Best Betting Sites New Zealand
The best betting sites for New Zealand residents are not licensed in this country; instead Kiwis can legally bet with 100s of different offshore betting sites. These online bookmakers accept NZD, cater specifically to Kiwis’ needs and offer odds on all the major domestic and International sports.
Top online betting sites for New Zealand:
- Bet on sports and play casino games at one website!
- Accepts players from most countries
- competitive sports betting odds
- Does not have Paypal available for payments
- Outstanding reputation!
- Android and iOS apps available
- Great promotions
- Can restrict winning punters
The above betting sites are all licensed in either the United Kingdom or Malta and have an outstanding reputation in the gambling industry. The World Gambling List’s general rule is that if we wouldn’t bet there we wouldn’t promote it.
Best betting sites for Kiwis
With so many online betting sites vying for your dollar, it can be a hard and potentially fraught decision. We have taken the guesswork out of which of the sites available to New Zealand residents are the best to wager with.
The top NZ betting sites are generally regulated overseas, with only the NZ government-backed TAB operating inside New Zealand, and while it provides a strong service, generally the odds will be better with offshore competitors.
These betting sites can be accessed via both desktop computer and mobile, with almost all modern bookies having Android and iOS betting apps available to customers. Some Kiwi betting sites will also allow you to place wagers over the phone.
For a long time Kiwis were best served wagering with Australian betting sites, but with the government’s heavy handed approach to sports betting there, other betting sites have emerged as better options, notably because they have welcome offers and less restrictions around incentives.
The top NZ betting sites are licensed in places like Malta, United Kingdom and even Curacao.
The best New Zealand betting sites include:
- WilliamHill.com: One of the leading betting sites globally, William Hill has every betting market a punter could possibly want. Has some outstanding promotions, including a nice welcome package for Kiwi punters. Read our WilliamHill review for further information.
- Betway: Another betting site with an outstanding global presence, Betway will have every sports betting market you can possibly imagine. If they do have a weakness it is probably covering domestic sports leagues in New Zealand. Read our Betway review for further info.
- Unibet: Kiwis are in the lucky situation where they can bet with most international bookmakers, and Unibet sits among the best NZ betting sites in 2025. With a casino and sports betting available at the same URL, Unibet is a viable option for sports bettors based in New Zealand. Read our Unibet review for more information.
- Guts.com: One of the emerging sports betting brands, has a UK licence and relaunched its platform in 2024. With a great casino under the same URL, Guts.com has all the betting markets you could want at a top online bookmaker. Read our Guts review to get more info.
- LeoVegas.com: Has a reputation as more of a gambling brand, rather than sports betting, but they have become a legitimate option for Kiwis looking to wager on sports. You will need only one account to bet right across the Leo Vegas platform. Read our Leo Vegas sports review for further information.
How to sign up at an NZ betting site
Registering a new account at New Zealand betting sites is straight-forward, but there are some key things you should remember when joining:
- New account: The first step is to pick a betting site that you like. The things you need to look out for include the currencies they support, deposit options and, of course, licensing. During the sign-up process you will need to supply things such as your name, date of birth, email address, address and various other details.
- Bonus bets: Have a think about whether you want to accept the bonus bets you might be offered by the chosen betting company. Remember the bonuses New Zealanders will receive generally have wagering requirements attached to them. So always read the fine print before accepting a promotion.
- Depositing to a betting account: There are numerous ways Kiwis can deposit New Zealand dollars to their betting accounts. These include common ways like bank transfers and Visas. See below for a full list of common betting banking methods.
- Verifying account: This is a crucial component of signing up at a top betting site; it is imperative you give your right details during the sign up process or you won’t be able to cash out. To prove your identity you will either have to fill in an online form or send in various documents to prove who you are.
- Placing bets: Now that all the hard part is over, placing a bet is a simple process, with all of the various markets put in front of you in simple menus. Find the sports you want to bet on, choose your bet and then it will be added to your bet slip. Visit the bet slip and you can choose your stake and place the bet.
