Online Pokies

Online pokies are the perfect opportunity to play a variety of games and stand a greater chance of hitting a big jackpot. Online slot games have increased in popularity over the years providing a wide array of players with games slots that can be enjoyed from the comfort of their armchair. One of the main attractions of online pokies in NZ is that they cater for a variety of playing styles, from elaborate video games to classic 3-reel slots, and progressive jackpots. Best of all, online slot machine games allow players to take advantage of casino sign-up bonuses since they typically contribute 100% to the requirements.

There are two main software providers in the online slot space; NetEnt and Microgaming. Each offers their own variation of games, benefits, and features. Microgaming, particularly, is well-known for developing the most online casinos and they work tirelessly to release new games on a regular basis, including slot games. The software developers offer hundreds of different online pokies including themed games that have been licensed, such as Jurassic Park™, Game of Thrones™, and Bridesmaids. Many of the online casinos developed by Microgaming offer excellent welcome bonuses for new players, and first deposits and players can look forward to fantastic returns.

Different Types of Online Slot Games

Players new to online pokies in NZ can take full advantage of free spins, bonus features, and other benefits of online gambling. Many online slots have fun and lucrative bonus rounds that will double your winnings. Advanced players will enjoy the games that offer higher volatility. Online pokies continue to develop with advancements in technology. All the New Zealand online casinos that we review and recommend offer a broad range of slot machine games; you just have to pick your favorite.

Classic Pokies

Classic slot games include:

• 3 Reel Pokies – 3 reel online pokies are the older version of the game that you would find in pubs. The games have 3 reels and a single pay line. Players have to match 3 fruit symbols on the center line to win. 3 reel slots have fewer pay lines and smaller winnings than their 5 reel counterparts. They also have simpler graphics, but they are easy to play and have great odds.

When you want to slow your pace down a little, these Classics are great. And they’re the perfect introduction when you are first getting familiar with playing online. But don’t be fooled by their old-school visuals; the payouts they offer are thoroughly modern! Whether you are new to online pokies in NZ, or just prefer a traditional slot machine, you will enjoy 3 reel pokies.

Video Slot Games

5 Reel Pokies are a more modern version, and the number of possible combinations on a slot has been increased by the power of two. Therefore, these slot games have a higher volatility in that the payout is bigger but not as frequent as 3 reel slots. You can think of 5 reel pokies as the grown up version of the classic 3 reel games as they were developed from the same premise, and were made possible by technological advances.

With many more paylines, reels and betting options than their Classic counterparts, these games are fast-paced and engaging. To immerse you even more, they are always based around a central theme with all graphics and animations relating to it.

Themes range from fairy tales to science fiction, superheroes, mythical characters and everything in between. Blockbuster films, television shows and other franchises are also often used as inspiration.

These games also include a whole range of Special Features, which can boost your winnings even more. These include special icons called Scatter and Wild Symbols. The Scatters can appear anywhere on the reels to trigger Free Spins or other Bonus Rounds, while the Wilds can substitute for any regular symbol to help complete more paying combinations.

Progressive Pokies

Progressive Jackpot pokies feature a jackpot that gets bigger every time the game is played, as a percentage of a players bet gets added to the prize pool. A Progressive Jackpot can be won by landing a particular combination of symbols on the reels, or simply at random, and these massive payouts are found in both 5 and 3 reel games.

Standard Paylines vs. Any-Way Pays

Traditional pokies use paylines on which you’ll need to land matching symbols from left to right to create winning combinations according to the paytable. Video pokies have additional reels, and sometimes also a more complex system of paylines called Any Way Pays, or Ways To Win.

Any Way Pays do away with standard paylines completely, and instead pay out for landing adjacent symbols in any position on the reels. Winning symbols that land adjacent to one another from left to right or vice versa reward you with a win, so there are far more chances to strike it lucky.

How Do We Rate NZ Online Pokies?

