Best Online Bookmakers in New Zealand

If you’re from New Zealand, 18 or older, and looking for a quality sports betting platform, this is the only page you’ll ever need. New Zealanders can bet online on dozens of gambling sites, but, in reality, you don’t need that many. Chances are you will make an online betting account on one or several websites and switch between them whenever an opportunity for better odds and bonuses presents itself. But how to know which ones are worth it?

We are here to help you choose the best NZ online bookmakers, so you don’t have to waste time researching and comparing various platforms yourself. Our team of sports betting veterans already did the digging for you, browsing through all available betting sites in New Zealand and evaluating them to see which ones are truly worth your time and money.

In the text below, we’ll talk about everything from how we picked the best NZ betting sites and how you can recognise them yourself to what bonuses you can expect and how sports betting sites compare to their land-based counterparts. Enjoy.

What Are Online Bookmakers?

Online bookmakers are websites and apps that allow you to place sports bets over the internet. Top online sportsbooks will allow you to place a bet on various competitions, from rugby and football matches to golf tournaments and even some non-sporting events like political elections. You can construct your betting slip with an online bookmaker in various ways, wagering on single events or combining multiple games via an accumulator bet. You can also place a bet while the event is in play.

Unlike retail bookmakers, where you need to physically walk in and place a bet through an electronic betting kiosk or at the counter, you can use online sports betting sites virtually anywhere with an internet connection. However, you first must register on the operator’s website or app. This is usually a five-minute process where you share your name, age, and other personal details so the bookie can confirm your identity. Once registered, you can use an accepted online banking method to complete a near-instant deposit. After the money goes through, you can start browsing the bookmaker’s platform and create your betting slip. If your bet is successful, you can keep the money in your online account or cash it out through one of several different payment methods.

How Can You Recognise a Quality Online Bookmaker?

Telling good sports betting sites from not-so-good ones might be a challenging assignment for someone completely new to sports betting. A betting site might look perfect on the surface, but how do you know if it will deliver what you ask? To be considered worthwhile, a sports betting site should perform well in all areas critical to a quality online betting experience. To find a good betting site, you must check these areas one by one to see if the operator satisfies industry standards and, more importantly, meets your expectations. To elaborate, we wrote a little about these leading online bookmaker performance indicators.

Licence from a Reputable Regulator

There is no restriction on sports betting over the Internet in New Zealand, even if it is offered by foreign operators. However, you should always be careful with offshore bookmakers, as many of them are unsafe and could potentially scam you. That’s why you must always choose an online bookmaker based on its gambling licence. A few gambling jurisdictions stand out with their reputation and safety standards. One such jurisdiction is the Malta Gambling Authority (MGA). So, if you see a betting site with an MGA licence, you can feel safe creating an account and making a deposit there.

Excellent Selection of Sports

The more comprehensive the sports menu on a betting site, the better. Almost every bookmaker will have popular sports like football, basketball, tennis, golf, cricket, and rugby, but you may also run into platforms offering niche sports from the perspective of a New Zealander, such as American football, table tennis, badminton, ice hockey, chess, water polo, floorball, and others. It’s also important to consider the number of competitions each sport offers. For instance, betting site A might offer more sports, but betting site B might have more leagues and tournaments across the most popular sports. In that case, you should consider going with betting site B. As mentioned, some online betting sites may even go beyond sports and feature betting on political elections or TV show competitions.

Extensive List of Betting Markets

Going deeper into the bookmaker’s menu, you may also want to check how many betting markets there are within individual events. Some bookies might give you only the most basic bets, like 1X2, handicap, totals, first- and second-half betting, and a few props. Meanwhile, others can feature a more extensive list of betting markets where you can bet on individual players, alternate handicap lines, goal times, and generally more exotic props. Of course, this is only an example for football betting, but the market depth at a given online bookmaker may differ from sport to sport, so choose your betting site based on how many betting markets you can find on your favourite sports.

Diverse Betting Options

A worthwhile sports betting site should leave plenty of options for constructing your betting slip. All modern bookmakers feature both single and accumulator bets while also allowing live or in-play betting for most events. Top bookies may enable punters to edit their bets midway through or leave the option for an early cashout where you can pull out from the bet before it is settled and claim a portion of the winnings. It’s always a plus when a bookie lets you bet and watch the game via live stream.

