The Best 6 Places To Play Pokies In Auckland

Auckland currently has 305 pokie venues with over 4,000 gaming machines. The Auckland Council has proposed policies to limit gambling-related harm, including a “sinking lid” policy, which means that when a venue with pokies closes, no new venue can replace it.
This policy aims to gradually reduce the number of pokie venues over time. Additionally, clubs with pokie machines cannot increase their machine count, and if two clubs merge, their combined total will be reduced.
However, the council does not regulate gambling in casinos, online gambling, or Lotto outlets
One of the best parts? These places don’t just serve up massive TV screens and top-notch sports action. They offer great pub food, beers, and often a few pokie machines if you’re in the mood for some side action. Last time I was there, I counted over 20 screens in one venue, making sure you never miss a second of the game, no matter where you’re sitting.
How we choose the top gaming lounges in Auckland
When choosing the popular venues to play pokies, we considered some important factors to help you make the most of your experience. Look to the factors below that must be considered before landing in any VIP gaming room.
- First, we examined the variety and number of pokies available at each venue. After all, the more options, the more fun!
- We also considered the overall atmosphere and experience of the venue. We wanted to ensure that our chosen places would provide you and your friends an excellent time.
- Customer service is critical, so we looked at how well each venue treats its customers. The staff and excellent service can make a difference!
- We also checked to see if each venue offers food and drinks so that you can stay fueled up while you play.
- Location and accessibility are also important. We chose venues that are easy to reach and in convenient locations.
- Finally, we consulted customer reviews and ratings to ensure that the venues we chose have an excellent reputation and are highly recommended by those who have visited them.
We hope these factors help you choose the perfect place to play pokie in Auckland!
Top places to play pokies in Auckland
1. The Cav Gastropub, Auckland

This is an upmarket gastropub in Ponsonby, established in 1866. It was earlier called Suffolk Hotel and was founded when the Ponsonby area was called Deadwood. The pub was run mainly by the managers of Campbell and Ehrenfried till 1972, when Campbell & Ehrenfried sold most of their pubs to Lion Breweries.
- The pub was earlier named the Cavalier Tavern. In 2014, it underwent a major renovation and was renamed as its abbreviated version—the Cav.
- They are situated at 68 College Hill in the Ponsonby area of Auckland. St. Paul’s College, Victoria Park, and Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbor are the major landmarks in the area.
- This pub is open from 11 am to 1 am the next day from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday, the pub timings are from 11 am to 11 pm.
Benefits at Cav Gastropub, Auckland
- The pub offers a broad menu created by renowned chef Eugene Hamilton, including various alternatives for vegetarians and gluten-free diners.
- The hotel’s sports bar is stylish and comfortable. Numerous big screens show all types of sports. It’s spectacular, offering a gastropub experience with decent views.
- The Cav in Freeman’s Bay is a well-liked gaming lounge among local players. It is a popular pokies venue with approximately eight machines for visitors to enjoy.
Pokies gaming
The venue also has a fantastic poker gaming machine lounge you will love visiting. Avenue is a popular place for pokies gaming in the Ponsonby, Auckland CBD area as it has 8 of the most popular pokie machines that Kiwis love to play from the likes of IGT and Aristocrat.
2. Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery

You get The Shakespeare home to comfy rooms, good food, all the best New Zealand craft beers, good times, and pokies machine gaming. Yes, in this 21st century, you know you’re in for a treat when you spend some time in the centre of Auckland City.
- You can play online pokies, eat, place a TAB wager, drink artisan beer, and watch live sports
- It offers beer, fresh bruschetta, fried camembert, and prawn twisters.
- Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery has 7 pokie machines.
- Address: 61 Albert Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Dress Code: There is no strict formal dress code, but casual and smart casual attire is generally appropriate.
- The Shakespeare Hotel is notable for being New Zealand’s first brewery pub, offering a range of craft beers brewed on-site, a traditional pub menu, and boutique hotel accommodations. It also has a rooftop bar and a relaxed, historic atmosphere.
- The hotel’s building is unique and has Victorian-styled architecture.
Benefits of playing at Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery
- The hotel provides free WiFi in its public spaces so that guests can stay connected at all times for work or personal reasons.
- There are 10 tastefully decorated boutique hotel rooms in the hotel for your absolute comfort and relaxation.
- Shakespeare has a roomy game area with roughly 7 gaming machines, pool tables, and big-screen TVs for sports and racing to entertain you.
Pokies machine & TAB gaming
Here, you will find a well-equipped gaming area with 7 of the best pokie machines and a TAB terminal for some betting wagers.
3. QF Tavern, Auckland

