If you want all the benefits of playing casino games online but still want a dose of reality, we’ve got the answer. Thanks to New Zealand’s top live online casinos, you can enjoy an offline betting experience from the comfort of your own home. To show you what you can expect from the recommended sites below, come with us as we immerse ourselves in the world of live online gaming.
Top Live Online Casinos in New Zealand
| Rank | Casino | Bonus | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | $1600 Welcome Bonus!T & C Apply | VisitReview | |
| 2 |  | Up to $1500 Deposit Bonus T & C Apply | VisitReview | |
| 3 |  | $1000 Welcome Bonus | VisitReview | |
| 4 |  | $1200 Welcome Bonus!T & C Apply | VisitReview | |
| 5 |  | $1000 + 100 Cash Free Spins | VisitReview | |
| 6 |  | $1000 Welcome Bonus | VisitReview |
How Do Live Online Casinos Work?
The technology powering live online casinos is actually fairly simple. However, the way in which software suppliers piece everything together makes these games truly impressive. Indeed, when you join a live casino table, you’ll quickly see why the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts
Now, before we can piece together how live casinos work, let’s list the aforementioned parts. When you play live dealer casino games online, the following things will be in place:
- HD webcams.
- Real gaming tables located inside dedicated gaming studios or bricks and mortar casinos.
- RFID sensors that transmit information to a central computer.
- Real casino chips and cards/betting boards.
- Online software that puts a virtual overlay onto your screen.
- A dealer/croupier.
To turn these parts into a working game, the developers basically bridge the gap between the studio/casino and your computer. They do this by streaming the action in real-time via the webcams. From there, you place a bet by clicking on relevant parts of the virtual overlay shown on your screen. Each bet you make will be registered by a central computer.
Once the betting is closed, cards are dealt or wheels are spun in order to generate a random result (just as you’d see in a bricks and mortar casino). Each card/spin is tracked and recorded by RFID sensors. When the final result is in, the information transmitted to the central processor is cross-referenced with all the bets made that round.
Finally, any wins are automatically paid out by the software. Additionally, the dealer/croupier is shown a list of results/winners so they can verify the action and congratulate those that scooped a prize. That, in a nutshell, is how live casino games work.
As you can see, the mechanics aren’t that complex. However, the experience they create when put together into a single system is truly impressive. Indeed, the reason live online casinos have become so popular over the last few years is that level of immersion they offer. Although virtual games are great, they can’t compete when it comes to interaction.
Top Live Casino Games in New Zealand
When you play live dealer games online in New Zealand, there’s always something to keep you engaged. From the movement of the cards as they’re dealt to the clink of roulette balls, the atmosphere is truly authentic. What’s more, every dealer/croupier is trained to be as entertaining as possible. As well as talking to players who post messages in the chatbox, the hosts will recite recent results, congratulate winners and even have conversations about current affairs.
Put simply, live casino games are designed to be as enjoyable as possible. Yes, their authenticity is a huge selling point. However, one of the reasons players love them is because they’re highly interactive.
Of course, we can’t ignore the fact you can also win real money. Every NZ live online casino will feature a variety of games at a variety of stakes. Although we can’t run through them all, these are the types of live dealer casino games you can enjoy via your desktop or mobile:
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Live Dealer Baccarat
- Live Dealer Casino Hold’em
- Live Dealer
- Live Dream Catcher (a variant of Wheel of Fortune)
- Live Lightning Dice
- Live Monopoly
- Live Deal or No Deal
- Live Side Bet City
- Live Caribbean Stud
- Live Three Card Poker
- Live Football Studio
Unfortunately, due to the costs involved, you can’t play live casino games for free. However, the top live online casinos in New Zealand do make things as affordable as possible. As a standard, you should be able to play for NZ$1+ per round in most cases and, for some games, bets will go as low as $0.10.
What Are the Best Live Online Casinos in New Zealand?
When you scroll through our recommended NZ online casinos, you’ll find that almost all of them have some sort of live dealer lobby. Naturally, some are more extensive than others. But, in most instances, there will be at least a handful of ways you can experience these innovative offerings.
For a complete overview of what you can play and where we suggest reading through our NZ casino reviews. However, to give you an idea of what you can play and where, here are three of the best live online casinos in New Zealand:
JackpotCity NZ: For a traditional live online casino experience, JackpotCity is perfect. Although it doesn’t feature some of the modern innovations that others do, this operator has a solid selection of classics. In practice, this means you can play roulette, table poker, baccarat and blackjack via your desktop or mobile from as little as NZ$5.
888casino NZ: Developed in-house and externally, 888casino’s live games cover all the usual bases and more. As you’d expect, live blackjack, roulette, baccarat and table poker are available 24/7. Beyond these options, you’ll find a selection of non-traditional games such as Lightning Dice, Infinite Blackjack and the exclusive Live 888 Casino Clash.
Betway Casino NZ: In terms of options, Betway Casino not only has one of the most extensive collections of games but the most diverse. Like its peers, this operator has live blackjack, roulette, baccarat and table poker. However, that’s not the end of the story.
For a slightly different take on roulette, Betway Casino NZ features Lightning Roulette. This variant basically adds random prize multipliers to a selection of numbers during each spin. The top multiplier is 500X, which means you can turn a small stake into a huge prize.
Beyond novel takes on casino classics, Betway has gameshow offerings. From Dream Catcher and Deal or No Deal to Football Studio, this site is perfect for those that want a break from the norm.
Should I Play Live Online Casino Games?
Are live online casinos really for you? Before you read through our reviews and join a few sites, here are some pros and cons you might want to consider:
Pros
- Live casino games are more immersive than their virtual counterparts.
- Live casino games typically have higher maximum bets.
- Live casino games not only feature chat boxes but a wealth of extras such as in-game stats and multiple camera angles.
- Live casino games feature the latest innovations, including non-traditional betting dynamics such as those seen in Lightning Roulette et al.
Cons
- Virtual online casino games are quicker i.e. you can place more bets per hour.
- Virtual online casino games typically have lower minimum betting limits.
- Virtual online casino games can be single or multiplayer, live casino games are strictly multiplayer.
Enjoy an Offline Experience Online
In our opinion, NZ live online casinos provide the perfect blend of interaction, enjoyment and speed. Yes, live games are slightly slower than their virtual counterparts. But, they’re still quicker than their offline peers.
This means you get all the benefits of betting online along with the authenticity of bricks and mortar gaming. That, for us, is the best reason to try these games. In fact, with technology improving all the time, there’s literally something for everyone.
To see exactly what we mean, check out our top-rated NZ live online casinos and immersive yourself in some action today.