Table of Contents
- How to Choose the Top Paying NZ Online Casino
- How we rate Top Paying Online Casinos for New Zealand Players
- What is Return to Player Percentages for Pokies?
- Low Versus High Volatility in Online Casinos
- Games providers at Safe NZ Online Casinos
- Best Online Casino Payouts
- Biggest Bonuses for NZ Online Casinos
- Top Paying Casinos aren’t your only Option!
- Speedy Banking Options at Top Paying NZ Casinos
- Highest RTP Pokies for New Zealand Players
- Biggest Paying Pokies of all Time!
- Highest paying RTP Casino Games.
- Currencies at Top Paying Online Casinos New Zealand
- Licensing and Safety at Top Paying Online Casinos
- Having Fun at a Top-Paying Online Casino NZ
- Key Facts
- Summary of Top Paying NZ Online Casinos
- References
- FAQS for Top Paying NZ Online Casinos
How to Choose the Top Paying NZ Online Casino
Gambling is fun, but let’s be honest, we all want to play real money games with the highest payouts possible.
Our experts have picked out the top paying casinos for New Zealand players; make sure you read the reviews before picking a casino to play with for real money.
There are two main points when choosing a top-paying online casino in NZ, namely:
Pick an Online Casino with eCOGRA Certification.
A top paying online casino NZ is one where the listed Return To Player (RTP) can be verified by independent agencies like eCOGRA and where table game variations see the house edge reduced to a minimum. We rank casinos based on this information so that you know that you have the chance to receive a fair return on your outlay.
eCOGRA is a leading independent and internationally approved testing agency specialising in the testing, inspection and certification of online gambling software and systems. To find out if the casino site you are playing has an eCOGRA certification, you need to go to the casino’s homepage and scroll to the bottom. There you will see the eCOGRA logos.
If the casino is certified by eCOGRA, then you will see an eCOGRA logo. Clicking on the logo should take you to all their certificates, including the total RTP for the casino itself.
What types of Certification do eCOGRA provide?
- eCOGRA Safe and Fair Seal – Offered to online gambling sites, poker sites, bookmakers, and more.
- eCOGRA Certified Software – Given to casino sites that use software reviewed by eCOGRA and that meet their criteria.
- eCOGRA Percentage Payout Report – Found at all casino sites that have a Safe and Fair seal, with the purpose of detailing gamblers the potential payouts.
- eCOGRA Randomness Reviews – This allows gamblers to read a review of the RNGs that the gambling site provides and how it’s met eCOGRA’s criteria.
Wagering Requirements on Bonuses & Ongoing Promotions
We all want an edge in life. And life in the online casino world is no different. But to distinguish between top-paying and low-paying casinos, you’ll need to look into the terms and conditions of the offer.
Matched bet deposits, whether they are Welcome Offers or Ongoing Promotions, will usually have a wagering requirement attached. These wagering requirements can vary wildly between wagering the bonus or deposit between 20x and 90x. An average for the industry tends to be about 40x.
Sometimes you may need to wager the deposit and the bonus before you can withdraw funds.
Clearly, lower wagering requirements increase the probability of turning your deposit into cold hard cash.
But that’s not the only observation you should have when it comes to choosing a casino based on bonuses and ongoing promotions. Look for casinos that have a big pot of ongoing promotions and who regularly reward customers with free spins, free real cash bonuses, casino tokens and cashback on weekly losses.
Online casinos should have a good mix of weekly promotions, including free tournaments, matched bet offers, and deposit offers such as depositing $10 and getting X number of free spins.
Again, it’s important to read the terms and conditions before taking up these offers because, in most cases, they will come with a wagering requirement.
How we rate Top Paying Online Casinos for New Zealand Players
We’re here to help you find the perfect top-paying online casino.
Our team of experts is full of ex-industry staff, online pokie players and marketing managers.
We aim to bring you the best online casinos packed with Pragmatic Play pokies. Each of the casinos on our website has been fully vetted by our expert team.
Our reviews are governed by a strict checklist; including:
- Welcome Bonuses,
- Ongoing Promotions,
- Reload Offers,
- Licensing,
- Safety and Security,
- Responsible Gambling,
- Speed of Banking Methods.
Thanks to our team of experts, you know when playing one of these casinos that they have been fully vetted. Please take the time to read our reviews before making your decision.
What is Return to Player Percentages for Pokies?
