Discover the Best Poker Sites in New Zealand

Written By Scott Lawson

Last Updated on 19.07.2024

The sites ranked above represent the best of the best – the operators who scored highest when tested under our expert criteria. When playing at any of the above poker sites, you can expect top security and safety standards, high quality gaming and great player rewards.

The Top 9 Online Poker Sites in New Zealand by Category

Before we get into the nitty gritty, it’s worth pointing out that certain poker sites are better at some things than others. For example, one site might have the best bonuses, while another might have better tournaments. Whether you’re looking for the best pokers sites for beginners New Zealand has to offer, or our top picks for poker pros, these sites have you covered. For our pick of the best in each category, look no further than the list below.

• William Hill – Best for Twister Games

• Ladbrokes – Perfect for Beginners

• bwin Poker – Top Tournament Site

• PokerStars – Biggest Poker Site Worldwide

• Unibet – Best Immersive Gameplay

• GGPoker – Top Choice for VIPs

• Full Tilt Poker – Great Choice for New Players

• Party Poker – Best Pick for Cashback Hunters

• 888Poker – Best New Zealand Poker Site

The above list is in no way an exhaustive run down of all the online poker sites New Zealand players can enjoy. Rather, it’s a good starting point and should direct you to the best choice for what you’re specifically looking for. To learn how we made the above choices, keep reading.

Our Selection Criteria of the Online Poker Sites in New Zealand

We’ve briefly mentioned our criteria already but allow us to introduce it in greater detail. Through years of reviewing experience, these are the features we always test for when on the lookout for the best poker sites New Zealand fans can access. It’s a tried and true method of testing for the best.

1. The Poker Online Games Offer

You don’t need to be an expert reviewer to know that the games on offer make up a big portion of what makes a poker site worthwhile. We always scan poker online games New Zealand libraries to ensure that the titles are of the highest quality and that there’s a good variety of games available.

As any poker fanatic will tell you, there’s a lot of variety in the world of poker, so strong representation of the game’s many variants is a must. Naturally, some casinos will favour certain variants over others. If you’re looking for where to play your favourite form of poker, check out our choices below.

• Texas Hold’Em – Offered by Ladbrokes Poker

• Omaha – Offered by bwin Poker

• Pot Limit Omaha – Offered by Unibet

• 7-Card Stud – Offered by William Hill

• Razz – Offered by Ladbrokes Poker

In the table above, you’ll find our recommended sites for specific poker variants. That’s not to say that you won’t find the above variants at any other poker sites New Zealand wide, merely that those listed really impressed us with the games they had on offer and the quality of their service overall.

Another feature we screened for are games that straddle the poker and slots worlds. Both games are titans of online casino gameplay, and when the two come together it can be truly exciting. Therefore, you’ll also find the availability of these online poker games New Zealand sites reflected in our choices.

2. The Online Poker Sites Payout Rates: Rake and Rakeback

When playing any kind of casino game, it’s always crucial to pay attention to the theoretical payout. If you’re looking for the best online poker sites for real money New Zealand players can find, then this is the section to which you’ll need to pay the closest attention. Check out our payout findings below.

In the table above, you’ll be able to peruse the payout rates of some of the most popular poker variants across some of our top-rated casinos. As you can see, some of the RTPs are quite high, which makes poker one of the best payout casino games.

3. Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses are big business in the online betting world. Sites routinely offer large rewards to players simply for signing up, and the best real money poker sites New Zealand fans can access are no different. Though poker-specific bonuses are less common, many regular online casino welcome bonuses can be used across poker games.

Welcome bonuses are not the be all and end all of rewards, however. You might be lucky enough to come across poker sites with no deposit New Zealand wide, which means New Zealand players can enjoy a free hand without having to pay a penny. Though rare, these offers certainly are not unheard of. We’ll be updating this section frequently with the latest poker sites no deposit New Zealand deals.

4. Mobile Poker Sites App

It’s no secret that we all spend more time on our phones nowadays than ever before, and the world of online gambling has adapted to reflect this fact. The best mobile poker sites New Zealand players can visit will either have a mobile-ready site or a downloadable app for both Android and iOS.

