Sports Betting Sites New Zealand 2025

Best Betting Sites for New Zealand Players Rated by Industry Experts

One of the characteristics of New Zealand’s current legal situation governing overseas sports betting sites is that they’re not allowed to advertise in New Zealand. If they could, New Zealand sports betting sites would surely emphasise the unique characteristics of their own product, such as their welcome bonus or how often their odds trump those offered by the competition.

All of this means you’re far better off reading AskGamblers' reviews of the best betting sites in NZ. Not only do they give you the full and unbiased picture, but they’re written by true industry experts who not only know sportsbooks in general inside out -in terms of what’s important and why those things are important- but also understand the specific preferences of New Zealand players. 

With the absence of advertising and the fact that online sports betting in New Zealand is still something of a new thing, at least in comparison to some other countries, our help and guidance, written by true experts, will hopefully be an extremely valuable asset to you.  

How We Rate New Zealand Betting Sites

Sportsbooks are perhaps a little more complex than they at first seem, and by that, we mean there’s a lot more to them than just betting markets and bonuses. 

Here are some factors we consider when determining how good an online sports betting site is: 

• Sportsbook’s licence: There’s no such thing as an overseas betting company holding a New Zealand-granted licence. But there’s certainly such a thing as an overseas betting site holding a licence from another country. Holding one of the respected licences (the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority) means that the sportsbook has already met very strict criteria to begin with.
• Reputation: A sportsbook’s reputation comes from how it treats its customers and resolves any complaints it may receive. Bettors also appreciate swift withdrawals, low fees, fair treatment, and overall betting conditions.
• Security: A betting company’s trustworthiness is dependent on its robust security measures. Top-tier sites prioritise safeguarding financial and personal information, fortified by essential certifications and advanced protective software, including encrypting all your data. Security is certainly not one of the cool elements of betting, but it’s one of the most important ones. 
• Betting bonuses and promotions: Welcome bonuses are often the thing that attracts bettors to a particular sportsbook, whether it comes in the shape of a match deposit bonus or free bets. But that’s not the only type of promotion customers appreciate, so sportsbooks tend to be innovative and offer different weekly bonuses, sport-specific bonuses, and other promotions to existing customers.
• Number of sports/markets: The best online betting sites in New Zealand will offer at least 25 different sports to bet on; if it’s above that, so much the better. But crucially, those sports need to include the ones that New Zealand customers actually want to bet on. Whereas rugby and cricket are a must, darts or downhill skiing less so. It’s also important that the betting site offers plenty of different markets within those sports, not just the most obvious ones.  
• Payment options: The more payment options betting sites in New Zealand have, the better. But just like with the sports offered, they need to be ones that are widely used in that particular geographical market. What payment options Kiwis like to use to get their money in and out of the betting website may be very different to, for example, what Irish customers prefer. 
• Betting odds: For some bettors, this is the most important element of all. If a sportsbook is generally above what its competitors offer, then that’s a big feather in the site’s cap, whereas consistently offering lower odds is not something bettors appreciate. After all, getting higher payouts than normal gives you the best chance of blogger payouts, which is one of the reasons why people bet in the first place.  
• Customer support: An often underrated yet extremely important element of the best betting sites NZ is the effectiveness of their Customer Support team. Inevitably, queries or problems will pop up over time, requiring a responsive and efficient support system. Agents need to resolve the issue in a polite, friendly, and helpful manner. It is a plus if customer support is available via live chat 24/7.

How to Choose a Top New Zealand Betting Site Based on Your Betting Preferences

One thing worth explaining is that while the best sports betting sites New Zealand, as per our reviews, will always be high-quality sportsbooks, or else they wouldn’t get such good ratings, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re exactly the right one for you. 

Every customer has unique needs and wants, and that’s particularly true when it comes to your betting preferences. 

Firstly, the site offers the sports that you specifically want to bet on. Whereas most Kiwi sports betting customers want to wager on rugby and cricket, that’s not to say that you do. Maybe it’s darts or basketball that floats your boat instead. So, make sure the betting site offers markets on those sports and the biggest competitions within those sports. 

