Online gambling in NZ has grown exponentially in the past decade, and New Zealanders are enjoying this boom. According to the latest data, casino gambling expenditure in New Zealand has reached 578 million dollars. Here is some essential information on how online gambling works in the country.

History of Gambling
Gambling existed in New Zealand even in the 19th century, but it became legal only in the 20th century. The Gambling Act of 1908 made it legal for New Zealanders to bet on horses.

The Golden Kiwi (national lottery) was introduced in 1961. The Gambling Act of 2003 regulated the gambling market. The Department of Internal Affairs controls it. The Gambling Commission issues licenses to offline and online casinos in the country.

The Gambling Act of 2003 categorises gambling into four classes. Most prize draws, online lotteries, instant games fall in Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3. Gaming machines like video poker games and slot machines fall in Class 4. Government laws regulate land-based casinos based in New Zealand, and players have some protection when gambling.

There are several reasons people indulge in online gambling NZ. According to recent data, an average New Zealander spent around NZ$ 620 on online casino games during 2019-2020.

Here are few reasons for the popularity of online gambling in the country.

Mobile Gaming
New Zealand has 93% Internet connectivity, and a large part of the population has access to 4G Internet that guarantees high-speed networks. Almost every adult in New Zealand owns a smartphone with Internet access.

New Zealanders like playing mobile games, and the online gambling industry has taken advantage of this trend. Most online casinos have dedicated mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms. The online gambling sites are also mobile optimised. It means New Zealanders can play gambling games online any time and from any place.

Options in Online Sports Betting
The offline betting industry in New Zealand is highly regulated, and bettors have very few options in offline sports betting. Hence, many have shifted their focus to online sports betting that offers more extensive options.

Horse racing is a popular sport for bettors in New Zealand. Around 60% of bets placed online are on racing games.

New Zealand’s online gambling websites offer exciting options to people who want to try betting. Besides classics like slots and video poker, online casinos also offer a vast array of engaging and exciting online gambling games.

Now that you have adequate information on how online gambling works, let's look at some valuable tips to find the best online gambling platform in NZ.

Licensing
The Gambling Commission of New Zealand does not regulate online gambling websites in New Zealand. Hence, many online casinos frequented by New Zealanders are hosted offshore.

Though many governments do not legalise online gambling, they regulate and license websites to protect online gamblers and help them play with confidence.

When you access a particular online gambling platform from New Zealand, find where the site’s servers are located. Some online gambling sites display licenses obtained from the gaming authority in the country where their servers are located.

User Experiences
Many online gamblers are known to leave detailed reviews of online gambling sites on reputable casino review sites. Check these reviews and comments for different platforms and choose the one that offers the best user experience.

First Deposit Bonuses
Gamblers who register at online gambling websites hope to play more than once. Leading online gambling websites offer a first deposit bonus that gives more value.
The bonus is given to real players who deposit real money to play games on the website. This brings in more players and larger deposits, thus increasing the profits for the gambling exchange.

Loyalty Programs
Reputable online casinos offer loyalty programs to users. The loyalty schemes are offered in the form of cash returns. These schemes have a fun element and offer more value to gamblers for sticking to the platform for long.

Free Offers
People who are new to the online gambling world often hesitate to play with real money. Some gambling websites offer free money to try their games to eliminate fear in a newbie's mind.

This free money comes with certain restrictions like an expiration date and time, thus forcing users to put it all into the game. The objective behind offering free money at the start is to encourage newbies to try the games. Once they are confident and like it, they will deposit real money and play games.

New Zealanders have excellent betting options online. If you like gambling, you can try any gambling platform that allows New Zealanders to play online games.