The Pokies Phenomenon: Australia’s Love Affair with the Slot Machine. Introduced to Australia in 1956, Queensland was the first state to license electronic gaming machines. Over the last sixty years, the number of EGMS has increased to an estimated 200,000 making Australia the country with the 4 th highest density in the world.
Are you an online pokies lover who is ready to take their game to the next level? If so, we’d like to welcome you to PlayPokies.com, a trusted resource featuring loads of information on these amazing games.
This website is a great source for finding Internet poker machines that are available to players in New Zealand. As you browse our expert pages, you’ll be able to find your favourite free online pokies, learn about new games you may never have played before, and get the heads up when new machines hit the market. We'll also show you how to take advantage of great progressive jackpots and bonus features.
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Find Top Online Poker Machines In 2021
These days, Kiwis can choose from thousands of poker machines to try for free or play online for real money. That's the beauty of Internet casinos: New Zealand gamblers will find a bigger range on the net than they'll ever find in a SKYCITY casino Auckland or further afield.
While such a huge selection of pokies is great, it can be difficult to find the right ones. How can you trust the software, or find the least volatile games to ensure regular wins? That’s where our pokies reviews come into play. Our team of top Kiwi reviewers have decades of experience in the world of online casinos and gambling. They know exactly what to look for when it comes to a quality poker machine. We can tell you which pokies are worth your time, and which to skip, making sure you don’t waste time or money.
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Choosing the Right Gambling Pokies for You
Here at PlayPokies.com, we believe that there is a poker machine out there that’s right for everyone. Of course, that perfect game is different for everyone – and no two people have exactly the same taste.
Some Kiwis enjoy classic 3-reel games from NOVOMATIC, while others want to focus on the latest video pokies from Aristocrat and Ainsworth. Perhaps you're keen to try exciting branded video slots you won't find at home. We know that some people love to chase large progressive jackpots, while others want to try machines with very low volatility. Some care about gameplay features and bonus rounds, while others want great 3D graphics. Whatever your taste, we'll find a safe, licensed game for you.
Pokie Q & AFind answers to some popular questions that we've received about pokie machines.
Free GamesVisit our free games page where you can play loads of free pokie games directly on our site.
Pokies for MoneyTired of playing for free? If so, have a look at how to play for real and the top sites to play at.
Contact UsShould you have any questions, feel free to contact us here.
Finding The Best Online Casinos for Kiwis
Discovering good pokies is just your first job as an online gambler in New Zealand. What is most important is finding a great casino to play them at. With hundreds of NZ-friendly websites to pick from, new players can struggle to find the right rooms. Some have lots of games but poor payouts, while others offer top bonuses but no NZD currency option.
Again, we are here to help. At PlayPokies.com, we help our readers with honest, objective reviews of the best gambling sites out there in 2021. We only recommend safe and reliable casinos for our NZ readers, and that's guaranteed. As Kiwi pokies players ourselves, we only recommend sites we are willing to trust with our own cash. That way, you'll never have to worry where your hard-earned dollars are going.
All of our pokies site picks have excellent Customer Support too that is awake when you are. Why stay up till 2am to talk to someone on the other side of the world? And we won't recommend an online casino if it has unreliable licensing from a lousy jurisdiction.
Banking Methods in New Zealand
Readers always want to know how they can get money in and out of their gambling accounts. Kiwis are lucky in that they have a wealth of casino deposit methods available to them when they play online pokies. In fact, you don't even need a debit card to move cash around if you want to play online for real money.
The most common way to get money into your Internet gaming account is by using a credit card. VISA and MasterCard is accepted widely in New Zealand, and most casinos take payments this way. Leading e-Wallers like Skrill, PayPal, and NETELLER are also set up with Internet gamblers Down Under in mind. The transactions are safe and anonymous, and players can deposit using NZD if they want.
POLi, meanwhile, is a leading online payment system open to NZ customers. It's a great way to shift New Zealand dollars around on the web direct from your bank account. It's safe, the fees are low, and it is now accepted by lots of online pokies websites.
