888poker NZ Review
One of the original online poker sites: 888poker went live in 2002 and has been impressing players ever since. From relatively humble beginnings, this operator has forged relationships with some of the industry’s top brands, including the World Poker Tour (WPT). Through these connections and innovations, it’s now among the top sites in the world.
For New Zealanders, 888 poker is fully accessible and highly regulated. Although it doesn’t accept NZD, you can pay, play and collect bonuses without any issues. To show you what we mean, come with us as we take you through our 888poker NZ review.
888poker NZ Welcome Bonus
Ante up at 888poker NZ for the first time and you’ll receive $32 free: Available as a no deposit bonus, this offer gives you the chance to play a combination of tournaments and cash games without breaking the bank. Naturally, that’s hugely appealing for any player. Of course, if you’re a high roller, $32 might not seem like a lot. However, the credits are free and, as we’ll explain, the playthrough requirements are even more attractive than the cash up for grabs.
888poker NZ No Deposit Bonus
- Create your first account to receive a no deposit bonus worth $32.
- Your bonus is broken down in the following way: $1 in bonus cash and $31 in tournament tickets.
As you can see, the offer is tournament-heavy, i.e. you get more MTT tickets than bonus cash. However, that’s a positive. Firstly, in terms of the release schedule, your tickets are gradually released over the course of seven days and each one expires within 24 hours. Secondly, each ticket is worth $0.50, which means you can play any MTT, Sit & Go or Blast event equal to that value.
Finally, your bonus cash is available immediately and can be withdrawn once you earn 2.5 points. In practice, 888poker NZ gives you two points for every $1 raked. Therefore, to turn your free credits into real cash, you’ll need to rake just $2. Even if you’re a low stakes player, that shouldn’t be too hard to do.
But wait, that’s not the best thing about this bonus. Alongside the low playthrough on all bonuses (including the deposit bonus mentioned below), tournament winnings are yours to keep. Naturally, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to turn one of your tickets into a cash prize. But, if you can, the money is yours.
Finally, just to sweeten the pot further, your first deposit will be boosted by a 100% multiplier worth up to $400. So, when you put all this together, you can unlock some serious value at 888poker NZ.
Bottom line: For newbies and novices, the chance to collect free tournament tickets and win real cash is what makes the 888poker NZ welcome bonus hugely appealing.
Games & Software
In the past, 888 poker used to look somewhat dull. Although that was a symptom of the times, its styling left a lot to be desired. Today, however, things are very different. Following major overhauls in 2017 and 2018, the site now offers a sleek, stylish interface. To make things even slicker, another update in 2019 ushered in yet more changes.
Branded “Poker 8”, the new software allows you to customise the look of a table, the cards, the background and more. Additionally, the bet buttons have been cleaned up. By removing clutter from below the table, the developers have made it easier to bet, call and check. What’s more, the call timer now wraps around the bet buttons, something we feel makes the interface even sleeker.
In terms of games, 888poker NZ offers the following:
Cash Games: Hold’em, Omaha and Stud from stakes starting at $0.02/$0.04.
Sit & Go Tournaments: Play regular, turbo, super turbo and steps tournaments in Hold’em or Omaha. Buy-ins range from $0.01 to $1,000.
SNAP: 888poker’s fast-fold variant, SNAP moves you from table to table each time you fold. These tables are available in Hold’em and Omaha at stakes between $0.01/$0.02 and $5/$10.
Blast: These three-handed tournaments offer random jackpots ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. You can join the action from as little as $0.10.
MTTs: Whether you’re into freerolls, daily guarantees, turbos or deep stacks, 888poker has you covered. What’s more, thanks to this operator’s relationship with the WPT, you can take part in exclusive satellites for some of the world’s biggest live events.
888poker NZ Mobile
888poker NZ is available as a native app via the Apple Store and Google Play: In terms of looks and accessibility, all the desktop site’s positive traits have been carried over to the mobile realm. In fact, jumping into the action is slightly easier because the quick seat function comes as standard. This means you only have to input the stakes, game type and table size you want. From there, the software will automatically thrust you into the fray.
Additionally, the lobby allows you to swipe between enlarged tables to find the games you want to play. We particularly liked this dynamic because it allows you to move swiftly between the available options without having to squint or tap buttons that are way too small.
In terms of betting options, the 888poker mobile app features cash games, sit & go tournaments and MTTs. Additionally, you’ll find Blast and SNAP tables. However, the only poker variant on offer is Hold’em. That’s slightly disappointing as we know a lot of people enjoy Omaha. However, the truth is that Stud and Omaha tables don’t typically get a lot of traffic at 888 poker. Therefore, their omission from the app isn’t a huge loss.
Banking
Moving money into and out of 888poker NZ is easy: The list of payment processors is extensive and the average processing time for eWallets and debit card withdrawals is three days. Additionally, you’ll be able to deposit and withdraw as little as $10 using the following methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Skrill
- Neteller
- PayPal
- MuchBetter
- Wire Transfer
The only issue we found was that 888poker doesn’t accept NZD. Instead, your payments will be converted to USD. That’s not a huge problem as it won’t prevent you from anteing up for real money. However, you may have to pay some currency conversion charges.
888poker NZ Promotions
During our 888poker NZ review, the promo page was filled with options. Although these change every week or so, the deals typically fall into the following categories:
- Reload bonuses
- Cash/rake race promotions
- Discounted/free tournament tickets
Alongside the ever-changing monthly promotions, all players get to spin the bonus wheel once per day. Available directly from your account page, this wheel contains everything from free tournament tickets and bonus cash to 888casino credits.
Finally, for the consistent, 888 poker NZ has a loyalty scheme. Operating on a bets-for-gold basis, this system allows you to purchase tournament tickets, cash bonuses and more using gold tokens. To earn tokens, you have to complete daily challenges.
Each challenge is different and can be as simple as “win one hand post-flop” or something more complex such as “win five times with pocket aces”. The complexity of the task will determine how many gold tokens you receive.
Once you’ve collected enough gold, you can log into the VIP store and exchange them for a prize. For us, the loyalty scheme is a neat way to get something extra. However, if you’re a hardcore grinder the way you earn points may be different from what you’re used to.
At some NZ online poker sites, you receive a fixed number of points per $XX you pay in rake. At 888poker, there’s an element of mystery. In our opinion, that keeps things interesting and, moreover, encourages you to try new things. But, we also know it’s different from the norm. Therefore, it’s something to bear in mind before you join.
The Bottom Line
888poker is the second busiest online poker site in New Zealand and it shows. Thanks to a healthy stream of traffic, the tables are always buzzing. This has given 888poker plenty of reasons to roll out as many innovations as possible over the years. From cash games at various stakes to fast-fold poker and lottery-style tournaments, the platform is filled with options that should suit everyone.
Beyond that, you’ll receive a fantastic welcome bonus as a new player and, moreover, a ton of added value every month. When you combine these traits with regulatory oversight from the Malta Gaming Authority, you’ve got an online poker site that’s entertaining, potentially lucrative and highly secure.
To experience all of this for yourself, click our sign-up link and join 888poker NZ today.