Mobile Menu
Updated: 06/10/2024

Best Online Live Dealer Casinos for New Zealand Players

Updated: 06/10/2024

Live dealer casinos have become a major highlight of the online casino industry, and it’s easy to see why they are so popular. These fantastic variations of online casino sites give you the ability to play live casino games with real dealers instead of those that are computer generated.

Top 10 Live Casinos in New Zealand Reviewed

Playing in one of the many live dealer casinos will be the closest experience you can get to heading out to a physical casino, but with the added bonus of being able to have fun whenever you want. You can chat to your dealer in real time, watch them as they control the game (like dealing poker cards and spinning the roulette wheel), and enjoy the fun atmosphere.

Here at Best Online Casino Reviews, we provide New Zealanders with news, tutorials, and honest casino reviews of live dealer online and their bonus offers so you can choose the best fit for your needs. Welcome to our complete guide to live online casinos.

1. Spin Casino – Best Live Casino Site in New Zealand

  • High RTP slots
  • Large game variety
  • Several banking options
  • Optimized for all devices

Spin Casino truly lives up to its name by providing an abundance of slot games, including progressive jackpots. Besides slots, they offer a variety of roulette, blackjack, video poker, table games, keno, craps, and more.

They also feature eSports with live betting and multiple jackpot opportunities. The casino supports numerous payment methods and offers attractive bonuses, although their promotions could be more extensive.

2. PlayOJO – No Wagering Requirements, Most Fair Casino Site

  • Daily tournaments, rewards and prizes
  • Daily progressive jackpots
  • 3000+ games

PlayOJO stands out as one of the fairest online casinos in New Zealand, providing direct cash payouts for bonuses and no wagering requirements on games. This approach allows you to keep all your winnings without restrictions.

Furthermore, there are no maximum win caps or withdrawal limits, which is rare. PlayOJO also offers cashback – a rarity among casinos. However, they could improve by adding phone support.

3. MagicRed

  • Numerous payment methods
  • Multi-platform access
  • Responsive customer support forms

MagicRed offers a wide range of games, including table games, slots, live dealers, and jackpot options. Licensed by MGA and UKGC, the casino ensures security with 128-bit SSL encryption.

Transactions are streamlined with several payment options, and payouts can be quick, depending on the method used. MagicRed’s welcome bonuses and promotions are generous, supplemented by a rewarding loyalty program. However, the site’s design might seem too busy for some players.

4. Royal Panda – Best Live Casino in Security

  • Instant play
  • Great variety of slot and table games
  • Uses leading encryption tools
  • User-friendly interface

Royal Panda offers an engaging and visually appealing casino experience with over 400 games supported by various top software providers. The casino offers diverse payment options and numerous bonuses, including weekly tournaments.

Security is a top priority, which makes it a trusted brand among players. Additionally, the casino features appealing jackpots, though they are challenging to win. More generous welcome bonuses would be beneficial.

5. JackpotCity – Best Live Casino Jackpots

  • Great roulettes
  • Cool theme
  • Straightforward user interface
  • Massive progressive jackpots

JackpotCity is well-named, hosting some of the largest progressive jackpots, with prizes reaching up to $5 million. Their welcome bonus is also noteworthy.

This reputable casino has been around for over two decades. However, the high wagering requirements, such as 70× the deposit bonus, may deter some players.

6. Casinonic – Best Welcome Bonus Offer

  • High-quality games
  • Weekly promotions
  • VIP offers

Casinonic’s welcome bonuses total up to $1,200, distributed over six stages. This strategy encourages continuous play with real money games. The casino boasts excellent gaming experiences, thanks to its partnerships with top software providers.

A wide range of banking options is available, though bonuses come with a 50× playthrough requirement, which is somewhat high. An increase in withdrawal limits would also be advantageous.

7. Genesis – Best Live Casino Bonuses and Promotions

  • Huge game library
  • Mobile compatibility
  • Cool user-interface

Genesis Casino captures attention with its unique outer space theme, introduced in 2019. Their selection includes over 1000 games, with frequent updates and a large number of video slots, including progressive jackpots.

