What Does the Future of Sports Betting NZ Look Like?

What Does the Future of Sports Betting NZ Look Like
Reading time: 18 minutes

2023 is expected to be an exciting year for sports betting NZ. Kiwis are known to love sports, and placing a bet adds an element of excitement to the game.

Now that more sportsbooks are providing online betting services to New Zealand, residents have more options in front of them for placing bets.

We’re excited about the expansion of online sports betting sites available to the country. Today, we’re going to talk about the impact that sports betting has made in NZ and what to expect in 2023. We’ll also cover some of the top sports betting trends every gambler in the country should know about.

Keep reading to find out more.

Best online betting sites

  • Bet365
  • William Hill
  • 888Sports
  • TonyBet
  • Betway Sports
  • Sports Interaction
  • Cobra Bet
  • Mr Green

Are There Any NZ Betting Sites?

new zealand man at the casino

There are no official NZ betting sites. This is essential knowledge that every gambler should know about online betting sites in the country. It’s illegal for sports betting sites to operate out of New Zealand. This is why gamblers use betting sites from other countries.

That being said, sports betting and betting online are legal in NZ. There is no penalty for residents who are of legal gambling age to use a sportsbook that operates out of a different country. The sports betting site providing services to NZ won’t receive a penalty either. So if you would like to try out sports betting, feel free to have a look at our sports betting page, where we have rated some of the best betting sites available.

Sports Betting in New Zealand

Sports betting NZ was legalised in 2003. It’s the #1 form of gambling in the country. It’s also the only legal form of online betting. On an annual basis, an average of 80% of New Zealand residents over the age of 20 placed sports bets.

With more sports betting sites becoming available in the country, it’s predicted that the amount will increase in 2023.

Land-based casinos and slot machines (pokies) are legal in the country. While pokies can be found at establishments throughout the country, they don’t have the same appeal as sports betting. Modern players have demonstrated a large interest in convenience. People would rather log in through their smartphones than travel to a land-based casino.

Sports Betting in 2023

Why do we predict the sports betting markets to make a big impact in NZ this year? It all comes down to what Kiwis want when they bet. You see, more sports betting sites are introducing mobile apps. This is appealing to Kiwis because they prefer placing bets on their own terms.

More people in New Zealand are using mobile devices for internet activity. The best betting sites are mobile-friendly, making it easier for the player to place bets. This convenience allows them to place bets anytime they want. Kiwis are paying attention to which sites have mobile betting apps.

Another thing to consider about sports betting in 2023 is the major events of the year. One major event that Kiwis are looking forward to is the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

This is the biggest sporting event to date to be held in New Zealand. Some other events this year that Kiwis look forward to betting on are the New Zealand Master Games 2023 and the Motatapu Race 2023

Why Do Kiwis Love Sports?

New Zealand is known as a sporting nation. People in this nation love to spend time outdoors and they get a thrill from the excitement of a game. Kiwis enjoy more unique sports than other nations around the world.

The #1 sport in the country is rugby. However, they also enjoy some unique sports that aren’t as common in other parts of the world, like underwater hockey and zorbing.

So, what drives Kiwis to be so passionate about sports? Of course, every person you meet will have their own reasons. However, we believe a large part of why sports are so popular in NZ is because the nation has some unique moments in sports history. For example, New Zealand currently holds more Olympic gold medals per capita than any other country.

Another thing to consider is that there are a handful of sports that were invented in New Zealand. One we mentioned above is zorbing, which is basically the human version of a hamster ball.

People get into giant balls and race each other down a course. Some other sports that were invented in NZ include:

  • Jet boating
  • Bungee jumping
  • Fly by wire

Water sports are also well-loved by Kiwis. If a game can be played in the water, New Zealand will always show enthusiasm towards it. This is most likely because of how easily accessible water sports are for Kiwis. Every part of NZ is within a 128 km range of the sea.

Kiwis don’t just love to participate in sports. They also love watching games and rooting for their favourite teams. This is why they’re eager to find a quality sports betting site.

