Best Real Money Online Poker Sites in New Zealand

Cash Games

By far the most common, cash games are the most basic type of poker game. Games are played at a more leisurely pace and you are free to leave at any time. There is no time limit and games are starting and finishing constantly.

Fast-Fold Poker

Also known as Zoom, Speed, or Snap and Zone poker, Fast-Fold is perfect for those who don’t like waiting to play. As soon as you fold a hand, you will be taken to another table and given a new one. This reduces the amount of waiting around you have to do in a regular poker game.

Lottery Sit N’ Go

Lottery Sit N’ Gos have become popular in recent years and combine the speed of Fast-Fold with the tournament feel of a Sit N’ Go. Games are usually over in just ten minutes and tend to attract recreational players.

While the prize pot in poker games is usually based on the total amount given by players, in Lottery SNGs, the prize pot is a random multiple of the buy-in. The most common is 2x, but occasionally you’ll come across exponentially higher than that!

Poker Tournamanets

In a poker tournament, you commit to playing until the tournament ends (or until you’re knocked out!). Once you’ve paid the entry fee, you will receive a set number of chips. You compete to win a share of the prize pot.

Prize pots vary, but they tend to be far higher in tournaments than in cash games or SNGs. For this reason, tournaments tend to attract more advanced players. Tournaments also usually have a set start time.

Sit N’ Go

Sometimes referred to as SNGs, Sit N’ Gos usually last around an hour and begin when enough players have joined the table. They are a fantastic introduction to tournament poker, and there are usually low-stakes tables available.

The Gambling Act 2003

This piece of legislation was designed to regulate gambling in New Zealand and reduce the potential harm caused to players, particularly from problem gambling.

In its original form, the Act mostly focussed on in-person gambling. It set 20 as the minimum age to be able to play in a physical casino and 18 to be able to bet on horse racing or other sports betting.

It has been expanded to include online gambling but it specifically only covers online casinos and sports betting sites which are based in New Zealand. Kiwis are legally able to play at offshore casinos, those sites based outside of New Zealand.

All In

When a player bets all of their chips on a hand, they are said to be ‘all in.’ This is a high-risk play.

Ante

A small bet given by each player at the start of a hand in order to build the prize pot. Some variations of poker (such as most games of Texas Hold’em) do not have an ante.

Bluff

A poker strategy by which a player will bet aggressively despite having a comparatively weaker hand.

This is a high risk strategy with the intent of convincing the competitor to fold on their strong hand.

Buy-in

The amount it costs to enter the game or tournament.

Call

To put in exactly the same wager as another player. This action keeps you in the game, but without raising.

Fold

To forfeit the game. Folding means that you will not play any further hands – you will not call or bet any more, and you give up your chance at winning the pot. All the money you have already bet is given up.

Freeroll

A tournament or game played for real money, but at no cost to the players. There are no entry fees, and none of the player’s own money is wagered. Many online poker rooms offer freeroll tournaments because they are incredibly popular and competitive.

Raise

When a player places a larger bet than their opponents, thus forcing competitors to raise themselves or call in order to avoid elimination.

Rebuy

The opportunity to re-enter a tournament when the player has previously been knocked out, for a cost. Some tournaments allow players to rebuy, while some do not.

Stack

All of the chips in front of each player.