbol values, the special values and the paylines, while explaining the features and providing any relevant jackpot information. Payout tables should list the prizes either as a cash amount or as a multiplier. For example, if you see “100x”, it means you stand to win 100 times the size of your single-line bet. It should inform you of the bonus rounds and the minimum and maximum prizes. You can use this information to determine your projected payouts at new online pokies.

Kiwis today are spoilt for choice when it comes to real money pokies in NZ. Top NZ online casinos typically offer customers hundreds of online pokies for real money from the best software developers and also offer a range of pokie-related offers as they compete for your business.

If you’re looking for online pokies in NZ to win real money on, you won’t be disappointed by any of the titles in this list. They’re among the most popular pokies played by NZ gamblers today and feature exciting gameplay, fun graphics and high real money payouts. Here are the most popular real money pokies in NZ:

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.

• RNG (Random Number Generator): A software program that generates random outcomes for each spin on a pokie machine, ensuring fairness and unpredictability of results.
• RTP (Return to Player): The percentage of total bets that a pokie machine pays back as winnings over time.
• Payline: A line on the reels that determines a winning combination when symbols align.
• Wild symbol: A special symbol that can substitute for other symbols to form winning combinations.
• Scatter symbol: A special symbol that triggers bonus features or payouts when appearing a certain number of times.
• Bonus round: A special feature that is triggered by landing certain symbols or combinations, offering additional ways to win.
• Multiplier: A bonus feature that increases the player's winnings by a set amount or a multiple of their bet.
• Free spins: A bonus feature that gives players a certain number of spins on the pokie machine without having to bet.
• Progressive jackpot: A type of jackpot that grows over time with a percentage of each bet placed on the machine.
• Volatility: A measure of the frequency and size of payouts from a pokie machine, with high volatility meaning fewer but larger payouts.
• Sticky wilds: A type of wild symbol that remains in place for multiple spins, helping to form winning combinations.
• Re-spins: A bonus feature that allows players to spin the reels again, with the opportunity to increase their winnings.
• Cluster pays: A type of pokie machine where winning combinations are formed by grouping symbols together rather than aligning along paylines.
• Expanding wilds: A type of wild symbol that expands to fill an entire reel, increasing the chances of forming winning combinations.
• Pick-a-prize bonus: A type of bonus round where players choose from a selection of items to reveal instant cash prizes or bonuses.
• Megaways: A type of pokie machine with a dynamic number of ways to win, potentially offering many more paylines than traditional online pokies in NZ.

Tips for Playing Online Pokies for Real Money

1. Choose a Real Money Pokie Game that’s Right for You

You may think this goes without saying, but finding out the characteristics of each pokie that interests you is important if you want to maximise your fun. As well as checking the theme and gameplay, it is vital to find out the RTP percentage, bonus structure, volatility and, of course, how big its jackpots are.  

2. Play a Demo of the Slot First

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few solid contenders, it might be a good idea to first play them without risking losing any of your own money. Playing demos lets you test how smooth the play is and how enjoyable you find it. And once you’ve found one you like, you can move on to the real money pokie version. 

3. Set a Strict Pokie Budget and Stick to it

It is extremely important not to gamble more than you’re comfortable with. It can be very tempting to carry on playing even after you’ve exhausted your budget, in the expectation that as you’ve been losing recently, you are surely due a win soon. This is known as “the gambler’s fallacy” and can lead to heavy losses and a feeling that you just can’t give it up. But remember – while pokies are programmed to pay out a high percentage of the time, because of the RNG (Random Number Generator) winning and losing is entirely based on luck. Therefore, gamble responsibly and walk away when your luck – and budget – has run out.

Here's a list of online casinos that offer the best online pokies for real money in NZ:

Pokies Payment Methods

The best pokies NZ sites will offer you a wide range of online casino payment options for both deposits and withdrawals. Credit and debit card payments are perhaps the most popular among Kiwis, probably due to their reputation for safety, but also because they've been around for a long time (and almost everyone has one!).

E-wallets such as Neteller or PayPal are also growing in popularity in New Zealand, but bear in mind you will probably not be allowed to claim a bonus if you opt for Neteller or Skrill. This is because the anonymity offered by these services can lead to bonus abuse.

Bank transfers and prepaid cards such as Paysafecard are accepted at many online pokies sites today, along with other, more niche methods, such as cryptocurrencies.

Withdrawal times vary depending on the online casino you play at and the withdrawal method you choose. As a rule, e-wallets are fastest (sometimes the money is transferred instantly, while bank transfers can take a few days. If speedy payouts are important to you, you may want to read about NZD online casinos with instant withdrawals.

Pokies RNG (Random Number Generator)

A random number generator is used to calculate the result each time you hit spin on an online pokie game. An RNG is also used on physical pokies found in casinos and arcades, and it is also used to determine the results of online casino games like online blackjack. The RNG produces a random number at the software underpinning the game each time you hit spin. 

This random number goes through the game software and produces a tangible result, resulting in a win or loss for the player. This ensures that outcomes remain fair and random, meaning there is no way to cheat the system. The only way you can have an impact on the outcome is to choose a game where the way you play can have an impact. Blackjack is one such game, so if you want a game that includes a level of skill, look for the best online blackjack sites. Another option if you want a game that includes an element of skill is online poker. 

Choosing the Best Online Pokies NZ

With such a dazzling array of titles to choose from, it can be hard to pick out a pokie that’s right for you. To help you out, our experts have compiled the following essential pointers to help you get the most from playing pokies online. 

• Paytable | Before you start playing any real money pokies game, we recommend heading straight to the paytable. This is the area where the game provider gives you all the details of the pokie. Here you will find out about winning combinations, information on features, and how to trigger the progressive jackpot.
• Type of pokie | Choose the best pokie that suits you. If you have a large budget, high rolling in pursuit of a major network jackpot may be worth it. For players on a smaller budget who want to play for fun, a simple video or themed pokie may be the better option.
• Coins/bets (budget) | You will probably need to adapt your betting strategy depending on which pokie you’re playing. While sticking to a budget and extending your bankroll is essential for standard NZ pokies, that strategy doesn’t really work on progressives, where you will probably need to roll high on each bet.
• Jackpots | Most progressive jackpots also have a standard base game jackpot. This is the amount you can win in regular gameplay. As for full progressive jackpots, the amount you can win varies depending on how long the pot has been growing.
• Bonus rounds | Pay close attention to the available bonus rounds on the pokie game you choose. Progressive jackpots are often locked behind a bonus you will need to trigger and play through if you are to win the top prize.