Secondly, have a look at the markets themselves. Let’s say that it is rugby union that you most enjoy betting on. And you like playing the different handicap markets, markets on a particular player to score a try and which team will be leading at half-time. Does the sportsbook offer those specific markets that are your favourites? 

If they do, then this might be the betting site for you. If not, you may have to go back to the drawing board and pick another recommended one that does cater for your specific betting needs. 

How Sports Betting is Regulated in New Zealand

If ever you’ve wanted a good example of a country where online gambling laws are a grey area, then look no further than New Zealand. It’s not illegal for New Zealand sports betting fans to open accounts at online sportsbooks, as long as they’re not New Zealand betting sites. And by that, we mean they’re not based and registered in New Zealand. 

There’s only one law in place that regulates online gambling in New Zealand, or any form of gambling in the country for that matter: the Gambling Act of 2003. Given that it was drafted just before online sports betting really took off and that it hasn’t been updated since, one can see that it’s not much use these days, with calls for it to be updated being perfectly justified. 

There are just two domestic betting organisations that are permitted to offer online betting services in New Zealand:  Lotto NZ and the TAB. 

As things stand, any other local would-be operators looking to be granted betting licences and do things by the book will end up disappointed because they simply won’t be given one. 

Which, of course, brings us to the grey area we started talking about. Whereas it’s not strictly speaking legal for New Zealand-based customers to play at New Zealand betting sites that are based offshore, it’s certainly not illegal, either. And by that, we mean that currently, there are no penalties or fines that will be imposed on New Zealand players found to be betting at those sites. 

The flipside to this is that customers wishing to play at overseas NZ betting sites aren’t protected as such by local licenses and government bodies, and this further emphasises the point we made about only playing at sites that are licensed and regulated. Then again, only sites that tick those boxes are endorsed by us anyway. 

How Often Do We Add New Zealand Betting Sites?

You’ll already find a good supply of recommended NZ betting sites to choose from here at AskGamblers. 

As you’ll know by now, sportsbooks don’t need to apply (or can’t, to be more precise) for New Zealand betting licences to accept customers from New Zealand. 

What that means is that we don’t need to wait and see which sites apply for one and are granted one. Instead, we keep an eye on those sites that already possess a licence elsewhere and that decide to be open for business in New Zealand. 

When we become aware of this, we’ll go through the usual process of looking at all the key aspects of the betting site NZ in meticulous detail, will give it a score for each of those eight criteria we mentioned and then an overall score that reflects what we think of the betting site in general terms.

If the score is high enough, then we’ll add it to our list of recommended New Zealand betting sites. 

Most Popular Payment Options for Sports Betting in New Zealand

The best betting sites New Zealand look to offer as many payment options as possible to give customers as much choice as they can when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money in and out of NZ sports betting sites. Some of the best and biggest sites can often have as many as 10 different options. Let’s look at the most popular ones.   

• Mastercard: In New Zealand, Mastercard is one of the most popular payment choices. Renowned as a leading provider of credit and debit cards, Mastercard is a trusted and user-friendly option embraced by most of the top-tier betting platforms. Appreciated for swift transaction processing, it allows users to promptly utilise real-time financing, ensuring they capitalise on time-sensitive opportunities without unnecessary delays.
• Visa: Visa, a globally recognised provider of credit and debit cards, enjoys widespread use beyond betting. It is one of the most common and traditionally most popular payment methods for bettors worldwide because people tend to already have a banking card, and the deposits are instant.
• Skrill: Skrill has risen as a top choice for global online betting enthusiasts and is especially embraced by New Zealand customers. Appreciated for its user-friendly interface, robust security measures, and broad acceptance among online sportsbooks, Skrill ensures fast, straightforward, and secure transactions, guaranteeing a reliable financial experience.
• Neteller:  Emerging as a preferred choice for New Zealand online betting enthusiasts, this renowned e-wallet has surged in popularity owing to its state-of-the-art encryption technology. Neteller not only ensures safe transactions but also prioritises user privacy. Another notable perk is its unwavering availability, providing a dependable avenue for both deposits and withdrawals.
• Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin is gaining traction as a decentralised and secure payment option at NZ betting sites. Cryptocurrency transactions offer enhanced privacy and reduced processing times, which are the perks of blockchain technology. Users appreciate it for the anonymity it provides when it comes to financial transactions. The popularity of cryptocurrencies is growing, reflecting a trend toward embracing innovative and digital payment methods within the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of online betting. 