Great Customer Service

Regardless of how good and intuitive an online bookmaker may be, there’s always a chance you’ll need to clear something up or require assistance in solving a technical issue. Whether you need help unlocking a sports betting bonus or wonder why your withdrawal hasn’t come through, reliable and responsive customer service should always be there to lend a helping hand. Top sports betting operators offer 24/7 support and give customers multiple ways of contacting agents, including live chat, phone, email, and social media. Some bookies allow you to contact them even before making an account, which is an excellent way to test how reliable the support is before committing yourself to the platform.

Player-Friendly Terms and Conditions

Although it may seem like a lot of extra work, reading through the sports betting site’s terms and conditions is paramount to understanding how it treats its customers, this is where you can pick up important information, such as which documents you must provide to the operator before completing your first withdrawal, how old you must be to create an account, what safety standards are deployed to protect your data, and more.

Variety of Payment Methods

Another factor to consider when choosing a sports betting operator is what payment methods it accepts. You should pick an operator that allows you to use the payment option you prefer, whether a credit or debit card, a prepaid card, an e-wallet, an online banking service, or a specific cryptocurrency. Be aware that the available deposit methods might not always match the available withdrawal methods and that some bookies force you to use the last used deposit method for the subsequent withdrawal. Apart from the variety of payment options, you should also check the bookmaker’s pending times on withdrawals, deposit and withdrawal limits, and any potential fees that might occur after completing a payment with a particular method.

Reliable Mobile Experience

Mobile sports betting apps are becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand and beyond. A sports betting app not only makes it convenient for punters to place wagers on the move but also establishes the operator's legitimacy. Creating and maintaining a quality mobile betting app is neither simple nor cheap, so only the best betting sites do it. Of course, just having an app means nothing unless it works smoothly without crashing or lagging and provides users with all sorts of features that promise to improve their mobile betting experience. In case a bookmaker doesn’t have an app or is still developing one, it at least should have a good and reliable mobile-friendly website.

Benefits of Playing at the Best Online Bookmakers

The online betting sites you can see on our list are labelled best for New Zealand players for a reason. But what exactly are the benefits of choosing these betting sites? Why shouldn't you just find a random betting site that accepts New Zealand customers and register there?

• Top-level safety — Safety is the number one reason to stick to sports betting sites from our list. They’ve all cleared our rigorous safety checkups, so you can feel at ease leaving your personal and financial data with them, which can’t be said for every betting site that accepts NZ players.

• Competitive odds and bonuses — We’ve ensured that our best online betting sites have very competitive odds, allowing you to squeeze the most out of your wagers. These sites also have lucrative bonuses for new and existing punters, including great welcome offers, frequent free bets, cashback opportunities, and loyalty promotions.

• Quick and guaranteed withdrawals — Waiting for your winnings longer than necessary is one of the most frustrating things about online bookmakers. But if you stick to our recommended sites, you can expect your money to arrive in the shortest time possible. You may still wait a day or two for your withdrawal request to be processed and confirmed, but that’s the industry standard.

• Great mobile experience — We have created our list with mobile players in mind. Each listed site has either a well-designed mobile app or a mobile-friendly site that will allow you to place a sports bet anywhere you go.

How We Choose the Best Online Bookmakers

To further legitimise our list, we would like to walk you through our process of selecting the best NZ betting sites. A list like this takes weeks to create as we rigorously test every aspect of each bookmaker that gets our attention. Also, note that just because there is a top list on our website, that doesn’t mean our work is done. We might bump certain betting sites up the list if they improve, and vice versa. Likewise, if a new betting site accepting NZ players appears, we would gladly test it out and decide whether it deserves a top ranking.

Bonuses You Should Expect at the Best Online Bookmakers in New Zealand

Top sports betting sites in New Zealand are known for rewarding punters in all sorts of ways, from welcome bonuses reserved for the newest account holders to loyalty perks and benefits available to long-term customers. Here are some bonuses you’ll likely run into while betting at our best-rated betting platforms.

