Best NZ Online Pokies - NZ Online Slots 2025

Online pokies, known elsewhere as online slots, are among the most popular types of casino games. These are purely chance-based games with simple rules and very little in the way of strategy, making them perfect for players who just want to relax and have fun without bothering about skill development and betting tactics.

Pokies owe much of their popularity to three main elements:

• Variety: The sheer selection you’ll have with pokies is unbelievable. Every online casino offers hundreds of titles in any theme, shape or form imaginable. There are many different ways to win. From a fixed number of paylines, to games that don’t even use paylines, but instead rely on symbols on adjacent lines or clusters of matching symbols.
• Special Features: When slot games first came on the scene at the casino, they were simple three-reel games with basic symbols like fruits, BARs, and gold coins. While you can still find classic pokies that stick to the basics, many boast innovative features such as free spins, gamble games, bonus games, scatter payouts, expanding wilds, and others.
• Audiovisuals: Dozens of reputable gaming companies develop unique and creative slot game titles, realistic sound effects, animations, and graphics that never seem to fail on delivering a brick-and-mortar casino gaming experience in the comfort of your home. You can find themes for nearly every niche including TV shows and movies to Greek mythology.

Charles Fey is widely acclaimed as the father of pokie machines. In the late 1880s he developed the Liberty Bell, a machine that had 20 symbols and 3 reels and worked just like the classic pokies do today. It became hugely popular, and Fey had to produce more of them—many more. 

In 1907, Fey partnered with Mills Novelty Company to produce a new version of the Liberty Bell called Mills Liberty Bell.  

In the 1930s, the company made certain changes to the Mills Liberty Bell—changes they claimed would completely revolutionize the pokie industry. 

In 1964, Bally Manufacturing introduced an electro-mechanical pokie machine called Money Honey—the first to have a design different from the Liberty Bell.  

In 1980, computerized pokies were created. A startup called Sircoma created a video pokie machine that, though players didn’t trust it at first, quickly became very popular.

Pokies became more popular than ever with the launch of online casino games in the mid-1990s. Playing online pokies turned out to be extremely convenient, especially as online casinos offered hundreds of them under one roof. Moreover, technological developments led to the creation of feature-rich pokies with enormous jackpots, varied themes, and betting ranges.

Online pokies are designed and tested to ensure they deliver a particular payout percentage, which is the percentage of the bet amount that players receive in the form of payouts. For example, if a casino offers a payout percentage of 90%, it means that it will receive 10% of all player bets and pay back the remaining 90% in the form of winnings.

Gambling laws require casinos to deliver specific payout percentages. Most online pokies are in the range of 90% to 97%.

Thanks to the latest technology, neither casinos nor players can manipulate pokie machines to their advantage—the results of each spin are random.

Since modern pokies are packed with multiple paylines, free games, bonus games, and so on, players’ chances of winning are now higher than ever.

Pokies vary with regard to bonus features, theme, payout structure, and the number of paylines, but the basic rules that govern them are the same. 

1. Start: To start playing, you’ll have to first place a bet. To do this, you must choose a coin value from the given coin value range and adjust the number of coins you’d like to bet. Some pokies also require players to activate the number of paylines they would like to play too.
2. Spin: The next step is to hit the Spin option to set the reels spinning, either manually or by toggling autoplay, which allows players to spin the reels automatically for a particular number of spins or until the desired amount is won.
3. Collect: If a winning combination of symbols is displayed when the reels come to a stop, you can collect payouts according to the game’s pay table (to view the pay table, you may have to click on the Game Rules or Game Info tab.)

Progressive Jackpots

Some pokies come with progressive jackpots or jackpots that keep increasing in size till a lucky player wins it. Sometimes this jackpot gets activated at random at the end of a paid spin irrespective of the size of your initial bet. However, with most pokies, players will have to bet the maximum amount in order to qualify for the progressive jackpot.

Bonus games

In the case of bonus pokies, a particular combination may activate the free spins feature or a bonus game round. If you activate a bonus feature, you’ll be returned to the base game after you have played the bonus feature.

Beginners must understand the significance of the buttons on the screen of a pokie before deciding to play it for real money.

+ and -: This button is mostly seen in classic pokies and enables players to adjust their bet size.

