Best Online Pokies in NZ

Free pokies on mobile (Android, iPhone)

Nearly everyone's got a bloody smartphone these days, eh? And the options of a mobile casino are right at your fingertips. You don't need to download extra apps to get in on the action. It all runs through your mobile browser, and the top-notch online pokies of a mobile casino are bloody limitless these days.

In the 2010s, things weren't looking too flashy for Kiwi gamblers. Pokies were being made on dodgy Flash engines, which had a significant downside - they weren't adaptable. Playing on small screens was a real pain in the ass. But since the switch to HTML5, everything's changed for the better. Nowadays, all pokies are made using this technology, so you can easily play on your phone no matter what size screen you've got.

Today on your mobile, you can crack at two different game versions.

• Get ready to spin the pokies for cash or fun on Kiwi casino sites (in your browser).
• Get amongst the action with our choice of mobile apps that you can download and play on the go!

The first way is a piece of cake, bro. No need to download any app; just hit up your fave site and get your gamble on. But the second way is the real deal because all the pokies are just a click away. The latest casino apps come with sick bonuses and perks; you don't have to keep entering your log in deets every time.

Not all casinos in Aotearoa have their app for Android and iOS. So, if you want to play the pokies, use your browser. You can't always download the app from Google Play or the Appstore. But don't worry; you can easily find a direct download link on the casino's website. And all the apps on the play markets offer free gambling with regular money (social gambling).

Chur, maybe in the next few years, the bosses will sort it out and let us punters have full access to all the gambling apps in their line-up.

The return of pokies and the profitability of the game

Whether you're playing with play money or real cash, the main thing on a Kiwi gambler's mind is how much they can win. The pokies with the best payout rates are what the pros are after, as they offer the best chance to score big bucks.

The main thing to look out for is the RTP (return to player) rate. It's a percentage (like 92%, 95%, or 98.2%) that tells you how much of your cash you can expect to win back when you play the pokies. So if you deposit $100, a 95% RTP means you could win $95 back in prizes.

How to suss this all out? Let's say 5 punters had a crack at the same pokie and chucked in a grand all up. The total winnings will be grand if the machine's RTP is 97%. But the divvy up of the winnings will vary between the players. For instance, Players 1 and 2 will get less than a grand, Players 3 and 4 will break even, and Player 5 will score the big kahuna, over 9 grand!

If you want to win big, look for pokies with a 96% or higher return. But watch out; bonus rounds might have a different RTP than the main game. And don't be fooled; demo versions of games might have a slightly different return than the real deal.

Although the RTP gives you an idea of how much you could win on a pokie machine, it's also important to consider other factors like the payout ratios for different symbol combos, the potential profit from bonus rounds, whether there are any free spins up for grabs, and the volatility of the pokie (how often and how big the wins are over time).

There are heaps of bloody good pokies with massive payouts!

• Jackpot Jester is a bloody ripper from NextGen Gaming regarding RTP. It's got a 3 x 3 playing area and can give you a return of up to 99% in some cases.
• Mega Joker is a bloody ripper from one of the top dogs in the NetEnt scene. This pokie's got a bloody progressive jackpot, mate. And even when taking it easy, the payout rate can get up to 99%.
• Blood Suckers is a bloody good horror pokie from NetEnt's top-notch collection. With a vampirism theme, this game will surely frighten you. And with a whopping 98% payout rate, you'll be sinking your teeth into some serious winnings.
• You all know the Big Bad Wolf pokie from QuickSpin, a real crowd-pleaser that offers some sweet payouts. This bad boy has a legit return rate of 97.34%, so you know you're in for a good time.

Legality and safety of playing pokies in New Zealand

Pokies in Aotearoa have been fair dinkum legal fun for yonks now, just like the whole gambling scene. But watch out for dodgy sites that don't play by the rules and try to pull a swifty on punters. Give them a wide berth, even if they're offering sweet deals.

On our site, you'll only find fair dinkum and bonzer platforms where you can crack the pokies for free or put some cash on the line.

Here are the key things that legit online casinos in Aotearoa need to tick off:

• Having a license is a bloody good sign. It means the casino has been given the once-over by the regulators, who have ticked all the boxes.
• This platform better be bloody reliable, mate. Have to meet modern standards, work on all the bloody popular devices, and have enough flexibility in the configuration.
• Legit software, mate. Top-notch casinos only work with reputable software providers certified in various places. It's crucial to ensure no dodgy or rigged games on the site where the owner can manipulate the outcome.
• We work with our mates at independent labs and audit companies to ensure our software is fair dinkum, follows the rules of responsible gambling, and has no dodgy business like fraud or money laundering. Some top dogs in the auditing game are eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GamCare, Gambling Aware, NMI, and more.
• No worries from punters, mate. Usually, we're yarning about cash issues when the casino doesn't cough up the dosh or drags its heels on the payout.