The table above will give you a short overview of what’s available at the many online poker sites New Zealand players can find. To learn about mobile gambling in more detail, however, we recommend that you pop over to our mobile casino guide.

5. Poker Sites Software Platform

To put it frankly, poker sites New Zealand players can visit are only ever as good as its software platform. Without a solid, intuitive system, you’re not going to get very far in your game, and you likely won’t have a good time. Good software will always be easy to use and extremely user-friendly, which is what we screen for.

The best online poker New Zealand sites will often run on the same software or platforms. This is a good thing for players, as it means you can often play against a wide variety of players from other operators. When looking through our list of the top poker sites New Zealand, you’ll likely come across the following platforms:

• OnGame
• iPoker
• GG Network
• PartyPoker
• The Microgaming Network
• Winning Poker Network

In addition to providing top-of-the-line poker software, the presence of these networks and software platforms at online poker sites New Zealand players can visit assures that the site in question is reputable. The above networks are highly respected, and only lend their wares to legitimate operators and the biggest online poker sites New Zealand.

Downloadable Clients

Though many of the best poker sites New Zealand players can find are fully available in your browser, the absolute best of the bunch will also provide a downloadable client. It’s recommended to download the software wherever possible, as it can often run more smoothly and with fewer hiccups than the browser equivalent.

The Liquidity Factor

Liquidity is something we’ve briefly touched upon already with regards to poker platforms. Basically, liquidity refers to traffic on a platform coming from a variety of operators. When operators share a platform, they increase the ability for players to play against a lot of opponents. The best poker sites New Zealand players can find will have strong liquidity.

6. Safety: Only Trusted Poker Sites

When examining any gambling site, our primary concern is always player safety. Therefore, you will never find any risky or untrustworthy poker sites featured here. When selecting our trusted poker sites, we make sure to screen for funds protection, responsible gambling tools, brand reputation, data security and fairness always.

• 888Poker – Fully Licensed by the Gambling Commission

• Ladbrokes Poker – SSL Security Certification from DigiCert

• bwin Poker – 128-bit SSL Encryption

• Unibet – Trustwave Encryption Software

• William Hill – Licence from the Gambling Commission

The above online poker sites New Zealand players can access have all received the proper licensing from the official regulator, the Gambling Commission. This means that they have met the regulator’s high standards for safety and security and present no risks to players.

7. Tables, Sit and Go and Tournaments

Another key feature we screen for when seeking the best sites to play poker New Zealand, or elsewhere, is the number of tables and the variety of tournaments. Naturally, table number is important. It’s all well and good if a site is buzzing with activity, but if you can’t find a free table you won’t get in on the action.

Ideally, tables and tournaments should cater to a wide number of players and allow players to play and go as they please. In this sense, the biggest online poker sites operate something akin to bingo sites, in that traffic can pass smoothly and frequently.

8. The Range of Payment Methods

Payment methods are an often over-looked, yet nonetheless important, aspect of any online gambling. It’s crucial that the best real money poker sites offer their players a wide array of payment options, so that they can feel comfortable and secure in making easy online transactions.

Wherever possible, we recommend that players use PayPal when making online payments. This is due to the service’s sterling record of user safety and widespread availability. New Zealand players should also note that it is no longer possible to make credit card payments at gambling sites.

9. The Players

Apart from the potential winnings, a big part of why we flock to online poker sites New Zealand and beyond is the players. A strong user base means you won’t have to wait too long to start playing and will also ensure a steady flow of new people to play against, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting.

Between tournaments and the liquidity of platforms, you’ll have no shortage of opponents at our recommended poker sites. The communal aspect of the game really is one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable features, so don’t underestimate it on your search for a quality operator.

10. Special VIP Levels

Last but certainly not least among the features we scan for is special VIP levels. If you’re familiar with any kind of gambling site, you’ll already be aware that there are often VIP perks available for frequent players. In this regard, the top pokers sites featured on this page are no different.

