It’s hard not to notice that gambling has become truly popular in New Zealand. Players can be found across all social groups — they actively buy Lotto tickets, play pokies and live games.
What’s interesting is that over the past few years, the approach to gambling has changed. Players are not just looking for top online casinos in 2025, they are interested in how exactly the games work. Many of them try to apply a mathematical approach to increase their chances.
Gambling as Part of New Zealand Culture
According to research, about 80% of adult kiwis have tried gambling at least once in their lives — whether lottery, horse racing bets, or casino games. This is not just entertainment. It’s a mass phenomenon, deeply rooted in the country’s culture.
The state lottery Lotto NZ has existed since 1987 and still remains one of the most popular gambling activities. Gaming machines, especially in pubs and clubs, have become a familiar part of leisure. For many, gambling is not only an opportunity to win money but also a form of social activity and sometimes even charity. After all, part of the revenue from licensed operators goes to support local communities.
How Much New Zealanders Spend on Gambling
According to the Department of Internal Affairs of New Zealand, in 2023/24, the country’s residents spent about 2.8 billion NZ dollars on gambling. This is a record high in the entire history of observations. For comparison: just two years ago, in the 2020/21 financial year, this amount was about 2.25 billion. This means that over two years, players spent almost 500 million more.
On average, each adult resident of New Zealand in 2023 spent more than 560 New Zealand dollars on gambling. The growth is especially noticeable after the pandemic — when gaming establishments reopened, players returned to their favorite entertainment with redoubled energy. Moreover, the market is projected to experience steady growth in 2025.
The Most Popular Types of Gambling
1. Gaming Machines (pokies)
The absolute leaders in popularity are gaming machines installed in bars and clubs. More than 17,000 such devices are placed throughout the country. In 2022/23, New Zealanders spent over a billion dollars on them!
Interestingly, more than half of all gaming machines are installed in low-income areas, which causes concern among public organizations.
2. Lotteries
The state lottery is the most widespread form of gambling. Millions of people buy Lotto, Powerball, and Instant Kiwi tickets. Total expenditure on lottery products amounted to more than 700 million New Zealand dollars in 2022/23.
Interestingly, during the pandemic, lottery ticket sales did not fall, but increased — thanks to the ability to buy them online.
3. Casinos
There are six licensed casinos operating in New Zealand, the largest of which is SkyCity Auckland. They generated more than 600 million dollars in revenue in 2022/23. After a temporary decline due to lockdowns, attendance began to rise again, especially among tourists.
4. Sports and Racing Bets
Although the share of sports betting is smaller than other types of gambling, this segment is also steadily growing. The development of mobile applications and the popularity of international events, such as the Rugby World Cup, fuel players’ interest. About 370 million New Zealand dollars are spent on betting per year.
Who Plays and How in New Zealand
Gambling is popular among different age and social groups, but some patterns can be observed:
- Young players (18-34 years) more often choose online betting, fast payout options and digital casinos, especially through mobile applications.
- Middle-aged people (35-54 years) play both online and offline, are interested in lottery and land-based casinos.
- Elderly players (55+) prefer traditional formats — scratch cards, bingo, and gaming machines in local clubs.
In rural areas, lotteries and gaming machines are popular, while in cities — betting and a good old casino.
Online versus Offline: How the Landscape is Changing
Gambling in New Zealand is increasingly moving from casino halls and pubs to smartphone and computer screens. According to Statista platform estimates, the volume of the New Zealand online gambling market was about 1.1 billion dollars in 2023.
This means that the online format already occupies more than 40% of the total gambling market in the country. And although most of this money goes to foreign sites, the interest of players is evident — and continues to grow. It is expected that by 2027, the online gambling market in New Zealand will exceed 1.5 billion dollars.
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated the digitization of the industry. When land-based casinos and clubs were closed, players actively switched to digital platforms — from official lottery sites to international online casinos.
A New Approach to Gambling
Interestingly, more and more New Zealand players are trying to approach gambling from the perspective of mathematics and analytics. This has led to the emergence of projects like 101RTP, created by players for players.
The project was born from a simple question: “Is it possible to gain an advantage in a casino and how to do it?” A team of professional players faced the problem of a lack of accurate information. The internet is filled with casino rankings and slot reviews. But previously, there was no accurate analytics based on real data and mathematical calculations.
As a result, the 101RTP team created tools that help players:
- Calculate the real value of bonuses
- Analyze slots and determine the probability of large wins
- Simulate gaming sessions for better planning
- Track progressive jackpots that reach an RTP above 100%
This approach helps players reduce risks by making decisions based on mathematics rather than intuition and luck.
What’s the Conclusion?
Gambling in New Zealand continues to be a popular entertainment, but the approach to it is changing. More and more players are moving online and trying to use mathematics and analytics instead of simply hoping for luck.
Of course, it’s important to remember that in most games, the casino will always have a mathematical advantage. But there are situations when a player can gain an edge (certain bonuses, jackpots, tournaments). Choosing the right slots can significantly increase playing time.
