Best Live Dealer Casinos for New Zealand Players in 2025
Introduction to NZ Live Casinos
Are you looking to play live dealer casino games from New Zealand?
Well, the good news is you can. It's just that the casinos and games you will play are based offshore, as NZ legislation forbids online casinos from being found in New Zealand.
If you're into Live Casino and Live Dealer games in particular, you're in luck, as my site has reviews on all live dealer games and information on the companies that make the games.
This page will focus specifically on live dealer games and the best live dealer casinos you can play from New Zealand.
Why should you trust me?
I feel I qualify on two levels to answer this question.
Firstly, I've been researching live casinos since 2013 and playing at them since 2010. I know loads about the software providers and the casinos. I also regularly play at all the ones I list, so I'm not guessing or giving you dumb information. It's all up-to-date and current.
Secondly, as my family hails from the Hawkes Bay region, I have aunts, uncles, and cousins who love to gamble. They've helped me identify the Best Live Casinos for New Zealand players.
Follow the links below to jump to a specific section, or keep reading.
Neil’s Top NZ Recommended Live Casinos
Overview of Best Live Casinos for New Zealand
I'll break down the most important things to look out for in live casinos a bit further down.
Here, I'll mention that you should play at casinos that carry a strong license from other countries like the UK or Malta and the odd one from Curacao. Some casinos allow you to deposit and withdraw in NZD, while others can accept crypto.
Regarding casinos with the most extensive selection of live games, Winz, Vbet, and LeoVegas top the charts. They all offer a vast array of games.
That's not to say other casinos on my list are no good. You'll have a reduced selection of games to choose from.
What games can you play?
You're in luck, as all the top live dealer game developers are available to New Zealand players. There's not one that isn't present in this market.
That means that New Zealanders can enjoy a unique opportunity to play all the best live games, and you'll find them at the casinos I list on this page.
Here is a brief overview of the live dealer games offered in New Zealand.
Roulette
Roulette is the most popular casino table game, the centrepiece of all casinos and is available in many shapes and sizes in live dealer casinos.
The latest innovations are multiplier roulette games such as Red Door Roulette, Cabaret Roulette, or Xxxtreme Lightning Roulette, which issue random win multipliers to straight-up numbers.
You can also play French roulette with a reduced house edge and play virtually at real land-based casino tables streamed from prestigious casinos worldwide, to name a few other options.
Blackjack
Blackjack is the most exploitable casino game and the only one that players feel they can beat.
There are also versions with multipliers to make the game more exciting but not so profitable in the long run, so this is a thing to consider.
Most players search for tables that have favourable rules so they can do the most with their optimal playing strategies.
Game shows
Game and entertainment shows have become a phenomenon at live dealer casinos.
Money wheel games such as Crazy Time or Adventures Beyond Wonderland are staples of all live dealer casinos, and hybrid games such as Monopoly Big Baller have also proved very popular. Game shows are unique to live dealer casinos.
Other games
Other land-based casino games have been developed into live dealer versions.
You can play Baccarat, Sic Bo, Teen Patti, Three Card Poker, High-Low, and many other games.
Refer to my list of Live Dealer Games to find all the available games if you're searching for a specific one.
Land-based Casino Gambling in New Zealand
There are seven land-based casinos in New Zealand, situated in the largest six cities: two in Queenstown, one in Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Darwin and Hamilton.
These casinos are primarily owned and operated by SkyCity Entertainment Group, the monopolist authorised by the Gambling Commission under a particular category called a class 4 licence.
This licence allows them to operate electronic gaming machines (EGMs) or slot machines at their premises. However, this licence does not allow them to offer other forms of casino games or table games at their premises.
Two of the casinos are not operated by SkyCity. Christchurch Casino Skyline Enterprises's owner was involved in a long battle with SkyCity, who tried to take them over. Instead, Skyline sold its stake in the Queenstown casino to SkyCity.
Mindil Beach Casino and Resort is the only other NZ casino not operated by SkyCity, as SkyCity sold it with the gambling license to the American company Delaware North.
These are the seven land-based casinos operating in New Zealand:
- Mindil Beach Casino and Resort (formerly known as MGM Darwin and SkyCity Darwin)
- Christchurch Casino (opened in 1994; 450 gambling machines and 32 tables)
- Grand Casino Dunedin (also known as Dunedin Casino, opened in 1999)
- SkyCity Auckland (opened in 1997; 1647 gambling machines and 110 tables)
- SkyCity Hamilton (opened in 2002; 339 gambling machines and 23 tables)
- SkyCity Queenstown (opened in 2000; 86 gambling machines and 12 tables)
- SkyCity Wharf Casino (opened in 2000; 74 gambling machines and six tables)
New Zealand Gambling Laws
The primary legislation governing gambling in New Zealand is the Gambling Act 2003, which replaced the previous Casino Control Act 1990 and Gaming and Lotteries Act 1977.
The Gambling Act 2003 establishes regulations and authorities to help achieve the objectives of controlling the growth of gambling, preventing and minimising the harm caused by problem gambling.
