Online Poker in NZ – Best New Zealand Online Poker Sites for December 2024
Is online poker in NZ legal, and if so, where are the best places to play? There’s a lot of confusion about the status of online poker in New Zealand, so w’re here to clear things up and tell you how to have the best experience possible.
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CoinPoker – Best NZ Poker Site for Anonymous Gaming
CoinPoker gets top billing on our list of recommended online poker sites in New Zealand because, aside from juicy games and promotions, security is essential.
That’s not to say any of the NZ poker sites on this list are unsafe. It’s simply that CoinPoker has taken security to another level by offering a completely decentralized service.
For context, CoinPoker is a crypto NZ poker site. It only accepts crypto deposits in tokens such as BTC, ETH, and USDT. That’s ideal for Kiwis because you won’t have to contend with currency conversion charges (more on this later). The other benefit of being a crypto-only poker site is that CoinPoker uses decentralized software.
Its RNG exists on a blockchain, which means all results are publicly verifiable. Essentially, you don’t have to take someone’s word that the games are fair.
Finally, you can play anonymously. That means you don’t have to provide any personal or financial details to claim rakeback, play Hold’em and Omaha cash games, and enter $100,000 MTTs.
Pros
- Fully decentralized NZ poker site
- 33% rakeback
- Instant crypto deposits and withdrawals
- Fully anonymous and secure
Cons
- Not as much traffic as some sites
- You need crypto to use it
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
ACR Poker – Best NZ Poker Site for Tournaments
ACR Poker, previously known as Americas Cardroom, is the best NZ online poker site for tournaments by a long way.
We could, of course, recommend Black Chip and Ya Poker for MTTs because they share the Winning Poker Network with ACR. However, we always gravitate to ACR because it was the first site on the network and the place where Venom originated.
What’s Venom? It’s ACR’s annual tournament series that offers more than $20 million (NZ$31.6 million) in guaranteed prize money. In fact, the Venom main event has broken records on multiple occasions by paying out more than $12 million (NZ$19 million).
There are dozens of daily qualifiers costing less than $10 for Venom, but it’s not the only MTT series in town. ACR upped its weekly guaranteed prizepool by 13% at the start of 2024 to $10.7 million (NZ$16.9 million).
The number of low-stakes tournaments also increased by 37%, which is why ACR is our top NZ poker site for MTTs.
Pros
- MTT series with $20 million GTD
- Over $10 million in weekly prizes
- Novel features, including bomb pots
- Straddles, run it twice, and staking
Cons
- Servers are prone to glitches
- Account verification can take time
- WPN network with solid player base
- Blitz poker for speed and convenience
- Seven card stud poker available
BetOnline Poker – Best NZ Poker Site for Diversity
BetOnline is primarily a sportsbook, but it still makes our list of recommended online poker sites in New Zealand because it’s a diverse platform. In our experience, diverse platforms often have juicy games, and BetOnline proves this.
We have been grinding the $0.50/$1 and $1/$2 cash games since mid-2023, and without being too critical, the standard of play is weak.
This goes for Hold’em and Omaha. In fact, what’s really nice about BetOnline Poker is that it offers standard, 5-card, and 6-card Pot Limit Omaha. You won’t find those two variants at many online poker sites in NZ, so this again makes it a more diverse platform than most.
The software could be better. The table design isn’t particularly inspiring, and the bet buttons could be improved. However, when you combine juicy games with a great loyalty rewards program and the ability to play eight tables at once, it’s easy to overlook any design flaws.
Pros
- Generous bonuses and rewards
- Plenty of fishy cash games
- Offers 5-card and 6-card PLO
- $3 million in weekly MTT guarantee
Cons
- Design could be better
- Doesn’t offer rakeback
- Fast seating with Boost for zero waiting time
- Huge tournaments like Sunday Million and PKO's
- Solid traffic on Chico Poker Network
How We Found the Best Online Poker Sites in New Zealand
What’s the difference between a great NZ poker site from a good one? Here are five qualities we look for when it comes to separating the best from the basic…
- Safety and Security: We only recommend trusted NZ poker sites, which means they need to be licensed, have encrypted software, secure payments, and have a good reputation.
- Great Games: A great selection of games means offering Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud across a variety of formats and stakes.