- Withdrawing: Withdrawals at New Zealand betting sites are generally done with either a bank transfer, web wallet or using the card you deposited with.
What sports can Kiwis bet on
The New Zealand sports betting landscape is largely made up of horse racing, the two rugby codes, cricket and basketball. But like the rest of the world, there is huge interest in various other sports. In this section we’ll run you through some of the major sports Kiwis bet on.
Horse racing betting
Horse racing in New Zealand is massive, with this diminutive country boasting one of the best breeding programs in the world. Horse racing is held on both the North and South islands with the New Zealand Derby, Karaka Millions and Karaka Million 3YO Classic some of the races to watch out for. Websites like WilliamHill.com are outstanding for horse racing, including covering every domestic TAB race. Learn more about New Zealand horse betting.
Rugby league betting
Rugby league is playing second fiddle to rugby in New Zealand, but it does still have a huge following. The New Zealand Warriors play in the Australia-based NRL, which is regarded as the best domestic league in the world. The National Competition is the top-flight NZ domestic competition, with it comprising of a four-team national championship and a four-team national premiership, with promotion and relegation between the two comps. Learn about Rugby League betting.
Rugby betting
Whenever the New Zealand All Blacks play, a large portion of the country stops in its tracks. The All Blacks are the No.1 team on the world stage and boast many of the finest players. Super Rugby, which is a global club competition, boasts five teams from New Zealand with Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington all represented. Rugby Union betting is available on all major Super Rugby and International matches. One of the highlights of the rugby calendar is the annual Bledisloe Cup competition against Australia. The Rugby World Cup is also due to be played later in 2019.
Cricket betting
New Zealand has a proud history in cricket and is among the better T20 and one-day outfits in the world. The Black Caps have global stars such as Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill in their ranks. The Super Smash is the domestic T20 competition, with it generating significant betting interest. Read our guide to cricket betting for further information.
Basketball betting
While the NBA is front and centre with Kiwi basketball fans, there is also massive interest in the Australia-based NBL. New Zealand Breakers are the only Kiwi team in the Aussie competition, but many players who have graduated from the NZ NBL have made the move over to the stronger Australian competition. If you’re looking to bet on Australian basketball, an Aussie-licensed bookie is probably your best bet, while all of the big International betting sites will boast extensive NBA markets. Read our guide to basketball betting.
Mobile sports betting sites
One of the most improved areas in online sports betting is mobile access, with all good betting sites being fully responsive or having a mobile site. Many of the best online betting sites also have downloadable apps for both Android and Apple devices.
Mobile betting sites are generally just stripped-back versions of the desktop sites, although as a general rule the exact same markets will be available on mobile. It’s only things such as deposit options or customer service access methods that might be fewer on your mobile or tablet.
Some great options for Kiwis to bet on sports from their mobile include WilliamHill.com and Betway.com which are two massive gambling companies who have poured plenty of money into their mobile offerings.
iOS betting apps in New Zealand
Apple users can download many of the best betting apps in the world from the App Store, with these betting apps free to download. We always recommend making a new account before downloading the app to make sure you get the right version for your region.
NZ Android betting apps
Android users have got plenty to be excited about when it comes to the apps available to them, with many online betting companies allowing you to download an app for Android directly from them. You will also find many of the bigger betting apps available in the Google Play store.
New Zealand Dollar deposits at betting sites
There are many ways to fund your betting sites from New Zealand, with various deposit options available when you are depositing NZD. The standard banking methods Kiwis use at online betting sites include:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Credit Card
- POLi
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
- Web wallets
- Bitcoin
- Ethereum
Withdrawals at NZD betting sites
Unlike making deposits at NZD betting sites, there are not generally heaps of withdrawal methods at betting sites. The online betting withdrawal methods that you will find generally include bank transfers, web wallets and some Australian bookies even allow you to acquire a cash out card, which lets you receive money out of ATMs. The list of withdrawal methods includes:
- Bank transfer
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Withdraw back to Visa (can be hard to find)
- Cheque
Sports betting laws in New Zealand
Sports betting and gambling in New Zealand are governed by the Department of Internal Affairs, with the main legislation being the New Zealand Gambling Act of 2003.
