How to play pokies online in New Zealand?

Pokies, also known as slot machines, have long been a favorite among Kiwi players and are a staple of pubs, clubs, and land-based casinos throughout New Zealand. With over 18,000 pokies machines in the country, it’s no surprise that local punters are always looking for new and exciting games to play. Fortunately, online casinos have stepped in to fill this demand, making it easier than ever to play pokies for real money from the comfort of your own home or on the go with your mobile device. In this article, we’ll explore the world of online pokies in New Zealand and give you all the information you need to get started.

Why Kiwis Love Playing Pokies

Pokies are popular because they require almost zero skill, which makes them perfect for beginners. Not only are there various types of pokies, but the range of themes is comprehensive and there is something for everyone. These pokies are developed by top-notch gaming developers like Microgaming, Playtech, NetEnt, and many others with loads of wonderful features.

As most of the online casinos accept players from New Zealand with open arms and many of them even allow players to enjoy their favorite games in NZ$ playing pokies is now a very common thing. These online pokies for real money casinos are fully licensed and regulated and offer the widest range of games and lucrative sign-up bonuses.

Types of Pokies to Play in New Zealand

There are many types of pokies to play online:

1. 3-reel Online Pokies

This is a traditional poky machine featuring three rotating reels and 1, 3 or 5 pay lines; the lines on which the symbols on the reels need to fall to create a winning spin. These machines offer straightforward and uncomplicated gaming action with a limited range of wager sizes, with big wins occurring fairly rarely.

History of 3-Reel Pokies

The first poker machines were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with this it all started and today we know and love pokies. The first three-reel pokies machine which was named The Liberty Bell was developed by Charles Fey in San Francisco in the late 1800s this game had three reels manifesting five symbols; hearts, liberty bells, diamonds, spades, and horseshoes.

To play this game, you need to manually pull a lever that would spin the symbols with the hope to land on a winning combination. This Liberty Bell became so popular that it became one of the cornerstones for all future slot machine manufacturers.

After many years of evolution in the advancement of designs, features, and payment options, the first video pokies slot was released in Las Vegas in 1976. It had three reels but now the players could watch the reels spin for themselves. This machine also took its place and was included in Nevada casinos first before spreading across the world.

Today three-reel pokies are still common and can be found at all the leading online casinos including Jackpot City, Royal Vegas Casino, All Slots Casino, and Casino-Mate.

2. 5-reel Online Pokies

These pokies form a majority of games at online casinos cover a huge variety of game types and have enormous variety when it comes to stake size and the number of paylines, meaning that games can be played for as little as 5¢ or as much as $500 per spin, and this is a big part of their appeal as anybody can afford to play. The range of themes and designs is a vital element of these games’ aesthetic appeal, and the look and feel of a game are considered by some to be just as important as the gameplay.

You will notice in this game the expanding wilds, paylines that run both ways, rolling reels, and many different other features increasing the gameplay and creating more payout opportunities also.

History of the 5-Reel Slot Machine

The 5-reel slot was developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891 and this machine was also the inspiration for Charles Fey’s 1895 machine and the first precursor to the modern slot machine.

This machine had five reels and one row, and also had five drums holding 50 different card symbols that spun when the player put in a nickel to pull the lever. If you happen to get a distinct poker hand lined up, you won a prize of some kind. It could include cash prizes, but instead, you could also be awarded things like free beers, cigars, or whatever else the bar/pub felt like handing out.

Five Reel Pokies Game Features

The new and interactive video slot games are mostly having five reels today. Usually, 3-reel slots are considered more traditional, old-school-style like the ‘fruit machine slot’ style to display the design of original slot machines.

The five-reel symbols game has more possible winning combinations. The number of winning paylines also differs from game to game but five-reel pokies typically have more than three-reel slots. Five reel games mostly offer additional bonus games which add ample entertainment value and give you the chance to multiply winnings, earn free spins, and win bonus cash.