- Plenty of Value: Bonuses are a big part of online poker in New Zealand, so we make sure there are plenty of easily accessible offers.
- Reliable Software: There’s nothing worse than timing out of hands because the software isn’t great, so we test each site to make sure it’s reliable.
- Plenty of Fish: A steady stream of fishy players always makes the games better.
New Zealand Poker Sites Ranked by Traffic
| Poker Site | 7 Day avg | Online | Cash | 24 H Peak | Last Week | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GGNetwork | 10000 | 180405 | 9593 | 13297 | ||
| CoinPoker | 55 | 895 | 62 | 62 | Play Now | |
| PokerStars | 1900 | 55540 | 1063 | 3158 | ||
| WPT Global | 2300 | 5100 | 2569 | 3184 | Play Now | |
| PartyPoker | 575 | 419 | 1120 | |||
| 888poker | 325 | 168 | 669 |
Poker in NZ
Can you play online poker for real money in NZ? If so, how can you play online poker in New Zealand, and are there any tax laws you need to know? Let’s find out…
History of Online Poker in New Zealand
Before the Gambling Act of 2003, real-money gaming in New Zealand was regulated by three statutes:
- The Racing Act of 1971
- The Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1977
- The Casino Control Act of 1990
Generally speaking, any forms of gambling that were not considered beneficial to the community were banned. While online gambling specifically was not regulated at all, authorities could apply the general regulations to online players.
Fortunately, the government was well aware of the prohibitive nature of these regulations and introduced permissive laws under the Gambling Act of 2003.
New Zealand Online Poker Laws
Online poker is legal in New Zealand. Unlike countries that expressly prohibit or take an ambivalent position, New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs clearly states that online gambling is legal.
“The prohibition is on remote interactive gambling in New Zealand and therefore does not prohibit gambling conducted overseas,” states the Department of Internal Affairs Prohibited Gambling Guide.
This means you can play online poker in NZ using sites such as CoinPoker and ACR which are regulated elsewhere. There are no issues of it being a state vs. federal issue or a lack of jurisdiction. It’s clearly stated in New Zealand law that online poker is legal if you’re using licensed sites.
What is or is not legal in New Zealand?
You can legally enjoy all types of gambling in New Zealand, regardless of whether you’re playing in a land-based casino or online. Land-based casinos are legal under the Gambling Act 2003 but must be licensed by the New Zealand Gambling Commission.
Online poker sites, casinos, and sportsbooks must be based overseas, ie they must be offshore poker sites. This means they can be located in notable gambling jurisdictions such as Curaçao, Panama, and Malta.
The tax situation is slightly less clear than we’d like it to be.
Generally speaking, there is a 29% tax (down from 30.1% before 2021) on gambling winnings over $449. However, there is an exemption for one-off wins.
As noted by the Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income:
“One-off gambling winnings in NZ are typically tax-exempt.”
Based on this, it’s generally considered that poker winnings are tax-free in New Zealand if you’re a recreational player. However, if you’re assessed to be a professional (ie you derive your sole income from poker), then you may be liable for 29% tax on all profits.
Given the slightly ambiguous nature of NZ online poker tax laws, we recommend consulting a local tax attorney to see if you’re liable.
How to Play Online Poker for Real Money in New Zealand
Here’s how to join a top NZ poker site using our secure links. We’ll use CoinPoker – one of the best poker apps – as an example:
- Launch the poker site (or download the app) and create an account.
- Tap the wallet icon to make a deposit.
- Choose a cryptocurrency, eg BTC.
- Copy the wallet address and complete the transfer.
- Tap to open the cash games/tournament lobby.
- Search using the “Games,” “Buy-In,” and “Seats” filters.
- Open a table and tap the gear icon to adjust the visual settings and top-up preferences.
New Zealand Online Poker Games
The best online poker sites NZ has to offer are overflowing with games because you’re tapping into an international pool of players. That means you’ll be able to ante up in the following games online:
Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is the poker variant everyone knows in one way or another. By that, we mean most people have seen Hold’em on TV, even if they’ve never played. The rules are simple:
- Everyone gets two hole cards.
- Players can use up to five community cards.
- The winner is the player who makes everyone else fold or who has the best five-card hand at a showdown.
Hold’em can be played using Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit. The majority of poker tournaments in NZ, online, and elsewhere in the world are No Limit.