At many of the operators we’ve listed here, you can expect rewards for loyalty. More often than not, these are accessed automatically through an in-built point system. Accruing a certain amount of points will net you rewards like exclusive tournaments or monetary bonuses, so keep an eye out.

Licensing and Regulation in New Zealand

British players are fortunate insofar as most online gambling is legal, regulated and accessible – as long as you’re aged 18 or over and can provide valid identification upon registration. Poker sites New Zealand players can access will require players to pass an ID check before they can cash out, but that’s as strict as it gets.

Likewise, British players are in an enviable position when it comes to taxes on winnings. As you may already be aware, British gamblers are not required to pay any taxes on their gambling winnings. Rather, the operator takes on the cost, leaving you to hold onto your winnings in full.

New Poker Sites in New Zealand

The popularity of poker online often dictates the appearance of new operators. Currently, online poker is enjoying a great deal of success, and as such new online poker sites New Zealand playrts can access are being launched all the time. It can be difficult to keep up with new poker sites New Zealandplayers can visit, so we’ve been keeping tabs on the latest.

The above refers solely to the best new poker sites. Naturally, the above table will be updated frequently to reflect new arrivals on the scene. If you’re looking for sites with a bit more scope, or just casino sites generally, we recommend you head over to our ranking of the best real money casino sites.

Poker Sites to Avoid in New Zealand

We can’t offer an exhaustive list of the top poker sites, as we’d be here all day. However, if you decide against playing at our recommended operators and go in search of poker sites on your own, we do strongly recommend that you stay away from some of the following sites:

The sites above have received poor reviews and, in some cases, heavy penalties for putting their players at risk with their dodgy practices. There are plenty of rewarding, enjoyable and safe operators on the market. Don’t leave yourself vulnerable by playing at a shady site.

History of Poker in New Zealand

Legend has it that American servicemen brought poker to New Zealand during World War Two. However, there was a headline in the Otago Daily Times from 1862 describing a court case between two people, each alleging the other cheated at a game called poker. Judging by this, it would seem American miners brought the game over around this time. Poker was developed in the early 1800s in the American state of Louisiana, so it was only a matter of time before it made it to the Kiwi population.

Since then, the game enjoyed a small following until the 1970s. The decade of disco also brought mainstream popularity to the game of poker, when television started broadcasting the World Series of Poker (WSOP) from Las Vegas. The game slowly grew in popularity until the online poker boom of the early 2000s saw almost everyone wanting in on the action. New Zealanders were no exception, and so the age of online gambling on the island began.

The Christchurch Casino founded the country’s first land-based poker room in 1994. Since day one, Kiwis traveled there for a chance to stack their opponents. Now, New Zealanders can compete in regional circuits like the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour (ANZPT) and a WSOP sponsored tour called the WSOP Asia Pacific Tournament Series.

These events, coupled with the rise of online poker on the island, also brought about a few well-known Kiwi poker players. Lee Nelson is New Zealand’s all-time money leader, and a world-famous poker legend. Other New Zealanders known for their poker skills are David Yan, Simon Watt and Daniel Francis.

Conclusion

That just about wraps things up for our thorough investigation of the best poker sites New Zealand has to offer. We hope you found this page useful, and that you will have a wonderful time playing at any one of our recommended sites. Failing that, we hope you utilize our criteria when finding a site on your own.

If you’re still looking for further information, perhaps on what other casino options are available to you, we recommend checking out our page on the best online casino sites. Otherwise, we wish you the best of luck at the best sites to play poker New Zealand!

FAQ

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. Should you have any lingering questions about playing New Zealand poker online, please consult our frequently asked questions below. This section is updated regularly, so if your query doesn’t appear, do check back again soon.

The List of Poker Sites in New Zealand

This page is intended to introduce you to the best poker sites currently on the market. For further information on any of the sites featured here, we recommend checking the operators out for yourself or clicking across to the dedicated reviews we’ve written, which you can find in the below list of poker sites New Zealand.