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Top Poker Sites for New Zealand Players 2026
New Zealand is a small island country in Oceania with about five million inhabitants. Despite its remoteness from many countries, it enjoys a powerful economy and friendly laws for online poker players. To write this article, our team studied the market and laws and talked to local players to determine the best real money online poker sites to play in New Zealand.
Best poker sites to play in New Zealand in 2026
Below, you’ll find our recommended online poker sites for players in New Zealand. They have passed all the filters detailed in this article and have the characteristic quality seal of our affiliate service.
| Rank | Poker Site | Bonus | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best NZ online poker site | GGPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5, Short Deck, AoF, Rush&Cash |
| ✅ Best for ring games | WPT Global | 100% up to $3,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5, Short Deck, Flash Poker |
| ✅ Crypto & Bitcoin | CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | NLH, PLO, PLO5 |
| ✅ Most famous | Pokerstars | 100% up to $600 | NLH, PLO, PLO5, PLO6, ShortDeck, AoF, PLO Hi/Low, 5 Card Draw, Badugi, Zoom Poker |
| ✅ New poker site | BCPoker | 15% up to $200 | NLH, PLO, AoF, Short Deck |
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GGPoker
GGPoker is the world’s largest online poker site, with active player numbers consistently exceeding 100,000 at any time of day. The platform accepts players from New Zealand, who can fund their accounts using e-wallets and cryptocurrencies.
In addition to its massive player pool, GGPoker stands out for its diverse game selection. The poker room’s client offers:
- Cash tables. 6- and 9-max Hold'em, two types of Omaha, Short Deck, Rush & Cash, AoF.
- SnG tournaments. Spin & Gold, 3- and 6-player, AoF, Flip & Go, Mystery Battle.
- MTTs: Daily tournaments across multiple formats, monthly series, and WSOP Online with guaranteed prize pools of up to $100 million.
GGPoker’s bonus system includes promotions for both new and experienced players. During the first 30 days after registration, players can earn up to $350 by completing missions, and after making a first deposit, they can choose one of the welcome package options: a 100% wagering bonus up to $600 or $100 tickets.
WPT Global
WPT Global is one of the fastest-growing online poker rooms available to players from New Zealand. Backed by the World Poker Tour, it has expanded from a small platform into a room with peak traffic exceeding 10,000 players within just a few years. The WPT Global team is led by Phil Ivey.
The room features 6- and 8-max tables across NLH, PLO, PLO5, Short Deck, and Flash Poker. Its tournament schedule includes dozens of daily MTTs with buy-ins ranging from $1 to $330 and guaranteed prize pools of up to $200,000. Satellites to live WPT events run on a regular basis.
WPT Global offers a 100% welcome bonus of up to $3,000. Omaha players receive 30% rakeback, while players starting at high-stakes tables receive 40% of the rake generated at these tables.
For New Zealand players, cryptocurrency is the primary method for both deposits and withdrawals (more than 10 coins are available).
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is the leading cryptocurrency poker site, built on blockchain technology with an emphasis on transparency and players’ anonymity. It uses a decentralized RNG, and account verification is not required.
Coinpoker supports deposits and withdrawals in Bitcoin, USDT, USDC, and its native CHP token, with all table play conducted in USDT.
Poker room’s cash game lobby offers 7-max Texas Hold’em and Omaha tables, including PLO5, as well as 2- and 4-handed formats. Stakes range from $0.01/$0.02 up to $200/$400.
The tournament schedule features dozens of daily MTTs, starting with freerolls. Most events have buy-ins of up to $55, alongside large tournaments. For example, the Sunday Nemesis $100,000 GTD with a $5,000 buy-in (satellites starting from $5 are available).
CoinPoker bonuses provide players with attractive rakeback options:
- 50% rakeback on the welcome bonus, 150% up to $2,000.
- 33% rakeback every Monday through the loyalty program.
- Payouts up to $1,300 in the rake race leaderboard.
PokerStars
For many years, PokerStars was the leading room site in the online poker industry until it was overtaken by GGPoker. However, it is still a great player in the market and a reference for old-school players. PS offers 24/7 action in all known formats, and it is the home of world-famous tournament series like the SCOOP, which New Zealanders play a lot.
How we determine the best poker sites for New Zealand
Making a list of online poker rooms to play for real money in New Zealand is an arduous task since the residents of the oceanic country have a complete portfolio of global sites at their disposal. Our team has studied the market and local preferences to recommend the sites listed above and apply rigorous checks using the following criteria.
- Reliability: Safety comes first. The rooms must have a long history, operating licenses, community support and recognized brands, data encryption protocols, and valid RNG certificates.
- Payment methods: When playing poker over the Internet, rooms should build bridges with friendly payment methods that allow New Zealanders to quickly deposit and withdraw without delays.
- Traffic: Considering the time zone in New Zealand (GMT+12 or UTC+12), our team made sure to do different tests to ensure that the recommended rooms had tables available at the island country's peak time.
- Customer Service: Customer service is very important for the long-term satisfaction of the player, which is why we combine personalized attention with rooms that offer different means of contact, such as mail, chat, phone, etc.
- Software: The software is the "intermediary” through which players can play poker from different parts of the world, so we ensure that it is updated frequently, compatible with modern operating systems, is secure, and works properly.
