To help new players into the world of real money online casinos, we have compiled this handy online casino guide that will teach you about some of the more integral factors that are involved in the development of a casino found online. This is not just an online casino guide for beginners, as the topics of banking, software and legal judication may be helpful to all.
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There are plenty of online casinos out there that are happy to accept New Zealand dollars, and in this guide we are going to take a look at some of the best ones around.
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...The Essential Gambling ABCs
In prepping this online casino gambling guide, we looked at some of the real fundamentals that go into making an online casino. Admittedly, this is not a guide that focuses on juicy subjects like games and strategies for winning. Instead, this casino guide is here to help teach players all about the areas and subjects of gaming development, banking online and licensing bodies.
These are the foundations of a casino, they make the platform become what it is (the licensing), they support the player's finances to play and secure winnings (banking) and they make the entertainment possible (software developers).
At the end of this guide, we'll touch on the promotions casino use to hook players in, just to help give you essential information that needs mentioning.
Hopefully, you'll consider this guide as essential info and the best online casino guide on the subject matters.
Your Online Casino Guide to Software Developers
To the new players that may not know this, casinos don't actually make any of the games you play, not even the bespoke ones! Casinos are merely a platform, a self that is stacked with titles of games that are made by software developers. Without them, a casino would be bare. Software developers are licensed game makers, they have to conform to the industry rules of fair play, and they need to know how to make kick-ass games for our entertainment and pleasure.
Those Making the Games you Play Online
In the current online market, there are roughly 50 gaming developers sourcing all the casinos online with their developed products.
The developers will fuel all the gaming online and to put this into perspective, to help you understand the odds of gambling online, if you take the game Mega Moolah™ by Microgaming. This game is the biggest online progressive slot machine in the world (so far). If 100 casinos offer this game, be it New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and across Europe and each of those casinos had 100,000 members, The Mega Moolah™ slot by Microgaming is being played by hundreds of thousands of players globally and all playing to win the one single Mega jackpot (or its three lower jackpots), all at the same time!
This is the importance and power of the developer. They fuel players everywhere across hundreds of casinos online.
Now, there are approximately 50 of these developers, thankfully! Each one has a catalogue of 300+ games, some in the region of 500+ games. These numbers allow the balance of winning to be possible. So, don't be alarmed into thinking that you stand no chance, it's quite the opposite when you start to factor in live casino games and the success and scale in popularity of online sports betting.
| Casino | Bonus | User Rating | Play | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Fruta Casino | – | Play Now | |
Your Online Casino Gambling Guide to Payment Services
As we state throughout all our online casino reviews as a reminder, having the right banking features are essential to the completion of your registration process with all casinos online.
Now, there is a myriad of processes and casino payment methods that you can choose from when dealing with finances on the Internet. Casinos are not all the same and this has to be mentioned when considering where you decide to join. There are some casinos that accept NZ dollars. The payment support can vary from site to site. If a casino holds a payment agreement with VISA, for example, you'd instantly assume that all transactions can be carried out, it's VISA after all. This is not the case.
Meeting the Casino's Requirements
Casinos must pay for the use of banking services. These are merchant costs that are the same for any business, land-based and online. Now, if a casino uses Visa as one of their banking options, you can have VISA handle all your transactions, or perhaps, just the facility to deposit money into the casino(check casinos with a minimum deposit so it means these with a low deposit threshold), but not to enable the casino to deposit money into the player's account (the withdrawal process).
You will find through our reviews just what the casinos can and cannot provide in terms of their banking set up. Be aware that not every casino online can support all transactional services, some can, but take note to look at the details of both deposits and withdrawals prior to committing. Most of the casinos are trying to do as fastest payouts as possible.
Alternatively, there is always the option to change your own banking provider. With the variety that is now available in the online market, setting up a whole new account takes no time at all, especially with 3rd party services such as Skrill and Neteller.
Benefits of Playing Inside Real Money Casinos
Our online casino gambling guide is, of course, about playing inside real money sites. Now, for many of you, this will be the first online casino guide for beginners that you read, whereas others will have already gained the experience of playing with your own finances online.
Taking the step as a new player is daunting and we know exactly the feeling and thoughts you are having. So, let us now take a look at the situation of gambling online with real money.
