Top NZ pokie sites – brands hand-picked by our experts
In 2024 new pokie sites open their doors as good as every day. But not all of them are the same! Some of them are bad, some of them are decent and some of them are great. In my opinion top pokie sites should tick various boxes which separate them from the rest.
A top pokie site for example should:
- Accept NZ Dollars and offer reliable payment options.
- Be user friendly to use.
- Offer a decent chance of winning.
- Be available for questions around the clock.
- Allow you to play a wide range of pokie games.
- Offer bonuses and rewards for playing.
- Fine to use on any device including tablets and smartphones.
- Be licensed and offer fair (bonus) terms and conditions.
You can of course do a lot of research yourselves to determine what new NZ top pokie site you should play at. Ways to do this is by using search engines, review sites and by browsing the website of the online casino. I would recommend doing research yourselves to anyone but to make your life easier we have made a list of recommended NZ pokie sites. By using this list, you will avoid joining mediocre pokie sites or avoid losing money at fraudulent sites.
New
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Bonus Up to NZ$1500 + 500 Loyalty Points |
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Christchurch Casino review | ||
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Best Choice
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Bonus up to $2200 + 100 FS |
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iBet review | ||
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bonus 20 Free Spins + 2x 100% |
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Bet and Play review | ||
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Bonus 35 Free Spins Code FRUIT35 |
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LevelUp Casino review | ||
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New
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Welcome bonus Up $6000 + 350 Spins |
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Crownplay review | ||
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*Exclusive
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Bonus $17 Free No Deposit |
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BetOnRed review | ||
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New
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Welcome offer Up $6000 +300 Spins |
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Dreamwins review | ||
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*Exclusive
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buy $5 Get $10 +25 Free Spins |
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Betway review | ||
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Bonus $500 Welcome |
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bet O bet review | ||
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Bonus 25 Free Spins No Deposit |
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Bitstarz review | ||
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What is important to become a top pokie site in 2024?
We already mentioned that not all new pokie sites can be marked as being ‘’top’’. There are simply plenty of sites out there which are not that great at all. Before we label a pokie site as being ‘’top’’ we thoroughly review them. During our review we have a close look at various important factors that determine whether a site can be labelled as being a top pokie site. Below I will explain each criterion that we use to make up our list of top pokie sites.
1. Variety of games
In my opinion the variety of games is key for every pokie player. When joining a top pokie site, you do not want to get access to a limited number of games, you want all of them. With new game providers popping up every month and new pokies being released every day this means pokie sites need to offer thousands of different pokie titles.
Pokie sites that have a great range of pokie games will keep you entertained longer. Most top pokie sites offer games with different themes, features and payout mechanisms. Some pokies offer progressive jackpots, some offer free spins modes, and some are great to play since they are based on popular films or series. On top of this you of course encounter the classic type of fruity pokies which you will find in bars and gas stations.
If you are looking for a casino with a great variety of games, then I can recommend Videoslots Casino. At Videopokies you will now find over 4700 different games to play. This includes game by over 100 different providers. In the lobby you can find games that feature multipliers, Megaways, free spins bonuses, unlimited multipliers and more.
”Tip: Having accounts at multiple pokie sites to play different games in annoying. That is why any top pokie site should have most games available.”
2. Fair payouts
Playing online pokies should be all about having fun and relaxation in my opinion. Although this is the case you of course want to have a fair chance of hitting a payout. If you keep pouring money into playing pokies but never get something out off it, then the fun is over quite quickly.
To make sure you have a fair chance of winning you should only play at pokie sites that offer legit games. These are games with a fair return-to-play rate (RTP) and games which are tested properly.
The RTP of a game tells you what percentage of each stake will be returned to the player on average. Most modern pokie games have an RTP ranging between 95% and 98%. This means that on average $95 up to $98 of each $100 stake will be returned to the player. This makes the house-edge range from being 2% up to 5%. This is certainly fair in my opinion.
When you encounter games that have an RTP below 90% then I would definitely avoid them. Playing games with a low RTP will simply drain your balance quickly and lowers your chances of winning.
To be sure a pokie site offers games with a fair payout percentage you can have a look at their certifications. Most top pokie sites let their games be tested by independent third-party companies. These companies like iTech Labs, eCogra or GLi test and analyse whether games pay what they should pay.
