Secure & safe online casinos – NZ’s most trusted 

Not all online casinos can be trusted

Why do we need a guide for safe online casinos? To put it simply, not all NZ gambling sites can be trusted.

Some real money online casinos simply don’t reach the Casino.org exacting standards in terms of cashier policy, secure platform and even game fairness. We currently advise players to avoid the below casinos.

Features of the best safe and secure online casinos

If you’re wondering what features make online casinos safe, we’ve broken them down into categories for you. The table below shows examples of licenses, specific payment and software providers, as well as games that indicate you’re playing at a safe online casino in NZ.

How to find a safe online casino?

When trying to choose safe online gambling casinos, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. The experts at Casino.org follow a very precise process when rating a site to see whether it deserves a place on our list of safe casinos.

Following our same guidelines can help inform your decision on what makes for a trustworthy casino site when playing online. Below, we delve into the detail of each criteria we employ, so as to help you on your quest.

1. Online casino licenses

If there’s one aspect we never compromise on, it’s that all sites we recommend are licensed casinos. Gambling regulators like Curacao eGaming, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) have built a reputation for exacting standards.

Only safe online casino sites are capable of meeting the standards of these licenses, so you can play at any operator that has licensing logos on its landing page with complete peace of mind. Our safest online gambling sites have more than one license. LeoVegas, for example has an MGA and a UKGC license, which is a double indication of trustworthiness.

2. Responsible gambling efforts

When playing at a legit casino online we like to see a priority on player protection and safety. This is why our best safe online casinos are those that offer comprehensive responsible gambling tools.

Sites like Wildz casino work hand-in-hand with safe gambling organisations like GamCare, Gambling Therapy and Gamblers Anonymous to ensure that any struggling players will find all the help they need.

We also look for a full suite of safe gambling tools, such as self-exclusion, deposit limits, loss limits, reality checks and others.

3. Casino game fairness

No-one wants to be left wondering whether the online pokies they’re having so much fun with are really awarding wins randomly. Our experts check for safe online casino games before recommending a site. Games must be audited by independent organisations and provided by reputable software providers.

Games at 7Bit casino, for example, are certified provably fair by eCOGRA. Winawin doesn’t have independent auditing, but its games are all authenticated by leading providers like Evolution and Playtech, so it still meets our criteria for a secure casino.

4. SSL encryption & other security features

When playing at a safe casino online you need to be sure that your personal and financial data is well-protected. There are many unscrupulous people surfing the internet nowadays, and this is why our experts take a long and hard look at just how robust a casino’s platform security is.

SSL-encryption is a must, as this guarantees that your data is being transmitted safely. If you look at sites like Spin NZ you’ll see that the URL has a tiny lock next to it. This means that the platform is protected from hackers and cyber attacks, so you can play without any worries.

Many casinos also have a robust privacy policy and protected player funds to make sure that their security is really top-notch.

5. Secure casino payouts

A safe online casino will ensure that you receive your winnings via a secure and speedy transaction.

JackpotCity NZ casino, for example, accepts traditional banking methods such as VISA or MasterCard, which are renowned for having extremely secure processes. Additionally, Neteller and Skrill are two e-wallets that likewise have a reputation for implementing high safety standards. The presence of these brands is an indication that you’re playing at a safe casino online.

6. Responsive customer support

No matter how perfect a site may be, issues will always arise. Which is why any safe online casino worth its salt ensures that players can easily get in touch with customer support. Our top scoring sites offer 24/7 support, preferably via live chat.

Thus Betway casino customer support, which has constantly available live agents at hand, scores higher than EnergyCasino, where live chat is only available within specific hours. Bonus points if issues are resolved within a few minutes, or better still in seconds like at Rizk.

7. Transparency of terms & conditions

The main reason we’re looking for a safe online casino NZ is to have fun, not to get bogged down looking for terms and conditions while wondering if the site is trying to pull a fast one on us. 

For this reason we prefer sites that make their important terms easy to find and to understand. We salute reputable online casinos that give us all the bonus information in large fonts, at one glance.

LeoVegas casino, for example, put their wagering requirements and expiry term in one simple sentence that is visible as soon as you look at the welcome bonus package. Richard Casino, on the other hand, buries these deep within a page of T&Cs, which is way frustrating.

8. Online reputation – public vote of confidence

It’s difficult to argue with a site that constantly receives praise from players and from the industry alike. Before deciding whether a safe online casino is worthy of the name our experts like to do a bit of online digging.

We check out online gambling forums like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit to see what other players are saying about it. We also take a look at how respected names in the industry feel about the casino.

As an example, Betway was shortlisted for the Global Regulatory Awards Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity in 2022. This is a strong sign of Betway Group’s overall commitment to being a highly trustworthy brand, which is a huge vote of confidence in the brand.

9. Overall casino rating

So we’ve established that your chosen site fulfils all the above criteria, officially making it a secure online casino. You’re not done yet. This is only the very first stage that our experts delve into, as a lot more goes into the makings of a great gambling experience than simply finding a trusted online casino. 

We also suggest that you take a look at the bonuses on offer and whether the terms are generous enough for a first deposit. Can you play the safe online slots and live dealer games that you love? Is registration fast and simple, and the platform user-friendly? All these elements play a role in determining whether you’ll enjoy your experience at that casino or not.

Bonus tip: Try out free NZ pokies. You can learn how games work in an environment with no financial risk, and most safe casino let you try games for free first.

Safe casino games – a closer look into RNG

To be considered fair, casino games need to genuinely give out random winnings that are provable fair. This is what we refer to as RNG, or random number generation. The question is how will you know whether the games you’re playing comply to these standards? For starters, look for games that are developed by reputable game providers. 

If you see familiar names like Play ‘n Go, Ezugi, IGT and Microgaming, then you know that the casino is offering a high standard of authenticated and licensed games that have already been checked for fairness.

Some sites will also have their platform independently audited by third-party organisations like eCOGRA or iTechLabs. This provides a double layer of safety and ensures that the principles of RNG are upheld at all times.

Below, we take a look at some of the safest real money casino games that have passed auditing with flying colours.

Secure mobile gambling and casino apps

How to ensure a safe online casino experience – our expert tips

Why should you play at safe online casinos?

Making sure you play at a safe casino online is a no-brainer really. Whether you’re into pokies or online poker, as a player you need to make sure that you’re not the one being played.

This is why it’s important that you only use safe online casinos in NZ when playing for real money. Still unclear? Here’s a list of pros and cons to limiting yourself to trusted online casinos.

Why you can count on Casino.org

We only cover safe online casinos that are suitable for NZ players.

We have helped Kiwis claim millions in winnings from Casino.org recommendations

We only recommend bonuses with the most advantageous terms in NZ

We help Kiwi players try out thousands of games for free to see if they like a casino before committing money

Think a casino isn’t legit? Report it now

If you encounter a casino that has let its standards slip, or that created a less than positive gambling experience for you, we want to hear all about it. 

We trust our player community’s input when it comes to creating a guide for the most reputable online casinos, so if something about a casino is a bit off we’ll get our experts to investigate. Your insight into which operators belong on our list of sites to avoid helps us offer the most accurate ratings for our gambling sites.

By submitting your message, you understand that your personal data will be handled in accordance with our privacy policy.

Safe and secure casino FAQs