Safe NZ Online Casinos In 2023

play safe online casinos in nz

There are many safe NZ online casinos for avid pokie players in New Zealand. Whether you intend to be a serious online player or you just want to play to pass the time, your safety should always be a primary concern.

When it comes to your safety, it’s important to be overly critical of the online casinos that you will choose to play on. After all, the games you will play in online casinos are already risky. That’s why you call it a gamble. You don’t want to add to the risk by not scrutinizing the online casinos that you will choose to play on.

Some people might think that it’s overwhelming to search for the right casino. There are thousands of casinos online. But if you know the signs of safe NZ online casinos, the search will not be hard.

This article will help you identify what these signs are so you won’t have a hard time looking for the best online casino to play your favourite pokies.

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Why you need to choose safe online casinos

There are specific reasons why you need to make an effort to find only safe online casinos. This is especially true for New Zealand players.

The Gambling Act of 2003

Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs. To be honest, it’s a bit tricky for New Zealanders to determine which of the online casinos are legitimate or not. But if you understand the Gambling Act of 2003, it’ll be easier for you.

Under this act, online casinos are strictly prohibited to offer their gaming services to the locals. The only exemptions are the New Zealand Lotteries Commission and the sports and racing betting agency, TAB. Any other casinos operating in New Zealand are not allowed to let locals play on their sites.

So where can local pokie players play? As long as the online casino is operating in another country like the UK or Malta, you can opt to play there. You should also make sure that they are duly licensed by their respective local regulatory authorities.

Other reasons to choose safe NZ online casinos

Apart from the Gambling Act of 2003, there are also two other reasons why you need to look for safe NZ online casinos.

  • Because you give them your personal information. To be able to play for real money, you have to register and provide your personal information. This includes sensitive information like your name, address, and contact details. These can be used against you if it is accessed by the wrong people.
  • Because you have to deposit actual money. You need to make a deposit so you can play and win actual money. This means you have to provide the financial details. Like if you will use your credit card, you have to provide the information so you can transfer money from it and into your account. The same is true for your bank accounts.

The fact that there are online casinos out there that cannot be trusted is enough reason for you to be careful. It’s very easy for some people to create online casino websites.

Imagine giving your personal and financial information on those sites. If your information is taken from those sites because they did not take security seriously, you could be in big trouble. Cybercriminals can use it to commit a lot of identity fraud and theft.

4 signs of safe NZ online casinos

When choosing online casinos, there are a couple of things that you need to consider.

  • Bonus offers. Check the welcome bonus and free spins that they offer. It should be generous and fair, specifically when it comes to the wagering requirements and terms and conditions. You should also check if there are promos for both new and old online players.
  • Game selections. We all want to be able to choose from a huge selection of games. From pokies to roulette, blackjack, and poker – you should be able to choose different varieties.
  • Payment options. The best casinos should allow flexibility. That means they should offer you a lot of options like credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank wire transfers, etc. Obviously, these should be available in NZ dollars.
  • Customer support. Even the most perfect online casino still encounters problems from time to time. Make sure the customer support is accessible across different platforms like live chat, email, and even phone.
  • Mobile version. If the online casino is accessible through mobile devices, this is another reason to choose it over the rest. Most online casinos are optimised for mobility so this makes it very convenient for a lot of online players.

Apart from these, it’s also important for you to take safety and security into consideration. There are 4 important signs that will tell you that an online casino is safe.

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Transparency

If you are having a hard time finding the security measures of an online casino, that’s not a good sign. The online casino should be very upfront with their security measures. They should have the certificates, seals, and logos in the home page footer so online players can immediately see what protection they are getting.

Here are the things that you should check.

  1. License. Since you can’t play at local online casinos in New Zealand, you have to look for licenses from regulatory authorities in other countries. This includes the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. A license means the online casino is making an effort to secure their site – at least if they want to maintain the license.
  2. Fair games policy. The integrity of the games has to be obvious. Look for certificates or seals from eCOGRA, TST (Technical Systems Testing), or GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) – among others. These are independent testing agencies that will check the Random Number Generator and other software used on the site. These should always be audited to ensure fair gameplay.
  3. Payout percentage. The testing agencies are responsible for checking these. It’s all about making sure that the RTP (return to player) is a match with the actual payout percentage. Slot games should have a range of 94% to 97% RTP. Table games should have a house edge that’s lower than the RTP.
  4. Software provider. The more reputable the online casino is, the more they will be picky about the software providers they will partner with. Look for the biggest game developers in the list of providers. These developers will ensure that their games are not just without technical issues. They will also ensure that the games are very secure.

