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New Zealand is a nation in which gambling has always been a popular pastime. This is helped by progressive and pragmatic government attitudes. Placing a bet has never been frowned upon, and while traditionally, sports betting has been the most popular form of gambling, casino gaming has captured the imaginations of New Zealanders in recent years, particularly since the advent of online casinos.
Again, that Kiwi pragmatism has come to the fore. Rather than greet web-based casinos with suspicion, the government has moved quickly to create a regulatory framework so that New Zealand businesses can operate their own online casinos, as opposed to sending all that revenue overseas. The result? New Zealand is becoming something of an igaming hub.
That’s good news for the local economy, but what about the gamers themselves? Traditional games like poker, blackjack and roulette have their fans, but in New Zealand, it’s the slots or “pokies” that are most popular of all.
Starburst
In its comprehensive LeoVegas review, New Zealand review site CasinoWatch discusses the local popularity of good old fashioned no-nonsense pokies. They don’t come much more traditional than Starburst, so we shouldn’t be surprised that this tops the popularity stakes in New Zealand. While the basic graphics and no-frills gameplay have a retro feel, the five reel format means there are significant rewards to be had if you hit the jackpot.
Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven
Horse racing has a huge following in New Zealand, so mixing the Sport of Kings with cutting edge slot technology was always going to be a winning combination. Frankie Dettori is among the most successful jockeys of all time, and he achieved legendary status when he won all seven races on the card at Ascot in 1996. His unique achievement is commemorated in this Playtech slot, where the jackpot payout is 7,777 times the stake.
Beach Life
The surf scene might be more associated with Australia, but this sun, sea and sand themed slot has truly captured the imaginations of New Zealand gamers. The sound and graphics have a light-hearted feel, but don’t be fooled. The progressive jackpot can reach dizzying sums, so this is a game that appeals to the serious gamblers as much as the hobby players.
Age of the Gods
Another from Playtech, this slot game plays like an epic journey through Greek mythology. The more you play it, the more depth you will discover, which explains why so many New Zealand casino goers return to it time and again. Each of the different Gods will lead the player to a different type of bonus, so there is far more to this one than just spinning the reels and hoping for the best.
Desert Treasure
Finally, another game with multiple layers. There are two distinct bonus events, the Dollar Ball and Oasis Bonus, both of which can pay out handsomely. Add to that a progressive jackpot and an impressive RTP of more than 97 percent, and you can see why this one makes the top five slots among New Zealand casino players.