Best 5-Reel Online Slots

Here are the most popular and widely played web casinos for 5-reel pokies. All the casinos that offer these games are regulated and reliable and you can play for real money.

1. South Park: Reel Chaos

South Park fans would be happy and thrilled by this 5-reel, 3-row slots game featuring 20 paylines/bet lines. Having all the usual gangs, each character is dressed as a superhero and each of the main characters unlocks amazing bonus rounds, which can occur randomly at any time during the main game.

The main character Cartmen randomly creates a reel of stacked Wilds, which is replaced by other icons to build the highest possible winning combination. Yet another character Kenny fights with the professor and based on his travelling, you can get your last win multiplied by x3, x4, or x5. Stan can earn you a winning re-spin where the wheels continue to spin until you hit a win. On landing three Mintberry Crunch icons, you will win a round of free spins.

2. Net Entertainment’s Mega Fortune

Mega Fortune is yet another 5-reel progressive jackpot pokies game with 20 paylines. In this game, three or more champagne symbols activate a round of free spins, and if you spin more than three champagne icons across the reels, you get a multiplier for your winnings until the free spins are ended. The Boat symbol is a wild symbol in this game and will replace other symbols. You have a chance to win a massive progressive jackpot in the bonus round.

3. Jurassic Park Slot

These 5-reel and 3-row slots are inspired by Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster film, and also display the movie’s gripping soundtrack and the main protagonists and dinosaurs as symbols. Three T-Rex dinosaurs and three Velociraptors are stacked, three trice raptors or three brachiosaur uses can win you 12 free spins, with each dinosaur offering different bonus features with the free spins.

Every time you activate a free spin mode, this is noted, and after 25 free spins, you get to choose a multiplier that you can use for the rest of your playing time on the Jurassic Park game.

4. The BooManji Pokie

BooManji is a 10-pay line, 5-reel, and 3-row fireworks-themed slots game with 10 paylines. In this pokie, the BooManji, the crate filled with fireworks the wild symbols. If you happen to land these wild symbols on reels 2, 3, or 4, you are paid with a shot at additional winning combinations. In case it appears on reels 1 or 5, you will get a free re-spin. With incredible graphics and 3D animations, this game is amazingly pleasing and packed with fun.

3-Reel vs 5-Reel Pokies

Whichever pokies you choose to play three-reel or five-reel pokies, it is completely your choice, with both games offering unique benefits and drawbacks.

Graphics and Features 

– The graphical difference between these two types of slots is vast. As the five-reel game is more popular for its innovative animations, sounds, video clips, and bonus features. The five-reel format is widely supported by big gaming software providers who develop pokies inspired by popular movies and animated brands, typically offering more engaging and entertaining value than three-reel slots.

Attractive Design and Graphics

But three-reel pokies still are a great design and attractive graphics, but the design remains true to the traditional fruit machines. The three-reel pokies are the basic form of the game without the bells and whistles offered by five-reel pokies with usual sound effects the same as those that you find in brick-and-mortar casinos.

Three-reel pokies are less volatile and are great for players who are new to the casino and the pokies, or who simply want to make their bankroll last longer and play more for fun and not for winning. In three-reel games, you get small wins but still have the chance to play for longer with some huge jackpots.

Paylines and Winning Combinations 

Five reel pokies often increase the number of possible symbol combinations, with a 1 in 100,000 chance of landing on a particular combination. Five reel games have much higher jackpots although with a lower chance of landing a major win given all the possible combinations. But five-reel pokies offer payouts on many smaller combinations, thus offering the players many smaller wins.

Three-reel pokies are more simplified, with smaller jackpots but higher chances of winning. The payout percentage is usually the same with five reel and three reel pokies.

Gameplay 

Both three and five-reel online pokies for real money nz work on the same format of gameplay, where the player has to opt for a wager amount before spinning the reels in the hopes of landing on a winning combination. The only difference is that the three-reel machine is simpler and the five-reel machine has advanced and beyond just matching symbols.