3. Bonuses and rewards
Attracting and maintaining customers is done at many top pokie sites by offering generous bonuses and rewards. Depending on the site you join you can claim various types of promotions.
In some occasions you can get a bonus just for signing up an account. We call this a no deposit bonus. A no deposit bonus consists of a certain amount of free spins or free cash in most cases. You can use this bonus to try out a pokie site without having to risk any of your real money.
On top of the no deposit bonus, you can get a deposit bonus at most top pokie sites. This is a promotion which will be triggered by making a first deposit. With the deposit bonus you can get a cash bonus and free spins. A casino can for example double your deposit with a 100% bonus and give you 100 free spins.
After getting a deposit bonus you can sometimes get additional welcome offers during your second, third and fourth deposit. We call these ‘’reload bonuses’’. These bonuses also consist of free spins and bonus cash.
Continuous rewards
While you keep playing at a pokie site you can keep claiming bonuses when they offer them. Some pokie site keep launching new promotions every week to keep you happy or to celebrate certain happenings. This is great when you enjoy playing with bonuses.
Another way of keeping you happy is by handing our rewards. At most top pokie sites you will get rewards for gaining experience in the casino. When you for example reach a new VIP level you will get a reward. This can be a cash bonus or a free spins bonus for example. Most pokie sites also award you with rewards for referring friends or for downloading their app.
When looking for the best bonus offer at top pokie sites you can always pay BestBettingCasinos.com a visit. We have one of the largest selections of casino bonuses.
4. Mobile friendliness
The possibility of using a pokie site on a mobile device is nowadays even more important than being able to use a pokie site on a traditional device such as a laptop in my opinion. The main reason for this is simply a numbers game. Since a couple of years, the number of mobile bets have overtaken the amount of bets on desktops and laptops. This shows how important mobile playing is for online gamblers.
In my opinion being able to open a pokie site on mobile is not enough to call it a ‘’mobile casino’’. There are various requirements which top pokie sites should meet before I would recommend using them on mobile.
One of the key requirements for a good mobile casino is that it is quicky. Nobody likes waiting for games to loads while playing through their 4G or Wi-fi connection.
A second requirement for mobile casinos is that they need to be user friendly in general. Just like any other website it should be easy to find things, navigate through games and make deposits and withdrawals.
If you ask me to recommend a top mobile pokie site, then I would say one of the casinos that are based on the platform created by Rootz Ltd. This includes Wildz, Caxino and Wheelz Casino. All these pokie sites offer over 1500 pokie games and a great mobile experience.
5. Customer support
A good pokie site should have an excellent support department. In my opinion support is one of the key elements of any pokie site. As a customer you simply want to be helped quickly and professional when you run into a problem.
To have an excellent support department I think a top pokie site should allow you to contact them in various ways. The basic support options should contain a live chat, email support and an FAQ section on the website. Additionally, social media support and a telephone line are nice extras.
In today’s economy speed is also important. Customers do not want to wait days for an answer, they want it right now! Because of this a support department should be available 24/7.
Personally, I would recommend using the live chat if you need support at a pokie site. This support method is simply great because you can type your question and you get a response within a few minutes. In most cases a support agent will be able to help you with your problem within a few minutes.
6. Security
Since you trust a pokie site with your money and personal details you should always be concerned about security. You simply do not want to doubt whether either of them is safe.
One of the basic things to do to check the security of a pokie site is to check the SSL-encryption. Ever proper pokie site should have all pages on the website protected.
In addition to an SSL-encryption I think pokie sites should offer their customers a proper way to hand over their verification documents. Some casinos do this through email, but this is not really a recommended way. I prefer when a pokie site offers a safe upload possibility within your personal casino account. This is and feel safer then sending them over the mail.
7. Proper license
Every top pokie site holds one or multiple gaming licenses. In our opinion this is also a must since this is the only way how you can know that a pokie site is regulated. In addition to this a licensing organisation is a great place to turn to when you have a dispute with the casino. Valuable licenses are from most valuable to less valuable:
- UK Gambling Commission: This organisation is the strictest and offers gamblers the best protection.
- Malta Gaming Authority: One of the most popular license organisations which offers a good level of protection.
- Aldernay: The Alderney Gambling Control Commission offers two eGambling licenses which together offer you a good level of protection.
