Safe Online Casinos
It goes without saying that Kiwis only want to play on safe online casinos. The problem is, it may not be immediately apparent whether you’re on a safe online casino or not. Fortunately, we can help you find out. Any safe online casino NZ has to offer is carefully considered by CasinoWatch. Our goal is to give you as much information as you need to make an informed decision.
Here are the top 10 safe online casinos in New Zealand:
JackpotCity
-
play 700+
games -
Fast
Payments -
live
dealer -
mobile
friendly
$1600
LeoVegas
- play 800+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$1000
Spin Palace
- play 450+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$1000
Ruby Fortune
- play 459+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$750
888
- play 200+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$88
Twin Casino
- play 2000+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$350
Casumo
- play 850+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$500
Casimba
- play 600+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$5000
Royal Vegas
- play 700+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$1200
EmuCasino
- play 1100+
games - Fast
Payments - live
dealer - mobile
friendly
$300
What is a Safe Online Casino?
You can define safe online casinos as being secure, safe platforms where Kiwis feel safe to play games. They have the best encryption, licencing, auditing, and support available. They also feature some of the best games and have transparent winning percentages.
The Importance of Playing at a Safe Online Casino
You may be lured in by the bright lights and flashing bells of an online casino, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. It merely means the operator has put time and effort into making it aesthetically pleasing.
However, it’s crucial to look past the beautiful colours and promises of big wins and focus on the features that make it a secure online casino. By playing on the safest online gambling sites, you can have more confidence that your payment information is safe and your gaming experience is memorable for the right reasons.
Big Bonuses vs. Safety – Choose Safety!
It’s easy to be captivated by the promise of substantial multi-million-dollar wins and lots of freebies. These things exist on safe online gambling sites, but with more realistic expectations.
However, it’s essential not to choose a casino based on the bonuses and promotions alone. Otherwise, you can end up caught out by spending money at a casino that isn’t safe. The best thing you can do is choose a casino with the best bonuses from a list of the most reputable online casinos
What to Look for in a Safe Online Casino
Not every NZer who signs up to an online casino is going to know whether it’s the most reputable online casino or not. There aren’t big graphics on the home page that say “this casino is safe” or “this casino is a scam”.
Fortunately, many features can get the big green tick of approval if you know what to look out for and where to look. We’ve covered some of these below.
1. Licencing Information
Only the most secure online casinos are going to get their certification and licencing. So, one of the best ways to know that you’ve registered to a safe online gambling community is by looking out for the licence information.
This generally appears at the bottom of the site, along with a licencing number you can match to the registered casino name. A licence is proof that the casino is audited, fair, and registered. It doesn’t get much safer than that.
2. Software
The type of software a casino uses can also dictate whether it’s the safest online casino. There are some standout software providers for online casinos like Microgaming, which means you don’t have to settle for less than the best.
Making use of high-quality software providers means the casino is able to provide superior gaming experiences for Kiwis.
3. Technical Security
Even though Kiwis are stoked by the prospect of casino free spins, no deposit bonuses, and much more, it’s important not to let those perks blind you. You also have to consider the technical security of a casino. Safe online casinos put as much time and effort into the security of a casino as they do a fun, rewarding gaming experience.
They invest in encryption, virus protection, and layers of security for your personal information and payment data. Each secure online casino should also have SSL encryption, which you can spot as a padlock in the browser bar of your site.
4. Game Fairness
The thing about gambling is that it’s a gamble. You are never going to win 100% of the time, but you’re also not going to lose 100% of the time – at least not on a safe online casino. Game fairness is a crucial part of what makes a safe casino.
Every casino has a win percentage, and most of the safest online gambling sites sit around 95+ percent for slot games. They also make use of a random number generator to keep all games fair and random, along with an SHA-3 hash algorithm.
The SHA-3 hash algorithm one of the latest in a family of secure hash algorithm standards. It uses sponge construction to produce an output bitstream. While complex in how it functions, the goal of SHA-3 is to support cryptographic functions such as pseudo-random number generation and authenticated encryption.
