Play Online Pokies for Real Money
There are plenty of reputable casino sites where you can play online slots for real money in New Zealand, but not every one of those is top-class.
There are plenty of aspects that we at BestCasino look into when reviewing online gambling sites, so we make sure that players get the chance to win online pokies only at the very best online casinos.
Cleopatra
Queen of the Nile
Big Bamboo
Sugar Rush
Immortal Romance
50 Lions
Where’s the Gold
Money Bears
9 Best NZ Online Pokies
Each of the above-mentioned online casinos in New Zealand has a very rich portfolio of online casino games, with online pokies making up the vast majority of them.
However, as you would expect, there are certain online slot games that stand out from the rest. If you don’t have any experience with playing online pokies, then keep reading to see our list of top online pokies.
| Slot | Provider | RTP |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | Reel Kingdom | 96.71% |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.48% |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.21% |
| Starburst | NetEnt | 96.09% |
| The Rave | Nolimit City | 96.09% |
| Primate King | Red Tiger | 96% |
| The Goonies | Blueprint | 96% |
| Gonzo’s Quest | NetEnt | 95.97% |
| Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways | Blueprint | 95.02% |
1. Big Bass Bonanza
We continue this list of popular New Zealand online pokies with Big Bass Bonanza. Reel Kingdom is the game provider here, with the game also being among the newest in the industry.
Big Bass Bonanza was among the player’s favourite pokies, so the provider shortly after released a sequel with the Megaways reel feature.
All Kiwis will be taken on a fishing adventure, with the RTP being above-than-average among real money online pokies NZ. The winning potential is also handsome as it is 2,100x the stake. All players can look forward to free spins and multipliers which will surely boost their winnings.
2. Sweet Bonanza
Sweet Bonanza is relatively a newbie among online pokie games as it was released just in 2019. Various New Zealanders see this game as the best to ever be released, and it is hard to argue against that.
It has a generous RTP of 96.4%, with an innovative Pay Anywhere system. Unlike Starburst, Sweet Bonanza is a high-variance game, with players having the chance to win more than 20,000x their stake in the bonus rounds.
3. Book of Dead
Book of Dead is a newer game compared to the previous two online slot games. It was developed by Play’n GO in 2016 and it features an above-than-average RTP of 96.21%.
The winning potential of Book of Dead is also impressive with it being 5,000x the player’s stake. When it comes to the theme, it is quite an adventurous one, so you will never be bored, and you can also look forward to unique elements such as:
- Expanding symbols
- Scatter symbols
- Wilds
- Free spins
4. Starburst
Speaking of the best online pokies games among NZ players, we cannot overlook Starburst, another classic by NetEnt.
As with Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst was developed back in 2012, with anyone punter who likes to play pokies surely has heard of it. Starburst is a mix of classic and modern slots that you can find in all online pokies casinos in New Zealand.
Symbols resemble classic slots, but the neon setting is quite modern. Starburst has an RTP of 96.09% and it is a low-variance slot, meaning it is ideal for newbies who just start their online gaming adventure. You can win up to 600x your stake with this pokie.
5. The Rave
If you are looking for something fresher when you play pokies, then we are happy to introduce The Rave. It is a game by the award-winning Nolimit City.
As the name suggests, you can look forward to seeing a DJ raving away in a funky nightclub. The RTP of the game is 96.09%, and the variance is set at high, so high-rollers will especially fall in love with The Rave.
When it comes to the winning potential, it is an amazing 41,500x your stake. You can enter three types of bonus rounds and win money on the way by landing Scatter symbols or using the bonus buy option.
6. Primate King
If you are looking to play casino games and be on a nice jungle adventure, then Primate King by Red Tiger is your pick.
You will be welcomed to Skull Island, where you can find an ape-shaped cave, skulls, and bones, as well as snakes, maps, and compasses. There is plenty to look forward to in Primate King, including a Wild symbol represented by a gorilla.
Apart from replacing all other symbols, the gorilla can smash the low-paying icons away, with higher-value ones filling their places.
The RTP of the game is 96%, and the volatility is set at medium, meaning that all types of players will enjoy Primate King. You can win up to 3,800x your stake, which is among the best pokies online NZ win rates.
7. The Goonies
You have probably heard of The Goonies, one of the most popular 80s films in the world. It is a fantastic cult classic, and even people nowadays love it. Blueprint Gaming has noticed that fact and it has provided New Zealand players with a slot of that name.