Here are some top tips to steer clear of dodgy casino situations:

• Chuck a few coins in the pokies, but make sure you're playing on a legit site. Check they've got a proper license to operate in your neck of the woods.
• Ensure the pokies are loaded on the official servers of the developers, not on dodgy third-party websites.
• Watch out for dodgy imitations and outdated pokies.
• Have a squiz at your fave casino's status on the websites of independent testing labs.
• Don't be a mug and fall for those bonus pokies if the terms seem too good to be true, mate. It's not just about the size of the bonus but how easy it is to meet the wagering requirements.

Remember that top-notch casinos in Aotearoa always play it straight and never rip off their punters. They're all about battling problem gambling because it's a bad look for the whole whanau when players get hooked.

Free pokies and pokies for money - the main differences

Get a load of this, Kiwi punters! The casino has free pokies up for grabs - no real cash bets are required. These bad boys are just for trying out the games and getting a feel for them. That's why they're also known as demo or trial versions of pokies.

Free pokies are mint for newbies who ain't quite ready to chuck their hard-earned cash on the line but are keen to get into the gambling scene. These games allow you to check out the game simulator's content, gadget specs and gameplay.

Free pokies are like the real deal, with the same rules, setup, prizes, buttons and symbols. The only difference is you're playing with demo credits, which don't have any actual value. This pretends cash is there to give you a taste of what it's like to play for real money so you know what to expect when you're ready to put some moolah on the line.

Give it a go" mode lets you:

• Get your head around what a pokie machine is and how it operates in a Kiwi casino.
• Know what payouts you can score and how to hit those winning combos.
• Get clued up on payout ratios and how to work out your potential winnings.
• Get clued up on triggering bonuses and scoring the most significant wins possible.
• Figure out what decides how often and how much you win on the pokies (variance, payout rate).
• Get clued up on how to tweak the dials, switch up your wagers and take charge of the pokie contraption.
• Give different methods and strategies a go.
• Get your hands on the most generous pokies with heaps of free spins and bonuses, where you can score some serious wins.

When it comes to pokies in the casino, there's a bit of a difference between the free ones and the paid ones.

• Give the freebies a go, but watch the clock - they're just a taster. You must refresh the page when the timer runs out to keep spinning. Hit up the full-fledged pokies for the real deal and play to your heart's content - no limits, just pure gambling bliss.
• Some of the gaming features might not be available on the free devices. Usually, the big kahuna progressive jackpots are off-limits.
• Another bloody interface. In bloody demos, the bloody look of the control panel might be different, but also the names of the bloody buttons. However, the original bloody trial pokies have got to have the same bloody window appearance.
• Listen up - the volatility's pretty steady when you play free pokies. But when you start chuckin' some cash down, the volatility can increase.
• You might want to hit up those free online pokies because they could have a better chance of paying out. The RTP could be higher, so give them a go!

The main pros and cons of free pokies

The biggest perks of playing free pokies are:

• Heaps of chances to give it a go and get some practice in, plus a massive range of games to get your teeth into before you start throwing down some real cash.
• No worries, mate! There's no chance of getting caught out or losing your shirt here.
• Get off to a quick start, mate! No need to sign up; just a few clicks, and you're in the game.
• No worries, mate! You don't have to chuck any cash to have a flutter.
• Most of the top pokies are available in demo mode, bro. Give them a spin and see if they're your cup of tea before you chuck any cash down.
• Gettin' the hang of gamblin' for your enjoyment.
• Get a full rundown of the pokie machine scene from the comfort of your crib.

Demo games at the casino are a bit of a letdown, eh? They don't quite hit the mark.

• You can't make a bloody dime. This is the real deal, mate. After a while, this kind of fun is just a waste of your precious time. You could be making some severe cash from good games instead.
• I do not know some of the pokies without a demo version.
• You can't have a crack at some of the bonus modes.
• Don't forget to refresh the page now and then.
• Just a heads up, the gameplay settings might differ from the usual mode, so keep that in mind, bro.
• Bugger, I can't cash out my winnings.

Pros and Cons of Playing for Money in New Zealand Slots

Playing the pokies for cash is a new game in your gambling journey.

Their bare-bones perks include:

• Get ready to boost your bankroll quickly with some sweet deposit bonuses!
• Get in on the action with access to massive jackpot draws. These jackpots can reach millions, and you can score your lucky ticket with just a bit of luck.
• The biggest buzz. No bloody freebie can match it. True thrill only comes when there's something on the line.
• Get ready to battle it out with other punters in cash tournaments! This is a one-of-a-kind way to compete against real players rather than just relying on the pokies' random number generator.
• The use of bonus cash and extra bikkies from the rewards scheme.

The most significant downsides of playing the pokies for cash are:

• Every punt is a fair dinkum amount that gets removed from your balance once the pokies start spinning.
• Say you scored a bonus in a pokie where you've got to call the shots - taking a timeout ain't an option.