5. Regular Audits
It can be hard to build trust with an online casino. You never know if it’s a secure online casino or one that will take your money and run.
Still, having regular audits can offer Kiwis much-needed confidence to keep playing. Look for information surrounding the auditing process, which is a requirement of online casino licencing.
An internal audit involves investigating, auditing, and compliance. An official will make sure the supposedly safe online casino is paying casino taxes and following regulatory guidelines of auditing procedures.
It also makes sure the casino has enough money to pay winners and has an efficient cash management system to promote financial stability. The audit may even highlight weaknesses for the casino to address, along with tips on how to create a robust online casino that Kiwis will love.
6. Available Customer Support
One way to make sure you’re on the most reputable online casino is by looking at ways to get in touch with the casino. While the FAQ section of some casinos covers the basics, it’s helpful if you can talk to a real person.
Some of the most preferred customer support options are phone, email, and live chat. For Kiwis, live chat 24/7 can be essential, given that our time zone is far different from most other countries in the world and not all that convenient at the best of times.
Some of the best online casinos NZ has access to also publish their postal addresses. The more transparent the casino, the safer it can likely be.
7. Featured Payment Methods
Having multiple ways to pay to play casino games is going to be a drawcard for many Kiwis. If you can use your debit card, credit cards, e-wallets, and more, you’re going to be more likely to deposit your hard-earned dough.
Still, having additional safety measures can offer much-needed peace of mind. Safe online casinos have something called hybrid RSA encryption. This form of encryption has two or more encryption systems to provide twice the strength, speed, and security. They are a combination of asymmetric and symmetric encryption that a scam or unsafe casino doesn’t offer.
8. Trustworthy Terms & Conditions
Even though many people don’t read the terms and conditions, that doesn’t mean that they don’t make a difference to whether or not a casino is safe. In fact, they can be the difference between an unsafe and safe casino.
Take a look at the terms and conditions of a safe casino, then compare them to those from an unsafe casino. The difference can be alarming. A safe casino has well thought out, clear, and detailed terms and conditions that allow a Kiwi player to understand what the casino is all about.
Because the conditions are clear from the beginning, the casino doesn’t actively chop and change to suit. Don’t be afraid to put your reading glasses on and take an in-depth look at this section highlighted at the bottom of most safe online gambling sites.
9. Reputable Online Casinos/Brand Image
You will know by now that reputation, in nearly everything you see and do, is essential. Casinos are no different. They can get a bad or good reputation based on what they offer and do. Before you sign up to a new casino, do your homework on that casino’s reputation and brand image.
Is it spoken about favourably? Are there winner stories from real people? Is the branding imagery professional and seamless? It pays to look at reviews, scan gambler forums, and even factor in word of mouth. Bad news gets around faster than good news, which means it won’t be hard to filter the good from the bad.
10. Ownership
Who owns and operates an online casino should always be clear. Otherwise, you may not be as trusting and eager to sign up. A sign of the most reputable online casino is being able to see, with minimal research, who owns and operates the online casino available in NZ.
Typically, this information features at the bottom of the home page alongside the licencing information. It outlines the company’s name and where it’s located. This is important information. A scam casino would be less likely to list who has ownership over such an abhorrent site.
How to Spot a Blacklisted/Unsafe Casino
If you are new to the world of online gambling, you might be quite nervous about choosing safe online casinos. You may not even be sure how to spot an unsafe or blacklisted casino should you come across one.
Fortunately, it’s easier than you might think. Here are some tell-tale signs that you need to run far, far away from the casino you are currently looking at online.
No Licence
Every secure online casino has to have a licence. By having one, the casino gains a reputation as being safe with a compliance certificate, random number generator, and auditing. You can look for licencing information at the bottom of a casino’s site. If it’s not there, it may not be as secure as you first thought.
There are several commissions and licencing authorities that provide licences for the most reputable online casinos. These include Curacao licencing, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar licencing, and the UK Gambling Commission.
Constantly Changing T&C
Terms and conditions are not something the average person thinks to check. However, when it comes to choosing safe online casinos, they should be. One way to notice that a casino is unsafe is by their ever-changing terms and conditions.
