New Zealand is a notoriously sports-mad country. It’s home to the rugby team which dominated the 2010’s, and the likes of cricket, football, and horse racing are also tremendously popular. As is usually the case with such countries, the people of New Zealand have also been known to enjoy a bet. For the 2017 Melbourne Cup, 10% of the entire population was believed to have wagered on the race. In general, it’s been estimated that some 40% of Kiwis gamble regularly.
It’s somewhat surprising that there’s only one legalised sportsbook based in New Zealand itself – the TAB. In reality though, punters in the country have far more options than this, with dozens of excellent sports betting sites to choose from. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about these platforms, including how we’ve evaluated them, and how to pick the best site for yourself.
Best New Zealand Sports Betting Sites in 2023
- All
Up To NZ$2,500 + NZ$10 Free Bet
Up To NZ$2,500 + NZ$10 Free Bet
- Excellent choice for live betting
- Range of supported payment methods
- Extensive coverage of eSports markets
First Deposit Bonus Up To NZ$200
First Deposit Bonus Up To NZ$200
- Superb in-play markets
- Extensive rugby & cricket markets
- Withdrawals processed quickly
100% First Deposit Bonus Up To NZ$150
100% First Deposit Bonus Up To NZ$150
- Excellent coverage of American sports
- 25% Comboboost available on all sports
- Range of promotions including reload bonuses & free bets
100% Sports Bonus Up To NZ$200
100% Sports Bonus Up To NZ$200
- Market leading odds
- Great host of betting promotions
- Impeccable customer support
100% Up To $100 NZD +20 Free Spins in Starburst
100% Up To $100 NZD +20 Free Spins in Starburst
- Large welcome offer
- 10% weekly bonus
- Good range of sports & esports
100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $200
100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $200
- Range Of Sports And Casino Bonuses
- Huge Range Of Live Betting Markets
- Cryptocurrency Payment Methods Available
Bet $10 & Get A $60 Free Bet
Bet $10 & Get A $60 Free Bet
- Virtual sports available
- Live betting and cashout features
- Many betting markets with very competitive odds
Get a Free Sports Bet up to NZ$60
Get a Free Sports Bet up to NZ$60
- Outstanding sports coverage
- Established international bookmaker
- Available to All NZ Customers
Risk-free bet up to NZ$200
Risk-free bet up to NZ$200
- Bet on your smartphone with Leon Android app
- Huge variety of sports markets
- 24/7 customer support
Bet £15 Get £10 Free Bet
Bet £15 Get £10 Free Bet
- 2021 launched UK bookmaker
- Up to 77% more extra winnings on you Combo wins
- Wide range of markets including Novelty bets
100% Welcome Bonus Up To $400
100% Welcome Bonus Up To $400
- Huge Range of Betting Markets
- Big Focus on E-Sports Betting
- Easy To Navigate Sportsbook
100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $200
100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $200
- Recurring Weekly Offers
- Sports, Casino and Virtuals Betting
- Huge Jackpot Wins Available
Get 100% Up To $100 NZD
Get 100% Up To $100 NZD
- Over 40 sports available
- Provides live chat support
- Excellent choice of promotions
$10 Risk Free Bet
$10 Risk Free Bet
- Great range of in Play Markets
- Quick Payouts
- Excellent ongoing player promotions
100% Bonus up to $200 NZD
100% Bonus up to $200 NZD
- Great range of betting markets
- Competitive odds across the board
- Excellent for virtual sports betting
Bet $10, Get $30
Bet $10, Get $30
- Excellent sports betting odds
- Leading bookie for rugby
- Good selection of promotions
Deposit $10 Get $30 in Free Bets
Deposit $10 Get $30 in Free Bets
- Choice of welcome bonuses
- Big range of sports betting options
- Massive selection of Casino games
100% Match, up to €100 ($170)
100% Match, up to €100 ($170)
- Enticing ongoing promotions
- iOS and Android apps
- Crypto payments supported
100% Match, up to $250
100% Match, up to $250
- Large welcome bonus
- Easy to use sportsbook on desktop and mobile
- Competitive odds across the board
50% On Your First Deposit Up To $50
50% On Your First Deposit Up To $50
- Promotions for new & existing punters
- Easy to use on desktop and mobile
- 30+ sports found
125% Sports Welcome Bonus
125% Sports Welcome Bonus
- Regular Sports Promotions
- VIP Loyalty Programme
- Range Of Virtual Sports Games
100% Match, up to $100
100% Match, up to $100
- Licensed bookie in New Zealand
- Live horse racing streaming
- Nice range of ongoing promotions
100% Match, up to $180
100% Match, up to $180
- Helpful live betting tools
- Loyalty program available
- ‘One-click bet’ feature
100% Match, up to $100
100% Match, up to $100
- Cash out on most sports markets
- Enhanced winnings on accas
- Many prop markets
100% Match, up to $100
100% Match, up to $100
- User-friendly navigation
- Good live betting markets
- Highly competitive odds
How We Ranked the Best NZ Sports Betting Sites
When it comes to betting sites which can be accessed from New Zealand, there are a whole lot of excellent options. These will typically provide a highly modernised and enjoyable gambling experience, along with special offers, useful features, and so on.