To put it simply, Return to Player (RTP) is how much an online casino game, or online casino, will pay out over time.
For example, if a particular pokie has an RTP of 98%, theoretically, it should pay out $980 for every $1000 played during the game.
Flip it the other way, and you can view it as the opposite of the house edge, i.e. if the pokie has an RTP of 98%, the house edge is 2%, meaning they have 2% profit on every game over time.
However, just because you play for 20 minutes on a particular slot doesn’t mean the RTP will be exactly what’s predicted.
The key word here is “time”.
RTPs are an average that is calculated over thousands upon thousands of gaming sessions.
This means you could hit the jackpot after a couple of spins or watch your balance quickly reach zero without much in terms of payout.
RTPs are a great way to regulate the gambling industry, but unless you’re committed to playing for a long time for a lot of money, pokies will be either hot or not when playing them and whether you continue to spin or choose another slot to play is all part of the human decision-making process when playing. In other words – gambling!
Low Versus High Volatility in Online Casinos
RTP isn’t the only ride at the fairground when it comes to picking a perfect pokie at an online casino in NZ.
Choosing whether to go for a low or high volatility/variance casino must also come into the mix.
This is a very easy concept to get your head around. Low volatility means you can expect fairly regular wins, but the payouts might be low. Whereas high volatility means fewer wins but more chance of winning a decent amount.
Low volatility games, as you would expect, have high RTPs.
High volatility games have low RTPs.
So, how does this affect which games you play? If your strategy is about extending the time played in the hope of winning big, then low volatility games should be your go-to.
However, if you’re up for some fun and full of hope for a big win, then high volatility games should be your port of call.
Games providers at Safe NZ Online Casinos
Whatever casino you join will be powered by studios that produce the games on behalf of the casinos.
We always recommend choosing a casino with a large number of games provided by some of the big game providers and newer studios establishing themselves.
Casinos with a large number of games will prevent boredom from setting in. Picking big game providers also brings trust into the equation, whilst newer studios tend to have a bit more time adding and finessing their games before bringing them to market.
Microgaming is without doubt one of the giants of online casinos, but others include Evolution, NetEnt, Microgaming, Red Tiger, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, Merkur, Yggdrasil, Rival and Play N’Go.
But it’s not just all about the pokies at these casinos. You can also enjoy everything from Baccarat to Blackjack, Roulette to Live Dealer, and Poker to Pokies galore.
Best Online Casino Payouts
As we mentioned earlier, if a casino has the eCOGRA Safe and Fair logo at the bottom of its homepage, you can click on it, and it will bring up their certificates.
One of those will be the overall percentage payout for that online operator.
All of this means there are two main ways to find the best online casino in terms of payouts.
One, look for the online casinos’ overall percentage payout and two, pick a pokie with a high RTP.
Biggest Bonuses for NZ Online Casinos
If you’re in it to win big, then you want to start with a big offer with lots of free spins!
Here are our top Welcome Offers for casinos available for New Zealand players in 2022.
| Casino | Matched Deposit | Free Spins |
|---|---|---|
| Vegas Crest | $2500 | 100 |
| Spinyoo | $2000 | 100 |
| NY Spins | $1600 | 200 |
| Galaxyno | $1500 | 180 |
| Casino Planet | $1500 | 200 |
Check out each of the reviews for the above casinos to find out the speed of banking methods, withdrawal limits, ongoing promotions and more!
Top Paying Casinos aren’t your only Option!
As the old saying goes, there are many ways to cut a cake.
Finding a Top-Paying Online Casino for New Zealand players might be top of your hit list for now but come tomorrow, you might desire something altogether different.
There are many reasons why people join online casinos, and here at casinos.win, we’ve made it really easy to help you find what you’re looking for by choosing a casino based on the type of deposit.
By deposit:
- No Deposit Casinos
- Pokies No Deposit Casinos
- Free Spins No Deposit Casinos
- $1 Deposit Casinos
- $5 Deposit Casinos
- $10 Deposit Casinos
By type:
Speedy Banking Options at Top Paying NZ Casinos
When it comes to Top Paying NZ Online Casinos, banking is a key decision when choosing one.
After all, nobody wants to wait around to spend their winnings.
You can find a great mix of eVouchers, eWallets, traditional banking methods and cryptocurrency when it comes to depositing and withdrawing.
Top paying online casinos have got the full mix from traditional methods such as Visa to newer eWallets which tend to be faster than traditional banking.
