Best casino bonuses in NZ for 2024
Online casino bonuses are varied and enticing, offering players in New Zealand extra cash and free spins to use on selected games.
To help you find the best casino bonus and promotions, we've compiled this expert guide filled with easy-to-follow tips and recommendations.
Whether you're looking for free spins, welcome bonuses, or no-deposit bonuses, this guide has you covered.
You’ll soon be ready to play your favourite pokies or table games at the best real-money online casinos in New Zealand, with a sizeable bonus to help you get started.
Recommended casino bonus offers & promotions
Our bonus testing and expected results – snapshot summary
Rating bonuses isn’t just ordering them from biggest to smallest. Our team gets in there, plays at the casinos, and takes every factor into account to come up with a final score. These are the criteria we test with and the expected results.
Read them to understand both why we rated these casino bonuses as the best ones, and to understand how to choose a good NZ bonus from a bad one yourself:
- Bonus value: How big is the bonus in terms of $ and free spins? In New Zealand, we found that at least $1,000 is the norm, with 100-200 free spins thrown in. More than $1,000 and more than 200 free spins moves places like Jackpot City Casino up the ranks.
- Wagering requirements: Lower = better. For NZ casino bonuses, 35x is considered generous, 50x is considered about average. Certain high value bonuses go much higher (up to 200x), especially when claiming things like $1 casino bonuses.
- Ease of claiming the bonus: The best bonuses are super-easy to grab. Even bonus codes are outdated these days, compared to automatic activation or 1-click opt in. In our tests, we found that the top bonuses can be claimed within 30 seconds of signing up (if not automatically assigned to us).
- Other terms: Everything that’s not wagering requirements. Bonuses usually expire in 7-30 days. Obviously, 30 is better than 7. Game eligibility is a factor too. The best bonuses in this category let our team play through requirements on slots at a rate of 100%, and at least 10% on other games.
- Withdrawals: Once we played through our bonuses, we withdrew our winnings. More points went to the casinos that let us withdraw in less than 48 hours. Some managed less than 24, even with the processing for first-time sign-ups.
Top casino bonuses by type
Before creating an account at an online casino in New Zealand, you need to be aware of the different bonuses available to you.
These vary from site to site, so we’ve run through the most popular casino bonuses you can unlock below.
No deposit casinos & bonus codes
A no-deposit casino bonus enables you to play games online without staking any of your own money.
Some casinos offer no deposit bonuses as free spins, while others offer cash to use on selected games. Though not the most common type of bonus at New Zealand online casinos, no-deposit bonuses offer excellent value.
Many require a casino bonus code you must enter once you've created an account, so look out for this.
Expert pick: Neon Vegas casino. A no deposit bonus of 20 free spins on registration. Not the biggest, but sweet and simple.
Free spins (deposit & no deposit)
Free spins – sometimes called extra or bonus spins – are among the best casino bonuses if you're a pokies fan.
You can usually only use free spins on a slot the online casino specifies. Still, they’re great for trying out new titles, including some of the latest video slot machines with exciting themes like ancient Egypt.
As with all casino bonuses in NZ, be mindful of the wagering requirements you must play through to cash out your free spins winnings.
Expert picks: Best ratio - JackpotCity, you can get 80 free spins for a dollar. Most free spins - Lucky Spins has up to 500.
Welcome bonus casino offers
Welcome bonus casino offers are available at most online casinos for players in New Zealand. This is sometimes referred to as a sign up bonus or a first deposit bonus.
You can take advantage of offers that provide you with matched deposit bonus offers, sometimes over 100% of your initial deposit. At 100%, this simply means that if you deposit NZ$50, you will receive NZ$50 in bonus funds.
Some welcome bonuses may also offer free spins to use on selected slots. This is most commonly in the form of a casino deposit bonus. Again, be mindful of the wagering requirements attached to any welcome bonus.
Expert picks: JackpotCity is the best overall, but we recently had a good time playing through Galactic Wins' bonus. The requirements on the free spins are only 25x.
High roller casino bonuses
High roller bonuses are available to players with big bankrolls. So, you might qualify if you regularly make significant deposits to your online casino account.
These offers are often tiered as part of a VIP or loyalty program, meaning that the more you deposit, the better the rewards.
