Best Online Casino Games NZ

Top 12 Online Casino Games

Many NZ online casinos provide thousands of games in their gallery. In this section, we’ll cover the most popular casino games you’ll get a kick out of.

Pokies Online

Pokies are the most popular games in casinos. The best online pokies in NZ don’t require skills. Instead, spin the reels of slot machines to win money.

• Basics: Pokies are digital versions of traditional slot machines.
• Special features: Multipliers, free spins, scatters, wilds, jackpots, and bonus rounds.
• Variations: Classic 3-reel slots, branded slots, progressive jackpots, Megaways and video slots.
• Tips and strategies: Choose high-RTP pokies, manage your bankroll efficiently, and play the demo game to develop a strategy before risking real money.

Roulette Online

Roulette is a casino classic that involves betting on where a ball will land after spinning the roulette wheel.

• Basics: The player needs to pick a number or colour where the ball will drop, and watch the game unfold.
• Special features: Auto-roulette, neighbour bets, and outside bets.
• Variations: Lightning roulette, live dealer roulette, multi-wheel roulette, and American, French, or European roulette.
• Tips and strategies: European and French roulette have better odds. Likewise, incorporate Fibonacci or Martingale strategies to manage your bets.

Blackjack Online

Blackjack is a card game that has been played in casinos for decades. It is easy to play but requires a strategy to outperform the dealer.

• Basics: The aim is to get as close to 21 or hit a value of 21 on your card without exceeding it while competing against the dealer.
• Special features: Insurance, side bets, multi-hand play, and hit, split, or double down.
• Variations: Spanish 21, Blackjack Switch, Multihand Blackjack, European Blackjack, and Atlantic City Blackjack.
• Tips and strategies: Learn and understand basic strategy charts. In addition, avoid insurance bets, and consider card counting if it is not illegal in the casino.

Live Dealer Games

Live games simulate a real land-based casino environment. With these, players enjoy the thrill of playing in a physical casino without leaving their comfort zones.

• Basics: The game is live-streamed in HD from a physical casino or studio and handled by a human dealer.
• Special features: HD streaming from multiple camera angles, chat functionality, and real-time betting.
• Variations: Live table games like Live Blackjack, Roulette, or Poker and TV shows such as Live Monopoly and Deal or No Deal Live.
• Tips and strategies: Understand the game rules, gamble over a stable internet connection, and use the chat features to engage the dealer or other players.

Poker Online

Poker combines the simplicity of slot machines with the strategy of poker, making it a highly engaging casino game.

• Basics: The goal of poker is to create the best hand possible from a five-card hand.
• Special features: Tournaments, double or nothing, and fast fold.
• Variations: Omaha, Texas Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, and Five Card Draw.
• Tips and strategies: Learn how to bluff. Not only this, but you must know hand rankings and table positions to increase your chances of success.

Craps

Craps is a dice game that is suitable for newcomers and experienced gamblers.

• Basics: Players roll two virtual crap dice and bet on the outcome of a roll or a series of rolls.
• Special features: Come/Don’t Come bets and Pass/Don’t Pass bets.
• Variations: New York Craps, Crapless Craps, High Point Craps, and Simplified Craps.
• Tips and strategies: Pass Line bet strategies are popular among beginners. However, if you’re looking for a lower house edge, stick to Pass/Don’t Pass. Also, avoid risky proposition bets (one-roll bets, except for hard ways).

Keno

Keno is largely a game of chance, but it combines elements of lottery and bingo.

• Basics: Players draw numbers from a grid and win matches based on the selected numbers between 1 and 80.
• Special features: Quick picks, progressive jackpots, and bonus multipliers.
• Variations: German Keno, Washington Lottery Keno, and Instant Keno.
• Tips and strategies: Understand the game rules, including when to raise or lower your bet. Mix hot and cold numbers, go for small sets instead of trying to hit all 20, and try sequential numbers. Experiment with patterns, review past frequency charts and use your bonus well.

Baccarat Online

Players looking for elegant but simple gambling experiences choose the classic Baccarat card game.

• Basics: Players bet on the Banker, Player, or Tie outcome. Put differently, you wager on which hand will have the greater combined value—the Player’s or the Banker’s—or if the result will be a tie.
• Special features: Reveal/Squeeze, multiplayer tables, and side bets such as Pairs or Ties.
• Variations: Punto Banco, Baccarat Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque, Mini Baccarat.
• Tips and strategies: If you want a lower house edge, then bet on the Banker. The Banker’s Bet house edge is around 1.06%, making it beneficial. That said, avoid Tie bets.

Video Poker

Video poker is based on five-card draw poker. Gamblers play it on a computerized console, something like a slot machine.

• Basics: The aim is to build the best possible hands by discarding or holding cards while hoping to draw a winning hand.
• Special features: Progressive jackpots, wild cards, and Double-Up Gamble.
• Variations: Double Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, and Bonus Poker.
• Tips and strategies: Learn the strategy that applies to the particular poker variant you’re wagering on to improve your winning potential. Plus, always play max coin to earn the highest payouts.

Bingo

Bingo has an ultra-basic concept, but it comes with high tension and thrills. Online casinos in New Zealand offer unique themes, with some sites providing free cash prizes.

• Basics: Kiwis mark numbers on a card as they are drawn in an attempt to complete patterns.
• Special features: Multiple card play and jackpots.
• Variations: 75-ball, 80-ball, and 90-ball, and speed bingo.
• Tips and strategies: Buy more than one card to increase your chances of success. Also, don’t play during peak hours to avoid intense competition.