The same goes for cash games, but you will find a few Limit and Pot Limit tables at our favorite NZ online poker sites.
CoinPoker is the best NZ poker site for Texas Hold’em because of its anonymous, decentralized four-handed games with weak players.
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
Omaha
Omaha is Hold’em times two. Alternatively, you could call it an extreme version of Hold’em. Even though it’s a different variant, Omaha is similar to Hold’em in terms of betting dynamics. This means it’s a community card game. However, instead of two hole cards, everyone gets four.
The rules of Omaha are:
- Everyone gets four hole cards and must use two of them.
- Players must use three community cards.
- The winner is the player who makes everyone else fold or who has the best five-card hand at a showdown.
Having four hole cards, with the condition that two must be used, creates more hand combinations. This means it’s easier to make certain hands, which, in turn, generates more action.
Essentially, because everyone has more possible hand combinations, there’s more impetus to bet and/or go to a showdown. Therefore, in general, you need stronger hands at a showdown in Omaha than you do Hold’em.
You also have to be prepared for more swings, which is why we refer to it as an extreme version of Hold’em.
BetOnline Poker is the best NZ poker site for Omaha because it offers standard four-card Omaha, as well as Omaha Hi/Lo, five-card Omaha, and six-card Omaha.
- Fast seating with Boost for zero waiting time
- Huge tournaments like Sunday Million and PKO's
- Solid traffic on Chico Poker Network
Stud
Stud is different from Hold’em and Omaha because it doesn’t contain any community cards. Instead, you’re required to make a five-card hand from the seven you’re dealt:
- Everyone gets up to seven cards.
- Play starts with everyone receiving three cards (two dealt face-down, one is face-up).
- The next three cards are dealt face-up, and the final card is dealt face-down.
- The winner is the player who makes everyone else fold or who has the best five-card hand at a showdown.
Stud can be played high, which means the best high-value hand wins at a showdown. You can also play Stud Hi/Lo at NZ poker sites such as ACR and Black Chip Poker. Hi/Lo poker variants award 50% of the pot to the best high-value hand and 50% to the best low-value hand.
There aren’t many Stud tables online. However, there are some, and from what we’ve encountered, the level of skill is fairly low.
So, if you want to play online poker in New Zealand and want to try something other than Hold’em and Omaha, Stud is a great option.
ACR Poker is the best NZ poker site for Stud because it has a variety of low and medium-stakes cash games in high and Hi/Lo formats.
- WPN network with solid player base
- Blitz poker for speed and convenience
- Seven card stud poker available
Live Poker Rooms
You can ante up at a live poker table in NZ. We love live poker because it’s social and flows at a different pace to online games. For us, this makes it slightly easier to get reads on players and analyze hands.
Our top tip is to hone your skills by playing online poker in NZ.
Basically, if you can beat online tournaments and cash games, you’ve got a great chance of winning in the live arena because, in general, the standard is lower.
Stick around, and we’ll show you some great places to play live poker in NZ.
NZ Online Poker Bonuses
You can play real poker online in NZ, but things won’t always go your way. It’s at these times that we’re thankful for bonuses to boost your bankroll. Below are some of the best poker bonuses to utilize.
Sign-up bonuses, otherwise known as welcome bonuses, are promotions designed for new customers. They’re a way for NZ poker sites to attract newbies and welcome them with open arms. There are two types of welcome bonus:
- No Deposit Bonuses: These offers aren’t predicated on financial transactions. The rewards, which include bonus cash, are credited to your account once you’ve completed the registration process.
- Deposit Bonuses: These NZ online poker bonuses are released when you make an initial deposit. Some deposit bonuses give you a selection of free tournament tickets. While other offers give you bonus cash based on a multiplier and your deposit. For example, a 100% multiplier means you get 100% of your deposit’s value.
One final thing to note is that NZ online poker sign-up bonuses are the most lucrative offers you’ll receive.
There are other ways to boost your bankroll, as we’ll explain. However, in terms of a one-off reward, sign-up bonuses are almost always the biggest.
Rakeback is the most sought-out of NZ online poker bonuses. The easiest way to think about rakeback is that it’s a form of cashback.
However, unlike casino cashback bonuses that require you to lose money, poker rakeback is credited to your account irrespective of wins or losses.