Be mindful not to overstretch yourself financially simply because you hope to land a bigger high-roller bonus. Also, check the terms and conditions so that you’re aware of the wagering requirements.
Expert picks: Just Casino, BetandPlay, QBet. All of them are over NZ $2,000. If you're into crypto, the 7Bit and Mirax casino bonus are huge too, with 5BTC at the former and up to 8,000 at the latter.
No wagering casino bonuses
Wagering requirements are attached to most casino promotions. This indicates how much real money you need to stake after unlocking the offer to withdraw any winnings.
It's not uncommon to see wagering requirements between x15 and x100 attached to casino signup bonuses and offers. Casinos with low wagering requirements usually get highlighted on our online casino NZ page.
So, the best casino bonuses are those with smaller or even no wagering requirements attached. Of course, no wagering casino bonuses are harder to find, so you’ll probably have to search for an offer like this.
Expert pick: Pending. There aren't any no wagering bonuses currently running in NZ as of our latest check.
Minimum deposit casinos & bonuses
It's common for casinos to stipulate a minimum deposit that you must make to access their bonuses or promotions. This might be as low as NZ$10, but it could be higher in some cases.
For example, you might encounter a minimum deposit offer of NZ$10 that provides a 100% match up to NZ$100. You must deposit a minimum of NZ$10 into your casino account to be eligible for the promotion.
Expert pick: JackpotCity casino offers 80 free spins for a $1 deposit.
New casino bonuses
There are lots of online casinos that are all fighting to attract new players to their sites. As such, new casinos try to entice new players with generous welcome bonuses, offering matched deposits, free spins, and even no-deposit bonuses.
You can often find fantastic welcome bonuses at new online casinos, but check the site's credentials to ensure it's licensed and regulated.
Expert pick: BetandPlay. New NZ casinos have been a bit slow to come out recently. It's still relatively new, and has a nice, big, appealing first-time user bonus.
Mobile casino bonuses
The best online casinos available in New Zealand are optimised for use on mobile devices.
Whether you download the casino's app or play from a browser on your phone or tablet, you can unlock the casino's bonuses and promotions as you play on the go.
The latest HTML 5 technology makes slots work brilliantly on phone screens. We provide more details about the best mobile casinos in New Zealand in our separate guide.
Expert pick: Pending. There aren't any mobile-specific bonuses available in NZ as of our last update. Christchurch casino's mobile site scored well in the last update though.
Live casino bonuses
Live casino games, including table games and game-show-style titles, offer an immersive and interactive experience and are among the most-played games at any online casino.
Some promotions are exclusively available in the live casino lobby on titles from developers like Evolution Gaming or Pragmatic Play.
Like free spins offers, you can typically only use live casino bonuses on specific live dealer games the casino identifies.
Expert pick: Novajackpot casino has a weekly cashback offer on live games, 25% up to $NZ400.
Other casino promotions
There are many other casino promotions to look out for when deciding which site to play at. After signing up, you may be able to access reload and cashback bonuses, both of which offer extra funds to spend on selected games.
You can also join the casino's VIP or loyalty program, unlocking player-specific rewards and promotions that range from money back to exclusive hotel stays.
Other promotions might include prizes for pokies tournaments. Keep an eye on the casino’s promotions page for up-to-date offers.
A closer look at the best casino bonuses in NZ
The best casino signup bonuses in New Zealand come in the form of matched deposits. So, when you deposit up to NZ$1,000 (or more, in some instances), the casino will match your initial deposit with bonus funds.
Some of the best online casino bonuses also offer free spins to use on online pokies, providing you with the best deals when you sign up.
