5 things to know about New Zealand’s casinos
When you travel to New Zealand, your primary focus is probably going to be on the outdoors. Most of the country’s most popular attractions consist of parks, hiking trails, coastal getaways, and natural phenomena, to the point that a trip there can feel like jumping from one postcard to the next.
As wonderful as all of this can be though, it’s important not to overlook the cities of New Zealand along the way. The dual-island nation may be best known for its natural appeal, but its cities can be a whole lot of fun as well.
One thing you’re likely to notice if you do spend time in places like Queenstown, Auckland, and other cities, is that there’s a fairly active casino industry you may not have heard much about. Most destinations around the world with high-profile urban casinos — places like Las Vegas, Singapore, and Macau — advertise those casinos as major tourist attractions. In New Zealand, there is no such hub full of extravagant resorts to promote. However, there are still high-end casinos in the big cities, and they do a great deal of business with locals and visitors alike.
You may well find that once you’re in a given city, one of these casinos offers some of the most alluring activity around. So, for anyone planning a trip to New Zealand, here are a few things worth knowing about these establishments, and the casino culture more broadly around the nation.
Most popular cities have at least one casino
As stated, New Zealand doesn’t have a single, preeminent gambling hub. However, most of the cities tourists tend to frequent have at least one such venue, which is why casinos can be more a part of new Zealand tourism than some might anticipate. Of the very most popular cities in New Zealand, Auckland, Hamilton, and Christchurch are known for their gaming facilities. Queenstown also has two terrific casino facilities, and Dunedin — a city slightly farther off the beaten path, but still popular among visitors — hosts casino activity as well.
SkyCity venues are the most extravagant
It may be a subjective matter, but few would disagree with the assertion that casino venues belonging to New Zealand’s SkyCity chain are the most extravagant ones in the country. You can find these properties in Auckland (SkyCity Auckland being the biggest casino in the country), Hamilton, and Queenstown. But don’t be fooled into thinking these are simply bland, commercial options. Unlike some of the more soulless chain casinos you might find in, say, parts of Western Europe, the SkyCity venues are quite nice. Each one is at least somewhat unique, and altogether they exude a sort of classy extravagance that’s unusual for major casino properties. That’s not to say they aren’t over the top in some ways, but there is a refreshing elegance to them.
Access can be restrictive
Casino laws and expectations tend to be different all over the world, and the venues in New Zealand do have some restrictions travelers should be aware of. Most notably, there is a minimum age requirement of 20 to enter these properties (all around the country). Additionally, it’s common to see dress codes for New Zealand casino facilities. That doesn’t mean you have to dress up formally, but you’ll want to have something besides your hiking clothes, and you’d do well to research in advance if a specific casino you’re visiting has a dress code — just to be safe.
There are online alternatives
If you’re visiting New Zealand in person and interested in the country’s casinos for some entertainment while you’re in the cities, odds are you’re looking for the real thing. That said, it’s worth pointing out that there are also online casinos available throughout New Zealand. For the most part these sites revolve around animated “pokies” (which means slot machines), which is actually a nice alternative to the table games you’ll find in many of the real venues. The main draw of the online sites is convenience, though pokie sites also feature deposit bonuses that can help gamers get more bang for their buck than they might in the real-life establishments. Typically, you can deposit a given amount on these sites and see that amount matched by the site, within reason. It’s something to keep in mind if, say, you have a rainy day and want to hang out in your hotel room, or if you simply catch the casino bug after you visit one of the real venues.
The top casinos offer entertainment beyond gaming
If you’ve ever visited casinos elsewhere, this may not surprise you. If this whole concept is new to you though, and you’re interested in checking out one or two of New Zealand’s main facilities, you should know that the top casinos — such as the SkyCity properties — tend to offer entertainment beyond gaming. Broadly, this tends to mean bars and restaurants, occasional live shows, and shopping opportunities. SkyCity Auckland, however, functions more like a full resort, with high-end hotel facilities, a “SkyTower” attraction that functions somewhat like an amusement park, and various restaurants and bars that double as observation decks. This is all to say that even if you don’t get into the games themselves, some of the casino complexes in New Zealand’s casinos can still keep you entertained.