Welcome Offer

This deal is available only to customers who have just created an account. A welcome offer can be anything from match deposit bonuses to no deposit bonuses, free bet credits, and risk-free bets. The most common welcome offer is a match deposit bonus, where a percentage of your deposit is matched by the bookmaker (e.g. 100% up to $500). Sometimes, you’ll be asked to use a code to unlock a welcome offer, so keep your eyes open for any bonus codes. Another thing to remember for all bonuses is their terms and conditions, things like minimum deposit, minimum odds, wagering requirements, and validity period.

No Deposit Bonus

A no deposit bonus is a sports betting bonus you can claim right after creating an account. Since no deposit is required, you can use the bonus amount to bet “for free”. Of course, this type of bonus does not exactly equal free money, as you can only cash out what you’ve won after meeting strict wagering requirements and other conditions. Also, because this bonus requires no initial risk on your part, it will usually be much smaller than the regular deposit bonus. In most cases, you’ll get something like a $10 no-deposit free bet. Still, no-deposit bonuses are great for testing an online betting site without committing to it.

Free Bet

A free bet is one of the most common sports betting promotions. You can get it as part of a welcome offer, a regular promo, or through a loyalty program. The free bet credits you receive are non-withdrawable, meaning you can only use them to place a bet. If your bet wins, you can only withdraw the profit from the bet and not the stake. For example, let’s say you placed a $10 free bet on odds of 1.90 and won. If you were to bet with your own money, your total win would be $19, but since you used free bet credits to make a wager, you only get the $9 profit.

Risk-Free Bet

The risk-free bet is often confused with the free bet, but the two terms are actually not interchangeable. With a risk-free bet, you are betting with your own money. In case you win, it's business as usual, but if you lose, the bookie will reimburse you. The catch is that the money you receive back isn’t withdrawable and instead comes in the form of free bet credits you must wager through. So, it’s essentially a roundabout way of getting a free bet. Risk-free bets are another common form of a sports betting welcome bonus and can be found on top-rated NZ betting sites.

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is similar to a match deposit bonus, the only difference being that it’s for everyone, not just first-timers. You can encounter something along the lines of “50% up to $200”, meaning that the bookie will match half of your deposit up to $200. For example, if you deposit $150, you’ll get a $75 bonus. Reload bonuses are meant to keep the customers engaged after they’ve spent their welcome bonus credits.

Crypto Bonus

A crypto bonus is a sports betting bonus exclusive to customers who make a deposit using cryptocurrencies. It’s usually there to incentivise players to use cryptocurrencies in the first place, which is why it is often larger than a fiat money deposit bonus. For instance, if a regular deposit bonus is 100% up to $1,000, a crypto deposit bonus might be 150% up to $1,500, expressed in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. Some NZ bookies accept multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, and others.

Mobile Bonus

Most online bookmaker bonuses work regardless of whether you’re using them on a computer or a mobile device. However, some bookies incentivise their customers to play on mobile apps by giving out special mobile bonuses. These can be anything from free bets and no deposit cash bonuses to crypto offers and more.

Cashback Bonuses

A cashback bonus is designed to cushion your losses during a specific period. Cashbacks typically run anywhere between 5% and 20%. For example, if you take part in a 10% cashback promotion and lose $250 over the promo period, you’ll be eligible to get $25 back. However, rarely will any bookie give you those $25 as withdrawable cash. Instead, you’ll usually receive it in the form of free bet credits that you must play with and win.

Refer-a-Friend Bonus

Another way to get rewarded with an online bookmaker is to invite another person to the platform. Just send a special link to the other person, and if they use that link to register and deposit, you can both get rewarded. Referral promotions are a very effective way for a sportsbook to expand its reach, and players participating in the referral can sometimes get a bonus of $50 or more. What’s more, some betting sites allow customers to invite more than one person, meaning you can claim multiple referral bonuses.

VIP Loyalty Program

A sports betting site with a loyalty program will track your wagering activity and give you tier points accordingly. The program usually consists of multiple levels, and to reach a higher one, you’ll need to reach a certain point threshold (e.g. 1,000 for Silver, 10,000 for Gold, 50,000 for Platinum, etc.). Naturally, the higher the tier, the bigger the benefits, including extra bonuses, exclusive deals, birthday promotions, the extension of deposit and withdrawal limits, higher cashback, priority support, account management, and more. 

