Table of Contents
- Most Popular NZ Casino Games Online
- Other Casino Games
- Finding the Best Casino Games to Play
- About Online Casino Software Providers
- Why Online Games Are Better than Land-Based Casino Games
- Getting to Know Non-Traditional Casino Games
- Online Casino Games NZ FAQ
Most Popular NZ Casino Games Online
Several casino games have been around since the days of yore. They have long been top player favourites at land-based casinos and were among the first titles to become available online. Unsurprisingly, they are still the most famous games at NZ online casinos to date.
Online Pokies
Pokies are the most popular games for Kiwi players. Statistics show that they are also the most played gambling games worldwide. Online pokies are simple games. They use spinning reels where you only have to launch the ‘spin’ button and watch to see whether you get a matching combination of symbols. Real money pokies are also the most varied casino game, and they come in different themes, styles and types. The most popular categorisations of these games are given below:
- Classic pokies – The simplest version of the game, usually with 3 reels, few paylines, limited bonus features, and old-school slot machine symbols (fruits, bells, bars, sevens). Some 5 reel pokies can be classically inspired too.
- Video pokies – These are typically 5 reel pokies with paylines that can be as many as hundreds of thousands. These have several bonus features (free spins, multipliers, bonus games, etc.), impressive graphics, and various themes. Most online pokies at NZ casinos are video pokies.
- Jackpot pokies – The defining feature of these pokies is the presence of a jackpot prize(s). This may be a fixed jackpot or a progressive jackpot. The prize may be unlocked when you land some special symbols, or it may be triggered randomly on any spin.
Online Roulette
Touted as the oldest casino game, roulette gameplay makes it one of the most sought-after to this day. A roulette round is all about guessing the number pocket where the ball will land when the roulette wheel spins to a halt. Plenty of betting options are available here. You can take safer bets for even payouts or riskier ones for much larger returns. European, American and French Roulette are the standard variants with 37 – 38 pockets on the wheel. There are plenty more roulette variants with added flair and special rules, so this is not a game you can get bored with.
Online Blackjack
The number one classic card game is none other than blackjack. Winning in blackjack requires you to get a hand total higher than the dealer without going over 21. The objective is simple, but blackjack requires a significant level of skill to enable you to increase your winning chances. Knowing the right blackjack move to make with any cards you’re dealt is crucial. Fortunately, several strategies are available, starting from the Blackjack Basic Strategy. Blackjack also has the lowest house edge, making it one of the more generous casino games. There are lots of variations of the game available at NZ online casinos.
Online Baccarat
Baccarat is another simple card game. Although, unlike blackjack, you’re not exactly betting against the dealer. Instead, you’re betting on the card hand (Banker or Player) that gets a total closer to 9. You can bet on either the Banker side or the Player side of the table. A third Tie option is also available. A good tip is to begin your baccarat experience by betting on the Banker side. It comes with a 5% commission as you’ll discover in our online baccarat page, but it also has the lowest house edge. Variants of the game include Mini Baccarat, Punto Banco, and Speed Baccarat.
Online Poker
This is the only casino card game where you’re not going up against the casino, but against other players. In any round of poker, players are looking to get the best hand of five and win the lion’s share of the prize pot. Plenty of poker tournaments are available online; some pool in massive participation and offer similarly sized jackpots. Poker is a game of skill, so playing for free is always a good idea to get familiar with the gameplay and useful poker strategies. There are lots of poker variants too. When playing online, Caribbean Stud Poker is a popular variant that allows you to play directly against the dealer.
Video Poker
Video poker is a fantastic game that’s long been a top option among casino goers. A typical video poker machine looks like an electronic slot machine. However, the gameplay is based on 5 card draw poker, where you are dealt a five-card hand and can hold or exchange cards to form the best hand possible. Online video poker is just as fun, and you win if you achieve a hand value from the paytable. Standard video poker variations include Jacks or Better, Aces and Eights, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus Poker, etc.
Other Casino Games
There are many more game options that don’t use playing cards or spinning wheels but bring just as much fun and entertainment. Dice games are among the most notable and fun ways to spice up your experience. The casino has also adopted several instant win games like scratchcards, and keno (online casino version of lotteries). Community games like bingo are also available to play online with faster game rounds and more varied winning patterns. Let’s introduce some of these games.
