Top Rated Sports Betting Sites for New Zealand Players
How We Rate The Best Online Betting NZ Sites
Before we list NZ betting sites, we make sure to test their services. There’s a lot of work involved since there are thousands of platforms on the Internet. Our goal is to save you some time. Of course, we don’t just list random NZ sports betting sites. We intend to find out whether they meet the standards by checking out these features.
Licensing and Security
Every sports betting site in New Zealand must hold a valid license. That’s how we’ll know that its services are legal. Of course, implementing security measures such as SSL encryption, KYC and AML policies and responsible gambling are a must.
Variety of Sports Markets
What’s an NZ betting site if it doesn’t have a diverse offering? When checking the sports markets, we go for quantity. A good sportsbook should have numerous featured markets. Not only that, but each market should have as many bet types as possible.
Odds
The better the odds are at the best sports betting sites, the better the payouts will be. We compare the odds of every online sportsbook. Then, we look at which ones have the highest ones. This goes for both pre-game and live bets.
Bonuses
Finally, we check the bonuses and promotions. Free bets, welcome packages, match bonuses, cashbacks and loyalty bonuses are a few features that we expect to find. Additionally, we read their terms and claim the offers ourselves to see whether you’ll have a decent experience with them.
Popular Sports in New Zealand
Every licensed online sports betting site in New Zealand features numerous sports on which you can place wagers. Normally, some are more popular than others. A few of the categories that Kiwi punters enjoy the most are football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league and horse racing.
Rugby Union and Rugby League
Rugby union has been a part of the New Zealand sports industry since the late 1800s. It’s without a doubt the most popular sport in the country and both the men’s and women’s national teams are among the most decorated in the world. When you register at online sports betting sites in NZ, you can wager on tournaments such as Super Rugby, National Provincial Championship, Bunnings NPC and the Heartland Championship.
As for rugby league, New Zealand played a vital role in the inception of this sport. The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for its matches. The top competition on which you can bet is the NZRL National Competition, as well as the NSW Cup.
Football
Football is not just among the top sports in the world, but in New Zealand as well. Yes, Kiwi players are fonder of betting on international competitions such as the Champions League and the Premier League, but they aren’t shy to wager on local competitions such as New Zealand Football Championship and OFC Champions League.
Cricket
Cricket is one of the most popular betting markets in Oceania and South Asia. Statistics show that cricket is second in popularity here, trailing only behind rugby. The Super Smash, Ford Trophy, Plunket Shield and the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield are some of the domestic competitions on which Kiwis can wager on our recommended sports betting sites.
Horse Racing
Finally, we have horse racing, an industry regulated by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. A few of the top events that you can find at online bookmakers include the NZ Derby, Auckland Cup, Wellington Cup, Karaka Millions 3YO and NZ Oaks.
Sports Betting Calendar
One thing’s for sure – the New Zealand sports betting calendar is packed with tons of events. There’s something to look forward to every month. All top sports betting sites NZ will allow you to place your bets on the events and make your experience much better. Here are some competitions and events that you should be on the lookout for.
| January | Cooks Classic |
| February | DHL Super Rugby Pacific, Super Bowl |
| March | Formula 1 season begins, NZ National League |
| April | ITM Taupō Super400 |
| May | Hawke’s Bay Marathon |
| June | Euro 2024 |
| July | Euro 2024, Summer Olympics 2024 |
| August | Summer Olympics 2024 |
| September | UEFA Champions League Group Stage |
| October | Plunket Shield |
| November | Ford Trophy |
| December | IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2024 |
Best Mobile Betting Apps in New Zealand
The best betting site in New Zealand will give you massive flexibility in terms of access. Apart from being able to wager via their websites, you can also download their sports betting apps. That way, you can place a bet wherever you go. We took the liberty to list some of the best NZ betting sites that have developed their apps.
- Betinia (Available on Android)
- Casumo (Available on Android)
- Legzo Casino (Available on Android and iOS)
Main Bet Types and Markets
Every online betting site that we feature has competitive odds and major coverage of every category. Thanks to that, you’ll have access to numerous markets and each market will have tons of bet types. Since we already covered the most popular sports in the country, let’s have a look at what bet types Kiwis prefer the most in each.
