Optimise your playtime and win more with Casino Bonuses
Casino bonuses are an excellent way for you to win more from a casino. But for this to happen, you need to find the best casino bonuses and use them wisely.
What is a Casino Bonus?
Online casino bonuses come in various guises.
They share the same aimâ to give you bonus money or spins to play with â even though they all come with specific terms and conditions.
Who would refuse a couple of extra bucks these days?
Online casinos use bonuses as their primary marketing tactic to attract new players and retain existing ones too!
But are online casino bonuses always worth going for?
Or can they simply be empty promises, designed to get you to part with your cash?
Are casino bonuses worth claiming?
The reality is that some casino bonuses may indeed be too good to be true.
There are some unreputable casinos that will lure you in with bonus money, but it will be difficult to win anything from it!
They sometimes hide their most significant terms and conditions or make them highly ambiguous.
Though you might like the idea of getting $200 in bonuses to use on the latest online pokies or table games, there are some things you should be watching out for.
If the small print contains unrealistic wagering requirements that make it very unlikely to win anything from your bonus, you may wonder why you should even bother with casino bonuses.
But thatâs where we come in.
At NZCasino, we keep an eye on all online casinos that welcome players from New Zealand, in our search for the best casino bonuses.
Our mission is to make casino welcome bonuses easy to understand, and to list the biggest and most worthwhile bonuses too, naturally.
Did you know?
Online pokies generally contribute 100% towards the wagering requirements of a casino bonus. Some table games will contribute less, which means that you need to keep wagering your bonus for longer, whereas some games are excluded from bonus wagering altogether.
Bringing you the best casino bonuses in New Zealand!
Itâs our mission to carefully select the fairest and most rewarding online casino bonuses that Kiwi players can safely claim.
There is a method to this selection process.
All the casino bonuses listed at the top of this page were selected because they meet the below criteria.
We only recommend bonuses from licensed casinos
The casino bonuses listed on NZCasino are offered by casinos that are licensed by a reputable gambling jurisdiction.
These include the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and Curacao eGaming, all of which have stringent licensing conditions related to fair gaming.
By selecting the best casino bonus offers from licensed casinos, our visitors can rest assured that each bonus complies with the below:
- All terms and conditions linked to a casino bonus are accessible and non-ambiguous.
- All players will have their bonus funds stored separately to their cash funds, and will know when they are playing with a bonus and when theyâre not.
- Terms and conditions related to the casino bonus cannot be changed once a player has opted in.
What to look for in an online casino bonus
There are a number of things to watch out for before you decide whether a casino bonus is worth getting your hands on!
By looking out for the below factors in a bonusâs terms and conditions, you will be in the best position to make the best of your bonus, and might even save yourself from disappointment later on.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements, or playthrough requirements, come hand in hand with even some of the best casino bonuses.
They are displayed as a number followed by the multiplication symbol (x), which shows how many times you need to wager the bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings in cash.
For example, a $50 casino bonus with a 20x multiplier must be played through 20 times (so you must wager a total of $400) before the casino will allow you to withdraw any remaining winnings as cash to your bank account or e-wallet.
What are game restrictions?
Some online casinos will exclude some games in their collection from bonus wagering. This means that you wonât be able to use your bonus on these games.
For example, itâs very common for operators to exclude Blackjack and Baccarat from their bonuses.
This is because these games have the lowest house edge, which makes it much easier for players to clear their wagering requirements without losing.
However, the best casino bonuses can be used on a vast selection of pokies and table games.
How do turnover requirements work?
Different casino games often come with different âweightingsâ with regard to bonus wagering requirements.
Most online pokies will carry a 100% weighting towards turnover requirements, and every cent you stake will contribute towards clearing that bonus.
However, certain casinos will limit the weighting of live casino games and table games to just 10%, which means that only 10c of every $1 staked will contribute to the wagering requirements.
This means that it would take you much longer if you decide to wager your bonus on these games.
Minimum/maximum stake
If you decide to go for a bonus, itâs important to deposit at least the minimum required to claim that bonus.
Most online casinos offering a deposit match bonus will also put a limit on the number of bonus funds you can get.
For example, you may get a 100% bonus up to $100, at a minimum deposit of $10. This means that if you deposit $100, you get another $100 in bonus funds. But if you deposit $200, you will still get the maximum of $100 in bonuses.
What is bonus validity?
Itâs important to note if your casino bonus comes with an expiry date!
Most online casinos in New Zealand offer bonuses with a validity of between 7 days and two months.