You pay rake each time you play online poker for real money in NZ. Rake enables poker operators to run their businesses, so it’s essentially the cost of playing. The best online poker sites in New Zealand return a percentage of the rake you’ve paid.
For example, at most of the online poker sites NZ has to offer, you’ll get at least 20%. Let’s assume you paid $1,000 in rake during one month. You’d get 20% of that back ($200) in cash rather than bonus cash that comes with wagering restrictions. If you play online poker in NZ consistently, rakeback is essential.
Loyalty rewards are more common in the casino sector, but certain NZ online poker sites have VIP programs.
BetOnline Poker is one of the top places to earn loyalty rewards. We like loyalty programs because they give you cash rebates (similar to rakeback) as well as other rewards, including tournament tickets and prizes.
New Zealand Online Poker Bonuses: Terms and Conditions
New Zealand online poker bonuses are great, but nothing in this life is free. That’s why we’re paying close attention to the terms and conditions that encase poker bonuses. Some of the main terms (aka wagering requirements) to consider are:
- The minimum deposit required to unlock bonuses.
- The games you can play with your bonus cash/tournament tickets.
- The playthrough, ie the amount you have to pay in rake to convert bonus cash to real cash you can withdraw.
- The amount of time you’ve got to hit your playthrough targets.
Playthrough targets are the most important wagering requirement. We want the rake targets to be as low as possible because it means you have to play less to release your bonus cash.
Therefore, when you’re looking for NZ online poker bonuses, make sure the playthrough isn’t excessive.
Best Banking Option for Poker Online in NZ
You can only play online poker with real money in NZ if you’ve got ways to make deposits and withdrawals. That’s obvious, but the ability to make secure payments also determines whether or not you can unlock bonuses.
In other words, without safe ways to pay, you can win cash prizes or claim bonuses.
The main ways to make deposits and withdrawals when you play real poker online in NZ include:
- Credit/debit card, including Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover
- ewallets, including Luxon
- Wire transfer (aka bank transfer)
- Money Order
- Peer-to-peer transfers
- Cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Tether (USDT)
Make sure you check the processing times and fees when you’re choosing a payment method.
In general, the best online poker sites in New Zealand don’t charge deposit or withdrawal fees. However, when it comes to processing times, ewallets and cryptocurrencies are always quicker than other methods.
Can I Play Poker Online in New Zealand with NZD?
Yes, some of our favorite NZ online poker sites allow you to make cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals.
In fact, CoinPoker is a fully decentralized crypto poker site, which means you can only make deposits and withdrawals.
We’ve been championing the benefits of Bitcoin for the last few years, not least because withdrawals are processed instantly. The same goes for other cryptocurrencies, including USDT, Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL).
Aside from speedy transaction times, crypto payments are universal. That means 1 BTC is worth the same in New Zealand as it is in the US.
Therefore, you don’t have to worry about currency conversion fees when you deposit NZD at sites that have USD as their default currency.
Finally, the main reason we prefer making crypto poker payments is anonymity. You don’t enter any personal details when you make crypto transfers. This means you can play completely anonymously, which, in turn, keeps you safer.
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
Where Can I Play Live Poker in New Zealand?
If you want to take the skills you’ve honed online and ante up at a live poker table in NZ, here are our favorite places to play:
- Address: 90 Federal Street, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
- Games: Cash games and tournaments
- Tables: Up to 32 for major events
Sky City Auckland is New Zealand’s live poker hub.
As well as running its own cash games and tournaments, this well-equipped poker room hosts traveling tournament series such as the WPT.
- Address: 30 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013
- Games: Cash games and tournaments
- Tables: 13
Christchurch Casino has a poker player’s poker room.
By that, we mean it’s got plenty of cash games running from $1/$3 to $5/$5 that you can register for via text.
Unlike the NZ online poker sites, live rooms don’t have as many tables. This means you’re often waiting for a seat to open up. Using the text service means you can wait somewhere comfortable until a game opens up.
- Address: 188 High St, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
- Games: Cash games and tournaments
- Tables: 5
Grand Casino Dunedin (formerly Casino Dunedin) is New Zealand’s smallest poker room, but it still offers plenty of cash games.
Our choice from the list of games would be the mixed Hold/Omaha games with a minimum buy-in of $200.
