Best Online Pokies Sites in New Zealand 2023
If you’re looking for the best online pokies to play, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you can compare pokie types, find the best bonus for your game and discover leading titles from the most popular games makers.
Known abroad as slots, pokies are the most prevalent game type in online casinos.
You can get started straight away with one of our recommended sites below, or read on to supercharge your knowledge of NZ's real money online pokies and NZ pokie sites.
Pokie sites to avoid
All sites on our recommended list of NZ online casino sites have passed our strict review process, designed to protect players from unreliable and unscrupulous casinos.
Below you'll find the latest casinos to have failed our robust checks for safety, security and fairness. In our opinion any pokie sites on this list should be avoided at all costs.
Top 10 online pokies in NZ
There are thousands of games available at NZ pokies sites. Here are 10 of the most-played online pokies in NZ, according to our data.
1. 88 Fortunes
88 Fortunes lights up the red lanterns with its East Asian theme, featuring 5 reels, 243 ways to win, and a top jackpot. It offers four different jackpots and a free spins round for players seeking big wins. With a 96% RTP, the slot's All Up feature increases the likelihood of gold symbols appearing on bigger bets, rewarding high rollers.
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2. Pixies of the Forest
Enchant your way through Pixies of the Forest, IGT's mystical and magical themed online slot NZ. With 5 reels and a whopping 99 paylines, Kiwi players can win up to 2,000 coins by matching themed icons, including three different Pixies. The game features a unique Tumbling Reels mechanic, providing multiple wins on a single spin, and a Free Spins bonus round with added wilds.
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3. Cleopatra
IGT's Cleopatra is an iconic online pokie known for its Egyptian theme and timeless appeal. With 5 reels and 20 paylines, it boasts a fixed jackpot of 10,000x your stake. The RTP stands at 95.03%, and is complemented by an engaging bonus round featuring 15 free spins and a 3x multiplier. Cleopatra herself serves as the wild symbol and doubles any wins she substitutes in. Cleopatra's free spins bonus round is a standout feature, offering the chance to retrigger more spins and multiply winnings.
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4. Sweet Bonanza
Bite into the deliviously Sweet Bonanza by Pragmatic Play. You'll get a delightful tour of Candyland with this sweet theme. With 6 reels and an All Ways payline system, this slot stands out with a high maximum payout potential of up to 21,000 times your stake. The game's return to player (RTP) is a solid 96.51%, providing a balance between risk and reward. Tumbling Reels and a Free Spins round sweeten the deal.
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5. Geisha
A classic Asian themed pokie game by Endorphina, Geisha features 5 reels and 25 adjustable paylines. The wild Koi Carp symbol offers the highest payout of 40x for five on a payline. The scatter and Geisha symbols can multiply your wins by 1x, 2x, or 3x. The medium volatility pokie holds its own with a respectable 96.06% RTP, and a bonus round featuring free spins with expanding wilds and multipliers.
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6. Queen of the Nile
Sail across the Nile River along a barge topped with 5 reels and 20 adjustable paylines. Aristocrat's Egypt-themed online pokie offers a maximum potential win of 1,250 times your stake. Bonus rounds include spins with a 3x multiplier, unlocked by landing three or more pyramid scatter symbols. providing the potential for substantial wins. The game is a popular real money pokie despite its relatively low RTP of 94.88%.
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7. Wanted Dead or a Wild
Fire your way through the Wild West with Hacksaw's saloon spinnin' slot. NZ players will find five reels and 15 paylines on this high-volatility pokie, with an above-aberage RTP of 96.38%. The VS symbol expans on the reels and offers up to 100x your bet. A plethora of other bonus features are available too, including respins, multipliers, and sticky wilds. There's no progressive here, but there's a fixed jackpot of 12,500x your initial bet. A bonus buy feature is also available.
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8. Spartacus
WMS's Spartacus is known for its unique double reel layout. A 5x4 and 5x12 reel stand side-by-side, offering players 100 paylines to win on. Battle alongside the legendary gladiator in this Roman-themed pokie. The gladiator's own symbol acts as the wild symbol and can stack when it appears on the smaller reel, transferring to the colossal reel as an oversized, stacked wild. Colosseum symbols can trigger up to 20 free spins.
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9. Break da Bank
Smash through the vault's in Microgaming's Break da Bank. With three-reels, five-paylines, and an RTP of 95.75%, this simple classic-style pokie holds riches for new and experience players with a 160 coin jackpot. Paylines are adjustable up to 5, increasing win chances against higher stakes. The Break da Bank logo serves as wild, which can substitute for other symbols and multiply payouts by 4x when part of a winning combination. The jackpot triggers by aligning three dollar sign symbols across an active payline.