Free spins bonuses usually expire faster – in as little as 24 hours!
This bonus validity usually includes the time limit for clearing the wagering requirement attached to that bonus as well. In other words, if you would need to use up and wager the entire bonus within that time.
Deposit method restrictions
Some online casinos will exclude certain deposit methods from their bonuses
For instance, the e-wallets Skrill and Neteller are often excluded, and you will not be able to claim a bonus if you deposit using these methods.
However, this is usually specified in very small print, which is why you should read the terms and conditions carefully.
On our side, weâll always specify any restrictions that come with a casino bonus featured on our website.
Market restrictions
Some casino bonuses on offer may not be available to players from specific countries.
At NZCasino, we only list those bonuses that can be claimed by residents of New Zealand.
Always read the Terms and Conditions!
We cannot stress this enough – double-check these terms to know exactly what youâre getting!
Itâs the number-one rule of thumb to follow before claiming any casino bonus.
This will help you wager your bonuses in time, and avoid disappointment later on.
What types of casino bonuses are there and which ones are the best?
We shall now take a look at the various types of casino bonus offers that youâll come across at online casinos that cater to New Zealand.
Welcome bonus (sign-up bonus)
The most common type of casino bonus, the welcome bonus will be available either immediately on sign-up or once you make your first deposit.
Most casino welcome bonuses come in the form of a deposit match bonus.
This typically ranges between 50% and can even go up to 500% of your first cash deposit!
However, youâll find that a 100% match bonus is the most commonly offered.
No Deposit Bonus
If you would fancy getting a casino bonus simply for signing up, then youâll find, no deposit bonuses very tempting!
These bonuses are totally risk-free; you donât need to deposit a cent of your own money – all that is required is that you register for an account with a new casino.
Itâs important to note that, just like the welcome bonus, no deposit bonuses can only be claimed once per person / per household.
The only downside to no deposit bonuses is that youâll typically get a very small amount of bonus cash or spins. These may still need to be wagered in order for winnings to be withdrawable.
There are a number of NZ casinos offering a no deposit bonus amongst which Royal Panda casino.
At Dunder Casino, new Kiwi members who register for an account will receive 10 no deposit free spins on NetEnt’s popular Starburst slot. You can claim this no deposit bonus from the below link!
Free Spins Bonus
Slot sites may also offer free spins bonuses for use on a selection of pokies.
These may come alongside a deposit match bonus, or on their own.
Free spins bonuses will give you an opportunity to try out a variety of pokies without risking any of your own money.
You may even get lucky and win a jackpot as you use your free spins!
Reload/deposit bonus
Reload bonuses can be any type of bonuses on offer for existing players, and which are typically made available on a regular basis.
A reload bonus can take the form of a deposit match bonus, but some casinos also offer free spins reloads on deposit.
You can get anything from 20% to 100% in bonuses if you deposit on certain days of the week and opt-into a reload bonus promotion.
These reload bonuses will typically be usable on specific games, or on the casinoâs chosen Game of the Week.
Best Reload Bonus offers for New Zealand
Playzee Casino has a different reload bonus every day of the week. These casino bonuses range from bonus money, loyalty points and specific offers for the Live Casino.
Royal Panda Casino also has a generous reload bonus available for those joining from New Zealand. Its reload bonus consists of a 50% boost of up to NZ$150 and is available every Friday.
No Wagering Bonus
Although âno wageringâ bonuses are not as common as weâd like them to be, these are the best casino bonuses you can get your hands on!
Any no wagering bonus credited to your account will allow you to use your funds and withdraw any winnings instantly, in cash!
This means that you can forget about playthrough requirements altogether, and there is no risk of losing any of your winnings!
Cashback bonuses
Cashback bonuses will refund you a percentage of your losses on certain games.
They could be part of a casino welcome bonus or even an ongoing offer for existing players.
On average, casino cashback will range from 5% to 25%.
Letâs say you lost $100 this week. With a 25% cash back bonus, you will get $25 back.
The best cashback bonuses will also give you real cashback even if you donât lose. Some casinos will give you a percentage of the total amount wagered in cash, as part of their loyalty scheme!
Live Casino Bonuses
Live dealer casinos are becoming very popular with table game players.
You can play table games with real croupiers and dealers, streamed in real-time to your desktop or mobile.
Some casinos run two different types of welcome bonuses – one for slot and table game players, and the other one for live casino games.
The live casino bonus usually takes the form of a deposit match bonus without any weighting, allowing you to have a go at live blackjack or spin the live roulette wheel using your bonus funds.