Auto Play/Auto Start: Players can use this option to spin the pokie’s reels automatically for a specific number of spins or till a desired amount is won.

Bet One: An option commonly seen on classic pokies, it enables players to increase their bet size by one coin.

Bet Max: An option that is available on all variants, it allows players to bet the maximum that the pokie allows.

Pay Table/ Game Info: If players click on this option, they will be taken to a screen displaying the prizes that can be won for specific winning combinations. The screen may also display information about bonus features and basic game rules.

Collect: Hit this option if you want your winnings to be credited to your account.

Spin: If you hit this option, the reels will start spinning.

Lines: Some pokies have this option to let players select the number of paylines they would like to play.

Gamble: This option gets activated as soon as players win a prize. If players click on it, they can play a gamble game to either double their winnings or lose it all.

Pokies are games of pure chance and players can do nothing to increase their odds of winning. However, they can use the following tips to maximize their enjoyment from the game.

Bankroll management

The importance of bankroll management—in other words, betting within your means—cannot be overstated. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

The best way to build your bankroll is to start by betting minimum and pile up your winnings. Once you’ve saved enough of your winnings, you can start risking a bit more.

Play pokies that you love

Avoid playing pokies just because they have large fixed jackpots or progressive jackpots. Instead, play pokies based on themes that appeal to you. Play pokies that you are familiar with or those with betting ranges that you can afford. You will have better luck if you play online casino games that you really enjoy.

Play feature-rich pokies

Play pokies that offer plenty of bonus features such as free spins, bonus game rounds, expanding and stacked wilds, scatter payouts, and so on. Your chances of winning prizes can increase if you unlock a bonus feature.

Know when to quit

Avoid chasing your losses. In other words, never insist on playing when you are consistently losing in the hopes that you will soon win a jackpot. Once you have lost a pre-determined amount, quit playing.

Bet max

If possible, players can bet the maximum amount qualified to unlock bonus features and potentially win a larger fixed and/or progressive jackpot.

Save the winnings

Never blow all your winnings on gambling. Withdraw a part of your winnings to your bank account and use the rest to play more games.

The following is a glossary of commonly used pokie terms. Make sure you know these before you start spinning:

• Fixed Jackpot: The value of this jackpot does not change – it’s the sum you’ll always win if you hit the jackpot winning combination. 
• Progressive Jackpot: A progressive jackpot increases in size with every bet placed on the game till a lucky player wins it. Once it is won, it is reset to its seed value or the amount contributed by the house. 
• Wild Symbol: A wild symbol is capable of substituting for other icons to help players complete winning combinations. 
• Scatter Symbol: Scatter symbols are usually special symbols featured within the pokie that trigger a bonus round, in some case you can also fetch payouts if the required amount of symbols appear along an active payline. 
• Auto Play: Players can use this feature to automatically spin the reels a specific number of times. 
• Bonus Games: Some pokies come with bonus games that get triggered when a symbol or combination of symbols appear on the screen. 
• Expanding Wild: A wild symbol that expands all over the reel and maximizes players’ winnings.

• Free Spins: A bonus round within the pokie that does not require a player to place a bet. 
• Multiplier: A feature that multiplies players’ winnings by a specific value. 
• Payline: A horizontal, vertical, zigzag, or diagonal line or any other pattern that holds winning combinations of symbols. 
• Reels: The part of the pokie that moves when the Spin button is hit. 
• Sticky Wild: A wild symbol that remains frozen in position while the rest of the reels are re-spun to give players another chance of winning. 
• Classic Pokies: Traditional pokies that comprise one or more paylines, three reels, and a bonus feature or two. 
• Coin Size or Coin Denomination: A coin value that has to be selected when placing a bet. 
• Coins: Coins are multiplied by the selected coin value while placing a bet.

• Fruit Machine: These are classic pokies that usually work on a simple mechanic that include classic fruit symbols.
• Random Number Generator (RNG): A feature that ensures that each spin of a pokie’s reels leads to a random result.
• Spin: A spin is what sets the reels rolling, which lasts from the time the player hits the Spin button to the time the reels stop spinning and a winning or losing result is determined.
• Stacked Wilds: Wild symbols that appear stacked on top of one another.
• Symbols: The pictures or icons that appear on the reels. you’ll need combinations of similar icons to win prizes.
• Wild Multiplier: A wild symbol that multiplies the payouts of any combination it helps to create with a specific value.
• Winning Combination: A winning combination is one of the main ways to win payouts during the base game when playing a pokie.