This is one of the most popular pokies in New Zealand, and it features 20 paylines with tons of bonus rounds to look forward to.
As for the technical information, The Goonies has an RTP percentage of 96%, with the volatility being set at high.
8. Gonzo’s Quest
We begin this list with Gonzo’s Quest, one of the most well-known and oldest online pokies that you can find on any casino site NZ. It was developed in 2011 by NetEnt, and it has been a fan-favourite ever since.
It is a game that will see you join Gonzo in an unforgettable adventure with big prizes waiting to be won.
The RTP of the game is pretty decent and it stands at 95.97%. Moreover, the winning potential is there with the best in the industry as Kiwis can win up to 3,750x their stake. You can secure wins by getting avalanche wins, and you can also trigger various free spins bonus features.
9. Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways
We finish this list of popular online pokies in NZ with Fishin Frenzy Megaways by Blueprint Gaming. Of course, it is also among the pokies machines that you will find in any New Zealand online casino these days.
It is played on a 6×4 grid with 15,625 ways to win. As far as video slots with a fishing theme go, this is arguably the most thrilling one.
There is a fishing boat acting as the Scatter in this game and it can get you up to 50 free spins. Moreover, the fisherman acts as the Wild, which can also get you some great wins.
What Kind of Online Pokies are There?
Once you start playing online pokies at any of our recommended online casinos, you will immediately be engaged. What is more, there are plenty of different slot games that you can choose from on online casino sites NZ. Let’s take a look at the different video pokies you can play at online gaming sites in New Zealand.
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Classic Pokies
Classic pokies are also known as three-reel slots, and they are the simplest types of online games you can find in online casinos these days.
These pokies are ideal for all newbies in New Zealand trying their luck in the online casino industry. Besides being simple to play, classic pokies in New Zealand are also quite enjoyable. Symbols in these games usually include fruits, 7s and BARs, and you need three-of-a-kind to secure a win.
Examples of classic pokies include:
- Scorching Sevens
- Lucky Diamonds
- Reel King
- Sevens and Fruits Hold and Win
- Action Joker
Five-Reel Pokies
Five-reel pokies are also referred to as video pokies. These games come with very interesting graphics and sound effects.
Video pokies online NZ feature 5 reels and they have more paylines, so your chances of winning are now increased. What is even better is that 5-reel slots feature higher jackpots as well.
Some of the good online pokies with 5 reels you can find in NZ casinos are:
- Jack Hammer 2
- Dead or Alive
- Immortal Romance
- Jungle Jim El Dorado
- Gonzo’s Quest
Multiple-Payline Pokies
Of course, as technology progressed, there were new types of online pokies with features and more paylines that punters could choose from.
So, it was only logical that more paylines would be added to slots and there would be new reels as well. In the beginning, multi-payline slots had just 9 paylines, but nowadays you can find pokies with up to 100 paylines.
There are also games that allow players to choose their preferred number of paylines. Examples of games in this category include:
- Lucky Lady’s Charm
- Thunderstruck 2
- Rainbow Riches
- Buffalo
- Wolf Gold
Ways to Win Pokies
Since the maximum number of paylines in an online pokie game was 100, software providers came up with a new idea of ways to win.
These types of games require icons to be on adjacent reels from the leftmost to the rightmost, but on any position. This way, there are more possibilities for Kiwi pokie players as there are up to 243 ways to win. The Bonanza slot is arguably the most well-known pokie in this category.
Video Slots
Real money pokies that fall under the category of video slots are popular as they feature high-definition graphics and different bonus rounds.
These are also known as online pokies with free spins, Scatters, Wilds and other bonus round features. Video slots are so popular among Kiwi players as they give them something to aim for. Of course, prizes in these games are also much higher during the pokies bonuses rounds.
Age of Asgaard and Legacy of Egypt are good slots to mention in this category.
Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots have a special place among online slots. They work very simply – a portion of every player’s bet will be transferred into one common prize pool with one lucky winner having the chance to win it all.
Progressive jackpots are so popular because anyone has a chance to win a prize that often goes into millions. During our research at BestCasino, we can say that Wheel of Wishes and Mega Fortune is the progressive pokies that stand out.
3D Pokies
3D pokies are all about the gaming experience. Thanks to modern technologies, pokies providers are able to create games that go beyond flat reels. They use 3D models to create an even better gaming experience.