Two consistently available for New Zealand players are Skrill and Neteller.
Paysafecard casinos allow you to make fast, secure and reliable deposits at online casinos.
Certain casinos in New Zealand also offer payment by Paypal. Check out the list in our Paypal Casinos section.
One key thing to watch for when depositing is whether or not your deposit method excludes you from the welcome offer. It is not unusual for deposits via Skrill or Neteller to be excluded from the welcome offer.
Often, the minimum deposit that a casino allows is connected to the payment methods it offers.
This means that if you want to make a low deposit, the casino will specify which payment methods you can use to do so.
Something you should also keep in mind while making any deposits or withdrawals is the currency conversion charges and the exchange rates. You can easily incur the extra charges if you operate your account in pounds as opposed to NZ dollars.
Highest RTP Pokies for New Zealand Players
The best-paying pokies come in all shapes and sizes. Mega Joker from NetEnt is a five-reel, forty-pay-line game that returns 99% of all stakes to players. Available at Skol Casino, this classic title sees prizes build as scatter symbols appear in view. Mega Joker is considered to be a high-variance game. High variance suggests that when prizes are awarded, they may be higher than the industry average, but you may have to see your bankroll drop for a period before a winning combination is hit.
1429 Unchartered Seas is another pokie that returns nearly all money staked on it back to punters. With five reels and twenty-five pay lines, wins on this game often occur when expanding wild icons are unfurled on reels two, three, or four.
The quest for a win is improved further if the compass scatters symbols appear on a win line. Three scatters provides gamblers with ten free spins, four scatters see twenty free spins awarded, and five scatters allow players to make use of fifty free spins. Even though the RTP on this slot is close to matching that of Mega Joker. 1429 Unchartered Seas is characterised as being a low variance game. A low variance game sees regular small wins gained, meaning that your bankroll should never fall too quickly from your starting position.
| Pokies Title | RTP (%) | Jackpot Prize Multiple | Software Provider | Game Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Joker | 99 | X2000 (X10000 Progressive Pot) | NetEnt | Progressive Jackpot |
| 1429 Unchartered Seas | 98.60 | X1250 | Thunderkick | Video Slot |
| The Catfather | 98.10 | X2251 | Pragmatic Play | Video Slot |
| Blood Suckers | 98.00 | X1014 | NetEnt | Video Slot |
| Rainbow Riches Pick N Mix | 98.00 | X500 | Barcrest | Video Slot |
Biggest Paying Pokies of all Time!
You perhaps don’t realise, but if you win a top-level prize on a Progressive Jackpot slot, you stand to receive a life-changing sum of money. As is the nature of all potentially huge wins on any gambling game, eight-figure payouts occur only rarely, but they do occur. In recent years, it appears that the top pot prize on many Progressives continues to burgeon as new records are broken.
The record payout on any online pokie now exceeds a staggering $32.5 million NZD. The game in question that delivered this win was Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah. Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah is a spin-off from the hugely popular Mega Moolah progressive that holds legendary status in its own right. Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah only has an RTP of 92.02%, but this is unsurprising as a proportion of the stake money from every spin on this game goes towards adding to the progressive top prize.
If you are looking for a progressive to sink your teeth into at the time of writing, then the original Mega Moolah title is likely to be of interest. At this time, the jackpot on this feature is being advertised at $12.0 million NZD. Of course, you must always bear in mind that your chances of winning an amount of this order are close to zero, but if you do have a few spare dollars in your casino account, a spin on this game might provide more interest than the purchase of a lottery ticket, for example.
| Progressive Jackpot | Software Provider | Biggest Payout (NZD) | Current Jackpot (NZD) | Casino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah | Microgaming | 32.5 million | 6.3 million | Napoleon Sports |
| Mega Moolah | Microgaming | 27.0 million | 12.0 million | Betway |
| Mega Fortune | NetEnt | 26.7 million | 7.4 million | Betsson |
| WowPot | Microgaming | 26.5 million | 11.9 million | 32 Red |
Highest paying RTP Casino Games.
So, you may be playing at an online casino that has a gold-standard license, and the RTP of all games has been externally verified, but what selection of games should you be playing if you which to bring the natural profitability of the house nearer to zero.
As a rule of thumb, most slots offer an RTP of around 96-97%. For every $100 that you invest in these games, you should, on average, make returns of $96-97. However, table games tend to be slightly more generous. It is often obvious that casinos prefer to steer you away from playing traditional casino content. Very few of the bonuses that online casinos offer are geared toward table play, and most bet restrictions focus on games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, and Roulette.