10. Adventure Palace
Adventure Palace is a 5-reel slot game by Microgaming, boasting a jungle theme with animal symbols. It offers up to 9 paylines with an above-average 96.1% RTP. The game features a fixed jackpot and bonus rounds, including free spins with tripled wins. Wild symbols can double your payouts.
How we review online pokie sites
Pokies available, variety, and quality
Slots games are at the heart of all the best online pokies sites. There should also be a large selection of real money games. There should be options with big prizes, and stuff for the low rollers too. We want to see a variety of types and themes, from classic fruit machines, to megaways slots, progressive jackpots, and cutting edge 3D options.
Bonuses
We expect good bonuses from every online casino in New Zealand, meaning you should be able to grab a great welcome bonus, as well as other bonuses, like free spins and loyalty points. Deposit matches are the most frequent, and we expect a match rate of at least 100%, preferably with some no deposit cash or free spins thrown in.
Security and fairness
The first thing we’ll look at when reviewing a pokie site is the security it offers. We will only ever recommend sites regulated by reputable organisations, such as the UK Gambling Commission, as this means that there’s someone keeping a keen eye on everything. We also will only recommend a site if it can prove that its games are completely honest and fair. They usually do this by getting a certificate from an external company such as eCOGRA.
Banking options and customer service
Banking might not be the most interesting topic, but it’s really important. We want to see a large range of depositing and withdrawing options, including credit/debit cards and e-wallets, plus we also don’t want to see any unnecessary charges. While reviewing a site, we’ll also contact customer service and ask them loads of questions, and we want to get quick and accurate answers to all of them. We also expect to be able to contact the site in question via many methods.
Real money pokies vs free
Playing for free is undoubtedly a great way to practice and learn how to play pokies, however you won’t win money on demo mode. This means you have to make a choice — play for free or charge up your casino payments game to start playing online pokies for real money. Take a look at the pros and cons of both below.
| Free Pokies | You can play conveniently with no downloads or signup process | You can try out a large variety of titles and play for as long as you like without worrying about your budget | Playing for free allows you to practice without the risk of losing money while you’re learning how games work | You can't earn any loyalty points or take advantage of bonuses other bonuses | There's no chance of winning any real money |
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| Real Money Pokies | When playing real money online pokies, you have the chance to play for the top progressive jackpots | When you play for real money, you’ll find that you have access to a much larger set of games | Bonuses and promotions are geared towards those who play casino games for real money | It takes a little longer to get playing, as you'll need to log in and make a deposit | You'll need to be mindful of how long you play and how much you spend online |
| Free Pokies | Real Money Pokies |
|---|---|
| You can play conveniently with no downloads or signup process | When playing real money online pokies, you have the chance to play for the top progressive jackpots |
| You can try out a large variety of titles and play for as long as you like without worrying about your budget | When you play for real money, you’ll find that you have access to a much larger set of games |
| Playing for free allows you to practice without the risk of losing money while you’re learning how games work | Bonuses and promotions are geared towards those who play casino games for real money |
| You can't earn any loyalty points or take advantage of bonuses other bonuses | It takes a little longer to get playing, as you'll need to log in and make a deposit |
| There's no chance of winning any real money | You'll need to be mindful of how long you play and how much you spend online |
Test out our exclusive pokies games
You can try out some of the most popular NZ slots and online pokies games here, or head on to full library of free online pokies.
Best online pokie types
You’ll find that online pokies come in many shapes and sizes, however they can generally be split into five different categories - although some games might span two or more of these categories. From simple 3-reel pokies through to complex video slots, you’ll find everything, so why not try them all and see which type of online pokies you prefer?
- 3 Reel
- 5 Reel
- Video Pokies
- 3D Pokies
- Progressive Pokies
- Volatile Pokies
- Classic Pokies
- Interactive Pokies
3 Reel
3-reel pokies are usually very simple, with few or no bonus features. They’re best for the purists, who prefer slots how they used to be.
Different types of jackpots
When you play at real money casinos you might come across four different types of jackpots. Each of these types will help determine the size and frequency of the jackpot payout as well as which players contribute to the prize pot.
- Progressive
- Network
- Fixed
- Local
Each time a player bets on a progressive jackpot, a small portion of that bet goes directly to the prize pot.
Did You Know?
There are also different games which all contribute to the same prize pot, making the jackpot rise quickly.
Grab the best pokies bonuses
New players can usually take advantage of a casino’s welcome bonus to get them started. This will help you build your bankroll from day one and make the most of your deposit. Some casinos also offer no deposit bonuses for new players, which allows you to try out and win at real money games without risking your own cash. You can use our bonus calculator to discover some of the best bonus matches available to you.
Tip — The best possible bonus is a large one, but it should also have a low wagering requirement - we think anything less than 30x is decent.
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Free Spins
Often part of an online casino's welcome package, free spins can help you extend your bankroll. For new players, it means they can get more for their money and play with less risk of losing out. Whatever the package, be sure to check the T&C’s for any wagering requirements before you start playing.