How to Play at an Online Casino for Real Money
As an online casino bonus guide, you may think our vested interests lie in your gambling, but the fact of the matter is, we could tell you not to gamble but you would anyway. Yes gambling comes with risks, and yes money can be lost. But gambling can also be profitable if enjoyed correctly and this is why we made this guide to give you the best advice possible with it comes to playing online for real money.
Step 1: How Games Work
- Register with an online casino
- Deposit money to play
- Select the game you wish to play from the gaming menu.
- When the game loads up, adjust the wagering value to set what cost you will spend per spin or deal of the game.
- Confirm your wagering by pressing the Spin or Deal button.
- If the outcome of your wager is correct, you will win real money in return.
Step 2: How Real Money Games are Built
There are two algorithms that dictate how a game works and functions. The RTP or Return to Play and the RNG or Random Number Generator.
The RTP calculates wins for the players based on the money that has been wagered for play by everyone. The RNG calculates wins based on a random selection across all players and spins.
Which are the Most Popular Online Casino Sites?
Gambling online is a huge business for operators. So, what separates the good from the great? What are the essentials needed for a site to be the best?
Well, before you start playing, a casino must meet certain criteria:
- Have the right regulatory status and legal approval. With a licensed casino, you are guaranteed as a player to be having access to games that have been tested and deemed fair. So, already you have verified approval that the games are not rigged to cheat.
- Variety yields opportunity. You want a casino that is able to offer more than just the one standard service. So, besides slot and virtual gaming, you want the option of playing in a live casino and or a sports betting platform. With added possibilities, it can only lead to more ways of winning.
- The casino must ensure the banking is of the highest standard, and to be fair, this is the case for 99% in the industry, giving players the choice of service to support their deposits and withdrawals.
- Software is pivotal to players and their success. If you have the right software for security, you can have peace of mind playing and better focus. If you can access your mobile you can play anytime without stress. If you have award-winning gaming developers supply you with the best titles online, then gaming becomes enjoyable regardless of the outcome.
The Fastest Payout casinos in New Zealand
Before you register online, it is hugely important to check that your bank is a service that can be supported by the casinos you have the option of joining online. Your banking details are not added until after you have confirmed your account. So, this happens after you have registered and once you receive your confirmation email - only after this will you enter your banking details.
Checking this out is important to save you time. Also, should you wish to join the casino but have no matching banking service with the site, you can then take your time to make arrangements for a new online bank account to be set up prior to joining.
There are so many alternative banking methods available now, that players are spoilt for choice in how they manage their finances. You can make your banking decisions based on our reviews, where we highlight the services that each casino offers.
Options include credit card providers such as MasterCard and Visa. Then you have e-Wallet services like Skill, NeoSurf, PayPal and Neteller. There is also the option of prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies and banking transfer methods, including cheque payments.
All deposits from any method are instant (excluding cheques, for obvious reasons). For withdrawals, time varies i.e. with crypto-payments taking up to 24 hours, and standard card or e-Wallets taking 2 to 5 working days.
What are the Minimum Deposits for an Online Casino?
When playing with real money, budgeting is a key factor for players. One consideration is the awareness of a casino's minimum depositing values. All online casinos allow you to deposit money between a range of values, the minimum deposit amount and the maximum deposit amount.
Because not all casinos are the same, the minimum deposit value varies and as such, becomes a point for determining which casino to join for some players.
The minimum deposit usually stands at $10. However, some casinos come with a $5 min deposit requirement and the highest seen on the NZ market is a min of $25!
Playing with your NZ Dollars in Online Casinos
What are the chances of winning real NZ dollars? 100% because all the casinos provided via our service all accept the New Zealand currency and will pay out winnings in New Zealand dollars. Just because all New Zealand's online casino are registered abroad, doesn't mean you will miss out on making real money you can use with zero hassle. You will win back the money back that you play with, regardless.
Let us suppose that you decide to play with Bitcoin, but the casino is not supporting Bitcoin withdrawals, only accepting Bitcoin deposits. You will have your winnings returned as New Zealand dollars. If, however, the withdrawal in Bitcoin is supported, then Bitcoin and not the NZ dollars are returned.