Online Craps
Here we have the oldest dice game at the casino. Online craps is played with two dice and has the most betting options out of any casino game. It’s also one of the more complicated ones, and you’ll usually have to play a few rounds before you get the hang of it. As a beginner, though, you can stick to the simplest bets: the ‘Pass’ and ‘Don’t Pass’ bets. Some Crap bets also have really low house edges, close to zero. Despite having different variants, classic Craps remains the most popular.
Online Sic Bo
Another exciting dice game at the online casino is sic bo. This game uses three dice rolled simultaneously. You simply place your bet and see where the dice land. The cool thing about this game is that all bets are displayed on the table layout. They are also very straightforward so you don’t need prior knowledge of the gameplay before you can get into it. The high payout opportunities make it suitable for experienced players too. There are several sic bo strategies, like combining safe and risky bets, so you stand a higher chance of getting a payout on each round.
Online Bingo
Online bingo maintains the community feel of the traditional bingo halls, and there are several online bingo rooms that you can join at the best casinos and bingo sites. Simply buy your bingo ticket and tick off numbers to see if you land a winning pattern. The busier the bingo room, the more the potential jackpot. 90-ball bingo, 75-ball bingo, and 80-ball bingo are some of the top bingo variants. Modern versions are also available, including 30-ball bingo, where rounds are played much faster.
Keno
If you love lotteries, keno offers a faster time-to-payout making it perfect for the online casino. Keno has a game board with 80 number slots, and you can select up to 10, 15 or 20 numbers, depending on the variant. Twenty (20) winning numbers are generated during the keno draw, and you win based on the number of matching balls from your selection. You can choose to play one or more cards at a time, and variations like Super Keno and Power Keno will pay win multipliers for certain matching selections. Progressive Keno is the big money version of this game capable of offering life changing payouts.
Online Scratchcards
Scratchcards are another fun game that was designed as a variant of lotteries. These games, however, don’t use numbers but symbols hidden behind a silver panel. You scratch off the panel to see what you win. A typical scratchcard has a 3×3 grid, and you win if at least three matching symbols are on the card. Modern scratchcards at new online casinos have different themes to liven up the experience. Different symbols pay different amounts, and you can easily check the paytable to find out what you stand to win.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are a modern, more immersive take on the popular traditional casino games we know and love. However, live casinos also encompass several unique game variants of their own. Game shows are some of the major highlights of this kind of casino. Titles like Mega Wheel, Live Dream Catcher, Sweet Bonanza CandyLand, Monopoly Live and more feature giant prize wheels, lots of real money prizes, and even 3D live bonus games. Table games like Fan Tan are not featured among the regular casino games, but are available as live dealer options.
Finding the Best Casino Games to Play
Choosing the best online casinos to play at may seem like a lot of work, but that’s actually the easy part, especially since we’ve got dedicated guides and reviews here at casinos.win to help you out. You can simply check out our top casino rankings anytime and play at our recommended sites. On the other hand, finding the best game is a much trickier subject because it depends on your personal preference.
Each casino game aims to deliver fun and excitement, and they all do so in their own way. But as individual tastes differ, you may find the mindless gameplay of slots more appealing than the skill-based nature of blackjack or poker. You may also enjoy the varied betting opportunities that roulette offers compared to the limited bets on baccarat. Some other players may prefer playing with numbers on keno or bingo rather than scratching off on instant win scratchcards.
In order to find the right game for you, we’ve come up with a few useful tips you can apply:
- Play free games and demos – Play free game versions to get familiar with the gameplay and decide whether it suits your tastes. Many NZ casinos allow free play versions. You can also try demo game versions at the official software provider’s site.
- Check your budget – Some games are more expensive than others; for instance, some pokies accept bets as little as $0.01, while live dealer games may start at $0.50. You should determine how much casino bankroll you have and go for games better suited for your pocket.
- Check for game variations – Having multiple game variations means that you won’t have a monotonous experience. You can switch between different versions of your favourite game and not get bored.