The casino offers a variety of bonuses, from initial deposit bonuses to daily/weekly prizes and tournaments. However, a loyalty program is notably missing.

8. Leo Vegas – Best Live Casino Games

  • Huge game variety
  • Slots galore
  • Decent welcome bonus

Since 2011, Leo Vegas has provided a diverse array of entertainment options, including slots, video poker, live dealer games, blackjack, roulette, and scratch cards. Their collaboration with numerous top software providers ensures a wide selection of games.

They also offer a substantial range of table games. Improvements could be made in bonus terms, payment methods, and website navigation.

9. Bodog – Best Sportsbook

  • Offers all: sports betting, casino, and more
  • Easy to use mobile App
  • Three convenient ways to reach customer support

Bodog excels in providing a comprehensive gaming experience, especially for sports enthusiasts. The casino offers a variety of engaging games, generous bonuses, and exciting new options in horse racing betting.

While already having a well-rounded offering, an expansion in their gaming library and additional payment methods would enhance their service further.

10. Royal Vegas – Best Live Casino Poker Games

  • 4 deposit bonuses
  • Good progressive jackpot
  • 700+ casino games

With over two decades of experience, Royal Vegas continues to offer an excellent gaming environment with substantial welcome bonuses and promotions, including a loyalty program.

The withdrawal timeframe is reasonable, but the 70× bonus wagering requirement is quite high. Additionally, access to games is restricted to registered users.

How to choose the Best Live Casino?

From our extensive research and testing, you can see in the table above what online live dealer casinos we recommend, so let’s find one that suits your needs. Every live online casino is different, and the first step to finding the best live casino online for you is to identify what your needs are. Some of the most important aspects to consider are:

  • Live Games: On top of the list is making sure that the casino has the live games library you want and if there is a wide to choose from.
  • Compatible with Mobile devices: If you plan on playing games on the go making sure your casino is mobile device friendly is a must.
  • Bonuses and Promotions: Are there any welcome bonuses or special promotions?
  • Dealers: Are the dealers professional and provide great service?
  • License: Where is the casino licensed?
  • Responsible customer support: Can you contact them at any time and expect a quick response?
  • Reputable Software: Who is providing their live online casino software?
  • Banking: What payment types are available and do they provide fast payouts?

Best Live Casino Software Providers

Live dealer casinos rely upon software in order for games to exist and run as smoothly as possible. Without software providers there would be no games, so these companies have a huge responsibility. While there are hundreds of software providers that create casino games there are only a handful that produce the very best specialised live casino games.

 Evolution Gaming Live Casino – Established in 2006, Evolution Gaming is one of the most well-known companies in the live casino space. The self-proclaimed B2B live casino supplier has nine studios throughout North America and Europe where they broadcast live casino games in multiple languages.|

 NetEnt Live Casino Software – NetEnt may be a familiar name if you have played online pokies before, but did you know that they also offer fantastic live casino games? Their live casino software was introduced in 2013 and since then has stepped up in production value and games offered. Airing from Malta, NetEnt live casino games are very sleek.

 Playtech Live Dealer – Originally founded in 2001, Playtech has morphed over the years to become the biggest live casino operator in Europe and Asia. Broadcasted from the city of Riga, Playtech has over 500 dealers who are controlling live games in four different languages.

Types of Live Dealer Games

Now that you are aware of the best live casino online options and the top software providers, it’s time to get to know the different games that you are able to play with live dealers. Along with knowing all of the games, there also some differences between the live dealer and the regular versions, so keep that in mind.

Popular Live Casino Games

All of the top NZ online casinos should have a vast variety of games, including the classics, most popular games, and the option to play with real dealers. These are the most popular live casino games in New Zealand:

Live Roulette

One of the most popular casino games of all time, live roulette involves a dealer spinning the wheel where you can bet on the outcome of where the ball will land.

Live Blackjack

Hit or stand? In Live Blackjack, the dealer will do the work for you as you try to beat their hand and get the closest to Blackjack (21) as possible.