There are a lot of things we look at when reviewing pokies. We feel that site security is one of the most important factors when it comes to playing online, and you can rest assured that any casino we recommend is 100% certified and audited by an independent authority like Technical Systems Testing or eCOGRA. Both of these player protection organisations ensure that online casinos adhere to stringent standards for transaction security and fair play. Your financial and personal information is also protected by state-of-the-art SSL encryption.

Once we’ve determined that the casino in question will protect your money and personal information, we look at the banking options. We make sure that the most popular credit and debit cards are available, along with eWallets and bank transfers.

Then it’s time to review game software and graphics. We don’t just take the flashiest, most state-of-the-art graphics into consideration either. Players need reliable, state of the art software that will deliver a lag-free playing experience on desktop and mobile, so we ensure that any special effects enhance your gameplay and don’t distract from it.

But the best online pokies need something under the hood too, so our recommended casinos offer great generous as well as a diverse array of games. We review casino Welcome Bonuses, Deposit Bonuses and any other bonuses that can be used to play pokies and count towards wagering requirements. Plus, we also review the bonus features that the pokies offer, like Wilds, Scatters and various extra ways to win.

Easy To Play Online Entertainment

Pokies are incredibly easy to play, and their rules are very basic. To begin, you’ll need to set your coin bet level per spin, and if there are traditional paylines that are not fixed, you’ll need to choose how many to activate. Once your bets are set, simply hit spin and watch to see if you land a win!

There are so many benefits to playing online pokies, from the wide selection of games available to the enormous jackpots, and there is sure to be something for everyone. Additionally, there are hundreds of top class games that have been optimised for play on mobile, and their simple premise and crisp, clear graphics makes them ideal for enjoying in the palm of your hand.

Progressive Jackpot Pokies

While there are several ways to win playing online pokies, progressive games offer the best jackpots. Progressive slot games have jackpots that progressively grow until someone wins. These jackpots can grow to substantial amounts as the same progressive slot is available on several casinos connected to the same software provider. Therefore, they all contribute to the pot of the same progressive jackpot.

Two particularly popular progressive online pokies are Major Millions and Mega Moolah, both of which fall under the Microgaming portfolio. Progressive jackpots have been known to grow into the millions of dollars. They typically begin with a high baseline at around a quarter of a million dollars.

It is important for players to understand the different types of online pokies in NZ so that you can make an informed decision as to which you would prefer to play. 3 reel slots are especially good for first-time players.

Play Online Pokies for Real Money

There is a vast array of online pokies to choose from, unlike brick and mortar casinos that only offer a limited selection of slot machines. Playing online opens you up to a whole new area of possibilities and winnings, and players in New Zealand can choose to play online slot games via free play or with real money. Real money slots are always popular as the risk offers a rush of adrenalin and the thrill of winning real cash prizes can not be matched.

Currently, The Gambling Act 2003 in New Zealand classes slot machines as a class 4 type of gambling. What this means is that the Act considers slots a high risk of playing with high payout possibility. Slot games can only be offered in the country provided that all profits from machines are donated to charity.

Online gambling works a little differently. New Zealanders are able to play online pokies for real money so long as the online casino is based in another country. So it is perfectly legal for you to play. Best of all, you can enjoy your games any time of the day or night, wherever you are. Online slot games tend to offer far greater jackpot amounts than you would usually get at land-based casinos, so you can look forward to some seriously big wins if you are lucky!

Free Play Pokies

If you are reluctant to play for real money, free play online pokies are an excellent way to try out a new game or have a go at a new release. This is fantastic if you really want to get to know a game before deciding whether or not it’s the one for you. All of the online casinos that we list allow players to try out slots in demo mode for free. The Flash-based versions provide the exact experience regarding bonus features, gameplay, and graphics that you would have when playing for real money. What’s more, playing for free allows you to bet the maximum on every spin without worrying about your bank balance. Another way to enjoy free play online pokies is to take advantage of the introductory offer when you register with an online casino.

Win Big with Online Pokies

Playing online slots is a great way to have fun in the comfort of your home, or wherever you may be if you choose to play on a mobile platform. It’s also the perfect opportunity to win incredible jackpots. Try out a couple of free games and then take the plunge and play with real money for some serious cash!