There are always different themes to these slots and in-game mechanics, and they are often based on popular movies, so you will surely find a game that matches your taste. We can mention Fairy Tale and Enchanted as good slots in this category.
VR Pokies
Finally, we have the VR pokies that are still in development. These new casino games offer players the chance to be inside the game instead of in front of the computer.
However, these games will take a bit to develop, and it remains to be seen how they progress in the coming years.
Free Online Pokies vs Real Money Pokies
If you are just starting out your gaming adventure in any of the online casinos we have recommended above, then you might be wondering whether you should start playing free online pokies or real money slot games.
Of course, there are advantages to both types of online pokies casinos, so let’s see in more detail what you can expect with real money and with free pokies.
Free Pokie Games
Not everyone sees the benefits of playing free pokies, but there are plenty to note. Playing free games is a good way for Kiwis to get to know the rules of the game.
There are just too many top online pokies to choose from, and of course, you cannot know them all in detail. Even if you have played the best pokies for years now, it doesn’t mean that you are automatically good for the new releases.
This is where free online pokies NZ come into play, as they will allow you to practice before you decide to wager real money.
Real-Money Pokie Games
On the other side, NZ players can choose real money pokies machines. Playing for real money will get you that wanted adrenaline rush, so you won’t bother with the somewhat boring process of learning all about a certain game.
You can still wager the minimum deposit required, and you can aim for the biggest prizes. Moreover, there are progressive jackpots that require real-money wagers, so all the high-rollers always choose playing real-money games.
All in all, we can say that you should try out free online pokies if you:
- Are new to the iGaming world
- Don’t want to take too many risks from the start
- Feel more comfortable to start wagering once you know all details about slot games
And you should play real-money pokies if you:
- Are a high-roller
- Don’t mind taking more risks
- Are willing to learn the rules on the go, as you play the game
Online Pokies Bonuses
Once you complete the registration process at any of BestCasino’s recommended NZ casinos, you will be free to claim various bonuses that you can use on slot games. Let’s see the main ones.
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Free Spins
Players love free spins as they give them the chance to try out their favourite online games without wagering any of their real money.
Online casinos know how popular free spins are and they almost always try to include them as part of the welcome package or later during different promotions. Moreover, players can trigger free spins inside the pokies games themselves, usually by collecting three Scatters on the reels.
Deposit Bonus Offers
Sometimes, online gambling sites will try to match players’ deposits on a certain slot machine on the site. Usually, this type of offer is part of the first deposit made by the player once they sign up.
However, there are cases of reload bonuses being handed out later during the gaming adventure of the player, but this is something that varies from one site to another.
Reward Multipliers
Finally, plenty of online casinos will award Kiwis with multipliers to engage with them and promote new safe online pokies. They are available for a limited period and they allow players to get even higher wins.
Should you encounter these types of promotions, you are always wise to claim them. It doesn’t cost anything, yet it can get you nice wins.
Top Game Providers
At the end of this article, it is time to take a look at some of the best software providers that partner with the best NZ online casinos and create the very best pokies games.
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is one of the leading software providers in the entire iGaming industry, as it is licensed in more than 20 jurisdictions and offers the complete mobile and desktop package for online casinos.
The provider holds several prestige awards, and its game portfolio includes the following types of games:
- Slots
- Traditional table games
- Live casino games
- Bingo
- Sports betting
- Drops & Wins
- Virtual sports
Play’n GO
Play’n GO is one of the best software providers in the entire industry as it has been present since the 90s. Over the years, it has established itself as a leading name in the industry, and the best gambling sites in New Zealand are sure to partner with it.
When it comes to Play’n GO’s variety of games they include:
- Slots
- Bingo
- Video poker
- Scratch cards
NetEnt
We continue with a Swedish game provider which was founded back in 1996. It is the first provider to develop games based on Java.
NetEnt collaborates with over 300 gaming sites from all over the world. Apart from creating slots, NZ players can enjoy live dealer games, as well as progressive slot games from this provider.
Microgaming
Microgaming has been around for a couple of decades, and it is only impressive it has remained so popular over the years. The provider released over 800 games, with a big portion of those being high-quality pokies.
The provider is best known for its jackpots and bonuses, so it comes as no surprise to see so many Microgaming sites in New Zealand.
Red Tiger
Finally, we have Red Tiger, a relatively new name in the iGaming world. It was established in 2014, so it is a newer company than the rest of this list.
Despite being a newcomer in the industry, Red Tiger has managed to catch the market by storm with its world-class slot offers.