Kia ora — if you’re a Kiwi punt-er wondering where to play pokies or table games in person and how much it’ll cost to move cash around, this guide is for you. Real talk: land-based casinos and pubs still dominate how many Kiwis play, and the small fees add up faster than you think. I’ll walk through common payment options, typical charges in NZ$, and practical tips so you don’t get stung at the counter or ATM. Next up: a quick snapshot of where offline games live across Aotearoa.

Where to find offline games in New Zealand (Kiwi locations)

SkyCity Auckland, SkyCity Hamilton, Christchurch Casino and the small casinos in Dunedin or Queenstown are the obvious spots if you want proper table games and high-limit rooms, while most pubs and TAB venues host pokies for a quick spin; sweet as for an arvo flutter. If you prefer jackpots, Mega Moolah and the big progressive pokies often show up in major venues and cause a bit of local chatter when someone wins. This section sets the scene for how payments are usually handled at those venues, which I’ll cover next.

Common offline payment methods in NZ casinos and pubs

Cash remains king in many venues — tap in, play, and walk out with your chips, no fee drama. That said, modern venues accept EFTPOS (debit), Visa/Mastercard credit, and sometimes Apple Pay at tills; not all pokie machines take cards directly so you often convert cash to chips or use the cashier. For larger cashouts they’ll usually pay you at the cage, and you’ll need ID if it’s a big win. Below I break down each option and the fees you can expect in NZ$ so you know what to prepare for.

Cash

Pros: instant, no transaction fees if you use your own money; Cons: risk of loss and carrying notes. ATMs inside casinos are convenient but expect an ATM fee of around NZ$3–NZ$7 per withdrawal (sometimes more), which is charged by the ATM operator rather than the casino. If you’re planning to play NZ$100 or more, consider getting cash from your bank first to avoid those ATM charges. Next, I’ll cover card-based options and the quirks you’ll see at the cage.

EFTPOS / Debit (most Kiwi banks)

EFTPOS (linked to ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank etc.) is widely accepted at casino cashier desks for both deposits and withdrawals, and typically there’s no merchant surcharge — yeah, nah, most places swallow that cost. However, if you use an overseas card or the venue treats the transaction as a cash advance, your bank may levy a fee (example: NZ$10–NZ$30 or a percentage). So check with your bank before you punt a large amount. That leads straight into how credit cards differ, which I’ll explain next.

Credit cards (Visa / Mastercard)

Credit cards are accepted at many casino cages but often treated as cash advances for gambling, which means your bank may charge a cash advance fee (commonly NZ$10–NZ$30) plus interest from the date of transaction. Not gonna lie — that can make using credit cards expensive if you don’t plan to repay quickly, so use them only if you absolutely need to and understand the bank’s terms. Up next: e-wallets and prepaid options you might spot.

Prepaid & cash-like options (Paysafecard, vouchers)

Some venues accept preloaded vouchers or have partnerships for cashier vouchers; Paysafecard is more common online than offline, but you might see venue-specific prepaid chips or ticket-in/ticket-out systems on pokie floors. These avoid card fees, but watch out for kiosk service fees (NZ$1–NZ$5) when converting to play balance. After that, crypto and e-wallets are a different story and mostly online-focused, so read on for the offline vs online angle.

Hidden fees and real examples (NZ$) — quick numbers to remember

Here’s the nitty-gritty with numbers so you can eyeball the real cost: ATM withdrawal fee inside a casino: NZ$5; card cash-advance fee: NZ$20 + 3.5% interest; EFTPOS at cashier: often NZ$0; casino kiosk conversion fee: NZ$2. If you plan to play NZ$20 or NZ$50 on a machines session, avoid ATMs — they’ll eat a chunk of your bankroll; instead, pre-withdraw NZ$100 and divide it into sessions. These examples show why planning your cash flow matters, and next I compare payment options in a simple table to make life easier.

