Looking for online casino pokies in NZ? Then you’ve come to the right place. We feature more than 350 slots and casino games from some of the biggest names in the business such as Microgaming and Scientific Games.
Our NZ Online Pokies Collection
Our casino slots portfolio includes both classic and contemporary pokies that should cater to all tastes. So if you prefer no-frills game-play, you’ll enjoy the many 3-reel online slots found on our pages. Alternatively, if you’re looking to try your hand at the very latest online slot games, then you’ll get a kick out of our large collection of real money 5-reelers. To go along with these games, we regularly feature free spin bonus offers and promotions – more of that later. So what online pokies can you play?
Types of Online Pokies
For those of you unfamiliar with the types of slots online casinos tend to offer, there are generally two types of real money online pokies – three reel variants (usually without a bonus round) and five reel variants. While the introduction of new pokies has led to the emergence of extra reels, these two versions are among the most common.
3-Reel Pokies
Classic 3-reel online pokies are very easy to play and can be pretty addictive, even if they are kind of basic. For this type of on line casino game, you only have to match symbols along the top, middle or bottom line to win. There are no elaborate free spins, or casino bonus rounds in play – just good old-fashioned reel-spinning. Three reel slots are basically stripped down versions of online pokies which make them ideal for NZ newbies and casual players.
Examples of 3-Reel Online Pokies: Bar-Bar Black Sheep, Break Da Bank, Diamond Deal, Jackpot Jester Wild Nudge, Pentagram
5-Reel Pokies
5-reel video pokies tend to offer more pay-lines and in-game features such as free spins and bonus games. The extra pay-lines means that you have access to far more winning combinations, while the addition of scatter and wild symbols also increases your chances of landing bigger bonus wins. 5 reel online pokies dominate the lobbies of online casinos and is where most developers make their money.
Examples of 5-Reel Online Pokies: Avalon, Gold Factory, Immortal Romance, Thunderstruck II, Wizard of Oz Casino Pokie
Jackpot/Progressive NZ Pokies
Progressive online pokies are networked games that pool a certain percentage of all money staked. Because these stakes are collected from online casinos throughout the world, the bonus prizes tend to be huge. Manage to hit a jackpot and you’re life many never be the same again. In some cases, these pay-outs can run into the millions of dollars. Mega Moolah is one of the most well-known examples. Because of the potentially enormous progressive jackpots that these casino slots generate, a lot of players focus their attentions on them to the exclusion of all other casino games.
Examples of Progressive Online Pokies: Cleopatra, Divine Fortune, Mega Jackpots: Wolf Run, Mega Moolah, Siberian Storm
How to Play Online Pokies
Learning to play online pokies is pretty straightforward, even when it comes to the latest 5-reelers. Behind all the bonus rounds, free spins features, pay-lines and polished visuals lurks a relatively simple core game that’s easy to master.
With that said, its well worth clueing yourself up on the various in-game elements that have led to these casino games taking the online gambling world by storm. So without further ado, here’s a jargon buster for players who’d like to play online pokies with real money in NZ. Let’s start with the special bonus symbols.
Online Pokies – Symbols
Online pokies usually include 10 – 12 standard symbols. These are often of low-to-medium value and represented by playing card symbols. Visit any online casino and you’ll be guaranteed to come across games that feature this tired, ubiquitous imagery. Many creators include them as a kind of acknowledgement to the old-school slot machines once found in land based casino establishments and bars.
In addition to these standard icons are symbols that can unlock free spin bonus games, alter the in-game mechanics and perform other bonus boosting actions. Let’s start with wild symbols.
Wild Symbols
‘Wilds’ are present in the vast majority of online casinos that you’ll come across and are a staple of almost all real money games of at least five reels. Although wilds don’t usually trigger bonus founds, they can mimic adjacent reel symbols, thus creating wins and boosting your bank balance.
Wilds won’t usually replicate free spins bonus symbols or indeed scatters. Nonetheless, they can prove very valuable, especially with casino games in which they can expand. Their appearance will of course vary according to the theme of each real money pokie.