Play The Best Mobile Pokies On the Move
In 2021, pokies nuts in New Zealand can play real money games and jackpots on their smartphones and tablets. Mobile poker machines allow you to instantly access games on your iPhone or Android phone, with hundreds of games specially adapted.
Tablets are also a popular way to connect to gaming sites: on an iPad, you can get an experience that’s every good as the one you would get on a desktop computer, but with the convenience of a mobile device. There are even instant-play pokie solutions for BlackBerry and Windows Phone gamblers. Operators are even beginning to experiment with games that can be played on wearable technology like smartwatches.
Android PokiesFind the best pokies compatible with Android phones and tablets.
iPad PokiesInstant access to iPad compatible pokies from IGT, Microgaming and many more providers.
iPhone PokiesPlay pokies for iPhone4, 5 and 6 all of which are free, no download needed.
BlackBerry PokiesThis page ranks and reviews the leading pokies for the BlackBerry device.
Windows PokiesThe selection is smaller but we have a number of sites we recommend for Windows mobile users.
Are Online Poker Machines Legal?
Over the water in Australia, pokies are everywhere. They are in pubs, clubs and casinos, and Aussies gamble millions every year on them. In New Zealand, pokie machines are just as popular, and NZ gamblers can find their favourite titles online.
Just as in Australia, there are strict laws surrounding the legality of online casino operations. Under the Gambling Act 2003, the numbers of pokie machines in New Zealand is regulated and limited. In addition, no New Zealand-based firms are allowed to operate gambling sites online. However, that doesn't stop Kiwis gambling online at overseas casinos.
With many top online casinos and pokie sites licensed and regulated overseas, NZ bettors are free to gamble real money on pokies from the comfort of their own home. Always check the legality of an online casino before you start, however. Not all sites accept NZ players or NZD deposits, so read our reviews to save yourself time.
Responsible Online Gambling & Safety
Kiwis love their pokies, but what happens when things get out of hand? Legal and reliable online casinos have a duty to look after their players. You will find a list of good problem gambling charities on all our recommended casino websites. In addition, good pokies websites allow players to limit their gambling. Loss and win limits can be set, and NZ players are even able to self-exclude if they want. Exclusions can last 1, 6 or 12 months.
Playing pokies online is all about staying safe. Trust our recommended, legal gambling sites when you get out that ANZ or Kiwibank debit card to play. You can rely on fast and accurate payments and bonuses that are honoured quickly. You will be able to transfer NZD easily and enjoy English-language support 24/7. Why leave your home to travel miles to a SKYCITY when you can play the latest pokies online for real money at home?
Gaming machines in pubs and clubs (i.e. outside a casino) represent 'Class 4' gambling, which the Gambling Act 2003 classifies as high-risk, high-turnover gambling. Class 4 gambling may only be conducted by a corporate society and only to raise money for an authorised (e.g. community and non-commercial) purpose.
- Class 4 Gambling in clubs - booklet(Updated February 2021)
- Pokies in New Zealand: A guide to how the system works
- Licensing criteria and requirements
- Authorised Purposes
- Current Regulations
- Class 4 Game Rules
- Class 4 Support Guidelines
- Class 4 Venue Assessments
- Venue Expenses
- Venue Transfers
- Banking of Gaming Machine Profits
- Guide to Procedure for Club Mergers
- The Role of Territorial Authorities
- More Information
Class 4 gambling in clubs - booklet
The Class 4 gambling in clubs booklet is a guide for those who govern, manage or work for clubs with a licence to operate gaming machines in New Zealand. You will find information on the following topics:- Our licensing forms
- Licence renewal
- Key persons
- Authorised purpose
- Net Proceeds Committee
- Gaming machine expenses
- Cash float
- Banking of GMP
- Harm prevention and minimisation
- Succession planning
- Signage and gaming machine forms
- Other types of gambling
- Contact us
- Class 4 gambling in clubs - booklet (PDF, 1MB)
Pokies in New Zealand: A guide to how the system works
New Zealand has a unique system that is set up to provide millions of dollars to the community from the money gambled on pokie machines in pubs and clubs.This guide provides an overview of the latest figures, information about who does what, and how the different parts of the system are connected.