They may change when players call them out for doing something wrong or illegal. By including it in their terms and conditions after the fact, they cover themselves for that indiscretion. Reputable casinos have transparent, clear, and detailed conditions from the beginning.
Illegal Marketing Practices
Most people want to be able to play their favorite casino games in peace. At most reputable online casinos, you can. However, you can sort the bad from the good by paying attention to the marketing practices. Unsafe casinos are known for spamming players by phone or email. They can also give your contact information to other businesses or obtain it from equally as dodgy companies.
Sloppy Customer Support
When you have a problem with an online casino NZ has to offer, you want to be able to get support. It also helps if that support is near-immediate. The safest online gambling sites offer multiple points of contact, such as phone, email, skype, and live chat. Some even provide a postal address.
A sure sign that a casino is not as safe as you thought is if you can’t find any contact information. Or, if you do happen to find something, you don’t receive a response.
Payment Issues
While online casinos are all about playing fun games, it’s also nice when you can win money. You can determine the safest online gambling sites by how easy it is to withdraw your winnings. You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to withdraw your own money.
Most casinos offer a short holding period of up to three days. After that point, it should be down to the individual payment method to determine the timeframe for a withdrawal. If you’re waiting any longer than a week, or you have trouble even getting to the withdrawal process stage, take that as a sign that you may need to look for a safer casino.
News Coverage
Every time you find a new online casino NZ search engines display, you should look for information on that casino before you sign up. Look for negative news, especially relating to rule breaching and cheating.
The more information you have about a casino, the easier it is to determine whether they are a safe online casino or one you wouldn’t touch with a barge pole.
Inferior Game Quality
There are some standout software developers out there – such as Playtech and NetEnt. They are known for their high-quality, extensively developed games that are in use by casinos worldwide. The graphics, animations, and gameplay are all superior.
So, if you find that the games you’re playing are anything but impressive, then you’ll need to question the safety of the casino and whether it’s one you can trust. An inferior-quality casino that just wants to take your money is one that won’t invest much time and effort into providing decent games. After all, that just cuts into their profits!
Why You Can Trust the CasinoWatch Casino Reviews
When it comes to the safest online gambling sites, we know what we’re up to. We understand the signs that a casino is unsafe, along with the signs that it is. We’ve also tried, trialled, and tested all manner of casinos to make sure that the entire process runs smoothly.
We would never steer Kiwis or other players worldwide into the grasps of a scam casino that takes your money and offers nothing in return. We also only list secure, encrypted casinos that are both licenced and audited. Our list is being updated all the time, so you can rest assured we’re on the ball when it comes to a safe gambling experience.
Final Thoughts
Not every casino you come across on the internet is indeed going to be safe. The world is full of scam artists trying to make a quick buck. In saying that, not all casinos are unsafe, either. Kiwis deserve safe online gambling platforms, and CasinoWatch is all about highlighting which ones those are. Could it be time to check out safe online casinos today?
FAQ
Are online casinos safe?
Yes – but not all of them are. It’s important to do your homework to make sure you’re registering on a reputable, safe, and secure casino that is licenced and frequently audited.
What is the safest online casino?
There isn’t a single safest online casino, but rather, several. We’ve scoured the internet to provide you with as many safe, secure, and reputable options as possible!
Is online gambling legal in New Zealand?
Yes! It is legal to register with an offshore online casino.
How can you tell a casino isn’t safe?
There are many tell-tale signs, such as sloppy customer support, payment issues, a lack of licencing, and more. It pays to stick with the safes online gambling sites with excellent reputations.
Are online casinos a scam?
Not when you choose a secure online casino. There are scam casinos out there, but our information above will make sure you’re armed with everything you need to make an informed choice.
Looking for awesome bonuses at safe online casinos? Take your pick from the exclusive NZ promotions below:
JackpotCity
$1600
LeoVegas
$1000+122 Free Spins
Spin Palace
$1000
Ruby Fortune
$750
888
$88