VIP Casinos
Inside the world of online casinos, there lies further opportunities for fun and excitement. More established players are embracing the fact that rewards are key to their enjoyment and their longevity whilst playing. For the High Roller and seasoned gambler, the VIP status of a casino is a top priority. Every casino online should have a VIP scheme in place that rewards the efforts of their players with free allowances.
VIP Casinos are, therefore, a key factor for players because of how advantageous the VIP bonus rewards can be. Your VIP status is determined by the points you make whilst playing. Points are accumulated for every real money wager you make. As your points tally up, you will navigate your way through a series of VIP levels, each one providing a larger VIP bonus in return as you progress. The better the VIP Club or Program, the more a casino will find its members content to remain, rather than look at casinos elsewhere.
Your Casino Guide to Licensing Authorities
When it comes to detailing online casinos, the most important factor is indeed the licensing. This is essentially the foundation on which the casino stands. No license and you're dealing with an illegal service.
The license is the first thing a casino operator must seek, even long before actually making the site to service its future clientele. There are six major licensors that control the global market of online gambling services. The company applying for the license will often be registered within one of the countries which are associated with the licensing body. For example, if you live in the United Kingdom, you can register your company in the UK and get a license from the UK Gambling Commission.
So, can the same be said for New Zealand casinos? Well, this is where it becomes a little more difficult and not so clear cut...
A Brief Outline of the Online Gambling Laws in New Zealand
New Zealand has its own gambling commission, they compiled the Gambling Act 2003. We will break down the finer details of this to make clear the legalities of gambling and gambling online (two very different matters).
- Gambling in New Zealand is illegal unless it has been authorized or complies with the Gambling Act 2003.
- The Gambling Act 2003 covers both land-based and online casinos.
- The Gambling Act 2003 is there to prevent the growth of betting and gambling. To prevent harm and problems attributed to gambling. Ensure responsible measures. Limit the opportunity of crime and if money is made from gambling that it benefits the community (I.e. lottery funding).
At this stage, it is worth mentioning. Governments don't want to be seen to endorse or promote the taboo of gambling, it doesn't exactly score you election votes. So, the law is there to separate them from involvement and to make it fair and responsible as possible to the benefit of the many, not the few when gambling is permitted.
- The Gambling Act 2003 does not permit online casinos
This means that no one within the borders of NZ can make or start their own business as an online casino and make money through the Internet. Again, the laws distancing the government from encouraging people to make casinos online within their own borders
This is all that the Gambling Act 2003 states about the fundamentals of gambling online. This was even revised and updated in 2019! So, how is online gambling even possible?
It all comes back to the term remote online casinos. Nowhere within the Gambling Act 2003 does it state that players cannot play within overseas casinos. In fact, Section 2. Part 16 of the Act, overseas casinos are mentioned once, and this refers to the prohibition of advertising overseas gambling.
The government admittedly has no control of the internet and this is why they cannot stipulate within the laws that members of the public are prohibited from accessing a free service.
If you have more interest in the subject, we encourage you to discover the facts for yourself from the dia.govt.nz website.
So, what the hell does this all mean and how are these sites on our site classified as New Zealand casinos?
The Six Online Gambling Licensing Authorities
What makes these casinos available to Zealand players, is the fact that they are not remote online casinos. They are all registered overseas and have met the approval of online regulators and licensing bodies.
By being licensed by one or more of the six main governing bodies, regardless of them all being abroad, the casino operator can then advise the NZ Commission and seek approval, and if compliant with the Gambling Act 2003, which they invariably are, the site is approved and is not blocked by the NZ Commission!
The catch? Every online casino must pay the government what is essentially taxation for being a business and very high annual fees. (funny how it suddenly works for the government in the end.)
Because of the acceptance of the license by the NZ commission, these casinos, therefore, become marketed and New Zealand Online Casinos.
Now breath, we finally got to the end of all that.
The six bodies involved in all this are:
- UK Gambling Commission
- Panama Gaming Control Board
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Curacao eGaming Authority
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
Daniel Chapman is our Editor-in-Chief. A man of many talents, he has been with OCNZ for the past three years. He graduated from the University of Waikato with a Master of Arts degree, so he knows what he is doing when it comes to ensuring that all of the content we publish is epic.