Get the Latest Ratings on NZ Poker
Alongside the top 5 poker sites you can see on the shortlist, we've compiled a list of sites that contain the widest variety of real cash poker games, exclusively at top-of-the-line online poker rooms. The ratings and reviews on this site are created specifically with NZ players in mind.
The guides and reviews here are easy for you to use and follow. Using our specialised ratings, you'll be able to find the perfect venue to suit your tastes.
Our reviews cover a specific range of topics, including:
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Game variety, featuring the widely popular Texas Hold'em
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Scheduled tournament, sit n' go and freeroll availability
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Deposit bonuses and one-off promotions
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VIP Club and other rewards programmes
You'll also find the most recent information on the best promotions and special bonuses open to new and existing players. There's no better place to get all the latest real money gaming action in New Zealand.
With a quick and easy download and registration process, sites make it so easy for you start playing, straight away. It can take minutes from downloading the software to posting your blinds at a cash table.
We've gone the extra mile to make these reviews of the highest standard. Therefore, you can be confident that you're getting the most current information on the most popular gaming rooms in NZ.
Discover why this site is your all-inclusive guide to poker in New Zealand.
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Our team of seasoned players does a full background check on each New Zealand poker site. Who owns it, where is the company registered and all relevant information is researched.
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We deposit on each site as regular players and get a feel for the games and opponents. We also ask some very specific questions to the site's support team
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Based on all the information we gathered we then write an extended review. We say things as they are, whether good or bad
Poker Variants New Zealanders Can Play
There are many different types of poker available, and online poker rooms have the freedom to offer all of them at the same time, as they have no space restrictions like land casinos. Online poker will always have something to offer for players who are looking for something new to bet their NZ dollars on. Some of the most common online poker variations are Five-card draw, Omaha, Stud, Texas Hold'em, and Razz.
Five-card draw is played by dealing each player a full hidden hand. Stud poker deals players a mix of face-up and face-down cards, and its most common variants are Five Stud and Seven Stud. Texas Hold'em and Omaha are both community card poker types, where the players' hands are made up of hidden cards, combined with shared face-up cards, and the two variants differ in the number of cards dealt to each player and as community cards. Finally, in Razz it is the lowest hand that wins the pot, and the value of cards in lowball poker like Razz can be different between variants.
If these all seem a bit too straightforward for you, there are also a number of different mixed poker games, such as H.O.R.S.E., which is a combination of Texas Hold'em, Omaha high-low, Razz, Seven-card stud and Seven-card stud Eight-or-better, where each variant is played for a couple of hands, before moving on to the next. Regardless of the type you choose though, the casinos we recommend you all accept NZ dollars.
Playing Poker Online Through Your Mobile Device
The top online poker rooms have ensured that their players can play from anywhere and through any device they favour, thanks to HTML5 and the latest security and coding protocols. Nowadays, poker rooms offer dedicated poker apps to their players, which can be specifically customized to your preferred device for best performance, be it Fire Tablets, Samsung Galaxy smartphone, Blackberry devices, HTC phones or any other brand you may be a fan of.
iPhone
iPhone users are well aware of the gap in available apps between Android and iPhone due to the ease in making new apps for Android, and the corresponding difficulty of the same in iOS systems. However, NZ poker sites have worked hard in the past couple of years to ensure that iPhone users have the same access to real cash poker as everybody else.
iPad
While mobile devices in 2024 come with larger screens than older mobile phones did, and both web design and the available iOS have improved hugely, online poker still looks so much better on the wider screen of iPads and poker rooms now customize their apps to perform according to the device they are accessed through.
Android
Android users have always been lucky in the quantity, if not always the quality of apps they have access to. However, with the advent of Java and HTML5, online poker sites have become much more capable of producing high quality gaming apps that allow you to take your real cash poker game anywhere you want, be it the dentist's waiting room, or on the bus.
Tablet
Most tablets use a variety of Android software, allowing them full access to all Android-based apps, including all the fantastic online poker apps that NZ poker rooms are putting out in 2024. Fire tablets, which use specialised Fire tablet software, can now also be used for playing online poker for real money, as new apps are optimized specifically for Fire tablets, too.
Windows phone and BlackBerry
With all the advents in web and software design, Windows phones and BlackBerry smart devices have also not been forgotten by the mobile apps of the large poker sites. Whether you are a proud Nokia Lumia owner or you trust your BlackBerry to cover all your smart device needs, there is an online poker app just for you out there.
Should You Play Online Poker For Free Or For Real Money?
Many of the top online poker sites offer you the ability to play their games for free. Most of the time you won't even need to sign up in order to do this. However, after a while you will be able to better appreciate playing for real money, as once you sign up and deposit real cash into your new gaming account you become eligible for a whole load of different bonuses, offers, extra levels, perks, and even design improvements. While playing for free will allow you to hone your skills and become a better player at familiar, as well as new games and casinos, real money games will unlock even more games, and of course, lead you to monetary gains!
The Best New Zealand Poker Sites Reviewed
We understand that your gaming experience isn't just about bonuses and promotions for New Zealand players. You also want to have access to the latest and fastest, state-of-the-art software, whether you're playing online poker for free or with real money. Therefore, our ratings take this into account when assessing each online room we review. We want to play on the best available poker software, just like you.
In our specialised ratings and reviews, we've compiled the top names in online poker technology and innovation, all under one roof. We check the download and sign up process for speed and simplicity. We rigorously test the table features, including buy-ins, bet and raise buttons and overall site navigation.
No stone is left unturned in our endeavour to make certain that New Zealanders have the best in online entertainment.
With a quick and easy download and registration process, New Zealand poker rooms make it so easy for you start playing, straight away. It can take minutes from downloading the software to posting your blinds at a cash table. You can even choose to play on Windows and/ or Mac operating systems.
And, we've also reviewed the latest mobile poker apps. These give Kiwi players to access to games 24 hours of the day, and the ability to play real cash games from anywhere they choose.
More choices for you means a better overall experience playing poker online.
Ready to get started? Let's play!
Frequently Asked Questions
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There are many good poker rooms on the internet for Kiwi players. Our detailed reviews will guide you to the top 5 poker sites for NZ players, where you can safely engage in some of the best poker games you have ever played, and win.
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Many of the best and largest New Zealand poker rooms have free games for players who are trying them out. Once you have chosen a site that matches your needs and interest, you can sign up and make your first deposit to unlock further game varieties, bonuses and other perks.
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Free poker games are great if you haven't decided on a poker room yet, or if you are unsure that the site is safe. Once you have chosen a safe, reliable poker room that offers the games and perks you are interested in, real money play becomes a better option for you as it allows you a larger choice in games, as well as various bonuses, and of course, the chance to win real cash!
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All of the best online poker sites offer mobile poker in 2024. They can either have websites that have been optimized for various screen sizes and operating systems, or have specialised mobile apps that offer all the same features and menus, but designed specifically for your favourite handheld device.
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Most large online poker sites organise regular online poker or live poker tournaments to keep their players interested and their skills honed. Such events usually happen every couple of months, bi-yearly or yearly.