Online pokies fall into several categories:

Straight Slots

The one-armed-bandit style slots are a good example of straight slots. There are no bonus features or modifiers that can increase the win potential. Wins are set on a paytable based on the value of each symbol.

Bonus Slots

Also known as bonus multiplier slots, these games allow players to win extra money with bonus features. These features may have a pick-and-click game or special symbols, that can award players with multipliers based on their total bet.

Progressive Slots

Progressive slot games pool a small percentage all the wagers placed by players participating at the online casinos to create a consistently growing jackpot.

Bonus games

There are plenty of different types of bonus games that can be triggered while playing pokies. These games are typically triggered when the required amount of special scatter symbols land on the reel. Some popular bonus games are free spins, increasing multipliers, and sticky or expanding wild symbols. Some slot games have bonus features that are connected to the theme of the slot or revolve around different characters from the game.

Wild Symbols

A wild symbol will typically substitute for regular symbols to help create a winning combination. Some slot games have special wild symbols that can also trigger bonus features.

Multiple Paylines

Most online slot games have multiple paylines, which is good because it increases the odds of winning. Some games have a fixed number of paylines, and others let you choose how many lines to activate before the game starts.

So what is RTP (Return to Player)? Basically, this number indicates the average percentage of wagered money that a slot game can possibly return over time. For example, a slot game with an RTP of around 95% will, on average, return $95 for every $100 wagered. RTP is designed into the game by the software developer, and it is tested and regulated to ensure fairness. 

RTP is important because it can help players choose which game to play—a high RTP percentage will return better results over time. Of course, RTP isn’t the only factor to consider—volatility is another crucial element, as are of course personal preferences.

It's essential to note that RTP is calculated over millions of spins and doesn’t affect individual game outcomes—each spin is random and independent.

Mobile Slots in New Zealand: Play Pokies on the Go

It’s official—mobile slots have totally changed the game by allowing you to play your favourite slots directly from your mobile device at any time and in any location. Plus, many casinos throw in special bonuses just for playing on mobile.

Playing slots on your mobile device is pretty much the same as playing on your desktop, though you might notice some small differences in graphics or features because of the smaller screen. But don't worry—game developers are constantly updating and creating mobile games that are fully optimized to suit your screen so that popular mobile slots like Starburst and Book of Dead run smoothly on any of your smartphones and tablets.

 You can also switch between your phone and computer without missing a beat, thanks to modern day cross-device compatibility. While offline play isn’t common, some casino apps even let you play without an internet connection, so you can keep spinning even when the Wi-Fi’s down!

Modern pokies bring players an expansive selection of games characterized by varied styles, engaging themes, and a multitude of bonuses. Software providers, the brains behind the games, are responsible for everything from symbol design to sound quality and gameplay. The following top providers consistently deliver thrilling and innovative gameplay, impressive graphics, and unique features.

Playtech is one of the biggest names in the industry. They have two of the best collections of games with a combined progressive. The Age of the Gods series has over 30 pokies, each focusing on a different Greek god or mythological being. Another popular series is the fantasy-themed Kingdom Rises. In addition to multiple progressive jackpots, it also has a Feature Store, where you can use tokens earned during games to buy features.

Red Tiger is another excellent provider with a creative list of games. Most Red Tiger pokies have multiple progressive jackpots. However, what makes it special is that two of the jackpots must pay out before a certain time. This gives the player an advantage, as they can increase their play as the deadline approaches.

Microgaming is one of the oldest slot game brands and has the Guinness World Record for the largest single-game progressive jackpot payout. The win came from the African jungle theme Mega Moolah slot.

NetEnt has amazing graphics and animations that take the pokies to the next level. The Fairytale Legends collection, Starburst, and Jack Hammer are some of the most popular games.

Play Megaways Slots

Megaways slot games were originally developed by Big Time Gaming, but many other providers now use their technology. Instead of having a set number of paylines, the size of symbols change with each spin, and as a result, changes the number of possible paylines. Megaways pokies can even have up to 117,649 ways to win on a six-reel pokie. 

