Best Online Poker Sites in New Zealand

For decades, online poker has been holding the leading positions among players of all backgrounds and preferences. It offers a perfect blend of skills and chance and allows applying different strategies and tricks. Moreover, playing at online poker sites can be rather rewarding: in 2010, a participant of the Online Poker World Championship won $2.3 million.

There are thousands of players both in New Zealand and beyond who are interested in the game. That is why we decided to create an updated and comprehensive guide and tell you about the following issues:

Why Can You Trust CasinoHex Rate of Poker Sites

CasinoHex is a team of professionals who love gambling and know everything about the industry. We test different platforms, share useful tips, and update readers about the recent legislation and laws. We have created a unique set of criteria to evaluate online poker rooms and introduce you to the best options. Moreover, we specialize in NZ websites, so Kiwis can always find the most suitable offers.

This means that whenever you want to find new online poker sites, the most rewarding bonuses, or the latest card games, you don’t need to do the search on your own. Instead, head to our website. We hand-pick every room and game to introduce New Zealand players only to the best options. In addition, we publish the latest bonuses and promotions which make the game even more rewarding.

If you don’t have time or energy to deal with the market alone, there are always experts to help. With many years in the industry, we know the best poker tips and strategies to make you a winner. And if you want to try other games, just find our guides about sports betting sites, million-jackpot pokies, and other popular entertainments.

How To Pick The Best Poker Site For Online Play

Cash poker games are extremely popular: they give players an opportunity to kill time, make friends, gain new skills, and earn some money. As we know, demand creates supply, so there are already thousands of online poker sites and the number continues to grow. How to choose a good one? If you have such a question in mind, read the selection criteria below:

Credibility and Licenses

A platform should be internationally approved and tested. Look out for the MGA, UKGC, or other licenses on the poker site to ensure that it follows the laws and provides transparent services. Even if you play online poker for fun and don’t spend any money, choosing a trustworthy website is a good idea.

Online Poker Software

This criterion influences user experience and game perception. There is software with lots of features but an outdated design. There is also software that has perfect navigation and comes with exclusive offers. To make the game fun and rewarding, you should pick the most suitable software by testing various rooms. Or reading our reviews.

Broad Game Selection

There are numerous online poker variations and formats, so diversity is crucial when choosing a platform. If you like trying out something new, make sure that a website not only has titles from various developers but comes in such modes as cash games, tournaments, freerolls, and others.

Data Protection

Your stay at a poker site should be secure. To avoid information and financial losses, choose a platform that uses SSL encryption and has an eCOGRA seal. Usually, they are listed at the bottom of the homepage.

Bonuses and Promotions

A single online poker bonus can make a difference, so make sure that the chosen room has a decent welcome package and regular promotions. They may include freeroll tournaments, cashback, reload bonuses, and other perks. If there is a rewarding loyalty program, you can get exclusive offers for staying with the poker site.

Player Traffic

There’s nothing worse than a poker site without players, so when picking a platform, you should check whether it has good traffic. This criterion becomes even more important if you prefer games with a common prize pool.

Mobile Compatibility

If you prefer playing on a go, the availability of a poker app or browser version is a must. Fortunately, almost all modern platforms are created with mobile users in mind, so it is difficult to find a poker room that doesn’t run on smartphones and tablets.

These criteria are enough when choosing a site to play poker. But if you want to dig deeper, read a detailed guide on our website. With its help, you can learn how to evaluate not only poker, but also online keno games, pokies, and even scratch cards. You will always know how to distinguish a reliable brand from a bad one.

Top 5 Poker Rooms Of 2023

CasinoHex experts work day and night to find the best online poker sites and share them with you. Below you will find five rooms that meet all the criteria and ensure a positive experience not depending on your level of proficiency, bankroll, and expectations.

888 Poker Site

888 is among the largest online poker sites that you will ever find. It is licensed by the UKGC, New Jersey Gaming Authority, and Gibraltar. If you are looking for a brand with a huge variety of games and outstanding promotions, 888 Poker Site is exactly where you should be.

Pokerstars

When searching for a place to play live poker online, try Pokerstars. This poker site was established in 2001 and since then has grown into the biggest community for online poker fans of all backgrounds. Here you will find Rational Enterprises software, a $600 welcome bonus, and busy tournaments.