Scatter Symbols
Whether you’re playing online pokies in NZ or abroad, scatter symbols will be present in one form or another – this is provided of course that there are at least five reels. Like wild symbols, they’re another popular element among players for the simple fact that they can score wins, no matter where they appear on the reels. For some games, they trigger separate bonus rounds as well as free spins mechanics.
Bonus Symbols
Bonus symbols in real money online pokies often behave like scatters, triggering bonus and free spins rounds. However, unlike scatters it’s usually the case that they have to appear on specific pay-lines a certain number of times before said bonus rounds are unlocked. Their appearance also varies according to the online pokies theme.
Online Pokies – Bonus Rounds
One of the best features of five reel (and above) slots have to be the bonus rounds. As mentioned, bonus rounds are usually activated by special symbols such as scatters and are basically mini games that increase your chances of winning more money. They enhance game-play and add an extra layer of excitement because of the big-wins they often generate. Some even include guaranteed pay-outs.
Bonus rounds also offer a welcome departure from the core game. As most NZ gamers who enjoy playing online pokies will probably admit, virtual reel spinning can become rather tedious without the inclusion of one. This is why three reel online pokies are not always popular with seasoned players. It should also be mentioned that the best bonus rounds are highly sophisticated, immersive games in their own right. Here’s a brief guide to the kind of bonus games that you’ll find with the best online pokies.
Bonus Wheel Games
Bonus wheel games are present in many of the best online slots currently available. More often than not, they’re activated by landing a specific number of scatters or bonus symbols. The wheels themselves tend to be broken down into segments which can contain real money, free spins and multiplier prizes. Certain progressive jackpot games include bonus reels with inner circles through which players must progress to gain access to the progressive prize. This is of course, easier said than done!
‘Click Me’ Bonus Games
‘Click Me’ bonus games also grace a fair number of NZ online pokies. Once triggered, players must pick specific boxes or items to reveal either real money prizes or in-game features such as free spins and multipliers. Like bonus wheel games, they’re usually activated by landing scatters or special symbols. With some variants, players need to reveal and/or match a set number of symbols before they’re rewarded with a prize.
Arcade Bonus Games
Arcade bonus games tend to be self-contained rounds. They’re usually in keeping with the overall theme of a slot and are often quite primitive in terms of game-play. Some require players to shoot at spaceships, in others players need to manoeuvre characters to collect coins. As is stands, bonus rounds like these don’t require a great deal of skill, if any. However, this is set to change in the coming years as online casino game developers move towards skill-based bonus rounds.
Gamification Bonus Games
Gamification bonus games feature elaborate adventure or leaderboard-based elements on top of standard reel-spinning play. While not as prevalent as some of the other bonus rounds mentioned here, they’re set to become far more commonplace over the next few years or so.
A lot of this has to do with the popularity of social slots – game creators in the online casino industry are keen to tap into this market which of course spells good news for players. Evo Play’s RPG-inspired Dungeon as well as other online real money pokies such as Jungle Jim are pretty typical examples of this kind of bonus game.
Latest Mechanics
Many of the best NZ pokies online now include sophisticated mechanics that add an extra dimension to play. The acclaimed Megaways and Cluster Pays engines are among the most stories examples (so far).
Megaways
Visit any casino online these days and you’re likely to come across a slot game featuring the Megaways engine. The term describes a special random reel modifier which changes the reel symbols for every single spin. The technology was developed by Big Time Gaming and offers an extra 100,000 ways to win – a far cry from the old three reel slot machines found in land based casino establishments.
Cluster Pays
While traditional online slots tend to rely on linear pay-lines, online pokies with Cluster Pays functionality pay out when you land symbols in shapes or patterns. They’re kind of similar to old-school video games such as Tetris or more recently Candy Crush. Developed by NetEnt, Cluster Pays slots are pretty common these days at most online casinos.
Cascading Reels
Cascading Reels is a now well-established feature that’s common in plenty of casino pokies. It’s fairly similar to cluster pays pokies in that it’s possible to score wins by landing patterns of shapes. The main difference between them relates to the way in which symbols fall from the reels to be replaced with new ones.