Top NZ Poker Players
New Zealand isn’t necessarily a poker-playing powerhouse like the US, the UK, or even Australia, but that doesn’t mean Kiwis haven’t made an impact on the world stage.
Indeed, the three most successful poker players from New Zealand have all earned well in excess of NZ$2 million from tournaments.
- Sosia Jiang – She is New Zealand’s best tournament player to date with almost $3 million in live cashes. Jiang has been particularly prominent in super high rollers, with her biggest cash being an 8th place finish on the Triton Poker Super High Roller Cyprus for $820,000.
- Lee Nelson – Previously a doctor, Nelson is now a veteran and has been playing live poker for decades. He has also written a variety of strategy books, including Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold Em Poker Tournaments.
- Thomas Ward – He has been playing poker for more than 15 years and cut his teeth on the Asian Poker Tour. Since then, Ward’s anted up in the biggest events in North America, notching up more than $1.5 million in earnings.
Tips for Playing Online Poker in NZ
We want you to have the best chance of playing +EV poker, so here are five things that have helped us become winning players over the last decade.
One online poker table in NZ isn’t the same as any other. By that, we mean the dynamics of every game you play will be different.
So, your job is to find tables with the weakest players or, more specifically, players you’re comfortable playing against.
You could be the 10th best player in the world and still lose if you join a table with the top nine pros. Finding the right tables with the right players will give you the best shot at winning.
Beginners should, in our opinion, always adopt a tight, aggressive strategy. This means waiting for premium hands (anything better than 9-9) and raising or betting whenever possible.
What we’ll say, however, is that you should learn when to be aggressive and when to slow down.
This comes down to reading players. If someone is passive, the worst thing you can do is bet hard and scare them off. So, while it’s good to be aggressive, remember to pick your spots.
You justify almost any play if you’ve got position on an opponent. That’s a slight exaggeration, but it highlights the importance of acting last.
Having the benefit of seeing what someone else does gives you a huge advantage, so focus on playing the majority of your hands in late position.
Bankroll management is a fundamental skill that anyone playing online poker with real money in NZ needs to master. This means not wagering more than you can afford to lose.
As a general rule, you need more than 100 buy-ins to play comfortably at any stakes.
For example, if you’re playing $1/2, you should have at least $2,000 in your bankroll.
Staying in your lane also means sticking to variants you understand.
You might be great at Hold’em, but that doesn’t mean you can jump into an Omaha game and win. Use your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.
This tip is for anyone who plays online poker in NZ.
The best online poker sites in New Zealand are packed with promotions.
From deposit bonuses to rakeback, make sure you claim as many offers as possible because the bankroll boost they provide can help counteract the impact of negative variance.
Conclusion
As you can see, not only is it legal to play online poker in NZ, it’s extremely enjoyable. The best NZ poker sites are packed with promotions, games, and unique features.
If you’re still on the fence about playing, here are three things to take away from this guide:
- Online poker in New Zealand is safe, legal, and easily accessible.
- The top poker sites in NZ offer tons of bonuses and rakeback.
- There are games for all budgets, including free-to-enter tournaments.
FAQs – Online Poker for Real Money in NZ
What is the best online poker site in New Zealand?
Is online poker legal in New Zealand?
Can you play online poker in NZ?
Do NZ online poker sites payout?
Can I get rakeback playing online poker?
Are online poker sites in New Zealand rigged?
Can I make crypto deposits at the best online casinos in NZ?
References
- https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0051/latest/DLM208240.html (Parliamentary Counsel Office)
- https://www.dia.govt.nz/services-casino-and-non-casino-gaming-prohibited-gambling#:~:text=The%20prohibition%20is%20on%20remote,that%20website%20is%20based%20overseas. (Department of Internal Affairs)
- https://www.gamblingcommission.govt.nz/ (NZ Gambling Commission)
- https://cflri.org.nz/do-you-have-to-pay-taxes-on-gambling-winnings-in-nz/#:~:text=Recent%20changes%20in%20NZ%20gambling%20tax%20have%20resulted%20in%20a,adjustment%20made%20in%20October%202021 (Commission for Financial Literacy)
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kill-Everyone-Strategies-Tournaments-Sit-n-Gos/dp/1935396307 (Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold Em Poker Tournaments)