The history of crypto gambling in New Zealand
To make informed decisions about crypto gambling in New Zealand, you need to start at the beginning and see how we got to where we are today. That, of course, involves looking back further than the advent of digital currencies – and even before the first online casino became active.
Gambling has been part of life in NZ for many years, with people betting on sporting events, card games, and horse racing since the 1800s. Religious pressures in the early years of the last century caused restrictions to be put in place until the introduction of the Lotto in 1987.
Gaming machines - known of course as ‘pokies’ - in sports clubs followed shortly after, and casinos were legalised just two years later. Online casinos eventually followed after that, as they did in many locations around the world; although that is where much of the confusion lies.
The laws regarding online gambling are complicated but, in general, NZ bettors and players are more likely to be found playing slots and table games at online casinos managed by offshore operators than anywhere else.
Using cryptocurrency in New Zealand
As you would expect, cryptocurrency use in New Zealand mirrors what you might see elsewhere in the world. You are legally allowed to buy and trade crypto, and many businesses accept payment in crypto for their products and services – although this tends to focus on Bitcoin more than any other coin.
In short, all of the pieces are in place. You can use crypto in NZ, and you can use the
best crypto casino sites
run by offshore operators to play slots, table games or even bet on sports if you want. However, as there are so many coins, and almost as many casino options, it could take forever to find the right combination for you.
The pros and cons of the most common cryptocurrencies
When looking at cryptocurrencies, it is always important to look further than Bitcoin – even though any conversation about crypto usually has to start there. This is no different, as most of the pros and cons of Bitcoin are also true for many of the coins you will see being accepted at crypto casinos.
Pros of Bitcoin
When looking for the pros of using Bitcoin at online casinos, it would be hard to begin anywhere else than with the anonymity it offers. While transactions are viewable, they can’t be tracked back to you. So, if you want your online gaming activity to stay private, this is the way to go since nothing will appear on any bank or credit card statements.
You will also be attracted to the speed of transactions when using Bitcoin, and the fact that it is accepted in nearly every crypto casino you are likely to come across. In addition to this, the only limits that you have to worry about are the ones imposed by the crypto casino you are using – or the limits you set for yourself.
With that said, as long as you have the funds in your eWallet, you can use them without a bank looking over your shoulder and asking you to complete forms for every transaction.
Cons of Bitcoin
Bitcoin is very well know and accepted by the community; but as with all things, there is a downside. You can’t have failed to notice that the prices of Bitcoin can be very volatile, and the relative value of your balance can change massively overnight.
In addition to this, the absence of external oversight can be a double-edged sword. There is no legal protection, so Bitcoin is susceptible to scams – not through the lack of security of the coin itself, but because the transactions are irreversible.
So, if you end up sending Bitcoin to somebody who doesn’t follow up on their side of the deal, there is very little to be done in order to reverse the transaction. For crypto gamblers, this makes it very important that you pick your crypto casino very carefully as there are a lot of fraudulent sites out there looking to take your BTC.
Other cryptocurrencies
As mentioned previously, when it comes to crypto casinos, the pros and cons of Bitcoin are very much the same as for other currencies, with one or two exceptions. First of all, Bitcoin is very widely accepted, as are others like Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether.
If you go beyond those, you will find your options will be more limited – as is the case for AuroraCoin. The search for the
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could take a long while without the right help.
Also, while the value of most cryptocurrencies, especially altcoins, tends to rise and fall in time with the overall cryptocurrency markets than their own merits. This means that they will not all be as volatile as Bitcoin, but at the same time, the more obscure coins are the less likely they are to be supported by crypto casinos.
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Finding the place for your crypto gambling in New Zealand
While that might be a lot to take in at once, the biggest takeaway here is that cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. This means you need to research where you open your account thoroughly, so you make the best possible choice when looking for a safe and secure experience.
However, if you are new to crypto casinos, you might not have the slightest idea of what to look for. With that in mind, our team of experts has put together a primer so you can avoid some of the biggest pitfalls and rookie mistakes when choosing your operator.
Check that your choice of crypto casino is legit and licensed to accept customers from NZ
This is listed first because it is the most important. While players from NZ can play at a number of offshore casinos, some of those casinos won’t accept players from NZ. Most reputable crypto casinos will have softwares in place to detect where you are coming from, and they’ll let you know if you can’t access the site – and may even suggest an alternative you can access.
However, this is not always the case and, when you do visit a crypto casino, you should scroll to the bottom and check the licensing details. Also, remember to read the T&Cs to make sure there are no exclusions for NZ there – and of course, to know what the operator is all about.
The next part of the process is to check that there is not too much negative feedback online, which is not always easy with crypto casinos, as many of them are quite new. You will always find a few individual reviews saying they didn’t win often enough, but you’ll need something a little more in-depth like the reviews you’ll find elsewhere on this site.
Other factors that make a great crypto casino for NZ players
While legitimacy is the most important factor, it certainly isn't the only one, and there are other features you need to look out for as well.
Check if they have the games you want
You might be looking for specific games you want to play, like live casino roulette or jackpot slots. If that's the case, you need to check if your favorite games are available before you go any further. If, on the other hand, you are quite new to online casinos, you need to see what the range of games is like.