Online poker in New Zealand
New Zealand can be called a paradise for online poker players. The country's laws do not prohibit local players from joining international rooms, so locals can play without restriction at their chosen sites.
The cherry on the cake is that the tax rules do not require the payment of taxes on poker winnings.
Unrestricted access to international poker sites and tax-free conditions make online poker in New Zealand especially convenient for online grinders.
Legal background of online poker in New Zealand
So, is online poker legal in New Zealand? In practice, yes!
Gambling regulation in New Zealand is governed by the Gambling Act 2003, which prohibits online poker operators from establishing a physical presence or offering gambling services from within the country. At the same time, the law does not restrict players from registering and playing on international online poker sites based outside New Zealand.
As a result, there are no domestic online poker sites, but New Zealand players can freely access international platforms with global player pools. The legislation does not penalize individuals for playing on offshore sites, and regulatory oversight applies only to operators located within New Zealand’s jurisdiction.
Deposit and withdrawal methods
In New Zealand, poker players will have no problems depositing or withdrawing their money from offshore online poker rooms. In the different rooms that we evaluate, we highlight the presence of the following payment processors:
- Bank cards (Visa, MasterCard) — availability depends on the offshore poker room and the player's bank.
- Bank transfers are less common and can be slow.
- Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, ETH, LTC, and others) are the most stable and versatile options: fast transactions and minimal restrictions.
- E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, and others) support varies by poker room.
Although poker sites offer their games in euros or US dollars, the conversion to the New Zealand dollar (NZD or Kiwi dollar, a stable currency with an approximate price of 1.6 NZD for every 1 USD) is transparent and takes place without additional commissions.
In practice, many players prefer cryptocurrencies and individual e-wallets due to the speed of transactions and the absence of banking restrictions.
Poker taxes
From a tax standpoint, online poker winnings in New Zealand are typically tax-free. Taxation may apply only if poker is treated as a professional activity and a primary source of income, but for the vast majority of players, no tax obligations arise.
It is worth noting that the authorities do not pursue players or their bank accounts, and only in rare cases the use of an accountant is necessary.
Live poker in New Zealand
Live poker in New Zealand is concentrated around a small number of licensed casinos, where cash games and local tournaments run on a regular basis. Despite the country’s relatively modest market size, all major live poker formats are available, including No-Limit Hold’em and Omaha, along with multi-table tournaments and Sit & Go games.
The largest poker rooms operate within casino venues, most of which are part of hotel complexes offering restaurants and entertainment. While live poker activity varies by city and season, tables are consistently available in major locations.
New Zealand has also welcomed international and regional poker series, including stops on the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the Asia Pacific Tour. In addition, domestic events such as the SkyCity Festival of Poker and the New Zealand Poker Championships remain highlights of the local live poker calendar.
| Venue | Location | Poker tables & limits | Other features |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkyCity Auckland | Auckland CBD | 15–20 tables; cash games typically start from NZD 1/3 | The country's premier live poker venue, hosting national series and major tournament festivals. |
| Christchurch Casino | Christchurch | 6–10 tables; low and mid stakes | Regular cash games and local tournaments, the leading poker room on the South Island. |
| Grand Casino Dunedin | Dunedin | 4–6 tables; mostly low stakes | Limited number of tables; targeted at local players. |
Famous poker players from New Zealand
TOP-5 New Zealand All-Time Money List:
- Sosia Jiang — $ 6,2M+
- Lee Nelson — $2,6M+
- Thomas Ward — $1,9M+
- Hamish Crawshaw — $1,7M+
- Jan Suchanek — $1,2M+
Although New Zealand has a relatively small population, its grinders have won more than $37 million, placing them in the TOP50 and surpassing countries like Mexico, Uruguay, or Estonia.
New Zealand is arguably the only country in the world where the top player is a woman. Sosia Jiang has earned more than $6 million in live tournament winnings over a decade of her poker career.
Six of her seven largest cashes came in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series. Her biggest payout of $1,605,000 was awarded in 2024 after an eighth-place finish in the $520,000 buy-in event, making her the first woman ever to reach the final table of the series.
Jiang is an investment specialist, with poker remaining a hobby rather than a full-time career.
Another notable New Zealander, Lee Nelson has accumulated $2.6 million in tournament winnings, primarily during the 2000s. He is not a poker professional, having taken up the game after retiring from a medical career.
Lee’s best cash $949,694 came in 2006, when he won the Main Event of the Crown Australian Poker Championships.
Responsible gaming
Free responsible gambling services are available in New Zealand to help players assess their risk level and access professional support. These services provide online self-assessment tools, confidential counseling, educational resources, and direct access to trained advisors if gambling starts to become problematic.
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand - Tools include online gambling risk assessments, phone and chat consultations, 24/7 support, and referrals to specialist services. 📞 0800 654 655
- GambleAware New Zealand - 📞 0800 654 656
Conclusion
Online poker in New Zealand remains accessible due to the lack of direct restrictions on playing at international poker sites and a well-defined legal framework. Players can freely choose offshore platforms with global traffic, use a wide range of payment methods, and, in most cases, enjoy tax-free winnings.
WorldPokerDeals assists New Zealand players in comparing available poker rooms and selecting the best options based on game formats, traffic, and conditions.
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