Live Baccarat

It’s player vs the banker in live baccarat with the dealer being in charge of dealing two face-up cards for the player and the banker. Multiple people can play on the virtual table and the winner will be the hand with a total closest to 9.

Live Poker

Poker has a history dating back to the 1800s and this card game is available in many different formats in live casinos. Texas hold ‘em is the most recognisable, but three card poker and Caribbean Poker are also common.

Live Lotteries

Feeling lucky? Live lotteries are classic lottery games with a host drawing out the numbers.

Live Craps

Although you can’t roll the dice in live craps, at least one dealer will be managing this fun casino game that is completely up to chance. Our tip: use the pass/come method to increase your odds of winning.

Live Dealer Sic-Bo

Playing live Dealer Sic-Bo is a load of fun and increases the atmosphere of the game. You view all of the dealer’s moves and hope that the three dice roll in your favor.

Live Dealer Dream Catcher

An Evolution Gaming exclusive, Dream Catcher is a very simple game where you bet on what number the live dealer will spin on the big wheel. The best payouts correspond with the number spun on the wheel, and if you get lucky bet multipliers are also possible.

Live Dragon Tiger

This Cambodian table game tasks players with picking a winner out of the “dragon” card, the “tiger” card, or a tie. The highest-ranking card wins in Dragon Tiger, and the live dealer will reveal the cards after all bets are placed

Live Casino Games vs Regular Online Casino games

Now that you know what a live casino game is, you are probably asking yourself what are some of the differences between playing live online casino games and playing traditional online casino games. You can play both from your home, and you are right, at the end of the day, you will choose which type of game fits according to your playing style and what excites you more. In order to work out whether you prefer live casino games or the standard computer-generated variety see how they compare in the table below.

Live Casino Version Regular Casino Game
Live online casino games can be very social and are the closest you can get to being in a room and playing against the banker or other players. You can interact with the dealer and the game environment can be more lively in comparison to regular casino games The social experience of playing a regular casino game is nonexistent. You are not interacting with anyone due to the game being automated
The sets mimics being at a live casino and can give you a real buzz since the game is more lifelike Theatrics and visuals are usually more subdued
You don’t have as much control in live online casino games over the timing of play since you aren’t playing alone. This means the games may be faster than you are used to if you only have experience playing regular online casino games You can play at your own pace since you are not playing your chosen game with other players
Table games will have limited numbers and you can lose your seat at the table if you are inactive or not betting for periods of time If you are playing a table game there will always be a seat at the table since it is programmed
An internet connection issue will result in you leaving the game since it is occurring live with other players If you experience disruption with your internet connection your game will be paused

How to Start Playing Live Dealer Games Online?

Ready to get started on all of the fun there is to be had at a live dealer online casino? Before you begin the enjoyment that comes with live online casino games you will have to open an account. All you have to do is:

  1. Choose a trustworthy online live dealer casino that we have reviewed so you know that the games you play will be secure, safe, and fair
  2. Make sure that it suits your needs so that you can have the best experience possible
  3. Visit the casino website and navigate to the “register” or “join” page
  4. Begin the sign up process by entering your personal details like full name, address, and email
  5. Validate your account (this is usually done via your mobile or email address)
  6. Go to the banking page to make your first deposit
  7. Choose what banking method you would like to use and the amount of money to add to your account
  8. Make your deposit and then you are ready to enjoy the live online casino games

How do I Play Live Casino Games?

Playing online live dealer casino games for the first time can be a little nerve racking, but you have nothing to worry about. Here at Best Online Casino Reviews, we have reviewed many of the most popular live dealer games so you can understand the game rules before you play.

Once you know the rules to your chosen game, you will have to navigate to the live dealer casino section of your chosen online casino and enter the lobby. From there you can see what games are currently live, how many people are on each table, and what the minimum and maximum bets are.

In order to play a table game you will have to join one that isn’t full and have a stable internet connection so you don’t drop out. If you need any help or have any questions, you can contact your dealer via live chat and they will be able to help you out.