Sorting through all of these for yourself would be incredibly time-consuming, which is why we’ve happily done the hard work for you. We’ve looked at dozens of these online betting sites, and sorted them into rankings. These are some of the most important factors we looked at when ranking the best betting sites for Kiwis.
Certain special features are purely there for show. Like some welcome offers, they’re simply there to catch the eyes of newcomers. Some do genuinely improve the betting experience for punters, though. Live streaming is arguably the best of the bunch, although it’s relatively rare on NZ betting sites. The likes of bet builders and custom odds requests make betting noticeably more convenient, and both the availability and quality of mobile apps are highly important nowadays.
As our name suggests, this is always one of our top priorities when evaluating bookies at Safe Betting Sites. Simply put, when your hard-earned money is on the line, you want to be sure it’s being looked after. Online betting sites have come a long way in their security measures in recent years. This is absolutely the case with New Zealand betting sites too. Most should have SSL in place, which encrypts the transmission of all sensitive data, alongside firewalls to secure their servers. Know Your Customer checks also help to prevent identity fraud, and 2 Factor Authentication is a useful way to assist punters in protecting their account.
Almost all top betting sites have special offers in place. They’re a tried-and-tested way to not only attract new customers, but to keep them coming back over the long-term. Often however, these promotions are not as appealing as they first appear. We take the time to delve into the details of these deals, and evaluate how much value they actually hold, when the full T&Cs are taken into account. We also judge online betting sites on how clearly they explain their offers, and the regularity with which they refresh their offerings.
Making a long-term profit from betting is challenging enough. It gets a whole lot harder when you’re being given poor prices. We’ve taken the time to evaluate the odds across the betting sites we’ve evaluated. Specifically, we’ve compared the prices on major markets at each bookie to those of their competitors. Any which were consistently low were docked major points, while those with regularly competitive odds were rewarded accordingly.
Best Betting Sites Sign Up Offers in New Zealand
The vast majority of sports betting sites will have a sign up offer in place. It’s not hard to see why. For the bookie, they’re arguably the most reliable and proven way to bring in new customers. For the bettor, they deliver sizable rewards quickly, and give your new betting account a great kick-start.
Most New Zealand betting sites do indeed have welcome offers in place. Compared to bookies in countries such as the UK however, these ones provide relatively little variety in their deals. The likes of ‘Bet X, Get Y’ and ‘Risk-Free Bet’ promotions – which are common for British bettors – are rare here. Instead, one promotion type is dominant – the ‘Deposit Match’.
That’s not a bad thing, by any means, especially because those deposit matches are often 100%. This means that – whatever the size of your first deposit – it will be matched as a free bet (up to a certain limit). Your spending power is effectively doubled straight away, and those free bets can prove very useful, especially if you’re following a matched betting strategy.
There is a catch, however. Even the top betting sites in New Zealand will usually have rollover requirements in place. This means that you must wager through either your deposit, or your deposit plus the bonus, before you can actually withdraw any winnings. In the best cases you will only have to do so once, but sometimes you must do so five, 10, or even 15 times.
Before signing up to any New Zealand betting sites therefore, be sure to check the T&Cs on their welcome offer. Look carefully not only at the size of the rollover requirements, but also any odds and market restrictions which come with it.
$10 Risk Free Bet $10 Risk Free Bet 50% On Your First Deposit Up To $50 50% On Your First Deposit Up To $50 Bet $10, Get $30 Bet $10, Get $30
Betting Markets Available for NZ Punters
The top betting sites for Kiwi customers – including the ones we’ve recommended – can compete with the very biggest names when it comes to markets. They offer tens of thousands of betting opportunities per month, spread across pre-match, in-play, and outright markets. Most will offer over 20 or 25 different individual sports to wager on, which – again – is comparable to what you’d get at any premium sportsbook elsewhere in the world.
