Where Are the Best Casinos in New Zealand?

While gambling in New Zealand dates back to 1835 when the European settlers introduced horse racing, the first land-based casino establishment opened in 1994 in Christchurch. 

Following the introduction of slot machines (pokies) in 1987, pubs and hotels in New Zealand became popular among those interested in trying their fate with Lady Luck. 

For well over two decades, New Zealand has been home to several reputable and trustworthy casino operators and a great crowd of professional and casual players. The annual New Zealand Poker Championships held at Christchurch Casino with a prize pot of over $100,000 stirs a great deal of fanfare in the city. 

New Zealand is known to attract players from all over the world, all looking to have a taste of the Kiwi casino gaming experience. Below are the top casino establishments in the country. 

Auckland’s SkyCity Casino 

This casino is located in one of the world’s tallest sky towers, offering a fantastic view of the surrounding. With over 2100 slot machines and 150 table games, Auckland’s SkyCity Casino happens to be among the busiest casinos in New Zealand. 

While it’s obvious that the operator is in the business of generating profits, Auckland’s has a reputation for emphasizing on responsible gambling. They encourage guests and players to only play and wager what they can afford. 

The casino space features a baccarat room, a swanky bar, true-to-the-end cashiering services, and a private smoking zone. If you are new to the casino world and you would love to learn how to play the various games under professional guidance, Auckland’s offers a wide variety of learning packages aimed at training newbies. 

Auckand’s Casino’s learning packages are pretty affordable, making the casino the best place to learn how to play different games. There are extra learning packages for those looking to hone their skills too. Available games include slots, baccarat, money wheel, blackjack, poker, roulette, and more. 

Hamilton SkyCity Casino 

The casino is located at 346 Victoria Street, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand. Hamilton Casino has a beautiful view overlooking the Waikato River. It is essentially one of the many branches of the SkyCity Casino franchise. 

As such, Hamilton SkyCity Casino has pretty much everything you will find at Auckland’s from table games, to slot machines, restaurant menus, and player learning packages. Besides the regular casino and hotel services, Hamilton SkyCity Casino offers an event known as Money Carlo. 

The event allows guests an opportunity to win up to $4000 in cash rewards with two gaming chances. The casino has a diverse casino portfolio that keeps its guests thrilled and entertained during their stay at the premises. The casino opens 24 hours a day for seven days a week. 

Dunedin’s Casino 

Dunedin is one of the many favorite destinations at the Otago Harbor on the south-eastern coast of South Island. Dunedin Casino’s address is 118 High St, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand. 

The casino was recently refurbished with exquisite mosaic flooring, well-designed gaming rooms, and a lofty staircase leading to the grand glass dome roof to give a somewhat Monte Carlo gaming experience.

Guests feel that the gaming experience at Dunedin Casino is a blend of the antique charm and the modern-day gaming experience. Popular games on the casino floor include Caribbean stud poker, baccarat, electronic games, blackjack, roulette, and a host of other games fit for a social setting. 

Christchurch Casino 

This is not only the oldest casino in New Zealand, but it is also one of the best and most popular among local and foreign gamers. Christchurch casino features poker lounges, a baccarat room, thirty-six table games, over five hundred slot machines, and an electronic sports arena. 

The casino is popular for considering the needs of both seasoned players and beginners. The casino’s eSports arena, Got Game Arena, is the newest addition and one of a kind in the industry. The best part about the arena is that guests can enjoy the video games for free. 

When visiting the casino, you can enjoy well-done steak, juicy burgers, mouth-watering pizzas, beer, wines, or whisky from the Monza Sports Bar. Check out the bar’s ongoing offers that will help you save a few bucks. 

In addition, Christchurch Casino has an in-house restaurant where guests can order Cantonese food including stir-fries, dumplings, and spicy noodles. The other eatery within the casino’s premises is Valley Bar, which is a great place to grab a bite and listen to live music. 

Christchurch casino’s address is 30 Victoria St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand. The establishment opens 24 hours on weekends but operates between 11 am and 3 am on weekdays. 

Queenstown SkyCity Casino 

The address to this SkyCity franchise casino is Stratton House Level 2/16-24 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300. Queenstown Casino launched in December 2000 and it’s one of the six New Zealand casinos under the parenthood of SkyCity Entertainment Group. 

Queenstown SkyCity Casino floor has eighty-six gaming machines, and a variety of table games such as roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat. Guests can also enjoy great dishes and drinks from in-house restaurants and bars.

Like all SkyCity casinos, Queenstown Casino offers learning packages for beginners and seasoned players alike. 

Online Casinos 

Online casino operators have been working overtime to offer New Zealand players more options and more fun in 2022. A majority of Kiwi casino players enjoy online casino gaming, with the most popular games including online pokies, video poker, roulette, blackjack, blackjack, and craps. 

However, you should also know that New Zealand has stringent online gambling legislation that you must familiarize yourself with before getting started with internet casino gaming. The reason for the strict regulations is to protect players from unscrupulous operators who might attempt to defraud unsuspecting players. 

There are hundred of reputable operators, which makes it easier for you to register with one of New Zealand’s top casino sites reviewed here. It’s also noteworthy that every top-rated New Zealand online casino has something unique to offer their players – more like a competitive advantage. 

From mobile gaming to fast payouts, crypto payments, supreme game collections, stellar customer services, fair gameplay, and player security, online casinos have Kiwi’s best interests in mind.