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No deposit bonuses
A favourite of casino players everywhere, no deposit bonuses are usually exclusive to new players at a pokies site. Kiwi players who grab no deposit bonuses can play online pokies and try to win real money without having to risk their cash. No deposit bonuses can come in the form of free spins, but are more often found as small amounts of bonus funds.
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First deposit bonuses
The most popular type of casino bonus. First deposit bonuses award players with bonus funds proportional to their first deposit. Casinos match deposits at different rates, and the best bonuses can give you 2 or even 3 NZD worth of bonus funds for ever dollar you deposit.
Top pokies software providers in NZ
It’s a common misconception that casinos create the pokies. Instead, they’re created by various casino software providers, and you can learn about the biggest and best of them below…
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Microgaming
The biggest name in the casino world and the company everyone else aspires to be. They have created some of the world’s biggest and best pokies and have been doing so since back in 1994. Most notably they created Mega Moolah, the progressive slot with the biggest ever jackpot.
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NetEnt
NetEnt is a massive name and they are synonymous with creating innovative and interesting games, such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Finn and the Swirly Spin. When you start playing a NetEnt slot, you never know what the twist will be, plus the jackpot should be massive.
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Playtech
Playtech is the final name in the big three, along with Microgaming and NetEnt, and they have been making pokies for years. We think that their progressive jackpot slots in the Age of the Gods series are superb, plus we also really love playing titles like Gladiator and Top Gun.
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BetSoft
If you’re playing a BetSoft slot machine, you’re probably experiencing some of the best graphics around. BetSoft slots often have 3D graphics, plus the animations are great. It’s not all show though, as BetSoft slots also often have great bonus features and really big prizes.
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Play n Go
You might not have heard of Play n Go, but if you’re a pokies fan, you’ll probably have played one of their games. Book of Dead is one of their biggest titles and many casinos offer free spins on this game, plus you should also love playing Wild North and Golden Ticket, amongst others.
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Aristocrat
Aristocrat is an Australian company, best known for making land-based pokies. They also have a foot in the online market with their popular Australian online pokies, and have converted many of their best games into online slots. Popular Aristocrat slots include Zorro, Queen of the Nile and Lucky 88.
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IGT
IGT are also well-known for their land-based pokies, but they’re also responsible for creating some of the biggest ever online titles as well. Da Vinci Diamonds and Cleopatra are both massively popular with players, offering loads of excitement and huge jackpots.
Playing pokies apps and mobile pokies
These days, it’s more important than ever that we can take our entertainment with us wherever we go. Thankfully, most online casinos and games makers understand this and have created apps and mobile sites, so you can take your favourite games with you. Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, you’ll never have to miss out on the fun.
Tips on how to win at pokies
Tip 1 — Don't be enticed by big prizes
While the massive jackpots of progressive pokies look very appealing, you’ll actually have a better chance of winning money when playing non-progressive titles. This is because progressive online pokies in NZ and abroad generally have a lower base RTP% (return to player), to make up for the multimillion dollar payouts the slot sometimes has to give.
Tip 2 — More paylines, higher hit potential
When playing slots with variable paylines, play the maximum number of paylines. This increases the theoretical chance of winning on each spin, since there are a higher number of accepted winning patterns in play.
Tip 3 — Practice first, learn your game
Learn how to play pokies on the free games before you progress to playing for real money. This will allow you practice slots without risking your own hard-earned cash. If you're going to risk your money on online pokies, take the time to find titles that you consider fun, and that work in ways you understand and can trust.
Tip 4 — Avoid bad actors
NZ pokies sites can adjust how often and how much their games pay out. We only recommend sites that we've tested, that are reputable, and that hold licenses and test audits from the appropriate authorities. Avoid signing up with untested sites.
Tip 5 — Start with high RTP games
RTP (return-to-player) is a number that predicts the average wager-to-win ratio Kiwi players should expect when playing a pokie game. Many casino licensors require casinos to publish the RTP for each of their games. It's not an exact science, but higher RTP games are usually more likely to give a return.
Online pokies beginner's dictionary — Key terms to know
Pokies are one of the simplest game types to play, but it pays to know how they work. We explain the different components and terms that you need to know to spin the reels with confidence.
- Symbols: Symbols are the images on the reels that determine the outcome of a spin. They're the basic game units of a pokie site. Symbols can have different values, and the size of the win is determined both by the value of the symbol, and the number of symbols making up a winning combination.
- Reels: The vertical columns that hold the symbols. They're the spinning part of online slot machines, and the reels stop to line up combinations of symbols which determine wins and losses.
- Payline: The preset patterns or 'lines' across the reels that symbols must align along for a payout. On some popular online pokies, paylines are variable. Playing with more paylines requires a higher bet, but theoretically increases the chances of hitting a winning pattern.