How To Bet Online in New Zealand

Betting online in New Zealand is very easy. The first thing you need to do is choose one of the online betting NZ sites to gamble from. We recommend comparing and fully reviewing an online sportsbook before you register for an account.

Once you choose the betting site that meets your satisfaction, you can join in a matter of minutes.

Legitimate NZ betting sites will require information to verify that you are of legal age to gamble. The legal gambling age in New Zealand is 20. When filling out a registration form online, you will have to provide your full name as it appears on your ID, your address, and your birthdate.

With this information, the casino can instantly verify your account. However, most NZ betting sites will require a photocopy of your ID and proof of address before you can request a withdrawal.

At this point, you will have full access to the online sportsbook. You will need to make a deposit before you can start using the betting lines. Once you have money in your betting wallet, you can choose the match you want to wager on.

Select the bet you want to place to bring up the bet slip. You will be able to place a wager and see how much you could win using the bet slip. Hit confirm once you’re ready to place the bet.

Choosing The Best Sportsbook

The very first step in placing bets online is choosing the right online betting site. There is a pretty big assortment of betting sites available in New Zealand. This is because online gambling sites know that New Zealand is an excellent market for sports betting.

Before you choose a site to bet from, there are a few things that you should review.

Available Sports

The most important aspect of online sports betting is, of course, the sports themselves. Every NZ sports gambler has different events that they’re looking forward to. This is why it’s important to review what sports are available on the betting lines before you register.

Gamblers that are after mainstream sports will have luck finding the sports they enjoy betting on with nearly every legitimate sports betting site. However, players that prefer niche sports may have to do more searching around to find a site that includes their favourite sports.

Bonus Offers

We always look for a betting bonus before we consider joining an online sports betting platform. Nearly every sports betting site will offer a type of welcome bonus to entice people to join.

However, the best NZ betting sites will continue to provide promotional offers to existing members.

Odds & Betting Lines

It’s well worth it to review the odds between different NZ sports betting sites. We recommend choosing a few events that you’re interested in. Pull up 3 to 4 different betting sites and choose the same event on all of them.

Compare the betting lines to see which site offers the best odds. Better odds will result in higher profits on winning bets.

Security & Licensing

Your safety should always be a top priority when you’re online. The best sports betting sites will hold a license and use secure encryption. We recommend reviewing the “about us” page on a betting site to find out what license they have to operate.

You don’t have to be an IT expert to figure out if the betting site you’re using has secure encryption. Simply look at the URL bar to see if the site is secure. All secure websites will have a closed lock symbol before the website’s address. If this symbol shows a “!” in a triangle, the website isn’t secure.

Events & Tournaments

We believe one of the main focuses of sports betting should be entertainment. That’s why we look for betting sites that have more going on beneath the surface.

Many of the best sports betting sites will feature tournaments or special betting events around specific matches. A lot of times, these tournaments are free for members to join as well.

Payment Methods

Most punters prefer to use banking methods that they’re familiar with. They aren’t interested in signing up for new services or using a payment method they don’t trust. Check to see if the online sports betting site uses payment methods that you already use.

We also recommend checking the betting site’s terms and conditions regarding deposits and withdrawals. It’s important to know if there will be extra fees and wait times for the payment methods you choose to use for transactions.

Customer Support

Online sports betting sites seem pretty self-explanatory at first. However, once you join and start exploring, there will be questions that you have. It’s a good idea to know how and when you can reach out to customer support if you have a problem. Many reputable sports betting sites will have a FAQ where you can find answers to some of the most common questions members have.

We recommend choosing a casino site with 24/7 support. These sites often feature a live representative on chat. When you run into an issue, you can instantly connect with somebody who can help you out.

Outside Reviews

You can review nearly every page of a sportsbook before joining, but that will only give you a glimpse at what the user experience is like. It’s very important to read multiple reviews on available New Zealand betting sites to know what the ups and downs were for other bettors.

Now, most online NZ betting sites will post customer testimonials. These will let you know what people enjoy about the betting site. However, the betting service will always pick out the best reviews to post on their official site. That’s why we recommend looking at reviews from outside sources.

This is how you can get a sense if the pros outweigh the cons or if the site is a scam.

