Written by: Joseph Falchetti, Editor-in-Chief, Pro Sports Bettor and Casino Expert
Last updated:
6 minute read

New Zealand Sports Betting

New Zealand Sports Betting

New Zealand Sports Betting
Status: Legal & Licensed
B&M Availability: Lawful
Online Availability: Legal & Licensed
Minimum Age: 18+
Restrictions: None

New Zealand sports betting is a growing market. Sports bettors in New Zealand have the freedom to bet online and many of the major UK-regulated online bookmaker sites accept Kiwis. While a country of 4.6 million might not get the attention that the United Kingdom or even Australia gets from the world’s best online gaming groups, bettors have plenty of top-flight choices. The best New Zealand online sportsbooks offer live/in-play betting on desktop and mobile computers, while providing the latest bets on rugby, cricket, and soccer.

This guide to New Zealand sports betting provides a report on the best betting sites and payout methods in your market. I also discuss the legality of New Zealand sports betting, as well as any Kiwi gaming laws you’ll need to know. Later, I’ll give a brief history of New Zealand’s evolving gaming laws, as well as a couple of resources Kiwi sports bettors can use to learn more on the subject.

New Zealand Sports Betting Legality

In New Zealand, sports betting is legal. Online sports betting exists in a legal, yet unregulated, market. While New Zealand-based sports betting sites are illegal, those operating outside the country are legal. Real money sports bettors have the freedom to choose an offshore online bookmaker, though we recommend selecting an offshore operator which is licensed by one of the highly respected gaming jurisdictions in the world. I’ll later discuss the online sports betting regulatory agencies you can trust, while providing more information on the legality of online and mobile sports wagers in New Zealand.

Brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and racebooks are regulated by the New Zealand Gambling Commission and the NZ Department of Internal Affairs. Casinos like Sky City Auckland and Christchurch Casino have racebooks which offer sports bets on soccer, American football, basketball, and tennis. Even surfing receives betting lines. Though New Zealand laws ban sports betting in many locations, the 6 land-based casinos are given exemptions. In online sportsbooks catering to Kiwi bettors, soccer, basketball, rugby, cricket, and non-gaming prop bets are allowed.

Safety of Online Sports Betting in New Zealand

excellent sports bettingThe safety of online sports betting in New Zealand should be pivotal in deciding which sportsbook to use. It is safe to be on sports online in New Zealand, but only if a bettor selects a reputable online bookmaker site. The New Zealand Gambling Commission states it is legal for Kiwis to gamble online, but they must do so on unregulated offshore sportsbooks and racebooks. New Zealand’s online sports bettors do not have to report their winnings, but they also have few regulatory protections.

The safety and security of an online sports betting site is of paramount concern, which is why punters in New Zealand need to know the sites they choose are safe. In the guide below, I discuss tools to learn the safety of an online sportsbook, while giving a few recommendations on sites you should consider.

Catering to New Zealand Sports Bettors

Sportsbooks cater to bettors in a particular country by offering payment methods, currencies, and language options that local bettors want. A site catering to New Zealand sports bettors needs to offer New Zealand dollars as a currency and English as a main language. While VISA and Mastercard are preferred payment methods, many Kiwi sports bettors will want more localized options, such as the Australian bank card, POLI Payments. Sites which accept VISA should accept ANZ Airports Platinum Visa payments.

Online Sports Betting in New Zealand

A breakdown of what it’s like to bet online sports in New Zealand

Top Kiwi Sports to Bet On

  • rugby betting
  • soccer betting
  • cricket betting

Currencies

  • New Zealand Dollar

Languages

  • English betting

These options may not be available at all sportsbooks, but represent a typical experiences.

Best New Zealand Betting Sites

The best New Zealand betting sites offer respectable welcome bonuses and trustworthy payouts on player winnings. The New Zealand Gambling Commission allows a select number of offshore online sportsbooks to accept New Zealand play. Because it is an unregulated market, it is best to make real money sports wagers at bookmaker sites which are licensed by the most trusted jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, and Malta. Our recommendation is Betway, which has licenses from the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority.

Top Ranked New Zealand Betting Site – Sportsbetting.ag

  • Accepts all major credit cards
  • Accepts Litecoin, Bitcoin other cryptos
  • Large assortment of sports betting markets
  • Competitive odds for betting on many sports
  • European football specific bonuses offered for the Cup

Why Is Sportsbook.ag The Best?

The SportsBetting.ag betting site offers most of the biggest sports, including Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Hockey (read review). They also have other international sports like soccer, rugby, and cricket. For the avid bettor, you can use their Live Betting to place bets in real-time. Pick from among dozens of different wagers you can place on a single match-up, along with great prop bets.

SportsBetting.ag offers new members plenty of bonuses, like their 50% up to $1,000 in Free Bets using the code “SB1000“. For those that use Bitcoin, can take advantage of their $20 up to $500 Bitcoin bonus using the promo code “BETCRYPTO“. Take advantage of their bonuses, live betting, and incredible sports betting odds with a sign-up bonus of 50% Up To $1,000. Check out Sportsbetting.ag to place bets and win!

Great For Betting On International Sports – Betonline Sportsbook

  • Accepts all major cryptocurrencies
  • Accepts all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard)
  • Posts sports betting odds earlier than others
  • Large cash or crypto deposit bonus and endless reloads
  • Large bet on point spreads plus other popular sports bets

Why Bet At BetOnline?

BetOnline (read review) is one of the most versatile sites when it comes to deposit options. They accept a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dash. These are by far the best choice for players as they have an extremely high deposit and withdrawal amount.