- Determine whether you’re playing for fun or for money – While all casino games offer great entertainment, some offer better chances of winning than others. So if you’re playing to win, you should go for low-house edge games like blackjack. For pokie lovers, check for titles with high RTP values.
About Online Casino Software Providers
Software providers are the brains behind casino games. If you didn’t already know, these online games are sourced from third-party providers who design and develop the amazing graphics and exciting features you get to experience on these titles. There’s not just one or two of these game providers. More than a hundred of them exist. Some are more popular and have a longstanding track record of quality games, like Microgaming and NetEnt. Others are lesser-known game studios slowly making their name in the market, like ELK Studios and Swintt. You’ll find that some providers like Pragmatic Play and Spinomenal take it further by also offering game tournaments with cash prizes up for grabs.
Each developer has their attributes, so you can pick which games to play based on the developer. For instance, Evolution Gaming is top of the class when it comes to live dealer games, so you can simply browse this provider’s games whenever you visit the live casino. Check out our full casino software providers guide for more insight.
Why Online Games Are Better than Land-Based Casino Games
New Zealand has several land-based casinos, but the next time you want to enjoy casino gaming entertainment, you might want to try an online casino instead. Here are some of the reasons online casino games should be your go-to.
- Convenience – Casino games online are available for you to play at your convenience without making the trip to a land-based lobby. The best games are also available at NZ mobile casinos, which means you can play on the go, anywhere and anytime.
- Online bonuses and promotions – Casino bonuses are one of the highlights of the online gaming experience. You get a welcome bonus when you sign up for a new site, plus several more available as an existing customer.
- Higher RTPs/lower house edges – The average RTP for online slots is 96%, while this value goes as low as 90% at physical casinos. This is because land-based casinos are more expensive to run, so operators make up for costs from players’ bets. In other word, online casino games offer better value for your money.
- More game varieties and different themes – Online casinos can hold many more games as there’s no physical constraint for space. So both old and new casino game variants are offered, as well as a large variety of slot themes you won’t find at land based establishments.
- Free gaming available – Brick-and-mortar casinos normally support real money gaming alone. On the other hand, the virtual casino scene allows you to play free game versions before you use real money. These free games are great for practising gameplay and strategies.
- Live casino games available – Suppose you’re in the mood for the authentic gaming experiences that traditional casinos offer; you can get that feeling with live dealer games. NZ live casinos offer real-life gaming experiences with human dealers, real gaming tables, cards, etc. You enjoy an interactive atmosphere with the dealers and other players connected via a chat feature. All of this is available from the comfort of your home.
Getting to Know Non-Traditional Casino Games
Online casinos have come a long way, and so have the range of games available to play. Pokie machines, card games like blackjack and wheel games like roulette used to be the only games you’d traditionally find at a casino. Now non-traditional casino content is also available. The most common examples of these are crypto-powered games like Crash, Aviator, Minesweeper and Plinko. These games have an instant-win format where you stake and win immediately. They are often multiplayer games, thus enabling a social gaming environment.
Casinos began offering these modern games to target younger demographics. They are not available at all NZ casinos but are often featured on Bitcoin casinos. This non-traditional content also makes some of the best games at mobile sites.
Online Casino Games NZ FAQ
Can I win real money on NZ online casino games?
New Zealand online casinos are real money sites which means they allow you to place real wagers and potentially receive real cash returns. Make sure to check the payout percentages and house edges attached to these games when playing for real money.
Which games are offered at NZ online casinos?
Many games are featured at online casinos that accept NZ players. They include pokies, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and more. Different casinos will have their own unique selection of games, but you’ll generally find these staples. There are lots of other games you can enjoy as explained above in this guide.
What is the most popular casino game in New Zealand?
Pokies are by far the most popular games among Kiwis. Nonetheless, NZ players are a versatile bunch. They love table games like blackjack and roulette too. And there’s an increasing interest in live dealer games.
Can I play casino games for free in New Zealand?
Yes, you can play NZ casino games for free at several sites that offer demo game versions. Playing for free is a good way to familiarise yourself with a new casino title before you wager real money. Free-play versions are usually available for all casino games except live dealer games.