New Zealand’s Favourite Sports To Bet On

Kiwis love to bet online. Since it’s such an exciting sports nation, there’s almost always an event to bet on. This is part of what makes the online gambling culture in New Zealand as popular as it is. Below are some of the top sports on the NZ betting markets.

Rugby Betting

Every sportsbook offering services in New Zealand should have rugby in their betting markets. This is the most popular sport in the country. Players will tune in from all over the nation for Rugby Union, Rugby League, and other events revolving around this sport.

Since Rugby is such a quick-paced game, it’s one of the most exciting sports for in-play betting. When international betting sites know the influence this sport has on the nation perhaps there will be more rugby betting sites.

Horse Racing Betting

Kiwis love to bet on racing events. Horse racing is the top racing event to bet on. However, it’s not the only animal racing event that goes on in this nation. Kiwis are fond of exotic animal racing, like crab races. However, it’s not common to find exotic racing in sports betting options.

For that reason, you can expect to find some competitive odds in the country for horse racing betting.

Basketball Betting

Another fast-paced game that Kiwis enjoy is basketball and betting on the NBA. The top sports betting sites will feature betting lines for National Basketball League matches. Basketball games create some unique opportunities for proposition bets.

The wealth of betting options keep things exciting for Kiwis.

Cricket Betting

Cricket is another top sport in New Zealand. It draws a lot of people into the betting sites because there are several major cricket events throughout the year. Fans take these events seriously and want to get their futures bets in.

Some of the most famous cricket events in the country include One Day Internationals, ICC World, and Commonwealth Games.

Football Betting

Europe isn’t the only part of the world that takes football seriously. New Zealand sports fans are just as enthusiastic about this game. The New Zealand Premiership is one of the most anticipated events on the betting lines. That being said, Kiwis are also fans of international sports.

You’ll find many of them placing football bets on European teams and showing excitement over the World Cup and EURO.

Netball Betting

The top NZ betting sites would never leave netball out of their betting lines. Next to rugby, this is one of the most popular sports in the country.

There are several huge global tournaments that bettors don’t want to miss out on, this includes Netball World Cup and ANZ Premiership.

Other Sports

The sports listed above aren’t the only ones you can find on the NZ betting lines. A reputable NZ betting site will have a good variety on the betting market. Below are some other sporting events that are popular with Kiwi punters.

  • UFC
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Cycling
  • Darts
  • Baseball & more

New Zealand eSports Betting 2023

New Zealand betting sites are also putting more focus on eSports. This is one of the ways they are appealing to the younger generation of sports punters. More Kiwis in their early to mid-20s are likely to join the betting sites legal in NZ specifically for eSports betting. While older generations prefer horse racing and football betting, virtual games are more popular among the younger generation.

Many people that enjoy playing video games will follow professional players. This is similar to basketball fans following their favourite teams. Watching professional eSports players compete in a match online offers the same level of excitement as watching a sporting event.

Over the past few years, online bookmakers have noticed the value of adding eSports to the betting lines. Millions of players have created sportsbook accounts since eSports betting has become available online.

Now that more virtual games are hosting world championship events, more Kiwis are taking an interest in putting down bets.

What eSports Can You Bet On in NZ?

  • NBA 2K
  • World of Warcraft
  • League of Legends
  • Call of Duty League
  • StarCraft
  • King of Glory
  • FIFA
  • eFighting
  • eTennis
  • Counter-Strike & more

Bonus Offers From NZ Betting Sites

The best NZ betting sites will feature bonus offers for betting. When you join a new sportsbook, we recommend signing up for the email or SMS list. This will keep you notified of when new sports betting promotions are available.

Every time you get a new promo offer, it’s important to read the terms and conditions. This is because there are rules on how to use each bonus. Make sure you find out the following:

  • How long the offer is available for
  • If you have to make a deposit or wager to receive the bonus
  • What bets the bonus is eligible to be used on
  • How to activate the bonus (Is it automatically applied or do you need a promo code?)

Let’s take a look at some of the bonuses you’ll likely find at New Zealand betting sites.

