Best live casinos and games in NZ for 2024

What are live casinos?

Live casinos are sites that offer games hosted by live dealers. Instead of being computer-generated games powered by random number generators (RNGs), live dealer games are played at a real casino table.

The game is then live streamed from a studio to the casino platform, and you can place your bets and interact with the dealer and other players as if you were at the table in person.

Along with live chat features, live casino games also have statistical displays, so you can track the results and multipliers (if applicable) of previous rounds. These games also tend to offer wider bet limits, so are suited to both high roller and budget players. With all this coupled with the fact that you get a more sociable experience, there are many reasons to opt for live casino.

Live casino games

You can enjoy a wide selection of popular live casino games at your chosen site, from free bet blackjack to French roulette. The best live casino games are powered by developers like Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play and include the following titles:

Live dealer blackjack

One of the most popular live casino games is blackjack, where you must form a hand as close to 21 as possible, beating the dealer in the process. Variations of live blackjack include Blackjack Party and Power Blackjack by Evolution Gaming. 

Live dealer roulette

Live roulette is also widely played at online casinos in New Zealand. With a live dealer table, you can place a variety of inside and outside bets and wait for the host to spin the wheel. You're spoiled for choice when playing live roulette, with many variations, from European to Immersive Roulette. 

Live dealer baccarat

Live baccarat offers an engaging take on this much-loved card game favoured by James Bond. Like the standard version, the objective is to determine whether the player or the banker will have the best hand (closest to nine). To up the excitement, opt for one of the newer variations like Evolution’s Lightning Baccarat.

Live dealer poker

You can choose from various live casino poker games if you fancy yourself as a card shark. Again, there are many variations, with games based on classic Texas hold'em available at the best live casinos online.

Live dealer sic bo

Sic bo is a dice game that has long been popular in Asia. Your job is to predict the outcome of the dice roll, and there are many betting options within the game. Discover unique live versions of the game like Super Sic Bo and Mega Sic Bo.

Other live casino games

Table games are the most popular live casino titles, but you can also find TV-style game shows at live dealer casinos. Popular game shows and board games adapted into live casino games include Deal or No Deal and Monopoly Live. 

How to sign up & play live casino games

Getting started at a live casino is easy. Follow these steps, and you'll be playing live dealer titles within minutes:

1. 1

   Select a trusted and licensed NZ live dealer casino from our list above.

2. 2

   Register by providing personal details (name, email address, date of birth, etc.). Agree to the casino's terms and conditions to complete the sign-up process. 

3. 3

   Head to the Cashier/Banking section to deposit using your preferred payment method. Enter a promo code to unlock the welcome offer if the casino has supplied one. 

4. 4

   Browse the library of live casino games available and read the rules. 

5. 5

   Play your selected live online casino game for real money.

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Top 5 online casinos for live dealer games

JackpotCity Casino

Our top pick for live casinos in New Zealand, JackpotCity, offers an excellent welcome offer of $1,600 and over 800 games, including popular live dealer titles. Multiple payment methods are supported, including Visa, Mastercard, and POLi, and payouts are processed in one working day. Overall, it's the ideal place to play live casino games for Kiwis. 

Spin Casino

Spin Casino is another excellent choice for live dealer games in New Zealand. You can get started with live casino games for just $1 per bet. You can also enjoy hundreds of online casino games, including pokies, video poker, classic blackjack and Immersive Roulette.

Ruby Fortune

One of the reasons that Ruby Fortune is such a popular online casino is thanks to its site-wide return to player (RTP) of 97% and the fact that there are hundreds of games to choose from. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) regulates the site, and all of Ruby Fortune's games have been certified by eCOGRA, making it a trusted platform to enjoy live casino titles.

Rizk

Established in 2020, Rizk is a relative newcomer to the New Zealand live casino scene. Still, the site provides an excellent range of live casino games hosted by professional dealers. Choose from more than 40 live roulette games, 30 live blackjack games, and live poker and fun game show titles at Rizk. 

Wildz

Wildz offers more than 100 live casino games, including Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, and many table games hosted by live dealers. You can also play pokies, video poker and progressive jackpot games to land big wins at Wildz online casino.

Live casino bonuses for NZ players

The best way to boost your bankroll while playing live dealer games is to access the casino bonuses. These come in many forms, but the most common is the welcome bonus, which you can claim when you create an account. This might be in the form of a deposit match or even a no deposit bonus. 

When your account is live, you can access ongoing promotions like free spins and cashback bonuses that offer great value. You might also be eligible for rewards points and VIP programmes, depending on how much you bet. Remember to read the T&Cs carefully for wagering requirements or game restrictions before you commit to any offers.