Tips and strategies

Playing live dealer casinos can be so much fun, but everyone knows winning makes playing even more enjoyable. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Have a budget for the night so you don’t deplete all of your bankroll if you aren’t planning on playing aggressively
  • Researching the odds of your chosen live casino game of choice will help you decide what strategy you wish to follow
  • Stay focused and don’t get distracted by outside influences such as alcohol
  • Remember to enjoy yourself and if you aren’t having fun that is a good indication that you should take a break

All you need to know about Live Casino Games

Live dealer games are products offered by online casinos where you get to play like you would in a physical casino. All of the games occur in real time and are broadcasted to your computer or mobile devices so you can enjoy live casino action. Professional dealers control the game and you can interact with via live chat to socialise or ask for help if you need it.

Live casino games are real and there are no predetermined outcomes. This means you are pitting your skills and luck levels against other players and the dealer depending on what game you choose to play. The experience of playing with live people from your own home is unique, entertaining, and exciting. There’s a reason why thousands of New Zealanders choose to play live casino games, there is so much fun to be had!

How live casino games work

Live online casino games are one of the newest innovations in the industry and the way that they work is very interesting. A software provider to your chosen casino will operate a high end television studio that will broadcast HD quality footage to your computer or mobile device.

The studio will be themed like a regular casino is and feature numerous dealers who are controlling games. You choose what game you would like to play and then you will have a video feed of the dealer that includes multiple camera angles and sometimes music to set the mood. You can also be on camera so the dealer sees you, but in most cases it is optional. It takes a whole team to deliver the live casino product since you need professionals like cameraman, technology managers and of course a dealers to make the game run smoothy.

Another important aspect of making live casino games happen is the game control unit. This hardware box encodes the video and without it there would be no broadcast beamed to your computer via the internet.

Live Casino Bonus

Want to get the most bang for your buck? There are some casino bonuses and promotions that will give you extra bankroll for you to use at their live dealer casino. The most common bonuses offered are known as “welcome bonuses” and are awarded to new users that are making their first deposits. Along with welcome bonuses, there are also other special offers that are available for a limited time only. These can include bonus bets, extra bankroll, or free play options.

One aspect of casino bonuses to keep in mind is that many of them will have terms and conditions that limit their use in live casinos. Remember to check casino bonus terms to make sure you can use your bonuses in live casino games.

Live Casino Deposits and Withdrawals

Depositing and withdrawing your hard earned money at NZ live casinos is very easy to understand. Each casino will have different deposit and withdrawal methods available, but there are some that all live dealer casinos will use, such as VISA, MasterCard, Skrill, and bank transfer. These deposit methods will be instant so you can start playing in live dealer casinos online whenever you are ready.

When it comes to withdrawals, there usually are more limited options available, but you can receive your money within 1-3 business days for most withdrawal methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Live Games for free?

Live games are not usually available for free due to the high costs that it takes to produce them. If you are interested in trying live dealer casinos you may be able to use any bonuses you have, or you can play games with very small play-in bets.

Is it safe to play in a Live Casino?

Live deal casinos that we recommend are extremely safe to use. All casinos that we review have been regulated and face stringent reviews to make sure that player security is tight and that the games are fair.

Why should I choose Live Games?

If you love playing in physical casinos live games will be the best choice for you when it comes to online casino games. You will love the live aspect to the game and the social interactions you can have since they are as close as you can get to visiting a casino yourself.

Do I play against a real dealer or against the game software?

When playing live games you will be playing against the dealer in real time or other players since it is a completely live casino game.

Can I play Live Games in mobile?

Yes! Live games are available in some NZ online casinos. If you are interested in playing live games on your mobile make sure that the casino you choose has this option available.

Can I chat with the dealers and other players?

You sure can. This is one of the biggest attractions to playing live games since you will be able to have some fun with likeminded people who love casino games like you do.


Contributor

Kendall Y. Phillips

Kendall Y. Phillips

Responsible for exploring the gambling market and finding new local brands for our analysts and authors.

Interests: Casinos, Betting