There will surely be a huge number of slots, but you need to look for variations like megaways and jackpot games. For table games, you should see roulette, blackjack, and video poker, as well as other games like Keno and baccarat. You should also see a similar range in the live casino as well.
It’s also importante that we mention that it’s not just about quantity, as you need to look for big-name providers like NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, and Pragmatic Play to ensure the quality is there too. You might also see some homegrown games, but these can vary in quality and we can’t speak for every one of them.
Attractive welcome bonuses
Online casinos need to attract new players, so they have welcome bonuses in place in order to get you to register. This gives you the chance to claim some attractive
crypto casino bonuses
when you sign up – although they vary from site to site, with some sounding more attractive than others.
The most common type of bonus is a deposit match and, while these are normally 100% matches – effectively doubling your starting bank – larger matches are available. For instance, at Stake.com you can get a 200% deposit match and a 10% rakeback, but only when you use the exclusive code STRAFECASVIP when you join.
You might find other offers like free spins or a bonus bet if a sportsbook is attached to the crypto casino, but no-deposit bonuses tend to be few and far between.
Crypto casinos are usually designed with the customer in mind, but that is not always the case. So, you need to look to see if you can find your way around without too much fuss. You should be able to locate a genre of game, as well as a specific title and the games need to load up and start without any lag.
In addition to the playing side of the site, you also need to investigate account management as well. This will include checking how easy it is to access your account details, so you can easily make deposits and withdrawals if you want.
Check your preferred cryptocurrency is accepted
You already know that Bitcoin is pretty much accepted wherever you go in the crypto-gambling world, but you might have a preference for a different coin. If that’s the case, you should check the list of accepted coins to make sure that your chosen coin is accepted, or at least a viable alternative if the casino is a particularly good fit in all the other areas.
You should also look at the withdrawal process to see if it is as smooth and seamless as you would like it to be.
If you have a problem during your experience with the casino, you will probably want it resolved as quickly as possible. To make sure this happens, you should look for an FAQ page, a help centre, or both, as well as live chat and email address linking you to the support team to resolve anything that is a little more complicated.
Other features to check on
You also need to take a look at the options for regular players, like a VIP club, Loyalty scheme, or something that combines both. You should also be on the lookout for additional promotions that fit in with your playing style.
Use the crypto gambling in New Zealand resources on this site to make your search easier
There is plenty to think about there, and possibly too much for most new NZ crypto players to get their heads around. Here at Strafe, that same team of experts who put together the tips you have just read, have also reviewed and rated the same crypto casinos you will be looking at, using that very same list.
You can access those reviews elsewhere on the site, but you are likely to find these a good fit for crypto gambling in New Zealand.
Emu casino
This is one of the very few crypto casinos that has a special welcome bonus specifically for people from New Zealand. While players from elsewhere get access to a 3-stage deposit match bonus, NZ players get larger deposit matches and free spins at every stage too. Of course, bonuses change over time, so check with the T&Cs before signing up.
Once you have claimed your bonus, you’ll find a wide range of slots and table games, a live casino, and a small number of ongoing promotions. The crypto options are slightly limited here, but would be a good fit if you were intending on using Bitcoin.
Stake.com
Stake.com, on the other hand, accepts a much wider range of coins, so more players will be able to enjoy the interesting game selection here. There are the slots table games and live casino options of course, but there are also Stake Originals – which are not your normal table games and should be checked out shortly after registering.
You can take advantage of the attractive bonus mentioned earlier as well as the ongoing promotion that can change on an almost daily basis. Doind that will help to keep your crypto gambling experience fresh all around, this might be the better choice for the vast majority of players.
Conclusion - crypto gambling in New Zealand is simple once you know where to look
You might have been worried that crypto gambling in New Zealand might be more problematic than elsewhere, but that is not the case. However, there are still some rules you need to be aware of, some for any crypto player, and some directly connected to the NZ gambling laws.
Once you have the knowledge in this guide, you can confidently go about choosing the right crypto casino and the best coin to use. That way you can get your crypto gambling in New Zealand experience off to the best start possible.
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Crypto gambling in New Zealand FAQ
💡Is crypto gambling in New Zealand legal?
NZ gambling laws tend to be complicated, and when you add the extra questions about cryptocurrencies into the equation, you wouldn’t blame anyone for being confused. Our latest guide to crypto gambling in New Zealand will clear up any confusion so that you know exactly what you can and can’t do.
💭 Which is the best NZ crypto casino?
There are plenty of crypto casinos around, but as with all things, some will be a better fit for you than others. Our new guide to crypto gambling in New Zealand will tell you what to look for in a good crypto casino, making it much easier for you to make the right decision.
🎈Do any crypto casinos have bonuses specifically for NZ?
Anyone looking for crypto bonuses will find lots of variation regarding the size of the bonus, the wagering conditions, and the minimum and maximum deposits required. Location specific bonuses, on the other hand, are not as common, and our guide to crypto gambling in New Zealand will let you know if there are any for you.
💸 Do NZ crypto casinos only accept Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is widely accepted everywhere, not just at crypto casinos. However, for many reasons, some players might prefer to play with a different coin. By reading our guide to crypto gambling in New Zealand, you will see what the alternatives are, so you can easily make the best choice for you.
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