4.9/5 JackpotCity Casino review

Welcome Package

100% up to $1,600

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4.8/5 Spin Casino review

Welcome Package

100% up to $1,000

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4.7/5 Ruby Fortune Casino review

Welcome Package

100% up to $750

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4.7/5 Rizk Casino review

Welcome Package

100% up to $4,000 + 50 free spins

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Live casino deposits & withdrawals

The best live casinos in New Zealand support a range of banking methods. Visa and Mastercard deposits are popular, and you can add funds to your casino account just like completing any other online transaction. You can also turn to various e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill to deposit at most online casinos. Deposits are typically instant at the best NZ online casinos. If it has been a few hours and your funds still haven’t appeared in your account, then you should contact the casino to check if there’s been a problem with the payment.

As for withdrawals, the top online casinos in New Zealand process payouts in 1-2 working days. You should check the terms and conditions of your chosen platform before signing up, so you know what to expect when you request your funds.

Visa

Paysafecard

Bank transfer

Mastercard

Neteller

Bitcoin

PayPal

POLi

Skrill

Popular live casino software providers

Evolution Gaming is the best in the business for live dealer games. The developer has been around since 2006 and offers over 3,000 titles – encompassing live casino, RNG and slot games – in multiple languages. Some of its most popular live casino games include fun takes on table classics like Lightning Roulette and Blackjack Party, along with unique game show titles such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live.

Another well-known developer of live casino games is Pragmatic Play. The provider offers entertaining twists on the traditional live dealer format, with games such as PowerUP Roulette, Sweet Bonanza Candyland and Mega Wheel. Meanwhile, Playtech is known for using advanced augmented reality for many of its games, which makes for a truly immersive experience.

Live casino mobile apps

The best mobile casinos in New Zealand have casino apps available to download for iOS and Android devices so you can enjoy your favourite live dealer titles on the go. The best casino apps employ SSL encryption to keep your data safe, and games have been created with HTML5 technology to ensure optimal mobile gaming.

JackpotCity, Spin Casino and Ruby Fortune have excellent mobile casino apps with bonuses, security features, fantastic game libraries, and bespoke features such as push notifications.

Live dealer vs. traditional online casino games

There are some notable differences between live dealer games and traditional casino titles to be aware of before deciding which version is best for you:

How we rate live casinos

To ensure that we recommend only the best live casinos in New Zealand, we consider the following criteria when conducting our expert reviews:

1. 1

   Game variety & software providers

   We check for casinos that offer a wide selection of live dealer games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, game shows and more, from multiple leading software providers.

2. 2

   Bonuses & promotions

   The best live casino sites offer various welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. We check the offers' terms and conditions to ensure they're accessible with low wagering requirements.

3. 3

   Deposits & withdrawals

   We ensure that our recommended casinos support multiple banking methods and offer reasonable processing times for deposits and withdrawals. 

4. 4

   Security & licensing

   We constantly check what licences a site holds before making a recommendation. Regulatory bodies like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the MGA license the best sites.

5. 5

   Mobile selection

   The best live casinos must offer a responsive and fully optimised mobile gaming experience. Players should be able to play via their mobile browser or download a mobile app to their iOS or Android device. 

6. 6

   Customer support

   Casinos need to provide round-the-clock customer support to players to make our coveted toplist. We check for independent reviews and look at the different ways you can get in touch (phone, email, live chat).

Check out other live casino guides

Live blackjack

Live roulette

Live baccarat

Live poker

Live casinos FAQs

• What is a live dealer casino?

  A live dealer casino is an online casino that provides live-streamed casino games hosted by professional dealers. 

• Which is the best live casino in New Zealand?

  JackpotCity is one of the best live casinos in New Zealand, with an excellent selection of games, fast payouts, and generous bonuses.

• What are the most popular live dealer casino games?

  The most popular live dealer games include blackjack, baccarat, roulette and poker. You can also enjoy live game show titles if you're after something a bit different. 

• Can you play live casino online for real money?

  Yes, you can play live casino games for real money. Create an account at a licensed casino and deposit funds to get started. 

• Do NZ casinos offer live casino bonuses?

  Yes, the best NZ casinos offer welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. Always check for the bonuses offered before creating an account.

• What should I do if I lose connection when playing a live casino game?

  If you lose connection, you may need to sign back into your account, and your bet may be lost. Each casino has a disconnection policy that you should read before playing.

Ross Young

Verified expert

Global content writer

Ross is a senior writer at Magic Word Media, a global authority in online casino content writing. Ross has been covering the online casino space for many years, specialising in news, game guides and reviews.

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