Five-reel games now provide several bonus games, free spins, and exciting rewards, and often divert from traditional payline games. They offer more winning ways to increase the chances of spinning a winning combination. The symbols are more complex and enticing and use state-of-the-art technology to develop high-end animation.

Video Themed Pokies

Such pokies are amongst the most popular type of games and where there has been the most significant innovation in recent years. Games take as their themes hit TV shows, films, video games, and music performers, and successfully adapt their characters, songs, looks, and storylines.

Many pokies, like Gladiator, Jurassic Park, and Aliens have the inspiration by popular movies. Superheroes also make for popular themed games, and you can play games based on DC Comic figures, including Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Iron Man, and The Incredible Hulk.

Themed pokies based on popular bands and musicians have also proved to be the hit ones, with games based on Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix and Motorhead being amongst the most successful titles to hit the market in recent times.

Progressive Jackpot Online Pokies

Video-themed pokies are amongst the most popular type of games and where there has been the most significant innovation in recent years. Games take as their themes hit TV shows, films, video games, and music performers, and successfully adapt their characters, songs, looks, and storylines.

Some of the most popular themed slot games of recent years have been based on US and UK TV shows. Themed pokies on popular bands and musicians are all hit, with games on Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix and Motorhead being amongst the most successful titles to hit the market in recent times.

5 Types of Themed Video Pokies

1. Cleopatra-Themed Online Slots

Cleopatra slots are most popular amongst casino players due to their Egypt’s queen of jewels and attractive features. These pokies in nz feature shimmering symbols, bonus rounds, free spins, multipliers, wild cards, and countless coin wins.

These slots take you to the era of pharaohs which are amazing and offer loads of adventure and lucrative jackpots.

2. Vegas-Themed Online Pokies

Vegas slots have entered various parts of the globe in the form of slots including Manila and Budapest. These designer slots are the best if you’re fond of flashy Vegas lights. You can find such slots if you play slots from IGT, Playtech, NextGen Gaming, and NetEnt. Playing them today can stand you a chance of grabbing incredible casino bonuses.

3. Magic-Themed Online Slots

We all are ecstatic about magic and this is the reason why there are so many slots on magic-theme in today’s online gaming world. You will find rabbits, hats, crystal balls, wizards, and magic portals playing these pokies. It also offers big bonuses and Free Spins. Some of the popular software providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Yggdrasil Gaming, Play’n GO, and Thunderkick create different types of magic-themed slots.

4. Movie-Themed Online Slots

Movies have widely influenced our lives and casino games are no exception. There are plenty of online pokies for real money based on movies including popular 1980s action movies and the latest blockbusters. While playing such pokies you will enjoy scatters, Free Spins, wilds, and exciting bonuses.

5. Golden Online Pokies

Golden pokies come with special features where you get many choices. Golden slots feature excellent designs, enticing reels, and impressive jackpots.

Progressive Jackpot Online Pokies

Video-themed pokies are amongst the most popular type of online pokies for real money in nz games and where there has been the most significant innovation in recent years. Games take as their themes hit TV shows, films, video games, and music performers, and successfully adapt their characters, songs, looks, and storylines.

Some of the most popular themed slot games of recent years have been based on US and UK TV shows. Pokies from the inspiration of popular bands and musicians are also hit, with games based on Guns N’ Roses, Jimi Hendrix and Motorhead being amongst the most successful titles to hit the market in recent times.

How do online progressive Jackpots work?

On playing real money slots online, progressive jackpots are created from a part of every player’s bet. In most cases, the player can only become eligible for the progressive jackpot when he plays at the highest stake.  

Though not fixed, usually 1 per cent of the stake is reserved for the jackpot. You need a special payline symbol to win the jackpot, or the jackpot triggers randomly. You may have to play a second-time bonus game.

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3. Online pokies for real money tips

To play pokies online for real money nz is very simple and straightforward, but you need to think of the stakes you play for and how you manage your bankroll if you want to maximize your enjoyment.