Rugby
Let’s start with rugby since this is the number one sport in New Zealand. Super Rugby and the National Provincial Championship are the biggest sporting events to bet on. The most popular bet types, on the other hand, are:
- Moneyline bets
- Handicaps
- Outright bets
- Half-time/full time
Football
Next, we have football. Although there are numerous domestic tournaments at football betting sites, Kiwi punters prefer international competitions. Hence, the likes of the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, the World Cup, the Euros and the Champions League are the top choices. A few bet types that Kiwis place on these events at online bookies include:
- Match winner
- Over/under goals
- Team totals
- Next team to score (live betting)
- Draw
Cricket
When it comes to wagering on cricket sports events at the top NZ betting sites, Kiwis like being more exotic. That’s why they like to wager on the top batsman, toss winner, player of the match and to score 50 or 100 runs.
Horse Racing
Betting online is very simple when it comes to horse racing. That’s because there aren’t a lot of bet types to choose from. Kiwis usually place bets to win, to show and to place. However, they are known to be a bit adventurous, which is why the likes of exacta, trifecta, and quinella are also common picks.
NZ Sports Betting Odds Explained
The odds at online gambling sites in New Zealand tell you the probability of a certain event happening. There are three types of odds – decimal, American and fractional. Decimal odds tell you how much money you can win from the bet type if you wager NZ$1. Fractional odds are split into two numbers. The left side of the fraction tells you the amount that you’re going to win if you bet the number on the right side.
Finally, we have American odds. They can be positive or negative. If you encounter positive odds, then that signifies the amount that you’ll win if you bet NZ$100. Negative odds tell you the amount that you have to bet to win an amount equal to the negative number.
When talking about odds, it’s worth mentioning the concept of implied probability. In sports betting NZ, implied probability is the process of converting odds to percentages. This is a good way to see how likely an event is to happen and see the house edge. The equation differs, based on the odds type:
- Decimal: (1/ decimal odds) * 100 = implied probability
- Fractional: denominator / (denominator + numerator) * 100 = implied probability
- Negative American: Negative American odds / (Negative American odds + 100) * 100 = implied probability
- Positive American: 100 / (positive American odds + 100) * 100 = implied probability
Useful NZ Sports Betting Bonuses
New Zealand betting sites offer various bonuses and promotions. Using them is smart as they can boost your potential payouts and give you a better overall experience.
Free Bets
The free bet is by far the most popular type of promotion. You can claim it as both deposit and no deposit bonus, depending on its specific terms and conditions. Its T&Cs also often tell what types of bets you need to make with them (singles, accumulator bets, etc.). They also have a minimum odds requirement per selection.
Welcome Bonus
You claim welcome bonuses after you successfully register and make your first deposit. The welcome package can match your deposit and/or give you a free bet. Wagering requirements always apply for this type of bonus.
Match and Reload Bonuses
Speaking of matching deposits, the best NZ betting site offers regular promotions of this type. Match deposit bonuses are very simple – you deposit on the specified day and the online bookie matches it. Reload bonuses are available to punters who already made deposits at a betting app.
Cashback Bonuses
Moving on, we have cashback bonuses. They redeem some of your lost amounts. The most important thing about a cashback is that only real money bets qualify for the bonus. The funds that you receive can come either as bonus money or free bets. Either way, you can’t withdraw them. You must use them at the online bookmaker.
Loyalty Bonuses
Finally, we have the loyalty betting bonus offers. These rewards are the result of you achieving a goal in the bookie’s VIP program. Loyalty bonuses come in all shapes and sizes – bonus money without a deposit, free bets, match bonuses, etc. There are also exclusive benefits such as higher withdrawal limits, access to VIP tournaments, VIP support, etc.
Tips and Strategies for Successful Betting for Kiwi Punters
Before we finish off, we thought that it’d be a good idea to share a few NZ sports betting tips for Kiwi punters. They won’t guarantee you rewards, but they’ll increase the chances of getting one and boost entertainment in the process.
- Study the records of teams and individuals before betting
- Diversify your bets for better chances of winning
- Make sure that you have good bankroll management
- Be fast during live sports betting; every second can make a huge difference
- Use free bets and other promotions to your advantage
- Focus on just a few teams, don’t put too many factors into the equation
- Browse our online betting sites for the best betting odds
Bet Responsibly
When you’re wagering at betting websites, you should always remember one thing – bet responsibly. Online bookmakers in New Zealand enforce responsible gambling via various tools and you should take advantage of them. These tools include time limits, deposit limits, session limits, loss limits, etc. There are also the well-known self-exclusion programs.