New Zealand is a rugby fan's paradise, a photographer's wonderland, and a dream come true for many visitors. While small, New Zealand is highly diverse and packed with fun facts.

For example, did you know Kiwi land has more sheep than people? Also, one-third of the country is comprised of protected tourist attraction areas. Another fun fact is that NZ permits online casino gaming.

In fact, iGaming is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. Against that backdrop, this article will focus on the most popular casino games you can play in New Zealand. Let's get started.

 #1: Pokies

Slots or pokies, as they’re known in Australia and New Zealand, are arguably the most popular games in every online casino. They’re attractive by design, simple to play and potentially profitable to lucky players.

Pokies come in several types. Video slots are the most popular kind—they have high return-to-player rates, many bonus features and modern graphics. Classic slots have few things going on, so most people just avoid them.

If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming an overnight millionaire, look for progressive jackpots. These games once made a Maori man NZ$10 million rich. Surprisingly, the man was betting pennies on the Mega Moolah game when he hit the life-changing jackpot.

Although you can win millions of dollars through pokie machines, they’re games of pure chance. Each game has a Random Number Generator (RNG) that triggers winning symbols randomly.

To maximize your winning chances, choose games with high RTP rates—95% or higher. Below are some of the best options:

• Mega Joker (99%)

• Blood Suckers (98%)

• Medusa Megaways (97%)

• Halloween Fortune (97%)

#2: Online Roulette

In roulette, you pick a colour, number or area where the ball will land when the wheel stops spinning. If you're right, you win up to 35 times your stake. It sounds simple. But there's a catch.

Roulette is based on pure luck. The only technique you can use to improve your winning chances is to pick great roulette versions. Here are some of the most common options: European roulette, American roulette, French roulette, Mini Roulette and Lightning roulette.

European roulette is the most common variation of the game. It has 37 numbers on its wheel, starting from zero through 37. American roulette has 38 number pockets—the extra pocket contains two zeroes (00).

Find casino options with a great roulette experience to play all the above-mentioned games. You might also receive a welcome bonus to boost your bankroll. 

Beyond selecting roulette versions, learn about these bets and their odds: straight bets, splits, corners, red/black, dozen, street, even/odd and column bets. Each bet has a unique payout and odds.

For example, black/red bets have 48.6% odds in European roulette and a 1:1 payout. Straight bets pay 35:1 but have a winning probability of just 2.7%. 

#3: Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the world’s most popular casino card games. People love this game for one reason—you play against the house through an appointed employee known as a dealer.

The objective is to beat your dealer at producing a hand of 21. You can accomplish this in the first round if you receive an ace (11) and a face card (10) like a king or queen. 

Otherwise, you need to make a few moves to win. After you receive your first two cards, you can peek at one of the dealer's cards. Then, you can hit for another card, stand or surrender.

A hand bigger than 21 is considered a low. If you draw at 21 with the dealer, it's a push—a tie. When it comes to payouts, blackjack games have two main options. Some pay 3:2, while others pay 6:5.

Choose games with a 3:2 payout. You will make more money in the long term. Also, learn more about different blackjack games and their rules. Some, like Blackjack Switch and Perfect Pairs, have exciting rules. 

 #4: Poker

Some people believe poker is the best casino game online. Here's why. Unlike pokies and roulette, poker isn't about luck alone. It also requires some skills to win consistently.

Take Texas Hold’em as an example. In this game, you have up to seven cards to help you win. You can bluff to scare your opponents. You can also raise your stakes to maximum amounts. Or, you can fold your cards when you want to skip a round.

With so many options, you need excellent skills to win poker games consistently. Luckily, you can improve your skills by watching YouTube tutorials, getting lots of practice, or even taking an online poker class.

Poker comes in several variations, so research around to discover the best option for you. Texas Hold’em is the most popular option. But also, look out for Omaha, HI/LO, Caribbean Poker, 7-card stud and H.O.R.S.E. These are the most popular games at international poker competitions like the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

#5: Video Poker

Video poker is a game that combines the best elements of pokie with poker rules. The result is a fun game with one of the best return-to-player rates online. While you can play a wide range of video poker games, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus are the most common options.

While video poker relies on luck a bit, you also need a proper understanding of poker hands to maximize your chances of winning. The explanation is that the game produces hands chosen randomly by RNG software.

You then have the option to get rid of some of the cards on the screen or to keep them. After the machine changes your cards, you win if you have a real poker hand. This could be a pair, straight, flush or even Royal Flush.

A Royal Flush hand can pay up to 4000 times your stake. But you must bet maximum amounts. If you minimize your bet to the base amount, a royal flush has a full return to 250x your stake. The lowest paying hand is Jacks or Better.

Starting your adventure with a free chip no deposit bonus can be a great way to explore these popular games without the initial financial commitment, offering a risk-free introduction to the world of online gambling.