Casino owners prefer to offer gambling games where outcomes are entirely at the whim of lady luck. Blackjack is a little bit murky when it comes to this factor. Skilled players can use practices such as Card Counting to tip the odds of the game slightly in their favour.
To be able to Card Count, you must keep track of which cards have already been dealt so that you can make a better guess of which cards are likely to be dealt in forthcoming hands. If the spread of cards suggests that more face or Ace cards are due to be dealt, the bettor can assume that there is a slightly better chance of hitting a Blackjack.
However, most casinos are on the lookout for this practice, with players caught ‘counting’ being quickly removed from the premises. Because of the potential for players to use skill to alter the outcome of some hands, the RTP of Blackjack is usually calculated at around 99%.
However, this figure falls if you are not following the optimal betting strategy for all combinations of dealt cards and plummets dramatically if you invest in the side bets that casinos offer on this game.
Roulette is a traditional casino game that relies more on chance than Blackjack does; however, you can potentially influence your overall profitability in this game by employing betting strategies. There are several types of roulette available at all casinos.
If you are fortunate to find a casino that plays French Roulette, the RTP is around 98.6%. The beauty of roulette for punters is that you can place bets on this game that suits your relationship with risk.
If you are risk-averse, you can bet on Evens events such as Red/Black or High/Low. However, if you laugh in the face of danger, you can bet on single numbers and be rewarded with a 36/1 payout when you are correct. On Evens bets, the expectation is that you will win on every other spin.
Therefore, it is logical to increase your bet after a loss. Doing this can help you to recoup any losses if the wheel is performing to expectations.
Sic Bo, the dice betting game, can also return high levels of cash to players, even during extended playing sessions. RTP on this game can be as high as 97.22%. The return of this magnitude, however, is only seen when you restrict your betting to events such as Big/Small and Odd/Even, where the odds of either outcome being derived is Evens.
Keno is a lottery-style game where players can amend the RTP delivered by altering the number of balls that they select for any given draw. When players select thirteen numbers, the RTP for a game is maximised. Players achieve an RTP of 96.54% when making this selection.
Baccarat is another table game where the host only just covers its expenses. You can essentially place two bets in Baccarat and even back the banker to win or the player. If you always bet on the banker to win, the house edge is reduced to a minimum. By utilising this strategy, you can elicit an RTP of 98.94% on this traditional card game.
| Table Game | Best RTP% |
|---|---|
| Blackjack | 99 |
| Baccarat | 98.94 |
| French Roulette | 98.60 |
| Sic Bo | 97.22 |
| Keno | 96.54 |
Currencies at Top Paying Online Casinos New Zealand
Currency at Top Paying NZ Online Casinos isn’t always in NZD.
This shouldn’t put you off playing. Sure, there will be an exchange fee at the bank, but if an offer is too good to miss, then what does that matter?
Alternative currencies tend to be Euros or Dollars.
And then, of course, there’s cryptocurrency. A universal bank that knows no exchange rates.
Licensing and Safety at Top Paying Online Casinos
When playing at a top paying NZ online casino, you need to know your money is safe; there are some key points to look out for, namely:
- Licences – Licences come in all shapes and sizes and from places you might not expect. The golden rule with licences is this – if it doesn’t have one, don’t bet with them,
- eCOGRA Certification – If your safe NZ online casino has the seal of approval from eCOGRA, you can be sure it has been tested and scrutinised to a very high standard.
- SSL Certificates – An SSL certificate enables an encrypted connection. You can always spot an SSL Certificate on a website because it will have the little padlock icon next to the web address.
- Secure Banking Methods – If the casino has banking methods you know and trust, then you’re in safe hands.
- Proven Pedigree – Google, the parent company found at the bottom of the website. If they’re legit, then they’ve probably got a number of casino brands under their belt and have been around a long time; providence is an important element when picking a casino.
Of course, we’ve covered all of these points in our reviews. Take the time to check them out before joining your new casino.
Having Fun at a Top-Paying Online Casino NZ
With live casinos, pokies, card games and more, it’s exceptionally easy to lose track of time and money when you’re having fun in a casino.
This is why many of our Top Paying NZ Online Casinos have practical tools and responsible gambling policies to help keep you safe.