- Curacao: This license is fairly easy to get for casinos. It does offer some protection, but it is not a preferred license.
- Gibraltar: A limit amount of protection is guaranteed at pokie sites that hold a Gibraltar license.
In addition to these licenses there are various local licenses available for casinos to obtain. This includes the Kahnawake license (Canada), the Swedish license (Spelinspektionen), the Belgium license and the Danish license.
Interesting pokies to try out
After finding one or more top pokie sites on BestBettingCasinos.com you might be curious what pokie games you should play. To help you get started we have made an overview of the best new video pokies. In the table below you will find a selection of exciting new pokie games.
SLOT | PROVIDER | RTP | MAX PAYLINES | VOLATILITY |
---|---|---|---|---|
San Quentin | Nolimit City | 96,03% | 243 | +++ |
Thunder Screech | Play'n Go | 94,20% | 10 | +++ |
East Coast vs West Coast | Nolimit City | 96,04% | 243 | +++ |
Bounty Belles | iSoftBet | 95,99% | 243 | ++ |
Coils of Cash | Play'n Go | 94,20% | 2304 | +++ |
Reactoonz 2 | Play'n Go | 96,20% | Cluster Pays | ++ |
Valley of the Gods 2 | Yggdrasil | 96,00% | 20.160 | ++ |
Clash of the Beasts | Red Tiger | 95,74% | 40 | + |
Wild Walker | Pragmatic Play | 96,55% | 25 | ++ |
Visitors | ELK Studios | 96,10% | 3.125 | ++ |
Money Train 2 | Relax Gaming | 96,40% | 40 | +++ |
Rage of the Seas | NetEnt | 96.04% | 5488 | + |
Spartacus Megaways | SG Digital | 96.32% | 1.000.000 | +++ |
Wild O'Clock | Red Tiger | 95.69% | 30 | + |
Curse of the WereWolf Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96,50% | 46.656 | ++ |
Hotline 2 | NetEnt | 96,05% | 1944 | ++ |
Mystery Museam | Push Gaming | 96,58% | 10 | ++ |
La Fiesta | Relax Gaming | 96,19% | 40 | ++ |
The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96,55% | 117.649 | +++ |
Ted MegaWays | Blueprint | 96,03% | 117.649 | +++ |
Street Fighter 2 | NetEnt | 96.06% | Cluster Pays | + |
IO | ELK Studios | 96,00% | 262.144 | ++ |
Bonus Bunnies | Nolimit City | 96,14% | 30 | ++ |
Fruity Party | Pragmatic Play | 96,47% | Cluster Pays | ++ |
Shield of Athena | Play'n Go | 96,25% | 10 | +++ |
Every pokie title comes with some additional information. We for example show which provider created the game, what the RTP is, what the amount of paylines is and how volatile the game is. For beginners I will explain what every of these items means.
Pokie terminology
The provider of the game is the company that made the game. Providers make games that pokie sites can integrate on their website. Popular pokie providers are NetEnt, Microgaming, Nolimit City, Play’n Go, iSoftBet, Big Time Gaming, ELK, Relax Gaming and Pragmatic Play. This is by far not the whole selection. There are currently over 100 game providers active.
The RTP of a pokie game indicates how much a pokie game returns. The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge is. On paper a high RTP means a high return which increases your chances of winning.
While playing pokies the amount of paylines is also something to consider. Some games only offer 5 or 10 paylines. This lowers your chance of winning, but when you win prizes are higher in most cases.
You also have games that have 243 paylines (all ways win), a few thousands paylines or even 100.000+ possible paylines. Especially the Megaways pokie games are now extremely popular since they can offer up to 1 million paylines. When hitting a combination over hundreds of thousands of paylines you will of course win big.
A last item which affects your experience while playing a pokie is the volatility. The more volatile a game is, the higher prizes it pays. This seems like a good thing, but it of course also has a downside. Very volatile pokie games pay prizes less often. Because of this a game can become boring. In my opinion it is important for game providers to setup a game with a clever volatility level which does offer possible big prizes but also pays smaller prizes from time to time.
Conclusion
We can conclude that a top pokie site is not born overnight. A pokie site needs to outperform others on a lot of factors to become ‘’top’’. This includes offering great games, promotions, a good level of security and a great overall experience.