2. Top 6 Best Betting Sites in New Zealand

Top 6 Best Betting Sites in New Zealand

Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011
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Where can we bet securely and which are the leading bookmakers in New Zealand?

Players in New Zealand could choose from many betting websites, but not all of them will meet their expectations. Because of that, we offer some of the top bookmakers in the country to choose from. You can find them in the table below:

Rating: 5.0/5
  • Trusted Online Betting Website
  • Licensed by the UKGC
  • Best Sports Betting Features
  • High Odds
New Customers only. Registration required. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. +18 | Terms & Conditions time limits & exclusions apply. | gambleaware.org #Advertisement
Rating: 4.9/5
  • Trusted & Secure Online Betting Site
  • Competitive Sports Betting Odds and Markets
  • Great Range of Casino Games
  • Professional Customer Support
New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. gambleaware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply | gamstop.co.uk
Rating: 4.4/5
  • Great Sports Betting Coverage
  • Secure Deposits and Withdrawals
  • Enhanced Player Security
  • Various Promotions
New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via ‘My Offers’ page within 30 days. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play, min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max. extra winnings £100. Once claimed, 30-day expiry. Cashed out, System & EW bets do not qualify. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply | 18+ gambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | LeoSafePlay
Rating: 4.6/5
  • Fantastic bonuses
  • Good sportsbook
  • Amazing casino games
  • Many payment methods
#ad • +18 Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game Full T&Cs apply | Begambleaware | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly

Best Betting Sites in New Zealand Ranked

Introduction

Betting has a long history in New Zealand and was once considered a favourite pastime for weekend afternoons. Although the country is small, its betting population manages to generate over $2.3 billion each year. With the increase in online betting, punters can now access their favourite sites anywhere and anytime, making it so much more convenient. The government has taken a relatively lax approach to online betting, and as a result, there are a number of different large, international brands offering a wide range of betting options to bettors.

Interesting Facts about Betting in New Zealand

  • The first casino in New Zealand was only opened in 1994
  • New Zealand has different minimum ages for different types of gambling – you must be at least 20 to play in a casino, but you can be 18 for all other forms of betting
  • The gambling industry in the country is worth $2.4 billion each year
  • The most amount of money spent gambling is on slot machines, which are locally known as “pokies”
  • Compared to some other countries, online gambling is still a relatively small market in New Zealand, and only generates at the most $50 million annually
  • Lotteries were the most common form of gambling throughout the country

Gambling Legislation and Laws

Gambling is legal in New Zealand, both online and offline. The majority of gambling regulation in New Zealand falls under the Gambling Act 2003. This piece of legislation was designed to regulate the market, and keep punters safe by reducing levels of crime and fraud.

Within the country, gambling is overseen by the Department of Internal Affairs, which gives out licenses and ensures that the law is followed, and the Gambling Commission, which deals more closely with the betting providers, and ensures that they are all compliant with the law.

Top online betting websites in New Zealand

There are many different sites that offer their betting services to the New Zealand gambling audience. For newcomers, it can be difficult to understand which sites are good, and which should be looked over. Here are the top three international betting sites, that are known to be safe, and offer high-quality betting:

#1 Bet365

Known as one of the oldest betting vendors offline, Bet365 seamlessly transitioned into offering online services as well, as the demand grew. One can easily tell that bet365’s platform is one of the best places to bet on horse racings. They also offer a wide range of casino bets, although their sports market is undoubtedly what draws the majority of their punters. Bet365 is undoubtedly one of the world’s most reputable bookmakers.

homepage of bet365
The screenshot was made at 13:56 on 30.11.2021

Visit Bet365

#2 Betway

Betway offers casino gaming options, but the majority of their customers are sports bettors. The site has been around for a number of years and have established themselves in Europe markets, and now New Zealand. They pride themselves on their ability to cater to what their punters want and have tailored their website to be easy to navigate for users. The variety of Betway’s bonuses and promotions are another proof of the company’s intention to meet all the needs of its customers.

homepage of betway

Visit Betway

Competition between Operators

Online, there is no monopoly between vendors when it comes to providing betting services to the New Zealand market. There are a number of different sites that are licensed to accept New Zealanders, and there is no single site that holds the whole market. This competition means that there are options available to punters, and sites are focused on offering the best services possible in order to interest more customers.