BetOnline offers loads of year-round promotions for major sports. Their standard deposit bonus is 50% Up To $250 for players on their first deposit (newly signed-up). This deposit comes with a 10x rollover. They also offer several promotions such as $25 live betting freeplay, $50 mobile betting freeplay, and a risk-free $25 play prop bet. Check out BetOnline to place bets and win!

Depositing and Withdrawing In New Zealand

New Zealand offers not of the mainstream deposit and withdrawal options. Visa, MasterCard, and Skrill are available, though Neteller and Bitcoin are not accepted at the moment. The Australian payment method, POLI, is the choice of many New Zealand depositors. Most payment methods are instant and free, though high rollers might prefer the slower withdrawal methods, because those choices allow for bigger withdrawals.

New Zealand Deposit Options You Can Use

MasterCard: MasterCard is a free, instant that has a deposit range between $10 and $55,000.
Visa: Visa credit card payments is a free, instant that has a deposit range between $10 and $55,000.
POLI Payments: Poli is a free, instant Australian bank transfer method with deposits ranging between $10 and $50,000.
Skrill: Skrill is an eWallet with free, instantaneous payments between $10 and $60,000.
Skrill OneTap: Skrill OneTap is an eWallet with free, instantaneous payments between $10 and $16,000.
Entropay: Entropay is a virtual prepaid card that is free and offers instant deposits. The deposit limits are $25 to $55,000.
PaySafeCard: PaySafeCard, formerly known as Ukash, is an eWallet with free and instant deposits. PaySafeCard’s minimum and maximum deposits are $10 and $5000.
Visa Electron: Visa Electron are free and instant debit cards with deposits between $10 and $55,000.
MasterCard Maestro: Maestro is a debit card from MasterCard with free, instantaneous deposits between $10 and $55,000.
Cheque/Check: Bank check is a free payment method with deposit limits between $2500 and $100,000, though it takes 5 to 28 banking days to fund your account.
BankWire: Bankwire is a bank transfer that is free to use and has deposit limits between $200 and a whopping $200,000, but take 2 to 10 banking days to fund your account.
FastBank Transfer: Fastbank is a bank transfer method with free deposits between $10 and $200,000. These take 1 to 3 days to complete, making them much faster than bankwire deposits.

New Zealand Withdrawal Options You Can Use

MasterCard/Visa: MasterCard Credit and Visa Credit withdrawals are free, though they take between 1 to 5 business days to arrive. The withdrawal limits are between $10 and $50,000.
Entropay: Entropay are free prepaid card withdrawals with limits between $25 and $55,000. Entropay withdrawals arrive within 24 hours
Skrill: Skrill (Moneybookers) eWallet withdrawals are free withdrawals are between $10 and $60,000. Skrill payouts arrive within 24 hours.
Maestro/Electron: MasterCard Maestro and Visa Electron withdrawals are free, though they take between 1 to 5 business days to arrive. The withdrawal limits are between $10 and $50,000.
Cheque: Kiwi online sportsbooks will send withdrawal payments via bank check, either through courier or mail. Cheque payments are free, but have an arrival period of 5 to 28 business days. Withdrawal limits on check payouts are $2500 and $100,000.
Bank Wire: Bank wire transfers are, but take 2 to 10 banking days to arrive. Bank wire withdrawal limits range between $60 and $55,000.

New Zealand Sports Betting History

The Gambling Act 2003, the New Zealand International Convention Centre Act 2013, and the Gambling (Fees) Amendment Regulations are the main laws which regulate New Zealand gambling. New Zealand’s gambling history goes back an 1835 law legalizing racebook betting for the Bay of Islands races. The “Art Unions” of the 19th Century, such as the Otago Art Society’s Art Union (1877), were national lotteries. In 1950, the Totalizer Agency Board (TAB) allowed individuals to make wagers at all Kiwi horse tracks. By 1935, Australia’s Tattersall’s lottery tickets were sold in New Zealand, but it was not until 1961 that the Kiwi Lottery was established.

In 1988, electronic gambling machines were legalized for private clubs, with further measures in 1989 and 2003. After poker machine betting was allowed, few bettors wagered on the horse races, so New Zealand’s lawmakers legalized sports betting in the 1990s. Rugby, cricket, and soccer are the most popular sports bets in New Zealand. Online gambling of all kinds is legal in New Zealand, so long as residents bet in offshore gambling sites. Kiwis bet an estimated $2 billion a year on online gambling, with about 40% of adult Kiwis enjoying online gaming each year. No taxes are collected on their winnings.

New Zealand Sports Betting Resources

New Zealand has a streamlined regulatory framework for online betting. The New Zealand Gambling Commission oversees brick-and-mortar gambling, but maintains a hands-off approach to online gambling with offshore websites. The Department of Internal Affairs investigates gaming and non-gaming regulations in the country, as well. No online sportsbook regulatory agency exists.

Website Information
New Zealand Gambling Commission The Gambling Commission maintains a tight rein on land-based casinos in New Zealand, but allows online bettors to wager on a variety of gaming types. The Gambling Commission mainly oversees casino licenses, fees, and complaints.
Department of Internal Affairs The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs also administers and enforces casino regulations. Bettors can subscribe to a newsletter to receive updates on significant issues in the New Zealand gambling sector.

About the Author

Joseph Falchetti

Joseph Falchetti

Editor-in-Chief, Pro Sports Bettor and Casino Expert

Joe is the author of the majority of sports betting pages on SBS and he serves as a gambling consultant to our content team. He's been mentioned on Forbes.com as a gaming analyst, and his articles have been linked by larger publications, such as the New York Times.

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