1. Consider the number of paylines

It’s important when selecting pokies games to Play Pokies Online For Real Money NZ you should note the number of paylines, the different coin sizes, and how many coins you can play per line, as these will determine the size of the maximum bet. Betting the max is important as it opens more possibilities for a large jackpot win, and is essential if you want to be in the running to land a progressive jackpot payout.

2. Determine the coin size

To determine what coin size is right for you, first, work out how much you want to play per spin. If you decide that your stake is NZ$2.00 per spin, and you’re playing a 20-pay line game where you can bet between 1-10 coins per line, you should select a coin size of NZ$0.01. If you want to play the same game, but only for NZ$1.00 stake per spin, then you should reduce the number of coins you play per line so that you can keep the maximum number of lines in play e.g., 5 coins x $0.01 = $0.05 x 20 pay lines = $1.00.

3. Play all the lines

When choosing which online pokies you want to play, it’s important to remember that you are better off playing all the lines with a reduced number of coins per line rather than reducing the total number of lines you have in play on each spin. Your chances of winning in any type of game always improved when you play the maximum number of lines.

See also Top 10 Online Pokies For Real Money

Deposit Or Withdrawal Option

Deposition and withdrawal of funds is the most important feature which must be taken into consideration while choosing the best online pokies for real cash. Before starting to play pokies online, it is important to check whether that online casino provides a variety of payment options.

Ideal pokies websites accepts several payment methods including credit or debit cards, and various e-payment methods including Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, Paysafe and many more which are accessible for NZ players to withdraw winnings from their real money accounts. It is crucial to confirm which payment options are accepted by the online casino and which ones are most appropriate for your requirements.

The fees and processing times for withdrawals and deposits of money into wallets are two other crucial issues linked to depositing or withdrawing our real money winnings from online casinos. There are many poker machines available today that do not charge users for using payment methods, and the typical withdrawal processing period is 24 to 48 hours, allowing users to have their real money in their hands.

To play pokies online, we must always be in our senses. We must be aware of the security measures which are followed or regulated by online casinos. Many reputable online casinos also use third-party inspectors to guarantee the security and fairness of their games. Reputable online casinos use encryption technology to safeguard players’ financial information.

This is the reason you must look for security before starting playing pokies online for real money in New Zealand.

Synopsis

You can enjoy a vast range of pokies game styles when playing online, whether for fun or real money. From traditional classic pokies machines to visually impressive video pokies and progressive jackpot games with the potential for life-changing payouts, there’s something to suit every taste. To play pokies online for real money in New Zealand, you’ll need to select a top-quality online casino and explore their selection of games. These online pokies often offer significantly higher payouts than other types of games, making them a popular choice among players.

Playing pokies is a popular form of entertainment among many people, including Kiwis in New Zealand. The availability of online casinos has made it easier for players to access and play pokies from anywhere with an internet connection, which has contributed to the continued popularity of these games. Some people enjoy playing pokies for fun, while others are motivated by the possibility of winning real money. However, it is important to remember that gambling can be addictive and should be approached with caution and responsible behavior.

FAQs

What are the minimum and maximum bets allowed when playing pokies with real money?

The minimum and maximum bets differ accordingly with different online casinos in New Zealand. It can be determined based on payline, RTP, coin size and betting limits. Before choosing which pokies to play you should always read all the terms and conditions of that specific casino.

What are the regulations in place to ensure that online casinos offering pokies for real money in New Zealand are safe and fair?

All the casinos in NZ which offer online pokies for real money are governed by the Gambling act 2003. This act judges all online casinos and makes sure they follow all the criteria which are required to deliver safe and fair gameplay.

Is there any legal age for gambling in New Zealand?

Yes, generally the legal age for gambling in New Zealand to earn and play pokies online is 18 years but some online casinos allow 20+ years of punter to place bets and access their casinos.

What are the risks associated with playing online pokies for real money?

The potential for addiction, fraud and identity theft, as well as the danger of playing at unlicensed or unregulated casinos, are all risks involved with playing real money online pokies. This is why you must always check all the policies and licensing before landing on any online casino for real money.