Best NZ Online Poker Real Money Sites

Poker is a rather unique casino game as it requires a lot of strategic thinking and focus. It is a bit challenging, but that’s what makes it so attractive for players from every part of the world.

Its popularity led to the creation of specific poker sites which feature numerous variants of this game. To make things even better, these online poker sites are optimized for mobile use and are very secure.

At BestPoker, we want to make sure that you are familiar with all the details related to this product. The more you know, the better your experience will be. Hence, we are more than happy to share everything there is to know about the best real money poker online sites and what you need to remember while you play.

Why Play Real Money Poker Games?

Let’s start by explaining why you should play online poker. After all, there are tons of other quality games on casino apps. What makes online poker such a special game?

Well, for starters we have the skill factor. Regardless if you play poker for free or for real money, you must master quite a few skills. These include:

• Learning how to bluff
• Reading opponents
• Implement strategies
• Learn the probabilities of winning hands
• Know when to fold and when to continue

Each of these skills can make a huge difference when you play online poker games, but they take time to master.

Next up, if you are looking for ultimate entertainment, but also a good reward, poker can give you that. Online tournaments are packed with good players. The competition is high, but so are the rewards.

Live real money online poker is also worth a mention as this game takes place in real-time. You join via a stream and you can chat with the dealer. That makes these titles extremely interactive.

Finally, thanks to the innovative approach of online game providers, you can access tons of online poker variants. You will always enjoy the best gaming experience.

List of the Best Legal Real Money Poker Sites for NZ Players

Of course, if you want to play real money poker games, you must make sure that you do so at the best sites. Considering the fact that we want to feature as much information as possible in this detailed guide, we at BestPoker feel obliged to share the best sites where you can play legit poker.

All of the sites are known for their immaculate security as well as the fact that they offer the best real money poker games. Let’s check them out.

PartyPoker

PartyPoker is among the most popular legal sites that offer cash games. This poker brand will also provide you with a lucrative welcome bonus once you create an account and make your first deposit.

Thanks to the fact that PartyPoker utilizes the latest SSL encryption software, you can rest assured knowing that your private information will remain secure while you access the best games on its platform.

If players have any questions or concerns, they can get in touch with the customer support team. They are very responsive and will answer all of your inquiries.

888Poker

888 is one of the most notable global brands when it comes to online gaming. Its reputation is built on trust, rewards, security and versatility. There are tons of subsidiaries owned by the company, one of which is 888Poker.

This site is specifically designed for poker players. It features countless poker variants, all of which come with a low house edge, mobile compatibility and numerous rewards. Registration here is simple as ABCs and once you complete it, you will have the chance to play real money games and participate in the numerous featured tournaments.

PokerKing

One of the biggest advantages of PokerKing is the fact that this operator has its own mobile app. If you decide to download it and play on it, you will receive a lucrative welcome bonus – 100% up to $2,000 on your first deposit.

PokerKing is known for offering massive flexibility in terms of payments. Not only does it allow you to make deposits and withdrawals with fiat currencies, but you can also complete these transactions using cryptocurrencies.

Poker Bros

If you’re looking for a platform specifically designed for Texas Hold’em, then Poker Bros is a perfect choice. Apart from playing its games on a desktop device, you can also download its app, which is available on both Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Here, you can create clubs with ring games and tournaments and you can invite your friends to play. Alternatively, you can join clubs and once you’re accepted, you can take part in all the action. These features make Poker Bros arguably the best social poker room.

Apart from the featured tournaments, there are various daily bonuses and lucky draws. Finally, to ensure fair play, Poker Bros has the following accreditations:

• Gaming Labs
• iTech Labs
• BMM Testlabs

Poker Stars

Our fifth and final pick on the list is yet another reputable brand in the online poker realm – Poker Stars.

This is the home of free-to-play poker. Not only that but many consider it the best platform for new players as it has tons of guides that will help you master the game itself. There are various Hold’em tournaments in which you can participate.

Special offers are also up for grabs, some of which include:

• Zoom
• Sunday Billion
• KO Poker

One rather unique feature here is VR Poker. VR gaming is set to be the future of the gambling industry and Poker Stars is well aware of that fact. That is why it stays ahead of the curve and makes sure that it provides its players with the most entertaining experience.

Best Real Cash Poker Games for Beginners

It is a bit hard to determine which online poker for money variants are most suitable for beginners as all of them require certain skills. However, we at BestPoker specialize in making the hard look easy, which is why we are more than happy to list the best games for beginners.

Video Poker Variants

Coming in at number 1, we have online video poker for real money. Video poker is far simpler than standard poker games due to the fact that there’s just one round. When you access it at legal online poker sites, the machine gives you your hand.