- Scatter symbol: A special symbol that can trigger bonus features such as free spins rounds when it appears on the reels. The scatter is named because unlike other symbols, it does not need to fall into a payline to grant a win.
- Wild symbol: A symbol that substitutes for other symbols, helping to create winning combinations. A wild symbol landing on your online slot machine reel theoretically increases your chance of winning, since it can take most other symbols' place in a payline.
- RTP (Return to player): The average percentage of wagers that a pokie theoeritcally pays back to players. For example, on an online pokie with an RTP of 96%, players would theoretically win NZD 96 for every NZD 100 wagered.
- Volatility (variance): Describes the risk level of New Zealand online pokies. Low volatility usually offers smaller, more frequent wins, and high volatility offers rarer, larger wins.
- Free spins: A certain number of spins that don't require the player to wager funds. These can either be given by the casino, as a bonus, or they can be earned within the game as a bonus feature. Scatters, wilds, and bonus symbols are all common candidates to trigger free spins.
- Progressive jackpot: A continuously growing prize pool that can be won on specific slots, with potentially massive payouts. In progressive jackpot pokies, the prize pool grows by taking a cut of every bet made on the slot until the jackpot is won. However, the base RTP of a progressive slot is usually lower than that of other online casino games.
- Bonus round: An additional game or feature within the slot that can provide extra rewards. Free spins rounds are the most common bonus games, but there's no end to the options here.
- Multiplier: A feature that multiplies your winnings by a specified factor, often found in bonus rounds.
- Autoplay: A feature that allows the game to automatically spin the reels a set number of times when you play slot games online.
- Hit frequency: The likelihood of a pokie machine generating a winning combination on each spin. High hit rates often mean low-volatility, making them ideal choices for $1 deposit free spins.
- Cascading (or tumbling) reels: A mechanic that causes winning symbols to disappear, making way for new symbols to fall into place, potentially chaining more wins off your first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best sites to play online pokies in New Zealand?
There are plenty of online gaming sites for New Zealand players, so it may seem difficult choosing just one to sign up for. Our team of expert reviewers have created a list of the best online casinos to play pokies at based on our detailed testing criteria.
What are the most popular NZ online pokies?
The most popular pokie we recommend to Kiwis is 88 Fortunes. While it's difficult to name the best online pokies, there is plenty of data out there that helps identify the ones everyone loves, and we've put our learnings together to bring you the most popular pokies in NZ.
How do you win online pokies?
There’s no sure-fire way to win on pokies, but there are some strategies that can help you out. One way is to familiarise yourself with the game by playing for free first. This will help make you more aware of the game’s features, buttons and bonuses when playing with real money. If you want to try and win big, games with progressive jackpots are your best bet.
How do pokies work?
To start, you’ll need to choose how much money you’d like to bet with. Then you spin and wait for the reels to come to a standstill. After that, you’ll be able to see if you’ve won or even triggered an exciting bonus feature.
How do online pokies compare to land-based versions?
The rules remain pretty much the same. However, online casinos typically can have a wider variety of pokies to choose from and give you 24/7 access to games – so you can play whenever you feel like it.
How do pokies jackpots work?
It depends on the type of jackpot. Progressive jackpots are the biggest, but there are several other kinds you can win, after progressive, fixed jackpots are the most popular. They can return a set flat amount of money, or an amount that's fixed proportionally to your stake.
There are hundreds of high-quality progressive jackpots. Some of the best in quality and winnings are the Marvel pokies like Iron Man, which all contribute to the same jackpot. Other notable games include Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune, and Dark Knight Rises.
How to pick a winning pokie machine
All pokies are random so unfortunately, there’s no secret strategy that will help players win the top prizes. However, it’s worth keeping an eye on the prize pots for different games, and avoiding any that have been won recently.
What percentage do pokies payout?
Typically, online pokies have a payback percentage of between 75% and 99%. However, this is not an indication of how often a player can expect to win. There’s always an element of randomness that predicts the outcome for pokies.
Are online pokies safe?
Yes, as long as you choose a secure online casino to play at. Each casino that we recommended is tested for its SSL encryption as well as how well they protect player’s personal details. Beyond that, we check to see if a casino has been verified by global gaming regulators.
Are online pokies rigged?
No, as long as you pick a reputable casino. The best casinos online are all externally monitored for fair gaming practices. This means that they use Random Number Generators to run their games – one of the fairest software methods for online gaming.
Hannah Cutajar
Semi professional athlete turned online casino enthusiast, Hannah Cutajar is no newcomer to the gaming industry. With over 5 years of experience, she now leads our team of casino experts at Casino.org and is considered the go-to gaming specialist across several markets including the USA, Canada and New Zealand. Her number one goal is to ensure players get the best experience online through world class content.