Security systems

There are many signs that will tell you that safe NZ online casinos have adequate security systems in place.

  • Look at the URL and make sure it starts with “https://”. The address bar should also show a lock icon. These two are the basic signs that a site is secure.
  • Logos of security software providers. These include McAfee, TRUSTe, Rapid SSL, Norton Secured, etc. These will show that the online casino is regularly checking and protecting the site from malware and viruses.

These will ensure that your data, both personal and financial, will always be protected.

But apart from these, you should also check out the payment methods offered by the online casino. They should be able to offer several options – specifically from major payment networks. The options should include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, mobile payments, prepaid cards, and even some offline banking options like bank wire transfers.

Beyond the options, you should also make sure that transparency is also in effect here. The fees, charges, penalties, and the process to deposit and withdraw money should be visible and easy to understand.

Bonus offers

You can also identify safe NZ online casinos through bonus offers. Online casinos use this to attract new players to try out their website. But they won’t just give it out of the goodness of their hearts. They will require something from you. Usually, they want you to register or make a deposit.

Make sure you weigh what they want from you. If it seems like the offer is too good to be true, it probably is.

Check the following to ensure that the bonus offer is fair.

  • Terms and conditions. This should be visible and easy to access and understand. There is usually a separate T&C’s for bonuses alone. This will help you understand what is expected of you to fully enjoy the bonus and any winnings that you’ll get out of it.
  • Wagering requirements. This is what you have to meet if you want to cash out your winnings. Let’s assume the wagering requirement is 20x, the bonus is $100, the deposit is $100. You have to wager a total value of $2,000. If the bonus and deposit requirement is combined, the wagering requirement will be $4,000.
  • Validity period. Bonus offers and free spins usually come with an expiry date. The bonus offers are longer than the free spins. So make sure you know the validity so you will not forfeit your winnings.
  • Game contributions. The casino games will not have the same contribution to the wagering requirement. Pokies usually have a 100% contribution. That means if you win $100, all of that amount will become a part of the wagering requirement. For the other games, it will only be a percentage of what you really won.

The bonus offer should make it easy for you to win and withdraw your winnings.

Responsible gaming

The last sign of safe NZ online casinos is if they promote responsible gaming. If an online player becomes addicted to gambling, this would mean more money for the online casino. But the regulatory authorities do not want this. They want online casinos to make sure that they have a program, reminders, and other measures in place to help their players be more responsible.

For instance, there should be contact details for non-profit organisations that can help players with any gambling issues. The online casino should also provide a feature that will allow players to limit their betting amount and even the time spent gambling.

The responsible gaming details should be available in the terms and conditions of the website. Make sure you read every detail so you’ll know that you can rely on them to keep you from any gambling addictions.

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2 safe online casinos in NZ

Armed with the knowledge of how to find safe NZ online casinos, you can now find the right one that you can play safely on.

To help you with this, here are 2 online casinos that we can guarantee are safe for New Zealand players.

Leo Vegas NZ

When it comes to safety, Leo Vegas NZ is one of the online casinos that you can trust. One of the things that make this possible is the fact that it is licensed by both the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.

An independent company also regularly audits Leo Vegas NZ to check if they are abiding by the strict standards set by these regulatory authorities. This includes ensuring the fairness of their games and the security of your financial and personal information.

You can also be sure that only you can withdraw your winnings from your account. The online casino will require you to go through a verification process before they approve any withdrawal requests.

You have different banking options that you can use to make deposits and withdrawals . These are all major payment networks that are known to be reliable. You can also expect fast payouts.

The customer support team is always ready to help you with any issues or concerns you may have. You have different options to reach them: live chat, email, and phone.

You will find enough resources on the website that will help you manage your gameplay. These include setting limits on your bets and playing time, and self-exclusion.

Casino Friday NZ

Casino Friday NZ is another online casino that you can trust when it comes to safety and security. The site is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.

This means that they have to comply with the strict standards set by these regulatory authorities, which include ensuring the fairness of their games and the security of your financial and personal information

With slots and casino games from the best software providers, you will most likely have a good experience.

The online casino also works with major payment networks to make sure that your financial transactions are safe and secure. You can also expect fast payouts.

Senior Content Writer & Casino Analyst | + posts

Emily Thornton boasts a degree in Digital Media from the University of Bristol, accompanied by an obsession for the online casino world. Over the past six years, she's combined her tech-savvy skills with a flair for writing, producing in-depth reviews and slots analyses for various casino platforms. A frequent contributor to free-spins.org, Emily's articles are grounded in research, ensuring readers gain trusted insights into the dynamic world of online gaming.