The table below shows the best-value first deposit bonuses in NZ right now:
Rank | Casino | Welcome bonus | Bonus code | Number of casino games | Claim bonus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1
| Jackpot City Casino | 100% up to NZ$1,800 + 300 Free Spins | - | 800+ | |
#2
| Spin Casino | 100% up to NZ$1,000 + 150 Bonus Spins | - | 550+ | |
#3
| Lukki | $4,000 + 300 Free Spins | - | 1500 | |
#4
| JustCasino | NZ$5,000 + 400 Free Spins | - | 9,500+ | |
#5
| Lucky Spins | Exclusive NZ$1,500 + 500 Free Spins | - | 5,000+ | |
#6
| Lemon Casino | 100% Non-Sticky Welcome Bonus up to 600 NZ$ + 200 Free Spins! | - | 5,500 | |
#7
| Wheelz | NZ$5,000 Bonus + 100 Free Spins | - | 3000+ | |
#8
| Christchurch Casino | NZ$1,000 + Loyalty Points | - | 2,000+ | |
#9
| Campeonbet | 100% up to NZ$1,500 | - | 11800+ | |
#10
| CasiYou | NZ$1,000 + 150 Spins | - | 500+ |
Features of top bonus casinos
The welcome bonuses above are some of the hottest at New Zealand casino sites. To further explain what it takes to stand out in the world of casino bonuses we've summarised industry standards in the table below:
Best welcome bonus | Over NZ$1,000 & free spins |
Wagering requirements | Less than 50x bonus or 35x deposit + bonus |
Min. deposit | Less than NZ$20 |
Eligible games | Online pokies, blackjack and roulette |
How we rate the best casino bonuses – bonus terms explained
We aim to recommend the best casino deals in New Zealand at trusted and reputable sites. To do this, we consider strict criteria before making our recommendations to ensure that you have a safe, secure, and rewarding online casino experience, as detailed below.
Ultimately, we want you to have all the info you need to make a solid choice.
Bonus type and amount
The best casino deals and promotions come in various forms, from matched first deposit bonuses to free spins on your favourite pokies.
We consider the type of bonus and how much the casino offers in terms of bonus funds or free spins.
The best casino bonus offers – such as those provided by Jackpot City casino – offer to match your first deposit of NZ$1,000 or greater, offering good value for money. Some like Rizk casino go beyond this and even throw in free spins.
Wagering requirements
Wagering requirements are important to consider because they indicate how much you have to play through the bonus to withdraw any winnings.
While the Jackpot City and Spin Casino wagering requirements are quite high (50x, 70x respectively), Rabona casino offers wagering requirements of 35x.
The lower the wagering requirements, the better, as you can access any winnings more quickly and without wagering too much of your cash.
Minimum deposit
The last thing you want is to have to make a substantial initial deposit to access a casino's welcome bonus or ongoing promotions.
Therefore, we recommend casino bonus offers with low minimum deposits, helping you access bonus funds even if you have a limited bankroll.
That's why our top list introduces you to offers that require a minimum deposit of just NZ$10, helping you to access the best bonuses without breaking the bank.
For those wanting something even lower, we suggesting checking out our list of exclusive $1 minimum deposit casinos.
Bonus codes
While some welcome bonuses and promotions require bonus codes, others automatically apply to your account when you join.
Even when a bonus code is required, it's simply a case of entering it into the provided box when you create an account, and it isn't complicated.
You should always read through an offer’s bonus terms and conditions before creating an account at a casino to identify a bonus code if it exists.
Maximum win
Some casino promotions cap the maximum possible win when playing with bonus funds.
For online pokies, this might be NZ$1,000, meaning that you can't go after progressive jackpots with bonus funds.
We check the terms and conditions of all bonus offers that we recommend to ensure that the win cap isn't overly restrictive.
Games, payments & other restrictions
Game variety is also super important when considering the quality of a casino bonus.
While some free spins offers can only be used on specific pokies, most first deposit and sign-up bonuses can be used on various games, including pokies, table games, and even live dealer games.
We also consider the expiry date attached to any offer, with most casinos offering between seven and 30 days to play through the wagering requirements.
The variety of payment and banking options available is also key, and the best casinos accept multiple methods, including Visa, Mastercard, e-wallets, and even crypto. Just keep in mind that several options, often e-wallets are sometimes excluded from casino bonuses. That said we also seem payment specific bonuses like 7bit's bitcoin casino promotions for instance.
Overall casino rating
It's not just about the bonus offering, our online casino review process goes way beyond. We dive into details around software and the range of games, banking, security and mobile compatibility. We only recommend online casinos that deliver in each of these key areas, as they're all so important to the overall online gaming experience.
Are casino bonuses worth claiming?
There's no doubt that online casino promotions and bonuses are worth claiming. They provide bonus funds and free spins for selected games, increasing your available bankroll.
Still, you need to be aware of the pros and cons of casino bonuses before signing up for a particular site:
Advantages of casino bonuses
- They provide you with bonus cash to use on selected games, enabling you to try new games without staking your own money.