Welcome Bonus

Kiwis have a lot of options in front of them when they want to join an online sportsbook. To stand out, it’s common for an NZ betting site to offer a generous welcome bonus. Pay attention to how to activate the welcome bonus.

Some offers will require players to enter a code during registration. Others will automatically be applied once the first deposit is made.

Welcome bonuses tend to be more appealing than regular promo offers. It’s common to find deposit matches that are between 100 and 200%. Another popular welcome bonus is free bets. Most welcome bonuses will need to be claimed by a certain date after joining.

Deposit Match

A deposit match is when the NZ betting sites offer to match a certain percentage of the deposit you make. This money will be applied to your account as betting money. When you place a bet, you will have a choice of whether you want to use your deposited money or the bonus money.

You will have to use the deposit match money for betting. However, you will be able to keep all the winnings, which you are free to withdraw.

Free Bets

It’s common for sportsbooks to offer free bets for specific sporting events. Players will be credited a specific amount of money that they can use on the betting lines. However, there will be rules regarding these credits. In most situations, they can only be used on eligible betting lines.

For example, you may receive free bets to be used specifically on basketball events. Another thing you may come across is only being able to use free bets on sporting events with a specific odds range.

Many sportsbooks won’t allow players to use a free bet on a betting line with odds higher than +200.

Risk-Free Bets

Putting down a high wager could result in a very attractive prize. For example, if you place a $100 bet on a betting line with odds of +300, you could win a $300 profit. While that’s tempting, it’s also a huge risk.

That’s why NZ players love receiving a risk-free bet bonus.

They can use this bonus to place a bet up to a certain amount. If they win the bet, they keep the profits. However, if they lose, their stake will be returned to their account. Since you won’t lose your money, it’s worth betting the maximum amount.

Sports Betting Tournaments

Most of the time when you bet online, you’re wagering against the bookie. Sportsbook tournaments are different because players are wagering against each other. These events usually take place over a specific number of days. They are open to all sportsbook members. One of the best parts is that some of these tournaments are free to enter.

VIP Programs From NZ Betting Sites

One advantage of joining an NZ betting site is the VIP or loyalty program. As players participate in more sports betting events, they will get more loyalty points.

These points can later be used for a bonus reward. Hitting certain milestones can also activate rewards from the sports betting site.

Understanding Sports Betting Odds

It’s important to understand the odds so you know how much money you could win. With every event, you will notice that there are different numbers for each team. This is how you can tell the difference between the favourite and the underdog.

The favourite team is predicted most likely to win, so they will have lower odds. Betting on the underdog is often worth the risk because the odds are higher. Low-wager bets have the potential of turning into high payouts.

The most common type of odds to find in New Zealand betting markets are fractional and American (+ or -).

  • Fractional- these odds will show you how much you could win per dollar wagered.
  • American- these odds are centred around $100. If a betting line has a – odd, then that is the amount you need to bet to win a $100 profit. A betting line with a + odd shows the profit players could receive if they bet $100. (Don’t worry, if you bet a lower amount the bet slip will show you your possible payout so you don’t have to do the math.)

Placing Your Bets

There are a lot of different ways you can bet on sports through NZ sports betting sites. The assortment of different bets can make sports betting more exciting for viewers. Let’s take a look at some of the most common bets to place during sporting events.

Moneylines

Moneylines are the most straightforward style of sports betting. This is when you choose which team or player you think will win the match. As long as they win, so do you!

Pointspread

Pointspread is when you place a bet on the winning margin of the favourite team. The team must score within this range or higher for you to win. Betting against the spread gives players the potential to take advantage of higher odds.

Over/Under

Over/under is also known as totals bets. This is when you bet on the range of the total score. The sportsbook will predict a final score (both teams’ scores added together) and you bet whether you think the total was over or under that prediction.

Proposition Bets

There are many things that you can bet on when you choose props bets. Basically, these bets are tied to other aspects of the sporting matches instead of the final score. With each sporting event, you’ll likely see a different series of props bets. Some examples of these bets include:

  • Will the game go into overtime?
  • Will a certain team get a penalty?
  • Which team will score first?
  • Which period, quarter, inning, etc. will a team score the most points in?