Try some of these fantastic Megaways pokies: 

Buffalo Blitz Megaways

Fire Blaze: Blue Wizard Megaways

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways

Curse of the Werewolf Megaways

Great Rhino Megaways 

Mystery Reels Megaways

Play Progressive Jackpots

Winning progressive jackpot pokies can be a life-changing experience. Of course, not all progressive jackpots have million-dollar payouts, but a player can dream. Most progressive jackpots are not connected to the main game but rather have random triggers to determine a winner. With some pokies you can increase your stake size to increase your odds of a jackpot, and with others, a time-based deadline or max jackpot value determines when a jackpot will pay out (these are typically low-value prizes since they pay out multiple times a week).

Some of the best progressive jackpot pokies are:

The Age of the Gods series

Gladiator Jackpot

Justice League

Mega Moolah

Great Blue

Online pokies come in an unbelievable range of themes and styles. There really is a game that fits every casino player, and the popularity of a game differs based on location and culture. The games below are especially popular among Kiwi players:

Game Name	RTP %	Description
Big Bass Bonanza	96.71%	This 10-line pokie from Pragmatic Play takes you out on the lake to join the fisherman. Instead of fish, you can catch free games and up to a 10x multiplier.
Mega Moolah	88.12%	It may look like a simple pokie, but it’s responsible for setting the world record for the largest progressive jackpot payout.
Sweet Bonanza	96.48%	The 6x5 gameboard is filled with sugary treats, tasty fruit, and plenty of chances to win money. Winning combinations are removed from the reels, and new symbols tumble on for multiple chances at winning on a single spin.
Age of the Gods	91.04%	The Greek mythology slot game series has over 30 different pokies. It has a wide range of paylines, ways to win, and bonus features. The one constant you'll find in all the games is the three progressive jackpots.
Amazing Link Zeus	96.33%	This 20 payline pokie excites Kiwi players with winning streak respins, and a free spin feature with an entire reel that transform to wilds. The mega jackpot is up to 5,000x.
Wolf Gold	96.01%	The wolves travel in packs and can combine to create a massive 3x3 symbol in the middle of the reels. The game also features three jackpots that can create big wins.
9 Masks of Fire	96.24%	You can win up to 2,000x your stake if you land 9 of the masks of fire symbols on a single spin. You can also enter a bonus round, where spinning a wheel can award you up to 30 free spins.
Blue Wizard	96.00%	This online pokie was inspired by a magic theme and includes four fixed jackpots. It also has a free game round with multipliers that can reach as high as 16x.
Leprechauns Luck	95.38%	Enjoy the luck of the Irish with this 20 payline pokie. It has 3 bonus features; free spins, a trip on a rainbow in search of a pot of gold, and a wishing well that pulls cash prizes out of the well.
Chilli Xtreme	93.96%	The spicy pokie has cascading symbols after each win, expanding reels, and giant symbols to help increase your odds of winning.

To enjoy the excitement of real money games at various recommended online casinos in New Zealand, you’ll need to set up an account with your chosen online casino. This process generally involves a few straightforward steps that ensure a secure and enjoyable gaming experience.

Here's a general guide to getting started at these casinos:

1. Account Registration: Navigate to the sign-up section of the chosen online casino and complete the registration form. This typically requires basic personal information. Make sure to read and agree to the terms and conditions of the casino. During registration, select New Zealand Dollars (NZD) as your preferred currency, if available.
2. Funding Your Account: Once your account is set up, you'll need to deposit funds to start playing. To do this, access the casino's cashier or banking section. Here, you can choose from a range of payment methods that are popular and convenient for New Zealand players. Enter the amount you wish to deposit and confirm the transaction.
3. Claiming Bonuses: Look out for welcome bonuses or new player offers. Many casinos provide a match bonus on your first deposit, which might include additional perks like free spins. These offers vary, so be sure to understand the details and conditions of the bonus.
4. Start Playing: With your funded account, you can now explore the casino's lobby to find your preferred online pokies and other casino games. Simply select the game you wish to play and begin your real money gaming journey.

Remember, each online casino may have specific nuances in their registration and account setup process, so it's essential to follow their individual guidelines and requirements for a seamless experience.