Lucky Nugget Online Casino NZ Review
Do you feel lucky? Yes or no, we’ve got something for you. Known as Lucky Nugget, this is one of New Zealand’s oldest online casinos, and the site has something for the fortunate and the unfortunate alike. Put simply, it doesn’t matter how your luck is running, this site has you covered and accepts NZ$ payments, too. Although we think the site perhaps favours the newbie, there are enough bonuses, great casino games and juicy jackpots at Lucky Nugget for anyone looking to turn their fortunes around.
Lucky Nugget Casino Welcome Bonus
The Lucky Nugget NZ welcome bonus is simple but effective: In keeping with its classic theme, these operators use the old school single deposit bonus, i.e. a 150% multiplier worth up to NZ$200.
In today’s online casino world, NZ$200 isn’t a huge sum of money. Indeed, if you take a look at Dunder Casino NZ, the max bonus payout for newbies is NZ$600. However, this critique ignores some important facts.
- Firstly, the multiplier is generous. In fact, it’s better than most. Therefore, in reality, you only have to deposit NZ$133 to unlock the maximum bonus of NZ$200. Based on this fact alone, Lucky Nugget’s first deposit offer is perfect for novices.
- The second reason this offer is deceptively lucrative is the fact it’s a one-time deal. Over at Dunder NZ, you have to make three deposits in order to unlock the full potential of the welcome package. At Lucky Nugget, a single deposit is all you need. This not only means you aren’t metaphorically chained to the site, but it also puts less pressure on you to stay active.
Before we conclude this look at the Lucky Nugget Casino NZ welcome bonus, we have to touch on the playthrough. If there’s one area where this deal falls down it’s here, at 50X, the wagering target is fairly high. This means you will have to work slightly harder to release your free funds. Fortunately, the one positive is that all slots have a 100% contribution weighting, while blackjack is set at 8%.
The Bottom Line: If you’re a small stakes player, this bonus is perfect due to its simplicity and generous multiplier.
Lucky Nugget Games and Software
Lucky Nugget NZ went live in 1998 and, if we’re being critical, it doesn’t look as though the software has changed much since then. Although the interface is light and bright, it doesn’t have the mobile-first design that many of the industry’s top players now use. Having said that, moving from A to B is fairly easy. In fact, much like the welcome bonus, the games menu has an old school vibe to it.
Sitting on the left of the page, the simple boxout allows you to click through a list of subpages, including online pokies, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, video poker and live casino games. The one thing we did like was the game descriptions. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find introductory overviews of the top games. Essentially giving newbies a quick insight into the basic features of blackjack, roulette and so on, these descriptions make the inexperienced feel a lot more comfortable.
In terms of what you can play, everything except progressive jackpot and live dealer games can be played in demo mode. This means you can test out the software and have some fun without spending a cent. When it comes to playing for real, the betting starts at NZ$0.10, and you’ll find over 300 games from Microgaming. For added peace of mind, everything has been tested and certified as fair by eCOGRA. Therefore, when you play Bar Bar Black Sheep, Amazing Aztecs and more, you can be confident nothing untoward is going on.
Mobile Software and App
Lucky Nugget NZ has an iOS app, but not an Android one. For almost 50% of you, that will come as a blow. However, fear not because the site has been optimised for mobile use on any device. Thanks to the software capabilities of Microgaming, you can navigate to Lucky Nugget via your smartphone or tablet and play. Of course, for the slickest experience, the iOS app is best. As well as a comprehensive selection of games, including online pokies, blackjack, video poker and roulette, the app features one-touch searches, secure banking and plenty of bonuses.
Banking is a breeze at Lucky Nugget Casino NZ. As long as you’re willing to deposit at least NZ$10, you’ll get to choose from one of the following payment processors: MasterCard, Visa, Maestro, Moneybookers, Paysafe, eCheck, Instadebit, Eco Card, Neteller and bank transfer. Additionally, because it’s a New Zealand online casino, Lucky Nugget accepts deposits, bets and withdrawals in NZD. That’s always a bonus as it means you can avoid currency conversion fees each time you make a move.
On the way out, the average payment time is 48 hours but you may have to wait as long as a week for bank transfers. The only negative we found with regards to banking was the minimum balance. As per the site’s terms and conditions, your balance will have to reach NZ$50 before you’re allowed to make a withdrawal. Although that’s not a huge sum of money, there aren’t many sites that insist on a minimum balance.
Promotions
Lucky Nugget is something of a closed book when it comes to promotions. What we mean by this is that it doesn’t have a regular roster of offers. If you’re a high-volume player, that could be an issue. Because experienced players like to know exactly what they stand to gain based on the amount they put in, the lack of clear direction could be off-putting.
Of course, this isn’t to say Lucky Nugget doesn’t offer a solid selection of promotions. However, it does mean you won’t always know what to look out for. During our review, we were able to dig up some information from past promotions and by talking to the support team. As a general guide, you can expect reload bonuses, free spin offers and, interestingly, slots tournaments.
With regards to reload bonuses and free spins, the standard 50X playthrough applies. For tournaments, the prizes can vary between bonus credits and real cash. Either way, these events are great because they not only satisfy the competitive urges we all have but they’re extremely entertaining. In fact, if you were unsure whether or not Lucky Nugget’s promos were for you, the tournaments should swing it.
The Bottom Line
In our opinion, Lucky Nugget NZ is the perfect online casino for novices. Even though high stakes players can get something from the games, features and bonuses on offer, we feel everything is geared towards beginners. Essentially, everything has been made as simple and easy to digest as possible. On top of that, nothing is ever too far from reach. For example, the welcome bonus has a fantastic multiplier that means small deposits receive a generous boost. Between this and the no-frills interface, Lucky Nugget Casino stands as a great place for newbies to start their online gaming journey.