This pub specializes in showing sporting events in Auckland City’s CBD, the central business district and shopping area. It also has a pokies gaming lounge at 131 Queen Street in central Auckland.
This Tavern is just a 10-minute walk from the Viaduct Basin area, so it’s your go-to pokies gaming lounge in Auckland CBD.
- This pub is usually open from 9 am to 4 am the next day, seven days a week.
- The bus stop and taxi stand are located just outside the pub, while Britomart is close to the pub. Vehicle owners can use street parking to park their vehicles.
- This is one of the most popular among New Zealand and international tourists because it is also a sports bar, showing all the popular sporting events worldwide. Many tourists cannot watch their favourite sports matches in their hotels, so they flock to pubs to watch events like NRL, V8 Supercars, rugby, soccer, cricket, and UFC.
Here, you will find one large-screen television showing popular sports matches and four other flat-screen TVs with surround sound for other matches. The matches screened at the pub or scheduled are usually listed on the blackboard outside. For major sporting events, there are special offers on drinks during the event.
Benefits of playing at QF Tavern, Auckland
- QF Tavern has various gaming machines for players, with options to suit all tastes and preferences.
- The tavern offers a tasty menu of food and drinks, making it a spot for gaming and dining.
- QF Tavern is located in a central area of Auckland, making it easily accessible for visitors.
- The tavern has a welcoming atmosphere. Its staff is attentive to customers’ needs and provides excellent customer service.
Pokies Gaming Lounge
This is one of the ideal gaming lounges in Auckland’s city centre. It offers 18 of the latest and most popular pokies from IGT and Aristocrat to play.
4. The Fox, Auckland

This Sports Bar and restaurant is also one of the best bars in Auckland CBD for watching live sports and playing the pokies. It is located at 85/87 Customs Street West, near the Viaduct Harbor and Queen Street.
The Sealife Kelly, Auckland War Memorial, and Auckland Harbour Bridge are some of the area’s landmarks.
- This bar is open from 11 am to midnight from Monday to Friday.
- On Saturday and Sunday, it opens at 9 am and closes late at night. However, it may open earlier for sporting events. The front courtyard can be reached through the Viaduct, and other entrances can be accessed through Hobson Street.
- Started in 2002, the sports bar is one of the best places in the city to watch live sports. Several large-screen TVs are installed so that customers can watch sports from New Zealand and other places worldwide.
- You can request the bar to screen specific matches by calling or emailing.
- The bar will often open earlier for major sporting events, and interested customers can reserve a place. Because many customers may be present for popular sporting events, the management recommends that interested customers come early.
The venue has pool tables and dartboards to waste a few hours, lots of regular pub-style seating, and posh lounge chairs for the champagne and cocktail chuggers.
Benefits of playing at The Fox, Auckland
- The gaming lounge offers a modern, comfortable atmosphere with plush seating and stylish decor.
- The Fox’s gaming machines are some of Auckland’s most advanced and high-tech, providing players with an immersive and fun gaming experience.
- The Fox has a VIP lounge for high rollers and regular players, where they can enjoy exclusive benefits such as free drinks, personalized service, and access to VIP-only gaming machines.
Pokies gaming lounge
The Fox Sporting Bar & Restaurant in Auckland CBD is in the city centre, so it’s located location-wise in the guts of things. The venue has 8 poker machines to enjoy in comfy areas, plus TAB betting options.
5. The Albion Hotel Auckland

The Albion Hotel, built in 1873, is one of the oldest pub hotels in New Zealand. It continues to be open to customers to this day. It remains a landmark in Auckland and a must-visit venue if you love old pubs.
- It is just opposite the Sky Towers, where the Sky City Casino and Sky City Convention Centre are under construction.
- Other popular Auckland landmarks near the hotel are Viaduct Harbour, Vector Arena, and Civic Theatre.
- It is a 30-minute driving distance from Auckland International Airport. Live music and other events are organized regularly during the week.
- The hotel has facilities that business visitors may require, like faxing, copying, scanning, and emailing others.
- The tavern in the hotel offers a selection of New Zealand wines, spirits, and tap beers. The hotel’s restaurant and bar also offer meals and food with an assortment of international and Kiwi cuisines.
Benefits of playing at The Albion Hotel Auckland
- A popular pokies gaming lounge, a bar and a restaurant are just a few of the hotel’s services and features that are sure to please and ensure the comfort of its visitors.
- They have a fantastic on-site restaurant, pub, and event spaces that can be booked. The location additionally provides internet lodging reservations.
- The hotel staff can help you organize your event with decorations, entertainment, music, and lighting. The Gleeson room has 250 seats.
Pokies gaming
You can watch live sports and place bets on the installed TAB machines for horse races and other sporting events. The hotel also has a pokies gaming machine lounge open from 11 am to midnight.
The Auckland CBD area is an excellent option for poker gaming. It has 18 of the most popular poker machines from IGT and Aristocrat that Kiwis love to play.
6. SKYCITY Casino, Auckland