Mobile Betting Apps

The goal of online sportsbooks is to create the most convenient betting experience possible, and no invention has helped them more in achieving that than the smartphone. You can now bet anywhere in New Zealand where there’s an internet connection and with just a few taps on your phone. While you can access your sports betting account through a mobile browser, it’s much easier and more user-friendly to do it through an app, assuming the bookmaker has developed one. The majority of top-level bookmakers have both iOS and Android apps that you can download and install in minutes and enjoy their range of smart features like push notifications and live streaming, as well as the convenience of carrying an online sportsbook in your pocket the whole time.

iOS Betting Apps

Apple users can try searching for their favourite online betting apps in the App Store. In case the Sportsbook is not allowed to release the app on the official store, or you can’t find it from New Zealand, you can check the Sportsbook’s website for any IPA files. From there, just download and install the file and turn on the app on your iPhone or iPad.

Android Betting Apps

If you own an Android device, try locating the app in Google Play. If you can’t find it there, the sportsbook may have a download button on the website, allowing you to download the APK file. Remember that downloading an app file from anywhere other than Google Play requires you to allow third-party apps on your device. Once you do that, you can download and install the app as usual.

Popular Types of Sports Bets

You can make your betting slip in a multitude of ways. For instance, you can wager on the winner of a rugby match between New Zealand and France, guess whether the number of points scored will be over or under a certain threshold, guess which team will score first, and more. Here’s more about some of the most popular sports betting markets.

Moneyline (1X2)

Betting on the moneyline means predicting the outcome of a game or match. In sports like tennis or basketball, you’ll find a two-way moneyline since there are only two possible outcomes. However, in rugby or football, a match can finish in a draw, making a three-way moneyline or 1X2, where 1 represents a home team victory, 2 an away team victory, and X a draw.

Point Spread (Handicap)

A point spread or a handicap is a bet similar to the moneyline, only with points being added or subtracted from the teams’ totals. This is done to make betting on a particular team more interesting and to even out the odds. For instance, New Zealand is an overwhelming favourite to beat Mate Ma'a Tonga, so the bookies assign 20.5 handicap points to Tonga. This means New Zealand needs to win by 21 or more points to cover the spread, while Tonga can win outright or lose by fewer than 21 points.

Totals (Over/Under)

With totals, you are betting on whether a total number of points, goals or other scoring units will swing over or remain below the bookmaker’s line. For example, the over/under on Sal’s NBL basketball game between Franklin Bulls and Manawatu Jets is 155.5. If you think there will be 155 or fewer points, you’ll bet on the under. Alternatively, if you’re predicting a high-scoring game with 156 points or more, you’ll put your money on over.

Proposition Bets

Proposition bets (props) are a set of wagers that can relate to various occurrences during a sporting event and are not necessarily directly tied to the outcome. Some examples of proposition bets are a team to score first (rugby), over/under on yellow cards (football), the first team to reach 15 points in a quarter (basketball), the first set to go to a tiebreak (tennis), odd/even on the total number of points, and more.

Futures

Futures or outrights are wagers that let you predict the outcome of an entire competition rather than its individual games and matches. For instance, you can bet on who you think will win the next ICC Men's Cricket World Cup or which two teams will meet in the final of the Oceania Cup. Futures can also include betting on individual players, such as predicting the next NBA MVP or the player to win the Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup.

Conclusion

We hope this page helped you find the best sports betting site in New Zealand. Whether you’re looking to bet on popular or niche sports, you’ll want to get above-average odds, take advantage of gainful bonuses and promotions, use the industry's best betting apps, and make deposits and withdrawals with cryptocurrencies. Thankfully, you’re sure to find something to your preference in our top list. A good thing about New Zealand is that it’s open to dozens of quality online betting platforms, with many globally renowned brands making themselves available to NZ players. While New Zealanders are spoilt for choice when it comes to sports betting, they should not go about choosing an online bookmaker without some assistance, especially if they are novice punters.

We are a team of industry veterans who know how to tell worthwhile betting sites from poor-quality ones. We’ve spent countless hours testing dozens of online betting platforms to provide our audience with a detailed and objective view of the NZ online betting market. Of course, our job is never done, as we are constantly updating our website with new info. If you wish to learn more about some of the brands we recommend, feel free to read our extensive sportsbook reviews. Good luck, and don’t forget to bet responsibly!