Most Popular Sports Betting Competitions and Sports in New Zealand 

If you’ve ever been to New Zealand, you’ll know that rugby there isn’t so much a sport as it is a religion or way of life. Think cricket in India or football in Brazil. So, rugby is very much the Number 1 sport that New Zealand sports punters bet on, but it’s by no means the only one. 

• Rugby: There are, of course, two types of rugby: union and league. Rugby league has plenty of fans, both in terms of watching it and betting on it. Unsurprisingly, the domestic league (the NZRL) is very competitive, boasting an extremely high standard and perhaps only bettered by the Australian domestic competition in terms of quality. But even more popular is rugby union. The interest goes up a few notches when the World Cup (every four years) comes around, then the Rugby Championship (every year), the domestic rugby competitions and, above all, Super Rugby.  
• Cricket: Cricket is probably the second most popular sport in New Zealand to watch and bet on. Though the domestic competition is pale in comparison to those in other big cricketing nations, it’s still followed quite closely, particularly the T20 competition, which is called the Super Smash. Like in any other country where cricket is popular, the Indian Premier League is a big deal. Then, of course, there are the matches of the national side.
• Football: Top-quality New Zealand footballers have been few and far between over the years, and the domestic league, quite frankly, isn’t of a particularly high standard. But as with most sports-mad countries, New Zealanders enjoy the Premier League immensely, as well as the other top European leagues to a lesser extent. 
• Basketball: Interest, both in terms of watching and betting on it, has increased significantly over the last few years. There’s the slightly odd scenario of the Australasian tournament called the NBL featuring nine Australian sides and just one New Zealand one: the New Zealand Breakers. So, no prizes for guessing who the Kiwi fans are supporting in that one. However, the NBA is of even greater interest when it comes to betting on matches. 

Future of Online Sports Betting Sites in New Zealand

It’s somewhat remarkable that the Gambling Act of 2003 is still the only real piece of legislation when it comes to sports betting in New Zealand. As we have already said, when the Act was passed, online sports betting was still very much in its infancy, yet little or nothing has been done in terms of updating or changing it since.

And the online sports betting industry in New Zealand is not a small deal; respected research company Statista estimates that in 2023, it was worth US$258.70m. 

The result, as we know, is that TAB NZ has a domestic monopoly when it comes to customers legally betting on sports, both in land-based shops and online, while New Zealand customers also have the option of betting online with offshore companies. 

All of which means the situation is far from ideal for all involved. Customers who choose to bet with TAB NZ online have little choice but to accept the odds on offer from TAB NZ rather than compare those with other local betting sites and place bets with whoever is laying the most favourable prices. That’s just one example of the limitations of a monopoly.

Alternatively, customers can, of course, choose any offshore betting site they like to bet at, but that has its own problems, as well. There’s the issue of offshore betting sites giving little or nothing back to New Zealand communities or putting money aside for such things as responsible gambling initiatives or treatment for gambling addiction. 

That may be about to change, though. In May 2023, the Government announced it was considering outlawing online betting outside of the TAB. This move, it says, will provide a "significant" new source of money for local racing and sport while addressing risks with online gambling.

The plan is for TAB NZ to join forces with UK betting giant Entain, who own Ladbrokes and Coral, among other brands, allowing the vastly experienced Entain to manage their daily operations. 

Whereas the advantages of all this are self-explanatory as per above, they do, however, create something of a problem. New Zealand customers seeking better odds, more bonuses, betting on niche sports, and so on will no longer be able to do so at offshore sites and will just be left hoping that the product that TAB NZ and Entain come up with is of a high standard.