- Welcome bonuses and first deposit bonuses top up your bankroll and make your funds go further when enjoying online casino games.
- Reload bonuses and cashback offers reward your loyalty to a specific casino, allowing you to enter competitions and unlock special offers.
- Many bonuses are available with no deposit or small deposit requirements, making them accessible to all players.
- When you enter an online casino's VIP or loyalty program, the offers and promotions become even more generous with some exciting rewards.
Disadvantages of casino bonuses
- Wagering requirements are the biggest drawback of online casino bonuses, and you need to play through them to access any bonus winnings.
- Most bonuses expire relatively quickly, so you need to read the casino bonus terms carefully before creating an account.
- Some casino bonuses are geo-restricted, so you need to double-check that your chosen site offers the promotion to New Zealand-based players.
- You can't use bonus funds on every online casino game and must play the titles specified by the site.
Casino bonus calculator – get the most out of your offers
As online casino bonuses can initially seem a little confusing, we've put together a casino bonus calculator to help you compare promotions.
Simply enter the amount you plan to deposit, and our calculator will show you the matched deposit and bankroll available at the best NZ casinos.
You can then head straight to the online casino in question to unlock the offer of your choice.
It's better to claim several smaller deposit bonuses with low rollover rates than one big one with equally large wagering.
Bonus Calculator
Calculate the best casino bonuses in NZ
How online casino bonuses work
Online casinos offer bonuses and promotions to encourage new players to join their sites.
This is necessary due to the competition – there are dozens of reputable online casinos for NZ players.
By offering bonus cash and free spins, online casinos encourage players to try new games and place wagers on titles they might not ordinarily try.
So, while it might seem strange that casinos are so willing to offer free cash and spins, it's actually commonplace in the casino industry, and it's unusual for sites not to offer bonuses.
You just need to carefully read the terms and conditions of each offer before signing up for an online casino so you know what to expect from the promotion.
How to claim a bonus – step-by-step guide
Now that you know what casino bonuses are, it's time to access the best promotions available in New Zealand.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you as you get started at an online casino:
- 1
Research the best casinos in NZ
The likes of Jackpot City, Rabona, and Spin Casino all have brilliant sign-up offers for new customers. Read more about the best casino bonuses and find a casino that suits your preferences.
- 2
Read through the bonus terms and conditions
Each online casino bonus is slightly different from those offered by other sites. So, carefully read the terms and conditions before creating an account at your chosen site.
- 3
Enter the bonus code and deposit funds
If there's a bonus code, enter it when you create your account. You must then deposit funds via your chosen banking method to qualify for the offer.
- 4
Play through the wagering requirements
Most welcome bonuses have strict wagering requirements that you must play through before accessing your winnings. Remember that there's a specific timeframe for you to do this before the offer expires.
- 5
Access your winnings
With the wagering requirements taken care of, you can withdraw any bonus winnings or leave the funds in your online casino account to fund future gameplay.
NZ casino bonus FAQs
What is the best casino bonus for new players?
The best casino welcome bonuses for new players in New Zealand mainly consist of 100% matched first deposits of (and in excess of) NZ$1,000.
Sites like Jackpot City and Spin Casino offer excellent first deposit bonuses worth checking out.
If you love pokies, you can check out the offers from Rabona and GREATwin, as they offer free spins alongside bonus funds.
What are the most common casino bonuses?
The most popular online casino bonus types are matched deposit bonuses. These are typically available to new players and offer to match 100% of your first deposit in bonus funds.
Other popular casino bonuses include free spins, reload offers, and cash-back rewards, more commonly offered as ongoing promotions.
Are casino bonuses worth it?
Casino promotions are worth it, but you need to know the attached terms and conditions.
The biggest drawback of any bonus is the wagering requirements, and the offer is only valid for a specific period. Read more about advantages and disadvantages of casino bonuses earlier.
How to claim a casino bonus in New Zealand?
Claiming a casino bonus in New Zealand is straightforward.
Begin by researching the best online casinos before reading through the bonus terms. You can then make a qualifying deposit to access the offer.
You must then play through the wagering requirements before accessing your winnings.
Are casino bonuses real?
Yes, casino bonuses are real. Online casinos offer them to attract new players to their sites.
Provided that the site in question is legitimate, licensed, and regulated, the bonuses they offer will be real and accessible to all players.