Tools include pop-up session reminders, deposit and wagering limits and pop-ups, which show you how much you’ve won or lost in a session.
You can also choose to take a break from gambling or self-exclude altogether.
Many online casinos also have self-assessment forms on their dedicated webpage so you can check whether you might be developing a problem.
Key Facts
| Top Paying NZ Online Casinos: | General Info |
|---|---|
| ❤️ Top Paying NZ Online Casinos | 18+ |
| 🕹️ Top Paying NZ Casinos Highest Slot RTP | Maga Joker (99%) |
| 🏅 Highest RTP Top Paying NZ Casino Game | Blackjack (99%) |
| 💵 Top Paying NZ Pokie | Absolootly Mad Mega Moolah |
| ⚖️ Top Paying NZ Quality Licence | Malta & UK |
| 🇳🇿 Country | New Zealanders Welcome |
Summary of Top Paying NZ Online Casinos
There are many reasons for joining an online casino, but ultimately, you want to win money.
Picking one of our Top Paying NZ Online Casinos doesn’t guarantee you will win big, but it does mean we’ve helped guide you to choosing a casino that suits you and your needs.
Remember, all casinos are powered by the studios who provide the pokies. Games either have low or high RTP, which makes it imperative to pick a strategy before playing.
Punt for high volatility if you’re after a big win and unconcerned by not winning. Or play the long game and choose low volatility to stay in the game.
Remember to read terms and conditions before spinning or playing live casino, and always check the wagering requirements involved.
Most of all, have fun!
References
- eCOGRA
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand
- Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
- E Cogra Approved Testing Agency
- Malta Gaming Authority
- UK Gambling Commission
- GamCare
FAQS for Top Paying NZ Online Casinos
What online casino in New Zealand Pays Out the Best?
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the online casino operator that is often mentioned as being the top paying NZ online casino is the platform that operates land-based venues. SkyCity Casino is calculated to pay an average RTP of 97.7% across all its products. SkyCity is a well-known brand in NZ, and it also owns four of New Zealand’s six physical casinos. It is not a surprise then that SkyCity is deemed as being a high payer. There is no way that SkyCity would wish to rock the boat with the New Zealand Government and risk having its land-based licences revoked. Alternatively, they appear to be among the country’s best payers to underline their credentials for fairness.
What are the biggest online pokies wins in New Zealand?
Rawiri Pou lays claim to this feat. The Kentucky Fried Chicken worker bagged a huge jackpot of $10,144,395.82 on June 17th, 2016. Mr Pou enjoyed his good fortune while taking a few spins on the ever-popular Mega Moolah progressive jackpot slot. To date, this is the biggest pay-out ever received by a New Zealander at an online casino site. Top paying NZ casinos are always looking for publicity, so this win could easily be surpassed in years to come.
What does RTP mean with regards to online casino games?
RTP means a return to the player. The RTP figure indicates how much you can expect to retain in your bankroll when betting on the same product for a long spell. It also highlights the amount of profit that a casino would expect to take if you keep betting on a product in perpetuity. The RTP is evaluated by independent organisations like eCOGRA on the top paying NZ casino sites. When eCOGRA assesses RTP, you can be confident in the information that is advertised about payout rates.
What is the average return to the player when playing Roulette?
The return to the player when playing roulette is dictated by the type of Roulette that you play. In French Roulette, where half of your stake is returned when the ball falls into the Green Zero bed, the RTP is as much as 98.6%. A figure of this magnitude suggests that the house will profit by $1.40 for every $100 that you bet. However, by using betting strategies, canny gamblers can potentially overturn this shortfall in the short term. Strategies like the D’Alembert and Fibonacci suggest that punters should increase stakes following a loss on low-variance bets. Theoretically, a small profit could be made in this way. At top paying NZ casinos, high rollers are always looking at small edge games.
What Slot has the Highest RTP?
Mega Joker by NetEnt is the highest RTP slot at top-paying NZ casinos.
What’s the Average RTP of a Slot?
Most slots at top paying NZ casinos have an RTP between 95% and 98%.
Should I play High or Low Volatility Pokies?
It depends on your personal strategy. Low volatility means you can potentially stay in the game for longer, picking up smaller wins in pursuit of a big win. With high volatility, you could lose money quickly or grab a big prize.
Are Top Paying NZ Casinos Safe?
As with any casino, check to make sure they hold a licence. Licences are many and varied, but the golden rule is this – “if it doesn’t have one, then don’t bet with them.”