Kiwis Take Their Gaming Online
Let the Games Begin!
No one knows who made the first wager, but gambling has been around before recorded history. Guys in loincloths threw knuckle bones for the latest chariot, while the Chinese were perfecting their ancient version of keno.
Later on, Europe contributed baccarat, roulette and blackjack. And those crafty Italians brought gambling to the masses when they built the first casino in the 1600s – The Ridotto.
For the next 400 years, gambling made its way to the four corners of the globe. And then, in the mid-1990s, online gaming was born. All of a sudden, people didn’t have to travel to a casino to play their favourite games. A Kiwi didn’t have to fly to Macau or even go to SkyCity Hamilton. They just had to turn on their computer. A gambling revolution was born.
Is This Thing For Real?
Just like the original casinos in Las Vegas were controlled by shifty characters, the early days of online gaming were full of pitfalls and crooks waiting to steal from naive players. Patrons complained of unfair practices and missing pay-outs. But online casino games have come a long way since the early, largely unregulated, days.
Today’s online casino sites are often monitored by independent auditors and firms, ensuring fair and legal play. Before you hand your information over to any site, check to see if they have the Seal of Approval from eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). This seal means they are licensed and are closely monitored and regulated by outside accounting firms.
Do a little research on the site before you enter your credit card or other banking information. Check chat rooms and forum boards to see if there are complaints. Check the site itself for their pay-out charts as well as their customer service options. Can you contact them if you have any questions or issues with your account? If anything looks questionable, pick another site. The following are recommended casino online games sites with good ratings across the board.
| Rank | Casino | Rating | Bonus | Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Platinum Play Online Casino | 1500 | Review | ||
|
7Sultans Online Casino | 500 | Review | ||
|
Royal Vegas Casino | $NZ100 | Review | ||
We Have a Winner!
Online gaming has brought online casino games to the masses and blown the cover off the mysterious and exclusive world of the exotic high rollers. Any game found in a physical casino can now be found online as well. Ever wanted to sit at a baccarat table? Pull up a chair. Want to play roulette in your bathrobe? Spin that wheel. New Zealanders love their pokies, and online sites offer hundreds of options. And it’s all legal as long as you use a site that is based in another country.
Gamblers no longer have to leave the comfort of their own homes. Online casinos are waiting for you to walk through their virtual doors. Anytime you want, for as long as you want. Many sites offer impressive sign-up bonuses, special promotions and customer loyalty rewards.
New Zealanders know gambling. Whatever your favourite, Royal Derby, Mega Moolah or Jacks or Better, you can find it online. The chips are virtual. The cards are virtual. And the dealer is virtual. But the fun, excitement, and most importantly – the money – is real.