With rugby being the national sport of New Zealand, it also naturally draws the most betting action. We’re pleased to say that fans of both union and league are well-served in this respect. Naturally all the biggest international contests are represented. Domestic coverage tends to be excellent too though, with top competitions like Super Rugby typically available for both match-by-match and outright wagers.
Football also receives universally excellent coverage from New Zealand betting sites. Leagues and cup competitions from across Europe, Asia, and Australasia are all available to wager on, from the English FA Cup to the A-League. You’ll also typically find a constant stream of live betting opportunities, plus outright markets like Overall Winner and Top Goalscorer for most major competitions.
Elsewhere, both domestic and international cricket are generally well-represented. Kiwi punters can also easily bet on the likes of golf, tennis, motorsports, boxing, mixed martial arts, and so on. The very top betting sites will also allow you to wager on horse racing from Australia (including the Melbourne Cup), South Africa, and Europe.
How to Choose the Best NZ Betting Site
The internet age has brought with it an unprecedented amount of choice in many areas. This is absolutely the case with online betting sites in NZ too, with dozens of good options for you to pick between.
We’ve already helped to narrow the field, by curating 10 of the very best options for you at the top of this page. To provide a little more guidance though, here are some of the most important factors you should consider when making the final choice between sports betting sites.
Specific Markets
Firstly, be sure that a bookie features the sports you actually want to bet on, whether they be cricket, rugby, football, or whatever else. You’ll then need to zoom in further, and check that your favourite competitions are in place. If you’re a fan of Australian domestic cricket for example, while most betting sites will let you bet on the glitzy IPL, fewer will support the Big Bash.
Also, if you’re a fan of particular bet types, be sure to check that these are supported. All betting sites will have Match Result wagers, but fewer will support the likes of Asian handicaps, player props, and so on.
Payment Methods
Again, you should focus on ensuring that a bookie provides the particular payment methods which you actually want to use. If you don’t like handing out your credit or debit card details, for example, you’ll need to look for alternative options like e-Wallets. Likewise, if you prefer using cryptos over traditional currencies, you’ll need to ensure a bookie supports these in advance.
Another area to check is whether a bookie allows payments direclty in NZD. If not, you may lose some money when it’s converted into a different currency, or even be charged an additional conversion fee.
Customer Support
This is a particularly crucial area if you’re newer to sports betting, but even the most experienced punters run into issues. Either way, you must be sure that any queries you have will get answered quickly.
There are several ways to do this. You can check the contact options in advance, with live chat being the most important. Look into the coverage hours too, and see if they align with your schedule. On some betting sites, you can even get in touch with customer service agents without needing to sign up, and gauge their helpfulness for yourself.
Ease of Use
The extent to which a platform feels ‘usable’ depends completely on the individual. A betting site which feels intuitive to one person might be completely confusing to someone else.
It’s highly important, therefore, to test betting sites for yourself before committing to them. You can do so without needing to deposit any money, or even register. Simply head to the website or download the mobile app, spend some time navigating around the interface, and gauge how comfortable it feels for you personally to use.
Promotions
All promotions will deliver rewards in one form or another to bettors. The actual form those rewards take can vary wildly, though. You want to be sure in advance that a bookie’s promotions are going to work for you, and fit into the way you bet.
If you’re a fan of accumulator betting for example, we’d recommend targeting promotions like Acca Insurance or Acca Boost. Is horse racing your favourite sport to bet on? Then look for Best Odds Guaranteed and Extra Places deals. If you’re following a risk-free betting strategy, seek out any and all promotions which give you free bets.
Payment Methods Available to Punters in NZ
This is another area in which we’ve seen a huge amount of growth in recent years, in terms of the sheer number of available options. Once again, we’re happy to say that this also translates to betting sites for punters in New Zealand.
Credit and debit cards remain the most common payment methods for bettors, and both Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted by sportsbooks. Bank transfer is another extremely popular option. New Zealand betting sites often allow you to either wire them the money directly, or use an intermediary like Trustly. Aside from that, you’ll typically find a few e-Wallets supported, such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller.
As for actual currencies, quite a few top betting sites actually accept deposits in New Zealand dollars, including 22Bet, and 1xBet. The same is true for AUD, or – if you’d prefer to use USD or EUR for any reason – these are also widely-welcomed. Some off-shore bookies also accept cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, but this is much less common.
All betting sites will also have deposit and withdrawal limits in place, which can vary significantly from bookie to bookie. When it comes to minimum limits though, these actually tend to be far more forgiving with off-shore brands than more established sportsbooks. Often you can deposit as little as 5 USD (7 NZD), which is far below the industry standard in the UK (10 GBP, or 17 NZD).
