The Best 6 Places to Play Pokies in Auckland

What better could you expect than a good Kiwi sports bar with a room full of people glued to walls of television screens cheering on their team? If you have visited this wonderful city you must visit the city area and have some cracker options for getting little sports-watching action along with a few beers, a wine, some awesome eats, and a little pokies gaming action also at some venues. Here are the best 6 places to play pokies in Auckland.

If you don’t like sports just go along for the people watching and a few drinks. You will find All Blacks in the Rugby Union, the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL, the Black Caps in the Cricket, the UFC or your local Basketball team, and the best games being shown at some of the popular pubs here!

How we choose the top 6 places to play pokies in Auckland

When choosing the top 6 places to play pokies in Auckland, we made sure to consider some important factors to help you make the most of your experience. Look to the below-mentioned factors which must be taken into consideration before landing in any place to play pokies in Auckland.

• First off, we looked at the variety and number of pokies available at each venue. After all, the more options you have, the more fun you’ll have!
• We also took into account the overall atmosphere and experience of the venue. We wanted to make sure that the places we chose would provide a great time for you and your friends.
• Customer service is key, so we looked at how well each venue treats its customers. Friendly staff and great service can really 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 important, too. We made sure to choose venues that are easy to get to and in convenient locations.
• Finally, we consulted customer reviews and ratings to make sure that the venues we chose have a great reputation and come highly recommended by those who have visited them before.

We hope that these factors help you choose the perfect place to play pokies in Auckland!

Related read: 24 Hour Pokies Auckland

Top 6 places to play pokies in Auckland

1. The Cav Gastropub, Auckland

This is an upmarket gastropub in Ponsonby, established in the year 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, and in 2014, it underwent a major renovation and was renamed as its abbreviated version The Cav.
• 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 in the morning to 1 am at night the next day from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday, the pub timings are from 11 am to 11 pm at night.

Benefits at Cav Gastropub, Auckland

• The pub offers a very 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, with numerous big screens showing all your favourite sports. It’s nothing short of spectacular, offering a gastropub experience with great views.
• The Cav, located in Freeman’s Bay, is a well-liked gaming lounge among local players. It is a popular pokies venue with approximately eight machines available for visitors to enjoy.

Pokies gaming

The venue also has a great pokies gaming machine lounge that you will love to visit. Avenue is a popular place for pokies gaming in the Ponsonby, Auckland CBD area as it has 8 of the most popular pokies machines that Kiwis love to play from the likes of IGT and Aristocrat.

2. Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery

What you get is The Shakespeare home to comfy rooms, great 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 here right in the centre of Auckland City.

• A renowned establishment in Auckland City where you can play online pokies, eat, place a TAB wager, drink artisan beer, and watch live sports
• It provides every user with awesome options to choose from a wide variety of menus which include Beers, fresh bruschetta, fried camembert, or prawn twisters.
• 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 its 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 you covered with a roomy game area that features roughly 7 gaming machines, pool tables, and big-screen TVs for sports and racing to keep you entertained.

Pokies Machine & TAB Gaming

Here you will find a well-equipped gaming area with 18 of the best pokies machines and a TAB terminal for some betting wagers. This is a comfy and friendly pokies machine gaming lounge venue to visit if you are in the Auckland City area.

3. QF Tavern, Auckland

This is a pub that specializes in the showing of sporting events in the CBD – central business district and shopping area of Auckland city. The pub has a pokies gaming lounge and is located 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 in the morning 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 for parking their vehicles.
• This is one of the most popular among both New Zealand and international tourists because it is also a sports bar, showing all the popular sporting events worldwide. Many tourists are unable to watch their favourite sports match in their hotel so they flock to the pub to watch the events like NRL, V8 Supercars, Rugby, Soccer, Cricket, and UFC.

Here you will find one large-screen television for showing popular sports matches and four other flat-screen TVs with surround sound for other matches. The matches which are being 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 a wide variety of gaming machines available for players, with options to suit all tastes and preferences.
• The tavern has a menu of tasty food and a selection of drinks to choose from, making it a great spot for both gaming and dining.
• QF Tavern is located in a central area of Auckland, making it easily accessible for visitors.
• The tavern has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with staff who are attentive to customers’ needs and provide excellent customer service.

Pokies Gaming Lounge

This is one of the most ideal pokies gaming lounges located right in the Auckland city centre area. They have 18 of the latest and most popular pokies from IGT and Aristocrat to play.

4. The Fox, Auckland

This Sporting Bar & Restaurant is also one of the best bars in Auckland CBD for watching live sports and playing the pokies. The bar is located at 85/87 Customs Street West in Auckland near the Viaduct Harbor and Queen Street. The Sealife Kelly, Auckland War Memorial, and Auckland harbour bridge are some of the landmarks in the area.

• This bar is open from 11 am to late at night from Monday to Friday.
• On Saturday and Sunday, it opens earlier from 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 takes pride in being one of the best places to watch live sports in the city. Here you will find a number of large-screen TVs installed so that customers can watch sports in New Zealand and other places worldwide.
• You can request the bar to screen specific matches of your choice either by calling on the phone or sending an email.
• The bar will often open earlier for major sporting events, and interested customers can reserve a place. A large number of customers may be present for popular sporting events, so the management recommends that interested customers come early.

