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 JustCasino 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 Even bonus codes are outdated these days, compared to automatic activation or 1-click opt in.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.?

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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.