Pokies Instagram
With a comprehensive frequently asked questions (FAQs) section, this guide provides easily accessible information about the gaming machine sector all in one place.- Pokies in New Zealand: a guide to how the system works (PDF, 281KB)*
- Pokies in New Zealand: a guide to how the system works (DOCX, 181KB)*
Licensing criteria and requirements
The Gambling Act 2003 aims to control the growth of gambling. There are strict licensing criteria for organisations wanting to run gaming machines and for the venues at which those machines are operated.Licensing application and payment processes
Tips for completing the forms and information about incomplete applications, payment processes, and how to lodge your application.Licensing and compliance fees
Find a list of all the licensing fees for operators and venues, as well as monitoring and compliance fees.- Class 4 gambling fees
Class 4 gambling forms
Find links to all the Class 4 gambling forms.- Class 4 gambling forms
Licence conditions
Operator's licences and venue licences issued or renewed are subject to licence conditions issued under the Gambling Act 2003. These conditions accompany and form part of the licence. Any corporate society must comply with the requirements set out in the licence conditions. Non-compliance will put the society's licence at risk.Four Fact Sheets explain more about Class 4 licensing:
- Fact Sheet 11: Class 4 Licensing Criteria (HTML version, November 2020)
Financial viability
The Department is currently reviewing its expectations in determining whether a Class 4 applicant's proposed gambling operation is 'financially viable'.Authorised purposes
Class 4 corporate societies that are licensed to operate gaming machines must apply the net proceeds of the gaming operation to authorised purposes.Authorised purposes are:
- charitable purposes
- non-commercial purposes that have community benefits
- promoting, controlling and conducting race meetings.
Current Regulations
Regulations have been made under the Gambling Act 2003 to help achieve the objectives of the Act. The following regulations apply to individuals and organisations that are authorised to operate gambling:See also:- Harm Prevention Form and Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Guidelines
- Exclusion Order Form and Exclusion Order (Problem Gamblers) Guidelines
Class 4 Game Rules
The Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules govern the playing and participation in Class 4 gambling that utilises gaming machines outside of casinos and the systems, processes, information and documentation associated with particular games.The current Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules:
- The Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules 2017 (PDF, 264KB)*
- The Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules 2017 (DOCX, 110KB)
Amendments
- Amendment to the Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules – Rules for Cash-In-Ticket-Out Systems 2017 (PDF, 159KB)*
- Amendment to the Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules – Rules for Cash-In-Ticket-Out Systems 2017 (DOC, 212KB)
- Amendment to the Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules – Rules for Cash-In-Ticket-Out Systems 2016 (PDF, 232KB)*
- Amendment to the Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules – Rules for Cash-In-Ticket-Out Systems 2016 (DOC, 158KB)
Historical Reference
The following rules were in place prior to 7 March 2016 (use for historical reference only):- Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules 2006 (PDF, 1.7M)*
- Gambling Act (Class 4) Game Rules 2004 (PDF, 200K)*.
Class 4 Support Guidelines
These Support Guidelines are not mandatory. They were developed by class 4 sector representatives in collaboration with the Department to assist gaming machine operators with their operations. In particular, the Support Guidelines will help venue operators ensure their gaming machine float remains intact.- Class 4 Support Guidelines for Gaming Machine Operations - July 2016 (PDF, 346KB)*
- Class 4 Support Guidelines for Gaming Machine Operations - July 2016 (DOCX, 45KB)
Class 4 Venue Assessments
The Department assesses class 4 non club venues against three overall outcomes. Guidance for venue managers, the outcomes framework, the Department’s expectations of well performing venues, and the assessment guide for inspectors are available below.The guide for inspectors was designed to assist with venue assessments. It is not a definitive template and inspectors may or may not ask each question listed within it. During a venue assessment inspectors will be asking sufficient questions to satisfy themselves that they have a good understanding of a venue’s practices including how they meet their harm minimisation obligations. This will allow them to decide how well a venue meets the Department’s expectations for each outcome. It is likely that inspectors will often ask other questions which are not included in this guide.