The venue has pool tables and dartboards to waste a few hours and lots of regular pub-style seating and some posh lounge chairs for the champagne and cocktail chuggers.

Benefits of playing at The Fox, Auckland

• The gaming lounge offers a modern and comfortable atmosphere, with plush seating and stylish decor.
• The gaming machines at The Fox are some of the most advanced and high-tech in Auckland, providing players with an immersive and exciting 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 located right in the city centre so it’s right in the guts of things location-wise. The venue has 8 pokies machines to enjoy in comfy areas plus TAB betting options.

5. The Albion Hotel Auckland

The Albion Hotel was built in 1873 and is one of the oldest pub hotels in New Zealand which continues to be open to customers right to this day. It remains a landmark in Auckland and a must-visit venue if you love old pubs.

• It is located just opposite the Sky Towers with Sky city casino and Sky city convention centre which is under construction.
• Other popular Auckland landmarks in the vicinity of the hotel are Viaduct Harbour, Vector Arena, and Civic Theatre.
• It is 30 minutes driving distance from Auckland International Airport. Live music and other events are organized during the week on a regular basis
• 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 as well as tap beers. The restaurant and bar of the hotel are also offering meals and food with an assortment of international, and Kiwi cuisine.

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.
• Your event can be organised by the hotel staff with the help of decorations, entertainment, music, and lighting. There are 250 seats available in the Gleeson room.

Pokies gaming

You can watch live sports and place bets for horse races and other sporting events on the TAB machines which are installed. The hotel also has a pokies gaming machine lounge which is open from 11 am to late at night. Here you will have a great option for pokies gaming in the Auckland CBD area as it has 18 of the most popular slot machines that Kiwis love to play from the likes of IGT and Aristocrat.

6. SKYCITY Casino, Auckland

The SKYCITY Casino is the biggest casino in New Zealand with more than 2000 pokies machines. It is available that’s open around the clock 24 hours a day to play the pokies, how could you possibly lose? The casino is situated at the corner of Victoria and Federal Street in the Auckland CBD of New Zealand.

• 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 of the year and it’s the best place to stay in central Auckland.
• The Casino at Skycity Towers is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is with the exception of XMAS day, Good Friday & part of Anzac Day.
• It also offers live entertainment. You will find about 2150 gaming machines and over 160 table games. Customers are advised to only play at the levels which they can afford to pay.

On playing on the pokies gaming machines can get rewards. This you can get in different ways using the return play; points into pay; power winner; bonus play; celebration bonus; and free-play feature of several great features available.

Table Games at the Casino

The casino also provides a range of table games like Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat. Rules for playing these games are available on the website, or customers can contact the table games staff for details. Variations of the games like Blackjack Plus, Blackjack Ante, Money Wheel, Rapid Baccarat, Rapid Roulette, EZ Baccarat, Blackjack, and Viva Roulette you can also play.

Playing the pokies at SKYCITY Casino Auckland

This is the biggest pokies gaming venue in Auckland CBD by far with more than 2150 pokies machines. The casino floor has all your favourite pokies from Ainsworth, IGT, Aristocrat, and many more developers. Scores of jackpot progressive games are available to play like all the Aristocrat Lightning Link pokies machines.

Poker options

Playing poker has become extremely popular in New Zealand, and pubs and other facilities regularly host poker games. Unlike other casino games, the poker players are playing against each other, and not against the house. Although, the casino charges a fee for hosting the poker tournaments which are usually held weekly. The fee is usually displayed on the table.

Rewards Program 

You will also find a rewards program for its regular customers the Platinum and VIP Black programs. It claims that these are some of the best reward programs for casino gamblers in Asia.

You can learn to play at SKYCITY Casino

If you are new to gambling, the SKYCITY casino is also offering to learn-to-play packages. These packages are an affordable and simple way to play various casino table games. These are ideal for end-of-conference celebrations, team building, or work events.

These games are taught including Roulette, Baccarat, Poker, Blackjack, Texas Holdem Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Three card poker. Ten persons can learn to play at the $400 package. This includes table games with a pro dealer for one hour, a $10 single bet chip for each person, and beverages. The premium package costs $620 and includes an additional beverage and platters from Sammy’s Lounge. Interested people can book a package, though a 20% deposit will be required.

FAQs

Q. How old do I have to be to play pokies in Auckland?

Ans – In Auckland, the legal gambling age is 18 years old. This means that individuals must be at least 18 years old to play pokies at any gaming venue in Auckland, including casinos, bars, and clubs.

Q. Do I need to bring identification with me to play pokies in Auckland casinos?

Ans – Yes, you will need to bring valid identification with you to play pokies in Auckland casinos. This is because New Zealand law requires all casinos to verify the age and identity of their customers before allowing them to gamble.

Q. Are there any dress codes that I need to follow?

Ans – Dress codes may vary depending on the gaming venue in Auckland. Generally, casual attire is acceptable at most places, but it’s always best to check with the venue’s dress code policy beforehand to ensure that you comply with any specific requirements.

Q. Are these places accessible by public transportation?

Ans – Yes, most of the 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.

Synopsis

This is the list of some of the best pokies gaming lounge and sports bar venues in Auckland. Here you can have a few beers, and enjoy the best happy hours or meal deal specials. You can have a few TAB bets, eat some awesome food or play some great pokies machine games. Especially from IGT, Aristocrat, Konami, and Ainsworth at these listed venues.