New Zealand is well-known for its natural beauty. It’s a tourist hot spot in the Oceania region, but did you know that it’s also a favorite place for iGamers? While no New Zealand based company is allowed to offer iGaming experiences to players located in NZ, plenty of offshore online casinos offer their services to New Zealanders, making iGaming available in New Zealand for tens of thousands of players. If you’re looking for ways to relax after a long day of touring Aotearoa, this guide should help you get started.
Is iGaming legal in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, the only gaming options are the state run lottery and the state run New Zealand Racing Board (TAB). No other New Zealand based companies are allowed to offer betting, slots, table games, and the like. This is where offshore online casinos come into play. They swoop in, flying under the radar in a sort of gray area. These sites give players a way to iGame without being illegal. Players should still follow typical laws, such as being over the age of 18 and betting at sites that allow players from New Zealand, as the terms and conditions of iGaming sites typically always stipulate this. If you’re worried about your identity and iGaming overseas using a virtual private network is a great way to keep your identity shrouded.
How to find a reputable iGaming site
Since none of these sites are owned or regulated by the New Zealand government, you have to be cautious. Finding a reputable site is a must, since you’re likely to fall victim to a scam or phishing attempt if you aren’t careful. Luckily, there are ways to tell which sites are reputable and which ones are like jackals trying to draw in their next prey. While these sites aren’t regulated by NZ authorities, there are other government organizations out there that regulate and allow online casinos to operate within their borders.
Every online casino site will list their license (if they have one, that is) at the bottom of their website or on their information page. Look for which regulatory agency issued them a license. You’ll commonly find names like PAGCOR, the MGA, or the UK Gambling Commission. These are just three of many regulatory agencies that inspect and vet online casinos. Casinos with these licenses are known to be provably fair, unrigged, and offer players a safe avenue for iGaming.
However, it’s not enough to see that license listed on the iGaming site. Some sites will create fake licenses, certificates, and even domain names that look similar to those of regulatory agencies to trick players. This is why there’s an extra step when verifying a casino’s license. Every regulatory agency has a registry of iGaming sites they have issued a license to. Head over to their website and search the registry for the online casino you are thinking of playing at. If it’s a valid license, it’ll pop up with all of their information, domain names, etc.
You’re not done yet, though. Double-check that the iGaming domain you visited matches the one listed in the registry. Remember how we mentioned that scam sites will create domains similar to regulatory agencies? They’ll do the same for reputable online casinos. That’s why it’s important to verify that the domains match or even to copy and paste the domain from the registry into your address bar instead. You can never be too careful on the internet — especially when it comes to iGaming.
Keeping safe gambling practices in mind
Now that you have a licensed iGaming site to play at, there are a few more safety tips to keep in mind. The following tips are about safe gambling practices, which are very important to know as the rise in gambling addiction is well documented in recent years as more countries allow online gambling and sports betting.
- Keep your emotions in check — Always bet with a level head. While iGaming is certainly entertaining, it must stay that way. The moment you let your emotions control your enjoyment of these games, you’ve already lost. Consider stepping away for an hour or so and returning with a fresh mind. Longer breaks may be necessary, as everyone is different.
- Set a budget — The age old adage of “never wager more than you can afford to lose” still rings true to this day. A budget will not only help you keep your personal finances in check, but it will also show you how much you can comfortably afford to play with. Stick to this limit. Do not adjust it if you have a big loss and think you can win it back.
- Play games that you know — While new games can be fun and exciting, it’s better to find a demo version with fake chips or credits rather than wagering your own hard-earned cash. Most iGaming sites offer demo versions of games, giving you ample time to learn strategy or test games out and see if they’re fun.