The Gambling Commission is an independent statutory body that oversees all aspects of gambling regulation in New Zealand.
The Online Gambling Regulation Bill was introduced in 2019, and the Gambling Harm Reduction Amendment Bill was introduced in 2020.
The thorough review that led to the creation of these bills estimated that if New Zealand had a regulated online gambling market, it could generate up to $1.2 billion per year in tax revenue and create up to 10,000 jobs.
However, domestic online gambling remains illegal. New Zealand does not issue licenses to foreign operators but permits people to visit any offshore casino freely, whether licensed in another jurisdiction or not.
Online gambling in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of those few markets that don't have a legal framework for a local company to offer online gambling to the residents. Still, it doesn't prevent people from accessing online casinos based offshore.
In practice, this means the government of New Zealand banned local companies from offering online services to New Zealanders in 2003.
The Gambling Act 2003 prohibits all gambling activities not authorised by the government, and only two gambling organisations can operate in New Zealand: NZ Lotteries and the New Zealand Racing Board (TAB).
No New Zealand-based company can offer online casino types of gambling not to residents and not to other nearby markets such as Australia or China.
Gambling in NZD currency
If you want to gamble in New Zealand Dollars, four casinos on my list accept it. Two other casinos accept crypto if that's your thing, and two don't accept NZD or crypto but are good casinos.
LeoVegas accepts NZD, so it will likely be your top choice if you want to bet in your currency. This casino doesn't take crypto. The same goes for Royal Panda, NoBonusCasino and BetVictor, three other casinos from my top list that will accept your New Zealand Dollar deposit.
Despite offering many currencies, Vbet and Dafabet are Asian-facing online casinos that didn't make sure NZD was one of them. On the other hand, these excellent casinos accept crypto, so they'll be your top two choices if you want to deposit Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether or Ripple. These sites also accept a wide range of e-wallets. Vbet is unique as it accepts FTN cryptocurrency.
Unibet doesn't take NZD and has no deposit options other than cards, Neteller and Skrill. This is still a top casino; it's just it doesn't offer you much when it comes to payment flexibility.
Most cryptocurrency casinos exchange crypto for fiat to play the games, and some of them may use NZD, though I haven't checked myself. USD is the usual fiat currency in casinos that allow crypto deposits and withdrawals.
Selection of live dealer games
Casinos on this list have games by different game developers. All have Evolution, while only Vbet, LeoVegas and Dafabet also have Playtech and Pragmatic Play to offer three best live dealer game developers in one place. This trio of casinos also has Ezugi for blackjack players who want favourable table rules. LeoVegas has Authentic Gaming for fans of roulette streamed from real-world casinos.
At LeoVegas, you'll also find Stakelogic and OnAir Entertainment, while at Vbet, you'll find an unprecedented number of suppliers. Have a look. Credroomz, ICONIC21, 7Mojo, Skywind, Lucky Streak, Fazi... if you want as many different developers as possible, Vbet is the live casino.
The other casinos on my list don't have a vast variety of games like the ones I mentioned above.
Curacao or UK License?
New Zealand players face a specific challenge in deciding whether to deposit money in a fancy, unregulated casino. When I say un-regulated, I mean a casino that operates in countries where a license is not required. The alternative is to use a casino that operates in licensed countries and accepts players from countries without a licensing regime.
There are many more of the former websites than the latter.
The unregulated casinos usually have a Curacao license. This license is generally considered weak, as operators are not held to account for how they run their business and treat players. Consequently, many Rogue casinos operate with a Curacao license, so vigilance is necessary before deciding to play at one of these casinos.
There are certainly some quality casinos in this bunch. It's difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, so use Player forums or sites like this to follow their recommendations.
I believe Kiwis are in a perfect position to choose the best of the best precisely because there's no regulation, so you are free to join any casino you see. Canadians use this to their advantage, and so should New Zealanders with prior due diligence.
If you know what you're doing, you might go for a well-known Curacao casino with a good reputation among players. But choosing a UKGC-licensed casino is a safer bet in almost all cases if they also take NZ players.
I believe you'll find the list on this page helpful. These casinos all have either UK or Malta licenses, and I've been dealing with them for years, so I know them well. You can't go wrong with any of them.
If you prefer a Curacao-licensed casino, go for Winz.io.
I must note that, at the time of writing in early 2024, Curacao is preparing to unify the four weak licenses and start issuing a new government-backed one that will enforce the rules, under pressure from the Dutch government that started regulating gambling in the Netherlands. So, a Curacao license will likely become much stronger and not a haven for casinos that can't get a real one.
Information on Controlling Gambling in New Zealand
Gambling is meant to be enjoyed for entertainment. It should not be regarded as a means for making money or getting yourself out of debt. Following some basic advice when you plan to gamble will help you enjoy yourself more.
- Never gamble money with money you cannot afford to lose.
- Set yourself a budget and stick to it.
- Don't chase your losses.