Here is a table showing details on all the available payment methods for our 10 recommended best betting sites.
| Bookmaker | Payment Methods | Fees per / method | Min deposit | Withdrawal time |
| Conquestador | MuchBetter, Visa, MasterCard, Jeton, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, ecoPayz, ApplePay, AstroPay | No fees | All methods – $10 | MuchBetter, Jeton, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, AstroPay: instant Visa: 1-3 days Bank transfer: 3-5 days |
| Rabona | Paysafecard, Skrill, Skrill Rapid, Neteller, Visa, MasterCard, Flexepin, MuchBetter, Jeton, BCH, BTC, USDT, LTC, ETH, XRP, DAI, USD | No fees | All methods – $20 | All: 1-3 days |
| BetiBet | Visa, MasterCard, Coinspaid(BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, DOG, USDT, XRP), Skrill, Skrill Rapid MiFinity, Neteller, Bank Transfer, Paysafecard, Jeton | No fees | All $20 except: BTC:0.0001; BCH:0.001; ETH:0.01; LTC:0.01; DOG:1; USDT:0.0001; XRP:0.001 |
Coinspaid: Instant Mifinity: Instant Bank Transfer:3-5 days |
| PowBet | Paysafecard, Skrill, Skrill 1-Tap, Neteller, Visa, MasterCard, Flexepin, MuchBetter, Jeton, Voucher, BCH, BTC, USDT, LTC, ETH, XRP, DAI, USD | No fees | All methods – $20 | All: 1-3 days |
| ShangriLa | Visa, MasterCard, ecoPayz, Neteller, Skrill, Yandex, Qiwi, MuchBetter, PerfectMoney, AstroPay, Voucher, Bank Transfer, USDT, BTC, ETH,USD, BNC, LTC, XRP | Unknown | Unknown | Visa, MasterCard, ecoPayz, Neteller, Skrill, Yandex, Qiwi, MuchBetter, PerfectMoney, AstroPay, Bank Transfer, USDT, BTC, ETH,USD, BNC, LTC, XRP |
| LibraBet | Visa, MasterCard, PostePay, ecoPayz, Neteller, Skrill, PaySafe, Bank Transfer, AstroPay, Voucher, USDT, LTC, ETH, BTC | Unknown | Unknown | Visa, MasterCard, PostePay, ecoPayz, Neteller, Skrill, PaySafe, Bank Transfer, AstroPay, USDT, LTC, ETH, BTC, |
| 21LuckyBet | Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Paysafe, Trustly, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, ZondaPay, AstroPay, Neteller, Skrill, | No fees | $10-20 | Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Paysafe, Trustly, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, ZondaPay, AstroPay, Neteller, Skrill, |
| Betway | Credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Much Better, ecoPayz, Neosurf | No fees | All methods – $10 | e-Wallets – under 24 hours Credit/debit cards – 1-3 working days Other methods – 1-7 working days |
| Leon | Visa, MasterCard, NeoSurf, Voucher | Unknown | Unknown | Visa, MasterCard |
| Mr.Mega | Xanpay, Visa, MasterCard, NeoSurf, Paysafecard, Jeton, ecoPayz, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter | No fees | All methods – $10 | Visa: 0-6 days Jeton: 0-2 days EcoPayz: 0-4 days Neteller: 0-2 days MuchBetter: 0-2 days |
Best CSGO Betting Sites in New Zealand
The rise of eSports in recent years has been astounding. From being a small niche, they’re now watched by huge crowds around the world, with the prize money at tournaments numbering in the millions of US dollars.
One of the biggest individual games is Counter Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO. This fast-paced, team-based shooter has been enormously popular for years. Online betting sites have tapped into the eSports boom for years now, and it’s no surprise to see that CS:GO has been one of their main focuses.
If you’re a CSGO fan based in New Zealand, you’ll have no trouble at all wagering on this game at the very highest level. Just about every sportsbook we’ve recommended will have an eSports section, and the vast majority of those will include Counter Strike. All the biggest tournaments will typically be available to bet on, from the ESL Pro League, to the Masters, ESL, Dreamhack, and more.
CSGO betting sites not only provide pre-match betting, but in-play too. Whichever route you choose, you’ll be able to pick between a wide selection of bet types. Naturally these start with simple ‘To Win’ wagers, but you can also bet on the winning margin, the first team to win 15 rounds, and even place handicap bets.