However, offline betting is a different story. The New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) is the sole provider of sports and racing betting services. The NZRB operates the TAB, which has over 60 different venues across the country. There are a few different casinos throughout the country, and although they are extremely limited, there is no monopoly.

Bonuses from New Zealand Bookmakers

New Zealand bookmakers encourage users by providing them with a number of different bonuses to encourage them to sign up, and then more promotions to facilitate continued use. Generally welcome bonuses are offered as free bets/bet credits, or amounts that match the first deposit made by the punter. Users should be wary though, many of the welcome bonuses are a little too good to be true – bettors must turn the money over a certain amount of times before they can apply to withdraw any of it, by which point it may or may not have been totally lost.

Betting sites also offer promotions for their clients that continue to play on the site. These are a lot more varied than the welcome bonuses, and although they may initially appear smaller, often the requirements to redeem them are a lot easier. These bets are often tied to certain games or sports and offer increased odds, or other bonuses for certain bets. Punters who are interested in gaining the most from promotions should frequently check the promotions page of sites, as they are often changing.

Betting Features and Options in the New Zealand Bookmakers

Betting sites are constantly trying to entice new customers, by offering new and exciting features on their site. Because the New Zealand market is relatively new and open, there is competition between vendors, which only benefits the punter. Some of the most common features and options on offer include:

Live Betting
Live betting allows customers to bet on an event that has already started. This means that punters can bet (or change their bet) according to what they see happening in real-time, which increases their chances of placing a winning bet, but it also means that they are playing on odds that are also changing in real-time.

Live Streaming
Live streaming allows customers to watch an event on the betting site, again in real-time. This is beneficial for punters who are betting on events that are unlikely to be televised, and they would not be able to see otherwise. This adds another element to betting, and makes it more exciting for punters, instead of just sitting in front of a screen refreshing odds. Most sites do require punters to make a bet on an event before they can access the live stream, but this is generally quite low, and should not be a barrier for anyone who was going to bet on the event anyway.

Live Casino
Live casinos are also designed to make gambling a little more social. Punters can bet and play against other individuals, in real-time. This feature is designed to mimic a real casino as much as possible, and with the live casino you can communicate with others.

Bet Builder
This feature has a number of different names on different sites, but the concept is generally the same for all of them. Bet builders allow punters to combine a number of different bets for a particular event, for better odds compared to putting money on a number of separate bets. Most sites will provide their customers with some freedom to choose how many bets to add, and what kind of bets. These increased odds also come with increased risk though – if one of the bets loses, the whole bet builder loses.

Cash Out
The cash-out option is also designed to increase the punters chances of winning. Bettors may choose to leave a bet early, and take their winnings based on the odds at the time of withdrawal. Many sites will also offer partial cash out, so that they can leave some of their bet in the game in the event that odds change. Sites may also offer automatic cash-out option, so when odds hit a certain, specified point, winnings will be withdrawn. It should be noted that this is not a method of withdrawing funds into ones’ bank account, simply withdrawing from a bet.

Available Payment Methods

There are a number of different payment methods that are widely accepted by international betting sites. Most commonly used are bank cards (Mastercard and Visa), as well as some e-wallets (Neteller, PayPal and Skrill). Some sites will also accept cryptocurrencies, but not all. The majority of these sites offer free and instantaneous deposits and withdrawals, however, there are a few exceptions, especially with larger transactions. Punters should always check the specific betting site before they actually make any deposits.

New Zealand uses the New Zealand dollar (NZD) as their form of currency. While there are a number of reputable sites that accept this as a form of currency that can be used to bet, there are also a few that do not. While this does not exclude New Zealand players from the site, it means that they must convert their currency to an alternative, usually USD or EUR. Most sites will offer this service, but punters need to be aware of hidden, high fees.

Mobile Betting in New Zealand

Mobile betting is on the rise, and swiftly becoming one of the more common ways to gamble. This is mostly due to the ease and accessibility – anyone with a smartphone can download a betting app, and gamble wherever, whenever they choose.

Almost all major betting sites offer apps for free download, on Apple and Android (and sometimes Windows) devices. If punters do not wish to download the app but still want to play on a phone or tablet, many desktop sites offer a mobile version, which makes navigating everything on a smaller screen so much easier.

Online Casinos

Online casinos are legal within New Zealand, and in fact, they enjoy relative popularity due to the fact that brick and mortar casinos can be difficult for many people to access. Through betting sites, punters can access a whole range of casino games, like slots, card games, and live casino options, where punters can play against real people in real-time.