Tips for Playing Online Pokies for Real Money
Like all casino games, if you’re looking to try your hand at online pokies, real money play in NZ should be approached sensibly. To begin with, make sure you’ve got a good understanding of the slot you’d like to play before committing any funds.
A lot of online casinos like Black Spins offer the opportunity to demo slot games first. Don’t waste this chance – it might well save you money in the long run! And make use of those free spins too – in essence you’ll be playing the pokie game for free. Anyway, if you’re a new player, it’s very important that you understand some of the lingo – here are some of the most important terms to remember.
Casino Pokie Pay-Lines
Pay-lines are your bread and butter and apply to video pokies, progressive pokies and even three reel pokies. They basically describe the number of potential winning combinations present in a casino slot game. Some pokies feature up to 100 pay-lines which zig-zag across the reels, while others only include a couple. Although games with a massive number of pay-lines may seem daunting for newcomers, play the slot enough and you’ll become very familiar with what constitutes a winning combo. Information about pay-lines and game rules are usually found under the information tab.
Casino Pokie Bet Level
This is another area that you’ll want to pay close attention to, especially if you’re one of those players looking to protect your bankroll (if you’re not, you should be)! The bet level represents the basic unit that you’ll stake before spinning the pokies reels. A lot of games will also allow you to choose the number of coins you’d like to stake on each pay-line as well as the number of pay-lines that you want to put in play.
Online Pokies – Extra Things to Look out For
When playing pokies online, real money players with experience and knowledge will take a long hard look at RTP and volatility. Why? Because these two elements can have a big impact on how you go about setting a budget. Accordingly, all of the best NZ online casinos will offer information about them. But what do they mean?
Casino Pokie – RTP
The RTP is a percentage rating that used by land-based establishment and online casino sites to indicate how much a slot will pay out over a set peroid. Say you come across an online pokie that features a 98% RTP – you can expect to receive back around $98 for every $100 that you spend. Be aware though that this is just an estimate, albeit a pretty accurate one.
Casino Slot – Volatility
Volatility indicates the amount of risk attached to each online slot game. A high volatility casino pokie pays out big money prizes although the pay-outs won’t be that frequent. They’re often a favourite of big-budget players who in a position to cover the costs of holding out for wins. Conversely, low volatility casino pokies pay out far more regularly although the prizes are usually much smaller. A lot of progressive casino pokies feature low-volatility game play as a means of keeping the player entertained while they chase that lucrative and extremely elusive windfall.
Examples of High Volatility Online Pokies: Book of Ra, Dead or Alive, Raging Rhino, Thunderstruck II
Examples of Low Volatility Online Pokies: Mega Moolah, Starburst, Wild Scarabs, Bloodsuckers II
Do Your Research!
It doesn’t matter what casino game you want to play, make sure to do your research before spending money. All of the best pokies online will include extra information about standard/bonus symbol values as well as details of free spins and special features that form part of the game. You’ll obviously want to familiarise yourself with these beforehand so you actually know what to look out for during play.
What Else do we Offer at Blackspins Casino?
Here at Blackspins Casino, we’ve made it our mission to deliver the kind of casino, online players will thoroughly enjoy. In addition to an expansive range of online pokies, our site includes plenty of other features that should appeal to online gambling enthusiasts. Don’t believe us? Then read on!
Classic Games at Blackspins Casino
As with any top online casino, we complement our expansive range of online pokies with a solid collection of classic casino games such as roulette and blackjack. This collection includes computer-based variants that are well-suited to new players looking to learn about the rules or etiquette of online play before playing in a live environment – in case you were in any doubt we also include live casino games too.
Live Dealer Games at Blackspins Casino
Our immersive live casino platform is powered by acclaimed specialists Evolution Live and Netent. So you’ve got access to real-time versions of roulette and blackjack. Games are overseen by professional croupiers and streamed in super-smooth HD.