Finally, many CS:GO betting sites will allow you not only to bet on the action, but to stream it too. Typically this is done via Twitch integration, with no minimum wager required in order to start watching along.
- All
50% On Your First Deposit Up To $50
50% On Your First Deposit Up To $50
- Promotions for new & existing punters
- Easy to use on desktop and mobile
- 30+ sports found
Bet $10, Get $30
Bet $10, Get $30
- Excellent sports betting odds
- Leading bookie for rugby
- Good selection of promotions
100% Match, up to $100
100% Match, up to $100
- Cash out on most sports markets
- Enhanced winnings on accas
- Many prop markets
Mobile Sports Betting in New Zealand
The way in which people wager has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. Having already moved from brick-and-mortar betting shops to desktop-based platforms, the landscape is now shifting again. Nowadays, more and more people are making mobile devices their preferred places to bet.
This is the case in New Zealand, just as it is elsewhere around the world, with bettors here just as well-served in this respect as those in the UK and USA. Almost all of the top betting sites which accept Kiwi punters will also provide them with mobile apps, usually for both iOS and Android devices.
For the most part, these manage to replicate the functionality of desktop websites as closely as possible. They certainly allow you to carry out all the most important actions, such as browsing markets, placing and cashing out bets, accessing the customer support options, and so on. Apps for the very top betting sites will also provide a range of special features, even including live streaming of rugby, cricket, and football directly from your mobile device.
Crucially though, a good mobile app must make certain accommodations for smaller screen sizes. Rather than simply copying and pasting the layout from the desktop site, they should create a whole new navigation which uses collapsable and scrolling menus, and limits the amount of text shown on screen. Usability really is key with mobile apps, and – before signing up to any NZ betting sites – we’d highly recommend downloading their apps and trying them out for yourself.
Online Gambling Law in NZ
As in neighbouring Australia, there are some pretty significant legal restrictions on gambling in New Zealand. In this case they come from the New Zealand Gambling Act, which was passed in 2003.
Amongst other rules, this law made it illegal for new bookmakers to be created within the country, beyond what was already in place in 2003. Naturally, this has prohibited the creation of new online sportsbooks. In fact, the only New Zealand-based betting platform which currently operates online is the TAB, meaning it effectively holds a legal monopoly within the country.
There is a crucial loophole here, of course – the Gambling Act only applies to activities originating within New Zealand, not those originating outside the country. Thus, it does not apply to the hundreds of sportsbooks which are based elsewhere, many of which are more than happy to accept Kiwi punters. These include very well-known and successful British brands like Betway.
Overall therefore, to put it clearly, you can definitely bet legally if you live in New Zealand. You’ll simply need to go with one of the many excellent off-shore options out there, with your only native option being TAB.co.nz.
Final Thoughts
Australia is New Zealand’s closest neighbour, and has similarly harsh legal restrictions on the creation of new sportsbooks. In reality however, there’s no contest as to which country gets a better deal when it comes to betting sites.
While the residents of New Zealand only have one native sportsbook they can use the law does not prohibit them from using any foreign betting sites which accept them. That list includes a whole lot of good choices, but we do recommend you find a site that appeals to you.
As a bettor, all you need to do now is pick between these appealing options, sign up, and – if you so choose – start using their welcome offer. Whether you go with one of our recommended betting sites, or find your own, we wish you a fun, safe, and responsible betting experience.
Up To NZ$2,500 + NZ$10 Free Bet
Up To NZ$2,500 + NZ$10 Free Bet
- Excellent choice for live betting
- Range of supported payment methods
- Extensive coverage of eSports markets
FAQ
Is sports betting legal in New Zealand?
Yes. It’s illegal for new sportsbooks to be created nowadays, meaning there’s only one option within the country itself - the TAB. There’s no law against citizens betting online though, and they are free to use betting sites which aren’t based in New Zealand.
What are the best New Zealand betting sites?
Famous brands such as 888sport, and Betway all accept Kiwi customers. The likes of 22Bet and MELbet are lesser-known, but are also solid all-round bookies.
What payment methods can I use on betting sites in NZ?
Visa and Mastercard are universally-accepted, and bank transfer is extremely common. Certain e-Wallets will usually be supported too, like PayPal, and most of our recommended options will allow you to deposit directly in NZD.
What sports can I bet on in NZ?
The coverage for rugby union and rugby league is excellent, both for international and domestic competitions. You can also bet on cricket, football, golf, tennis, and plenty more.
Do New Zealand betting sites have mobile apps?
Yes. These are usually available for both iOS and Android devices, and the standard tends to be extremely high.