In short (we’ll talk plenty more about this in another article) Kiwis are legally able to gamble or bet on sports at offshore betting companies. The NZ Gambling Act, while the topic of much debate, only impacts gambling pursuits based inside the borders of New Zealand.
This means it is illegal to bet with an online betting site that is unlicensed and based out of New Zealand, but you are unlikely to even find this as an option in 2025.
The New Zealand Racing Board is given an exemption to govern horse racing and sports betting under the Gambling Act, and even then only via the TAB and retail outlets. It must be stressed that these laws only apply to businesses based inside of New Zealand, with offshore betting sites not banned under the current laws.
While the laws do touch on advertising offshore betting sites to New Zealand, this again only really impacts people here, and it will take legislation change to stop the flow of overseas bookies’ targeting Kiwis.
In conclusion, when summarising sports betting laws in New Zealand, it is safe to say that you can bet with the TAB and with any offshore betting site that you choose legally. Just remember, these offshore betting sites in New Zealand have different levels of scruples, meaning do your homework before signing up at any betting site.
Tips for choosing an online bookmaker
- Research any bookmaker sites you sign up at: With no licensed betting sites in New Zealand it’s important that you can trust the brands that you are wagering with. Look for betting sites licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Australian regulators like the Northern Territory and the Malta Gaming Authority.
- Bookmaker bonuses: These are a great way to improve your bankroll when betting on sports and racing, but remember there are wagering requirements attached to any bonus, which can stop you from withdrawing when you want to. Just understand the bonus before you accept it and you will be fine
- Look for customer service options: Any new site you choose to bet with should have customer service and contact details readily available. If online betting sites don’t have these simple indicators, it might be time to find another bookmaker
- Player reviews of online bookmakers are fraught with danger: While undoubtedly players reviews can provide a great resource for bettors considering signing up at an online bookmaker, there are many big-name affiliate sites that pay people to write reviews and shed a certain light on a brand.
- Make sure a betting site caters to the New Zealand Dollar: You don’t want to get stung exorbitant fees for converting your NZD into another currency like AUD, USD or the Euro, so be sure to make sure the online betting sites you wager with support the currency you want to bet in. NZD is readily available at many of the top betting sites.
NZ betting sites Q and A
The World Gambling List is often confronted with questions about New Zealand betting sites, with these including queries about licensing, laws, deposit options and customer service. If you have a question about sports betting in New Zealand email us at contact@worldgamblinglist.com or drop us a question in the box below.
NZ punters are in the lucky position of being able to wager on sports with Paypal, with many of the best betting sites accepting this payment method. Paypal is a web wallet that effectively puts a security wall between you and the online betting site.
Australia definitely has some great betting sites, but there are also some pitfalls that make European and UK betting sites more appealing. Things like bookmaker sign up bonuses and some promotions have been outlawed in Australia which make them far less appealing to Kiwi bettors.
While NZ laws allow the TAB to operate under the Department of Internal Affairs order, there is nothing in the laws to stop offshore betting sites from targeting bettors in this region. It’s much the same with online casinos in New Zealand, with these all based offshore and no licensed operators.
There are so many good online betting sites that target the New Zealand market, with these including giants like Betway, Bet365, William Hill and Unibet.
Horse racing is very prominent in New Zealand with many of the best stayers in the world bred here, while rugby union, rugby league (the Kiwis have the Auckland team in the Australian based NRL), cricket, netball and basketball all popular in this sports mad nation.
Customer service at betting sites
One thing the worldgamblinglist.com can’t stress enough is that you must be able to reach a betting company if you sign up and deposit with them.
We have heard reports of New Zealand users of betting sites signing up at less reputable vendors from Curacao and Costa Rica and having trouble cashing out and reaching them to dispute it.
Basically if betting sites don’t clearly have their licensing and customer service displayed, we strongly recommend betting elsewhere.