Parlays

Do you want to take a shot at getting a big win? Parlays are the riskiest type of bet, but it comes with the highest reward when won. With a parlay bet, you can place multiple bets in one. How it works is you choose multiple bets (the ones listed above) and add them all to the betslip.

The possible payout of a parlay will increase greatly with every bet that’s added to it. However, you will only win the parlay if all of the bets added to it resulted in a win. If even one bet was a loss, you will lose the parlay.

Teasers

If you enjoy parlays and point spreads, a teaser will catch your interest. This is when a player can combine two-point spread bets on one bet slip. They will have an advantage by moving the lines on the point spreads.

Futures

Futures can be placed on major sports events months in advance. These bets aren’t available for regular matches. Instead, they are used for championship events. As soon as it’s listed what teams/players have a chance at competing in the championship game, futures bets will be available.

For some events, players can make a bet up to a year in advance.

Live Betting In New Zealand 2023

In-play betting is very popular with Kiwis. This is when you can place bets as the game is live. This is a very appealing aspect to players in 2023 because many reputable sports betting sites will allow players to stream the events as they bet live.

More households are ditching their expensive cable packages. Instead, they are opting for streaming networks. Gamblers that don’t have cable can use sportsbook betting apps to stream these games. Even members with cable are seeing the benefit of using a sportsbook because they can stream games that aren’t available through their cable package.

Best Online Betting Sites NZ For 2023

Are you wondering which NZ betting site to gamble with this year? Let’s take a look at why Kiwis enjoy the following popular betting platforms.

Bet365

  • Live streaming services
  • Multiple payment options
  • Mobile betting app

William Hill

  • Wide betting market
  • 24/7 live support
  • Frequent cash-out options

888Sports

  • Generous welcome bonus
  • High-value existing member promo offers
  • Great betting market

TonyBet

  • Fast withdrawal
  • Easy to navigate
  • Mobile-friendly

Responsible Gambling NZ

In 2023, more betting sites in NZ will draw attention to responsible gambling. This means providing options for players to set limits. Bettors can prevent themselves from developing a gambling problem by setting realistic gambling limits for their budget. This includes:

  • Daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits
  • Wagering limits
  • Loss limits
  • Self-exclusion options
  • Cool-off periods & more

There are many sports betting trends that can help players make more accurate predictions with their bets. That doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to win. Always approach gambling with the impression that you could lose money.

Never place a wager that you can’t afford to lose.

New Zealand Sports Mobile Betting Apps 2023

One way that sports betting sites in New Zealand are gaining more bettors’ attention in 2023 is by introducing mobile apps. A betting app makes it easier for players to connect to the sportsbook and take a look at the betting lines.

It also gives gamblers more options of where they can bet. Punters can place bets from anywhere they catch the game as long as there’s an internet connection.

Summary- Sports Betting NZ

Gamblers in NZ will enjoy the options ahead of them in 2023. This year, they will be able to find more mobile-friendly sportsbooks. There are also more legitimate sports betting sites to choose from, allowing people to choose one that fits their betting style.

To attract more players in their early 20s, sports betting sites have included eSports betting options. However, the best NZ betting sites will have options for all sports fans.

FAQ

What is the age requirement for sports betting in NZ?

All players must be 20 years of age or older to bet online.

Is it legal to bet on sports in NZ?

The gambling act approved sports betting in 2003. Players can place bets through licensed sports betting providers.

Can I use PayPal for NZ online betting?

Most sports betting sites provide PayPal as a payment method. You will need to review the specific payment methods for each NZ betting site to confirm it’s available.

How much does it cost to join an NZ sportsbook?

A sportsbook account is free. Players will only pay for the bets they place.

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Lincoln Trembley
Lincoln Trembley
Betting Expert
28 Articles
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Lincoln is an expert in sports betting. With his skill and passion for trying our new brands in the iGaming industry, he frequently reviews sports betting sites and writes news about sports betting. Being a former sports trader, there’s not much he doesn’t know when it comes to sports betting.

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