If you don’t like it, you can always ask for new cards. Then, you make your bets and the machine immediately reveals the 5 community cards. That way, you’ll instantly see if you’ve won any money in the poker app or not.

Some of the most popular video poker variants that you can play with your own money are:

• Jacks or Better
• Double Aces Poker
• Deuces Wild
• Bonus Poker

Omaha Poker

Next up, we have one of the most popular games that you can play at a poker room – Omaha. In this variant, you receive 4 hole cards. The betting system is the same as with any other poker game. Omaha Poker is playable in a few forms:

• Omaha Hi-Lo
• Omaha High
• Omaha 8-or-better

Omaha poker rules state that you can’t make a hand with one hole hand in combination with the community cards. The good thing, however, is that since you are dealt 4 cards, you will have a much wider hand range.

Three-Card Poker

Finally, we have Three-Card Poker, which is by far the simplest cash game. You can play it on any Android or iOS device. Unlike other mobile online poker variants, Three-Card Poker is played against the dealer. So, you don’t have to worry about the poker positions and the blinds.

You start by placing an ante bet. Then, you receive 3 cards from the dealer, which only you can see. This is when you decide whether you want to play a wager or not. If you fold, then the money goes to the dealer. If you place the bet, you turn the cards over and compare them to the dealer’s hand. The one that has a better hand, wins.

No other game can beat Three-Card Poker in simplicity. That is the reason why this game is such a good pick. The rules are simple, the gameplay is fast-paced and there’s a chance to receive real money rewards while playing it.

10 Things to Keep In Mind When Playing for Real Money

When you play poker with friends online or with strangers, there are a few things that you should always keep in mind. They will help you have an entertaining gaming experience and eliminate most of the threats that come from online gambling.

Below, we listed the 10 most important things that you should remember at all times when playing various poker card games.

Strategies Are Helpful But Do Not Guarantee Wins

It is a well-known fact that there are various poker tips and strategies that you can use. After all, we mentioned earlier that these real money games rely on skill far more than luck. Strategies can increase your chances of winning in online poker rooms, but they do not guarantee you wins.

Play Real Money Poker at Licensed Sites Only

Only licensed platforms are legal online poker sites. They also utilize the latest SSL encryption software and thus, they are more than capable of securing sensitive information related to your poker account. That is why you should always make sure that you play money games at licensed poker sites only.

Try Free Poker if You Are Still a Beginner

Poker software providers make the games extremely entertaining, but since the games require a lot of skill, it is a smart idea to give free poker a try before registering at real money poker sites.

That way, you’ll get familiar to the poker rules without any pressure and even if you end up losing a round, you won’t lose any real money.

You Can Use Poker Cheat Sheets

Cheat sheets contain valuable information related to the winning hands, rules of play, strategies, etc. Although at first sight, it may look like they are illegal, they aren’t. You are more than welcome to use them when playing these games.

Bonuses and Promotions Are More Than Welcome

Every legal real money online poker site attracts players by offering various bonuses and promotions. You can use them when you’re playing Texas Holdem or any other poker variant. They can boost your overall winnings or allow you to play for free while remaining eligible for real money rewards.

One thing to keep in mind about the promos is that they come with terms and conditions that you must meet. You won’t have the chance to withdraw bonus winnings until you meet the T&Cs.

Cashouts May Take Some Time to be Processed

Speaking of winning rewards in real money online poker, there will come a time when you will want to withdraw cash. You can do that whenever you can, but you must remember that cashouts come with a processing period. It can take several business days before you can receive the money.

Fold if You’re Unsure About Your Hand

An interesting fact about these games is that there’s a tool called a poker calculator, which tells you the odds of winning. Regardless if you are using one or not, if you think that your hand is not that great, fold. One of the hardest things about poker is that you must learn when you should fold and when to continue. Many players refuse to fold because of FOMO. Don’t be one of those players.

Only Play If You Feel Like Playing

Poker cash games require a lot of focus and thinking. You must know the rules of play, poker slang, keep in touch with your opponents, etc. If you don’t feel like playing, don’t. There’s no need to force anything. If you do so, you’ll only increase your chances of losing. Log in to your real money poker account if you are excited about joining a room.

Online Gambling Regulation

Before you even think of entering a room, make sure that the online poker market is legal in your residing region. Online gambling is still new to the market and some states may not consider it legal.

Play Responsibly

The final and most important thing that you need to remember when playing at a real money poker site is to always gamble responsibly. Remember, the goal is to have fun, not to take unnecessary risks. When you learn what beats what in poker, you will increase your chances of winning, but don’t go to win rewards at all costs. Limit the budget and the time that you spend playing this game.