Partypoker

Partypoker is one of the top online poker sites that possess all the necessary features for a smooth and fun pastime. It is licensed by the UKGC and Gibraltar, supports all operating systems, and offers rewarding bonuses.

GG Poker

GG Poker belongs to real money poker sites that grab your attention from the very beginning. It has a huge variety of generous promotions, all types of games and tournaments, and one of the best customer support agents we have seen so far.

William Hill

Just imagine: William Hill was established in 1934 and started taking bets by phone and mail. Now, it is a modern website where you can play free and real money poker games. It is based in Gibraltar, accepts all the major payment methods, and has a variety of bonuses in store.

Generous Poker Bonuses and Rakeback Programs

The competition between online poker rooms is quite tense, so new and existing players can expect a variety of bonuses and promotions. Some of them are rather generous. Let us list the most popular and rewarding offers available at modern rooms:

• Welcome Bonuses – New players of poker sites are usually rewarded with a match bonus. For example, a 100% match up to $500. It is an easy way to double or even triple your bankroll. If you are lucky enough, you might come across a no deposit bonus that awards you with a few extra dollars without any strings attached.
• Reload Bonuses – From time to time, regular players are given a match bonus to make them want to stay with the poker site. It is comparable to a welcome bonus but is not available to new users.
• Rakeback Programs – They are similar to loyalty schemes and created to keep regular players satisfied. The rewards may come in a form of free cash, participation in closed online poker tournaments, and much more.
• Cashback – On certain days of a week or when boosting the loyalty level, players can return a part of their losses. On average, the cashback percentage ranges from 10% to 20% and increases along with your loyalty.

Safety & Legality Of New Zealand Poker Rooms

Kiwis love poker and according to the 2003 Gambling Act, it is completely legal to enjoy this pastime. Brick and mortar venues must have the Department of Internal Affairs license, pay taxes, and respect the laws. Strict regulation allows controlling the industry and creating a safer environment for gamblers.

If you are willing to play a poker game online, you can do it in one of the international platforms and rooms. Even though it is prohibited to start local rooms for online poker in New Zealand, players are not restricted to join platforms overseas.

As a rule, Kiwis don’t have to pay taxes and can keep the profits to themselves. The only exception is when you are a professional player and the winnings at poker sites are the main source of income.

Where to try live poker in New Zealand

Even the best online poker site for New Zealand players won’t replace direct communication and the thrills of visiting a land-based venue. If you miss the atmosphere and want to play live, there are four casinos with nine poker tables in the country. Here’s where they are located:

	Grand Casino Dunedin Even though this venue is relatively small, it has enough games to keep you engaged for hours. It also has significant promotions including Triple Tuesday, when the bonus points are multiplied by three. 📍 Address: 118 High Street, Dunedin. 📞 Phone: +64 800 477 4545.
	Skycity Auckland The bet sizes at Skycity Auckland vary from $15 to $500, making it the right place both for beginners and experienced players. This poker room boasts lots of variations including high stakes games and tournaments. 📍 Address: 90 Federal Street, Auckland. 📞 Phone: +64 9 363 6000.
	Skycity Casino Hamilton At Hamilton, you can experience a VIP treatment that can’t be found at NZ online poker sites. Here, players have access to the best poker variations, as well as good food and drinks, outstanding assistance, and a friendly atmosphere. 📍 Address: 346 Victoria St, Hamilton. 📞 Phone: +64 7-834 4900.
	Christchurch Casino Almost all NZ poker championships take place at a Christchurch casino which makes it one of the most popular venues to play this game. Be sure to find excellent tournaments and cash prizes when attending 30 Victoria Street. 📍 Address: 30 Victoria Street, Christchurch. 📞 Phone: +64 3 365 9999.

If you don’t mind traveling, head to Australia and the two most popular rooms in the country: Crown Melbourne Casino and Adelaide Casino.

Grace Tennet

Content Manager

Grace manages our copywriting team since the first day Casino HEX has opened its virtual doors to Kiwi gamblers.

Her main goal is to provide reliable and useful information that will help our visitors learn something new and become more experienced in the online gambling sphere.

Key game guides and unbiased reviews of the biggest casino brands on the New Zealand market are all written by Grace. If you see an article created by her – be sure you will spend a little quality time reading it.