Mobile Friendly Casino Games
It goes without saying that Black Spins Casino is fully optimised and therefore caters to mobile casino gamers too. The bad old days of Flash-based online pokies are now behind us. Today, the vast majority of online slots and green-felt games have been written in HTML5. Unlike its notorious predecessor, HTML5 is lightweight and easy to use across mobile and tablet devices. So this means that you’ll be able to play pokies online, from pretty much any site or location that you choose.
Trusted Casino Games
If you want to become a trusted online casino site, you’ve got to make sure that everything’s above board when it comes to compliance and player care. Please be assured that all of the real money pokies, whether progressive jackpots or standard slots, are fully tested and compliant. Below are some of the companies that we work with to ensure that our players are fully protected.
Gibraltar Gambling Authority
The Black Spins casino site is licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Authority – one of the most respected regulatory bodies in the casino industry. Every single online casino that holds a license is deemed by the GGA to be fair and transparent in its operation. This of course means that overseas players can play at a site like ours, secure in the knowledge that they’re protected and safe.
How do Online Slots and Casino Games Work?
In addition to casino pokies, games that are computer-based (not live) feature random number generators. RNGs are used extensively in land based establishments and online casinos as a means of delivering random results to players. To ensure complete fairness, every single game at Black Spins is regularly tested by independent companies – eCogra is one of the most famous examples.
Online Casino Promotions at Black Spins
To help you make the most out of playing online pokies at Black Spins Casino, we feature generous bonus promotions for new and existing players. These include perks such as free spins and bonus matches. In contrast to many casino sites out there, we don’t spoil these promos by attaching unfair wagering rules – and we’re not sneaky about the T&Cs either. We include clear and transparent information about all of our bonus offers. These are some of the things you can expect from our casino promotions.
Free Spins Casino Bonus Offers
The classic free spins casino bonus is where it’s at for most real money players. They’re popular primarily because they allow players to test drive online pokies at no extra cost. You can take advantage of these promotions at Black Spins where we include them as part of our sign up promos.
Deposit Match Bonus Offers
Deposit match bonus deals can be found at most of the best online casino websites. As with free spins, these offers provide the means for sampling the actual games for free. Sure, you might have to make some sort of depost. But in return you’ll get extra funds to play our many online pokies and traditional casino table games.
Casino Wagering Rules
All of our casino bonus deals feature competitive wagering rules. Many a casino site will include what appear to be generous promotions – but a quick glance at the small print can often reveal astronomical play-through requirements. But this isn’t the case at Black Spins – while wagering is sometimes applied to our free spins bonus promos, we’re careful to ensure that they’re not too high.
Exciting VIP Casino Programme
The best online casino will ensure that high-rolling loyal customers are well looked after. This is why we offer a compelling VIP package that includes bespoke bonus gifts, special free spins and faster withdrawal times. Once you become a VIP with us, you’ll retain that status forever, regardless of how much you deposit. You’ll also be assigned your own personal and dedicated account manager to ensure that you get the most out of playing at one of the best online casino websites in the industry.
Black Spins Casino News
We also like to keep our finger on the pulse when it comes to the online casino industry. It’s constantly evolving and changing with new innovations introduced constantly. So we’ll keep you informed of the latest developments as and when we learn about them. In addition, our team regularly composes help articles. As well as pokies, games like roulette and blackjack are covered as well with pro tips and strategy guides. You can also keep up to speed with the latest bonus promotions and perks available at our site.
Best Online Casino Game Developers
Our online pokies have been created by some of the best online developers in the casino industry such as NetEnt, Microgaming, WMS and Eyecon. These companies have made names for themselves over the past fifteen years or so by crafting exciting casino games that stretch the boundaries in terms of innovation and ingenuity.
Black Spins – The Best Casino Online
In our book, Black Spins is one of the best online casino sites in the business! OK, so we would say that, right? Well, we can back this claim up. Because in addition to an expansive range of casino games, our free spins and bonus offers are highly-competitive. Factor in a high quality VIP package, and you’ve got yourself a pretty compelling casino site. Are we the best online iGaming platforms around? Register today and find out!