Online Poker Tournaments for Real Cash

The beauty of playing Texas Hold’em, or any other variant, at online casinos, is that you can participate in both real money tournaments and freerolls online. Freerolls are basically free games that you can play.

But if you wish to win real money, then you ought to participate in real money tournaments. In comparison, the competition here will likely be far greater, but the reward is the decent prize pools.

The number of tournaments varies between real money poker sites and the one thing that all of these platforms have in common is the fact that you need to register an account in order to participate.

Registering is very easy. First, you need to access the official website of the poker platform. Click on the registration button and start filling in the required fields. The site will likely ask for the following information:

• First and last name
• Residing country
• Preferred currency
• Username and password

After you’ve filled in the fields, all that is left is to accept the T&Cs, confirm that you are of legal age and finalize the process.

Make a real money deposit and check out the available tournaments. All experienced and recreational players are welcome to join. If you are new to the tournament scene, you can try multi table tournaments (MTT). They feature low stakes and allow you to play for a long time with your buy ins.

Real Money Poker Apps

In the last couple of years, mobile gaming reached a new level. A majority of players now prefer playing Texas Holdem and other variants on their mobile devices.

After all, they provide them with a lot of flexibility in terms of access. Thanks to mobile gaming, you can play poker on your smartphone or iPad at any time and place. You just need to make sure that you have a stable connection to the Internet.

Some real money poker sites utilize the latest HTMl5 technology. That means that you can play their featured games via your mobile browser.

However, there are some that went a step further. These platforms created their own apps to make the mobile gaming experience much better.

Here’s how you can download them. First, you can download and install them via Google Play Store or Apple Store, depending on which type of smartphone you have (Android or Apple). Once the download is finished, the app is installed automatically.

If the poker site has a mobile app, but it’s not available on any of the two stores, then you will likely have a download file on its official website. Once you download the file, you will have to install it manually.

The beauty of these apps is that they are always free to download. You just need to ensure that you have enough storage on your phone.

Once you install them, you will have the chance to play real money poker games, claim various poker bonuses and participate in the featured tournaments.

How to Play Poker for Real Money?

Free poker is the best way for online players to get introduced to the game. Of course, there will come a time when you will want to play Texas Hold’em or any other poker variant for real money.

This requires you to make real money poker deposits. There are a few extra steps that you must complete and that’s what we will look into in this section.

Step 1 – Register At Internet Poker Sites

To play online real-money poker, you must register at a casino site. You can choose any of our featured platforms. They all hold a license and operate in New Zealand. Signing up is as simple as ABCs and you can complete it in no time.

Step 2 – Deposit and Claim a Deposit Bonus

After you successfully register an account, choose one of the deposit options and transfer funds to your account. You can also claim a bonus to increase your potential winnings. Make sure that you use the extra funds before the bonus expires, though.

Step 3 – Browse the Game Selection

New Zealand players can choose between numerous types of standard and live events. Pick your favourite and then access the game. Since a majority of poker games are mobile-friendly, you can play them on any device.

Step 4 – Start Playing

Wager a certain amount on the poker table and start playing. Although the general rules are the same across all variants, there are special features that make every poker game unique. So, read the paytable to get familiar with the details.

Online Poker NZ Winning Hands

When playing at poker tables, you must know all the winning hands and their strength. That is the key to gaining an edge in real cash games. There are 10 hands in this game:

1. High card – the highest card among players’ hands wins the round
2. One pair – a pair of identical cards (2-2, J-J, K-K)
3. Two Pair – two separate pairs of matching cards (2-2 and J-J, K-K and A-A)
4. Three of a kind – three cards that have the same value (3-3-3, 5-5-5, Q-Q-Q)
5. Straight – sequential order of 5 cards in multiple suits (2-3-4-5-6, 8-9-10-J-Q)
6. Flush – 5 cards in the same suite and of various values (5 spade cards, 5 diamond cards, 5 heart cards)
7. Full House – a pair and three of a kind
8. Four of a kind – four cards that have the same value
9. Straight flush – 5 cards in sequential order and in the same suit
10. Royal Flush – 10-A in the same suit

High card is the lowest-ranking card and the Royal Flush is the highest-ranking card across all poker games.

Responsible Gambling in New Zealand

New Zealand has several responsible gambling organizations that will help Kiwi players who are at risk of developing an addiction when playing poker online NZ. Some of the agencies that you can contact are Problem Gambling Foundation NZ, Gambling Helpline New Zealand, Safer Gambling Aotearoa, The Salvation Army Oasis and Asian Family Services.

Alternatively, you can also contact 1800 858 858 for free confidential advice.

References:

Basics of Poker

TAB Responsible Gambling

Frequently asked questions