- Don't gamble when you're unhappy or under the influence of drink or drugs.
If you feel you have a problem or your gambling is not under control, seek help.
There are many resources available for New Zealand gamblers and their families that can help.
- Gambling Helpline for New Zealand
- Problem Gambling Foundation for New Zealand
- Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs
As they say. When the Fun Stops, Stop!
FAQ's for Gambling in New Zealand
Is it legal for New Zealand citizens to gamble online?
In a word, YES, as long as you’re playing at an overseas casino.
Generally, gambling in New Zealand is Illegal unless it is authorised under the Gambling Act 2003.
Remote Interactive Gambling is Prohibited in New Zealand. However, it is Legal for NZ players to play online as long as the casino is based overseas.
“The prohibition is on remote interactive gambling in New Zealand and therefore does not prohibit gambling conducted overseas. For example, it is not illegal for someone in New Zealand to participate in gambling over the Internet if that website is based overseas.”
There are no restrictions on NZ players playing at online casinos that are based overseas.
Is there any protection for players while playing online?
There is no player protection program for NZ players while playing online. If a player experiences a problem, the NZ Government cannot act on casinos they do not regulate.
If issues occur, players will have to rely on other means to resolve them, like arbitration services of respected player forums.
How will I know if an online casino is safe to play at?
There is several signals you should look out for, especially as New Zealand does not have a regulation program in place for online casinos.
- Look for casinos that hold licenses for countries that are regulated. Good ones include Malta, Alderney, the UK Gambling Commission & Gibraltar. Casinos with these licenses operate to higher standards than ones without.
- Use review websites and cross-reference reviews; don’t just look at one.
- Do some Google searches for “casino name rogue” and see what comes back.
All the casinos I list with Live Casino games also accept New Zealand players. The UK Government regulates all of these.
Can you play using New Zealand Dollars?
NZDs are accepted at most online casinos, so you’ll not have to worry about exchange rates. You should be able to Deposit and withdraw in New Zealand dollars.
What are the best payment methods for Deposits and withdrawals?
You can deposit from your New Zealand Bank Account using a bank transfer or Debit card. Other popular payment methods include Electronic online wallets like Neteller/Skrill or Paypal. Withdrawal times differ between online casinos, so checking their terms and conditions before making a deposit is best.
As a Kiwi, will I have to pay Taxes on my Online Live Casino winnings?
New Zealand players will not have taxes deducted from their online casino winnings at the source. What you win, you will be paid. However, if the winnings can be determined as income you may have to pay local taxes. Seek the advice of a local NZ tax accountant if you’re unsure whether this may affect you.
Which Live Casino Providers are available to New Zealand Players?
Fortunately, all live casino providers can offer their games to NZ live casino players if the casino is based overseas.
Evolution Gaming
Market leader Evolution Gaming has the most comprehensive set of live casino games.
They come with the slickest dealers and studio presentations. You can play at a selection of different European studios and some dedicated studios, depending on which casino you choose to play with. The choice of game is wide, with Blackjack played under Vegas Rules with Side Bets, European and American Roulette, Casino Hold’em, Caribbean Stud Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Baccarat, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker, 3 Card Poker and the wheel of Fortune Dream Catcher. If you like soccer, you can play on the Top Card tables and chat about football while you play.
Ezugi
Along with Playtech, Ezugi is the only real contender to Evolution’s crown. Ezugi has some cracking games with studios in Central America, Europe, and Asia. Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Casino Hold’em are the staple live dealer games.
Playtech
Playtech’s games are as good as Evolution’s—the two copy each other where they’re able. Playtech has European and Vegas Rules on their Blackjack tables, Hi-Lo & Sic Bo, and Roulette, Baccarat, Casino Hold’em, 3 Card Brag, and Spin a Win.
Authentic Gaming
Authentic Gaming has by far the best live-streamed roulette tables online. New Zealand players can play on the tables from top European casinos.
Luckystreak
The appeal of LuckyStreak Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat is obvious once you’ve sat at the table. The dealers are unique. If you have a penchant for ink and maybe odd piercings, choose a casino that offers these games.
Other Software providers are available; a full list can be found here, where you can find links to more casinos offering their games.
What the best NZ Live Casinos have in Common?
That’s a really good question and one that’s easy to answer.
First and foremost, it’s all about the game and the playing experience while you’re at the tables. So look out for these common features of the best live casinos.
- The best live casinos for NZ players will have dedicated tables for their players. The most common are Blackjack and Roulette Tables, while some have 3 Card Poker and Baccarat Tables. Dedicated tables allow the casino to offer on-table promotions, like cash prizes and bonuses.
- A casino with a selection of different live casino providers. If you like hopping around tables and getting different experiences, pick a casino with more than one live casino provider.
- Lots of low-limit tables. Gambling can be expensive, so finding a table to suit your bankroll is crucial. The best live casinos should have tables with stake limits to suit all players.
- The best casinos pay their players winnings quickly. Look for casinos that pay in hours or days rather than weeks.