Pokies might have started out in the dusty corner of the bar, but these days there are tons for Kiwi players to choose from online. Whether you like classic slots, mobile slots, or 3D slots, you’ll find a game that will grab you. Best of all, you can choose between playing for free or for real money.

1. Twin Spin – NetEnt

With five reels and 243 paylines, Twin Spin offers straightforward gameplay, adjustable bet sizes, and a generous 97% RTP. It’s very beginner-friendly.

2. Immortal Romance – Microgaming

This game has a high RTP of 96.86%, and a maximum base game payout of 12,150x your bet. There are also four separate bonus games - one for each of the high-value symbols.

3. Book of Dead - Play'n GO

Set in Ancient Egypt, Book of Dead is an adventure-themed slot, packed with special features. If you're lucky, you can trigger free spins, expanding symbols, and maybe even the 250,000-coin jackpot.

4. Queen of the Nile – Aristocrat

This game has medium-high volatility, so you can certainly hit big payouts, albeit infrequently. There are 20 paylines and the maximum base game payout is a juicy 9,000x your payline bet.

5. Mega Moolah – Microgaming

Probably the most famous slot in the world, Mega Moolah is all about its progressive jackpot that has made many players millionaires. The base game RTP is low at around 88%, but if you’re playing this game, it’s for the progressive jackpot.

6. Bonanza - Big Time Gaming

With a six reels grid and 117,659 ways to win, Boomerang Bonanza has several attractive features. From free spins, cascading reels and a 96% RTP, its popularity is well-deserved.

7. Gonzo’s Quest – NetEnt

Gonzo’s Quest is one of those slots that comes through with both narrative and design. The RTP is a favorable 96%, the graphics are impressive and the Avalanche feature is great for hitting multiple paylines.

8. Starburst - NetEnt

Hugely popular Starburst by NetEnt’s is a 5x3 slot game with 10 paylines that pay both ways. It also features lucrative expanding wilds that trigger free re-spins.

9. Mega Joker – NetEnt

It’s easy to see why this classic 3-reel slot is so popular in NZ. It has a rewarding ‘Supermeter’ feature and an RTP that reaches highs of 99%!

10. Reactoonz - Play'n GO

This 7x7 alien-themed slot is a huge hit with NZ players. It offers a wide betting range, cluster pays, and a favorable RTP of 96.51%. There's plenty of payout potential in its exciting Quantum bonus feature, too!

There are thousands of different pokies out there, but they all follow the same general pattern. Before you hit the spin button, you can choose how much you want to bet and how many paylines you want active (unless they’re fixed).

Once the reels start spinning, your hope is to land winning combinations of symbols. However, it’s all down to luck. Pokies often have special features like free spins, wilds, multipliers, scatters and bonus games. Check out our beginner's guide for more info.

When you play online pokies for real money, then chances are, you’ll want the debit and withdrawal processes to be swift and simple. Look for tight security, NZD currency and minimal to no fees. Legitimate NZ pokies sites should offer all of this, plus a wide range of popular payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard and POLi.

Yes, most casinos let you play both real money pokies and free online pokies in demo mode. Playing free slots comes with lots of advantages. It’s great for learning how a game works before you risk real money or simply for risk-free entertainment.

There are tons of online casinos offering bonuses for playing online pokies, so we’ve narrowed it down for you in the toplist higher up this page. All you need to do is make your first deposit and play pokies. If you clear enough games, the casino will match your deposit.

The bonus cash you receive as part of a welcome bonus or from winning free spins often has wagering requirements attached. This means it can’t be withdrawn like normal money, and instead you need to gamble with it a certain number of times before it’s unlocked. Always read through the wagering requirements prior to playing.

Promoting safe and responsible gambling is a priority for us, and gambling addiction is a serious problem in New Zealand. Practising mindful and responsible gambling means always playing within your limits, never letting your betting get out of control, and seeking help if you or anyone you know has a problem.

New Zealand has lots of organisations that offer free support to anyone who wants it, including the PGFNZ. Remember that playing online pokies should be fun, not stressful or detrimental to your life.

Our reviews team carried out a series of tests on a large cohort of online casinos NZ that offer slots. We only recommend casinos after vetting them in the following areas and ensuring they meet our strict criteria:

• Security and licensing - We check that the casinos are properly licensed and regulated, have the eCogra stamp of approval, and use SSL encryption.

• Games - We play the games ourselves to check their quality, speed, and features. We also like to see a wide range of slots, and plenty of other casino games on offer in case players would like a break from the reels.

• Payment methods - We ensure that the casino accepts a variety of payment methods and that the deposit and withdrawal process is quick and easy.

• Customer support - We get in touch with customer support to assess the speed and efficiency of the response.

• Bonuses - We look for sizeable welcome bonuses without huge wagering requirements and scout out worthwhile VIP and loyalty schemes.