Leading Sports for Betting in New Zealand

  • Rugby
    New Zealand has a rich history of playing rugby, and the All Blacks (the national team) have been considered the best in the world for a long time now. Punters can easily bet on games between countries, like the Tri-Nations Cup, or they can bet on local games between regions. The sevens is also a popular form of rugby union, which is also covered extensively on many different sites.
  • Cricket
    Cricket is another sport that New Zealanders love to bet on, and one that the national team does incredibly well at. Although it is nowhere near as popular as some of the other sports that can be bet on, there are still keen punters. There is very little of a local scene, so the majority of sports bets relating to cricket are for international matches and championships, such as the Ashes.
  • Soccer
    Soccer in New Zealand does not enjoy the popularity that it does overseas, but there is still interest within the betting market. The national men’s team is affectionately known as the All Whites, and betting on the sport spikes when they have a game, showing the patriotic side to the punters. Due to its’ global support, there is extensive coverage of the sport, so punters can bet on whatever league they choose, both domestic and overseas.
  • Basketball
    Basketball has always maintained a level of semi-popularity within the New Zealand betting scene, but when Steven Adams was drafted into the NBA, the first New Zealander to achieve this, interest in the sport soared. Although there are local championships and a national team that competes in various championships, the majority of basketball betting is related to the NBA. Because the NBA is an international championship, there is extensive coverage on all sports betting sites.


The Profile of a New Zealand Bettor

Although New Zealand is a relatively small country, there are a number of bettors, and it is easy to see trends in the players. Although participation rates between men and women are almost equal, men gamble just a little more. New Zealand gamblers are most likely to participate in the national lottery, or slot machines, compared to any other form of gambling. Although gambling revenue has increased in the country over the years, once inflation is taken into account, bettors are actually gambling less every year.



FAQ

Is online gambling legal in New Zealand?

Yes, it is legal to gamble online in New Zealand. There are a number of betting sites that have licenses to serve the market, and regulations are relatively lenient compared to some other countries when it comes to receiving a license, so there are plenty of sites to choose from.

Are there any taxes for New Zealand players on their winnings?

Yes, under certain circumstances, winnings can be taxed. The government views poker as a legitimate form of employment, and if punters are receiving enough money from this, and declaring no other earnings, then the government will tax their winnings like they would tax anyone else’s income. Aside from this specific instance, it is unlikely that winners would be taxed on winnings from any other type of gambling.

Can I open an account and play in NZD?

Yes, there are a number of different betting sites that will accept NZD as betting currency. However not all sites will accept it, so punters need to make sure that they have checked the specific site they are interested in. Alternatively, for those that do not accept NZD, betting sites will usually offer exchange services into an accepted form of currency.

How to choose the best online betting sites in New Zealand?

There are a number of different factors that must be considered when trying to decide what betting sites are best, and these can be both objective and subjective. Everyone should be looking for sites that are licensed to service the New Zealand market. These sites should have appropriate privacy and security policies so that punters know their data and personal information is safe.

But also, punters should look for a site that suits not only their betting interests but is also easy to navigate and use. There is no right or wrong when it comes to preferences, but punters should make informed choices before registering to any site, to ensure they have found one that is best for them.

Are there any betting restrictions for New Zealand players?

No, there are no restrictions. Punters can access all forms of online betting opportunities, and from a vast range of high-quality sites.

Are bet exchanges legal in New Zealand?

Yes, bet exchanges are legal in New Zealand. Bet exchanges operate slightly differently to traditional bookmakers, due to the fact that punters are betting against each other, not against the site. This means that margins are lower, and as a result, odds are generally more favourable.

Do local betting sites offer welcome bonuses?

There are a few local betting sites that may offer new customers an incentive to register, but this is generally an international phenomenon. This lack of sign-up bonus does not necessarily indicate anything about the quality of the site, but it may be important to individuals.



Our Verdict

The New Zealand government is relatively lenient when it comes to the laws surrounding online gambling. Punters can access a wide variety of bookmakers that offer all kinds of betting, and there is still decent coverage for punters in the event of something unfortunate due to gambling on these sites.

Although there are a few local online bookmakers, the majority are international. This is almost certainly due to the small population of the country and thus the gambling population. This can be somewhat limiting in terms of what betting opportunities punters have on local events, but it is more than made up for in international markets.