History of the NZ gambling industry

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New Zealand's gambling industry has been relevant ever since the first British immigrants started to settle the territory. So, gambling was a common occupation during the period of colonization and many crimes, fraudulent schemes and thefts were based on gambling in those distant times. Before long, the Gambling Act bill of 1908 banned gambling - the only legal thing left was horse racing. They remained the only legal form of gambling until 1951, when the first state-owned bookmaker appeared, TAB. After that, over time, the laws began to soften, and new forms of gambling became available to New Zealanders. Consistently, lotteries, slot machines, casinos and online casinos appeared.

The oldest gambling in New Zealand.

To better understand what Kiwis like to gamble, you have to turn to history and see how New Zealanders' love of gambling evolved. Here are the most beloved games in chronological order:

  • Horse racing - That's the oldest form of gambling in New Zealand. The first races were held in 1835. From time to time the government banned and renewed permits for horse betting. 
  • Lotteries - In 1933 the first lotteries appeared. They were very small and covered some regions. By 1961, the first major Golden Kiwi Lottery appeared. It was then replaced by the Lotto in 1987.
  • Slot machines first came a little later in New Zealand in 1991. The slang name was poker machines or poki, as in Australia. The government did not allow slot machine clubs until a few years later, and it was preferred in and around Wellington. But then in 2001, the government announced that it was going to rid the capital of gambling. There were seven city casinos closed because the authorities were afraid of too much addiction developing in the population.
  • A casino was first opened in the city of Christchurch in 1994. Then casinos were built in Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown and Oakland. These casinos in these cities are still in operation today.
  • Slot machines online. As a very gambling nation, New Zealanders naturally couldn't miss online casinos. Gaming websites and platforms started in 1994. The first online slots provider in New Zealand was Microgaming. Fruit Fiesta and Cash Splash were some of the first slots available to New Zealanders. 

Originally, online slots had only 1 winning line and three reels. Later, with the development of computers, developers began to introduce more paylines, wild symbols, scatters, bonuses and bonus games, which only contributed to the excitement among the Kiwis.

How much is NZ involved in the gambling industry?

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New Zealand legislation does not allow online casinos to be set up within the country, but players can legally play at international establishments whose servers are located abroad and are licensed by regulators like the UK Gambling Commission, Curacao, or Malta and Gibraltar. In addition, players' winnings in such casinos are exempt from income taxes. It is established that players in New Zealand prefer to play slots, lotteries and sports betting. Rugby, cricket, soccer and netball are the biggest betting areas. Over 85% of the population believes that gambling is a way to increase income and is involved in one way or another in online or offline gambling, with 41% of these people gambling more than once a week. In 2015-2016 alone, gambling establishments in New Zealand had an annual turnover of more than $1.47 billion. In recent years, that figure has almost doubled. Online gambling brings in more than a third of this turnover. In all https://onlinecasinosnz.nz/  are the best games from leading casino providers with worldwide reputation, and you can see the best online casinos offering their services in NZ

Joo Casino.

Present in the Kiwi gaming market since 2018, Joo Casino is one of the most trusted online casino sites in New Zealand . Over the years, they have served and paid out winnings to thousands of satisfied Kiwis, which is a sure sign of honesty and reliability. A license from the Electronic Gaming Authority of Curacao only confirms this. Newcomers are welcomed here with a nice bonus of 200% on the first deposit up to NZ$3,000. Of other interesting bonuses you can find here: 

  • Monday Reload Bonus
  • Wednesday Reload Bonus.
  • Reload Bonus for High Rollers

The list of game providers here includes over 90 providers with over 2,000 game choices to suit all tastes. 

Tangiers Casino

In operation since 2016, Tangiers Casino is a veteran company that has been serving Kiwi players for years without a single payout complaint. A huge welcome bonus of up to 750% and $7,500 NZ dollars welcomes new players. This is one of the biggest welcome bonuses among many online casinos nz. Of the advantages besides the welcome bonus is a wide range of payment methods, including cryptocurrencies: 

  • Visa;
  • Mastercard;
  • Neosurf;
  • Bitcoin;
  • Litecoin;
  • Bitcoin Cash;
  • Ethereum;
  • Tron;
  • TrueUSD;
  • Tether (USDT).

The minimum deposit is only $10 NZ dollars, and the withdrawal is already possible from $30.

N1 Casino

This casino opened its website in 2017 and since then it has held a leading position in the ranking of the best nz casino online. The license is granted by the Malta Gambling Authority.  At this casino you will also find a nice welcome bonus of up to 300% and $600 NZ dollars. From more than 2000 games on the site you will find famous and popular games, as well as new games distributed in such sections as:

  • Slots,
  • Live,
  • Mystery Drops,
  • Instant Win,
  • Bonus Buy,
  • Table Games,
  • Drops & Wins,
  • Jackpot Games,
  • Aviator

All this makes N1 Casino one of the most comfortable casinos you'll find in online casinos nz 

Casino Rocket

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This site appeared not so long ago in the New Zealand online casino market and launched in 2020. However, the brand is owned and operated by Hollycorn NV, a fairly well-known brand in the global industry, and security is guaranteed by a license issued by Curacao. Rocket Casino offers over 3,000 games in its lobby from more than 60 providers, a rich bonus offer of up to 150% on first deposit and many payment options, including cryptocurrency. Among the advantages of this casino is also a list of familiar games for every gambler:

  • Pokies;
  • Drops & Wins;
  • Live Casino;
  • Classic Slots;
  • Table Games;
  • Video Poker.

Also, excellent customer support is available 24/7 and the site is accessible on mobile gadgets, laptops and PCs.

Hell Spin Casino

Kiwi players can use Hell Spin Casino from March 2022. Although this is a fairly new online casino among all in New Zealand, it's important to note that TechOptions Group BV owns and operates the website. And this is a major global brand in the gambling industry. The company is headquartered in Curacao, and the website is under the control of the Curacao Electronic Gaming Authority. The number of games in this casino is amazing, there are more than 4000 for every taste and player experience from 71 game providers, including Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, iSoftBet and other players with vast experience and reputation among players. Of the distinct advantages here is also worth noting the excellent bonuses:

  • First Deposit Bonus
  • Second Deposit Bonus
  • Reload Bonus

Check out our full Terms and Conditions to make sure you know all the important bonus terms and conditions.