Sic Bo

Sic Bo is a dice game that originated in China, making it one of the oldest popular casino games.

• Basics: The dealer holds three dice in a small box and shakes them. Players bet on different outcomes and the resulting numbers decide winning or losing bets.
• Special features: Bonus rounds, multipliers, and high-payout side bets.
• Variations: Classic Sic Bo, Multi-Dice Sic Bo, Super Sic Bo, Grand Hazard, and Chuck-a-Luck.
• Tips and strategies: Avoid high-risk bets with a high house edge. Instead, stick to small/large bets for better odds.

Scratch Cards

This is an instant-win game where players scratch cards to reveal words or symbols.

• Basics: The aim is to match specific symbols on a card to win.
• Special features: Bonus rounds, instant win, themed cards.
• Variations: Classic Scratch Card and Multi-Game Scratch Card.
• Tips and strategies: Play cards with high RTP.

Tips and Strategies to Play Like a Professional

Here at Slotozilla, our strategies are sufficient to move you from a newbie to a professional. Use these tips to improve your gameplay.

• RTP & volatility: Choose high RTP slot games and understand volatility.
• Casino bonus offers: Maximize casino bonus offers such as free no deposit spins NZ, deposit matches, and cashback to extend gameplay.
• Demo play: Always practice in the demo play to understand game rules or mechanics and develop a strategy before risking real money.
• Bankroll management: Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Create a budget, stick to it, and don’t chase losses.
• Manage your emotions: Stay disciplined and know when to walk away with winnings or losses.
• Casino choice: Play at a licensed casino to guarantee fair popular casino games and secure withdrawals.

Top Software Providers in Casinos

Top casinos partner with renowned software providers to offer high-quality games with immersive gameplay. Here are the most popular ones.

• Microgaming: Microgaming started in 1994 and is behind some of the most popular record-breaking progressive jackpots, including Mega Moolah.
• Playtech: Founded in 1999, making it one of the pioneers in the gambling industry. The developer partners with DC Comics for branded pokies and is behind the Age of Gods progressive jackpot series.
• NetEnt: Started in 1996 and created Starburst. The provider pioneered Cluster Pays and Avalanche Mechanics in pokies. NetEnt merged with Evolution Gaming in 2020.
• Evolution Gaming: Evolution dominates the live dealer market. It started in 2006 and offers real-time live games and game shows.
• Pragmatic Play: Famous for its high-volatility games. The software provider introduced Drops & Wins, offering daily prize pools.

Return to Player (RTP) in Online Casinos

The Return to Player (RTP) is a percentage that represents how much a player will make from a casino game over time based on total bets placed. As a result, it is a crucial concept every Kiwi gambler must understand.

RTP is expressed as a percentage. It is also the opposite of the house edge. If a game has a 96% RTP, for every NZ$100 wagered, the amount a player will make in theory over a period is NZ$96. The remaining NZ$4 is the casino’s profit or house edge.

Hence, the higher the RTP, the better the theoretical returns for a player. That said, games with lower house edges are more favourable to players. It means the casino returns a larger portion of bets to the gambler.

The RTP for online pokies ranges between 85% – 99%. Roulette, blackjack, and baccarat have an RTP range between 97% – 99%. However, variants have different RTPs. So, choose games with higher RTP, preferably 96% or higher, for better returns.

What Is the Importance of RTP?

RTP directly affects your chances of winning over a period. Here is why it is important:

• Game comparison: Knowing the RTP lets you know the game that returns more money on average.
• Gambling strategy: In games like video poker, optimal play improves RTP.
• Bankroll management: Higher RTP games extend bankroll, allowing you to play for an extended period.
• Indicates long-term payout: The RTP shows how much you will earn from a game, which helps you choose better games.

How to Maximize RTP

Use these tips to get the best from the Return to Player:

• Choose a game with over 96% RTP for a better long-term payout.
• Be wary of progressive jackpots, as their base RTP is lower.
• Use free spins and cashback bonus offers to offset the house edge.
• Plan your budget using the game RTP and volatility.
• Explore different games to discover titles that align with your risk/reward preference.

Facts About Games in Online Casinos

1. The New Zealand Gambling Commission was formed in 2003 to regulate online gambling in New Zealand.
2. For individuals in New Zealand, gambling winnings are not subject to income tax.
3. Gambling is legal in New Zealand, and the minimum legal age for most online casinos is 20 years.
4. Problem gambling jumped from 12.7% in 2014 to 25.6% in 2023.
5. The first recorded gambling activity dates back to 2300 BC in China, while the oldest known dice were found in Mesopotamia in 3000 BC.
6. Pokies are purely luck-based, and no skill or strategy can change the outcome.
7. Progressive pokies like Mega Moolah have paid out millions, including a record-breaking $20,062,600 that set a Guinness World Record.
8. Betting strategies like Martingale don’t change odds, but they can help you manage your bankroll.
9. Unlike slots, poker is a skill-based game that requires strategies to win.
10. Live online casino games are streamed in real-time from physical casinos or studios.
11. Keno and Lotteries are among the lowest RTP online casino games, often around 75%.
12. Most online casinos offer more slot games than any other best casino games.
13. Physical casinos are often built around hotels or tourist hotspots to attract locals and visitors.