- Class 4 Venue Assessment outcomes framework (PDF, 741KB)*
- Class 4 Venue Assessment: Department expectations of a well performing venue (PDF, 445KB)*
- Class 4 Venue Assessment: Guide for inspectors (PDF, 716KB)
Venue Expenses
- Conference Expenses
Key Messages Following Gambling Commission Appeals
The following letter clarifies the Department's expectations in relation to actual, reasonable and necessary costs; minimising costs and maximising net proceeds; venue developments and enhancements; and a number of other issues following recent Gambling Commission appeals.- Key Messages from The Southern Trust and The Trusts Charitable Foundation Gambling Commission Appeals 5 July 2010 (PDF, 111K)*
Record keeping for gambling operations (Clubs)
The Department has created the example Record Keeping for Gaming Operations (Monthly) Spreadsheet.All clubs are encouraged to use the spreadsheet, which will help to:
- easily identify funds available for Authorised Purposes each month
- monitor the percentage of distributed Authorised Purposes on a monthly basis
- understand the difference between Authorised Purposes and the Direct Costs of Gaming
- avoid over-distribution of Authorised Purposes
- complete the renewal application.
If you have any questions about using the spreadsheet, please contact: phone 0800 257 878 or email gambling.compliance@dia.govt.nz
Conference Expenses
All societies should consider these guidelines carefully before deciding whether to arrange a conference:- Guidelines for Society Conference Expenses (PDF, 19K)*
Note: These Guidelines are currently under review in light of the Gambling Commission's comments in its decision in the appeal by The Trusts Charitable Foundation (TTCF) against the Secretary's suspension of its Class 4 operator's licence.
Societies should read the existing guidelines in light of the Gambling Commission's decision and should refer to the Key Messages from the Southern Trust (GC11/10) letter sent to societies on 5 July 2010.
Venue Transfers
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The process for transferring gaming machines from one society to another changed with the implementation of the Electronic Monitoring System (EMS). View the step-by-step instructions:Banking of Gaming Machine Profits
Late Banking of Gaming Machine Profits Policy (March 2020)
- Policy on Late Banking of Gaming Machine Profits - HTML version
- Policy on Late Banking) of Gaming Machine Profits - PDF version(PDF, 191KB)* or read the HTML version.
Guide: Treatment of Class 4 gambling profits where exceptional circumstances have prevented its banking
Section 104(1) of the Gambling Act 2003 (the Act) requires a Class 4 venue manager to bank all gambling profits (GMP) directly into a dedicated account for gaming machine profits. On occasions an event such as a theft, robbery or a natural disaster may impact on the venue manager’s ability to bank GMP in accordance with the requirements under the Act.The Department has introduced a policy which confirms that while the venue operator is responsible for ensuring all GMP is banked into the society’s account, there are some exceptional circumstances where we may agree to waive the requirement for the venue operator to bank:
- The portion of the insurance excess that relates specifically to GMP; or
- Some or all of the outstanding GMP (where the GMP has not been insured but legitimate attempts were made to do so).
- Guide: Treatment of Class 4 gambling profits where exceptional circumstances have prevented its banking (PDF, 210KB)*
- Guide: Treatment of Class 4 gambling profits where exceptional circumstances have prevented its banking (DOCX, 145KB)
Guide to Procedure for Club Mergers
Section 95 of the Gambling Act 2003 sets out a sequence of steps that must be taken by clubs that intend to merge under the section 95 procedure and wish to apply to the Minister for approval to operate up to 30 machines.The Role of Territorial Authorities
The Gambling Act allows for the growth of gambling to be controlled through territorial authorities.Territorial authorities have introduced policies that can limit gaming machine numbers and they must agree to where gaming machines are placed in their districts. In this way the community can have input into gaming machine numbers and locations.
A corporate society must apply for territorial consent before it establishes new gaming machine venues and increases the number of machines that may be operated at existing venues.
More Information
- Gambits newsletter
- Gambling Statistics
Pokies Casino License
Pokies Live
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