The SKYCITY Casino is the biggest in Auckland, New Zealand, with more than 2000 poker machines. It is open 24 hours a day, and you can play the pokies—how could you lose? The casino is at the corner of Victoria and Federal Street in Auckland’s CBD.
- The towers have two hotels, twenty-plus bars and restaurants, and a seven-hundred-seat theatre showing all the best entertainment.
- The SKYCITY hotels are open 365 days a year and are the best place to stay in central Auckland.
- The Casino at Skycity Towers is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for Christmas Day, Good Friday, and part of Anzac Day.
- It also offers live entertainment. There are about 2150 gaming machines and over 160 table games. Customers are advised to play only at the levels they can afford.
Playing on the Pokies gaming machines can earn you rewards. These can be obtained in different ways using the return play, points into pay, power winner, bonus play, celebration bonus, and free-play feature, which are several features.
Benefits of playing at SkyCity Casino Auckland
Here are the benefits of playing at SKYCITY Casino, Auckland:
- Various games include pokies, table games, and live dealer games.
- Different promotions and events throughout the year.
- Premier Rewards program that rewards members with points for a variety of benefits.
- Luxurious facilities include hotels, restaurants, and bars.
- Convenient location in the heart of Auckland.

Pokies Gaming
This is the biggest pokies gaming venue in Auckland CBD, with over 2150 pokie machines. The casino floor has pokies from Ainsworth, IGT, Aristocrat, and many more developers. Scores of jackpot progressive games, like all the Aristocrat Lightning Link pokie machines, are available to play.
7. Gordy’s Bar and Gaming
Located at 5 Jack Conway Ave, Manukau, Gordy’s Bar and Gaming provides a mix of gaming and entertainment options. The venue includes multiple gaming facilities along with food and beverage services.
- Pokies & Gaming: Features 20 pokie machines, TAB betting facilities, and Keno for gaming enthusiasts.
- Live Sports: Screens broadcasting live sports events are available for patrons.
- Food & Drinks: A variety of food options and beverages are offered within the establishment.
- Atmosphere: The setting is casual, catering to both regular players and visitors looking for a relaxed gaming environment.
8. 123 Palm Bar
Situated at 495 Pakuranga Road, Half Moon Bay, 123 Palm Bar combines recreational activities with gaming options. The venue is designed for both social gatherings and individual play.
- Pokies & Gaming: Houses 18 pokie machines, a TAB terminal, and additional gaming amenities.
- Recreational Activities: Includes a pool table and dartboard, offering more than just electronic gaming.
- Food & Drinks: Serves snacks and beverages, catering to casual visitors.
- Environment: A laid-back setting suitable for both gaming and social interaction.
Pokies At Christchurch Casino.
FAQs
How old must I be to gamble in Auckland?
In Auckland, the legal gambling age is 18 years old. This means that individuals must be at least 18 to play pokie at any gaming venue in Auckland, including casinos, bars, and clubs.
Do I need an ID to play pokies?
Yes, you must bring valid identification to play gaming machines in Auckland. New Zealand law requires all casinos to verify the age and identity of their customers before allowing them to gamble.
Is there a dress code?
Dress codes may vary depending on the gaming venue in Auckland. While casual attire is generally acceptable at most places, it’s always best to check the venue’s dress code policy beforehand to ensure you comply with any specific requirements.
Are these places accessible by public transportation?
Yes, most places mentioned in the article are accessible by public transportation, such as buses and trains. Visitors can use the Auckland Transport website or app to plan their trip and find the most convenient public transportation options.
Takeaways
This lists some of Auckland’s best pokies gaming lounge and sports bar venues. Here, you can have a few beers and enjoy the best happy hours or meal deal specials.
You can have a few TAB bets at these listed venues, eat fabulous food, or play excellent poker machine games, especially from IGT, Aristocrat, Konami, and Ainsworth.