Mobile casino bonuses
Several online casinos have their dedicated apps downloadable on mobile.
Some may even offer exclusive mobile casino bonuses that can only be used on the mobile app. These offers cannot be redeemed on the desktop site.
However, these days, most casino bonuses can be claimed both on desktop and mobile, so players can transition seamlessly between the two using the same account and get access to the same bonus balance.
Did you know?
HTML5 technology has revolutionized mobile gaming in recent years, making it possible for games to be played on different screen sizes. For this reason, casinos that do not offer a mobile app are still accessible via the mobile browser, and the games will load just as well.
How to activate a casino bonus
- Registration
It all starts with registering as a new player by completing a sign-up form.
Make sure you check if any bonus code is required to claim the bonus; if so, copy and paste the bonus code into the appropriate field.
- Deposit
Most online casinos have a âCashierâ section, which allows you to choose your preferred payment method to make deposits or withdrawals.
Make sure that your chosen deposit method is eligible for the bonus.
- First game
Make sure your casino will allow you to use your bonus funds and spins first, before playing with your cash deposit amount.
This is the case at most online casinos, but itâs always worth checking.
- Withdrawal
Once you clear your wagering requirements, all your remaining winnings from the bonus will be transferred to your cash balance, and you can make a withdrawal.
Did you know?
An online casino can also give you special âsurpriseâ bonuses on your birthday, on a special occasion like Christmas or Halloween, or as part of a VIP scheme.
At the best casinos, bonuses donât stop with the welcome offer!
Solutions to common casino bonus issues
- My bonus was not activated
You should get in touch with customer support as soon as you can.
The casino will check that you fulfilled the deposit terms, and if everything is in order, they will activate it for you.
- My bonus is missing
You may have forgotten to enter the required bonus code, or used a payment method that is excluded from the bonus. If this is not the case, contact the casino customer support team ASAP.
Always check the terms and conditions of each welcome bonus before depositing.
- I am unable to find my bonus wagering requirements
It may be that youâve claimed a cash (no wagering) bonus, in which case there will be no wagering requirements.
Check the bonus T&Cs and look for âwageringâ or âplaythroughâ requirements. If youâre still not sure how many times you need to wager your bonus, get in touch with customer support..
- I want to cancel a bonus (I changed my mind)
If you still havenât wagered your bonus funds, you may be able to cancel your active bonus or free spins from your account.
Keep in mind that by doing this, you will be forfeiting any winnings accumulated from the bonus.
Did you know?
At casinos licensed by the UKCG, âThe deposit balance and bonus balance must always be displayed separately in a clear and prominent mannerâ. Most non-UKCG licensed casinos have also adopted this practice for the purposes of fairness and transparency.
Closing tips for making the most of casino bonuses
- Keep an eye on the NZCasino bonus guide
Visit our page regularly to learn about new casino bonuses.
We continually update the bonus list at the top of this page with the latest bonuses from licensed NZ casinos.
In this way, you can take advantage of the most lucrative sign-up bonuses from both old and new casinos.
- Make sure to opt-in for your bonus
Always check the terms and conditions of any casino bonus that you consider claiming.
Most bonuses require you to opt-in by ticking a box or clicking a button. Some may also require you to use a bonus code.
Note: You can only claim a welcome bonus once per account/IP address (and you wonât be allowed to open more than one account per person).
However, you can create an account with a different casino and claim another bonus – there are always plenty of new casinos to try out!
- Watch out for new casinos
We are constantly on the lookout for the latest online casinos to enter the market.
Our bonus list at the top of this page also includes a bunch of licensed casino newcomers. And you can also check out our new casinos page for the full list!
Since these need to compete with more well-established brands, they may offer bigger and more attractive bonuses.
- Free spins bonuses are a great way to try new pokies
Donât ignore free spins casino bonuses.
Although they donât consist of cash to play with, you might just get lucky and hit a big win or jackpot!
And, they also offer you a chance to discover new online pokies, all without risking any money of your own.
- Only play amounts you can afford to lose
We cannot stress the importance of playing responsibly enough.
Bonus or no bonus, only make real-money deposits if you can afford to lose those deposited amounts. Donât assume that the bonus will always give you all your money back in winnings, or more.
Online casino games should be fun.
The moment the fun stops, quit and take a break.
- Make sure you understand the wagering requirements
Read the terms and conditions of a bonus carefully to find out how much time youâve got to clear your wagering requirements, and how much you need to wager in total.
You also need to make sure that you wager your bonus on eligible games.