Payment Option	Typical Fee (NZ$)	Speed	Best For
Cash (bank withdrawal beforehand)	NZ$0–NZ$2 (bank fee if any)	Immediate	Regular pokies session, small bets
Casino ATM	NZ$3–NZ$7 per withdrawal	Immediate	Emergency cash
EFTPOS / Debit	Usually NZ$0 (bank-dependent)	Immediate	Secure, mid-size deposits/withdrawals
Credit Card (cash advance)	NZ$10–NZ$30 + interest	Immediate	Only if necessary — avoid if possible
Prepaid / Vouchers	NZ$1–NZ$5 conversion	Immediate	Privacy-conscious punters

Offline wins and tax situation for NZ players

Heads up: for recreational Kiwi punters, gambling winnings are generally tax-free — tu meke, right? That means if you smash a NZ$10,000 jackpot in Mega Moolah at a land-based casino, you don’t declare it as personal income in NZ. Operators and the government handle operator-level taxes differently, but for players the good news is you keep your win. That said, large payouts will require ID checks and KYC at the cage, which I’ll cover next because it affects how quickly you leave with your cash.

Identification, KYC, and payout delays

Most casinos will ask for photo ID for significant cashouts (passport, driver’s licence and a recent proof of address). If you try to walk out with NZ$1,000+ in chips to cash, expect the cashier to request documents; that process can take 15 minutes or longer depending on queue and whether they need to verify your bank card. My experience (and yeah, I’ve learned this the hard way) is to have your ID and bank card handy before you play big — it saves you standing around while your mates hit the pokies. Next up: how offline compares to online alternatives and where the target link fits in for Kiwis who prefer fewer fees and instant crypto payouts.

Offline vs online for Kiwi punters — fees and convenience compared

Look, here’s the thing: offline gives the vibe and immediacy, but online often beats it on transaction speed and lower fees — especially crypto and e-wallets. For Kiwis who value fast withdrawals and want to avoid ATM or cash-advance fees, a reputable online site can be handy. If you want to check an NZ-friendly option that supports NZD and crypto payouts, consider bit-starz-casino-new-zealand as an example of a platform that many Kiwi punters mention for speedy crypto cashouts and multi-currency support — more on practical differences next.

Practical tips for avoiding fees when playing offline in NZ

Quick Checklist: plan ahead, use EFTPOS or pre-withdraw cash, avoid credit card advances, check ATM fees before you use them, and keep ID ready for big wins. Also, split your bankroll into session-sized amounts (for example, NZ$50 or NZ$100) so you’re not tempted to raid the ATM mid-session. These little habits keep more money in your pocket and reduce annoying service charges — and in the next section I’ll list common mistakes Kiwi punters make so you can dodge them.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them (New Zealand context)

1) Relying on casino ATMs — costly; plan bank withdrawals instead. 2) Using credit cards for gambling — watch cash-advance penalties and interest. 3) Forgetting ID — delays your payout. 4) Assuming online and offline fees are the same — they’re not. 5) Chasing losses after blowing a NZ$100 session — set deposit and session limits. Avoiding these stops you getting munted financially and keeps gambling about having fun, not a stressful outlay, which I’ll expand on in the mini-FAQ below.

Final practical checklist before you play in New Zealand

• Bring valid ID (passport or driver’s licence) and a recent proof of address if you plan to cash out big,
• Pre-withdraw cash from your bank to avoid ATM charges (aim for NZ$100–NZ$500 depending on session),
• Prefer EFTPOS/debit at cashier over credit cards to dodge cash-advance fees,
• Set a session limit (NZ$20–NZ$100) and stick to it, and
• If you’re trying online alternatives to avoid fees, only use reputable sites that support NZ$ and transparent payouts.

Following that checklist will save you small, repeated fees that turn a fun arvo into a pricey habit, and it leads into the last bit about responsible play and local help resources which is important to know before you hit the floor.

Responsible gambling: 18+ / Play for fun, not income. If gambling is causing harm, get help — Gambling Helpline NZ: 0800 654 655 (24/7) or Problem Gambling Foundation: 0800 664 262. If you’re unsure about a venue’s rules or fees, ask the cashier before you play — and remind any mates to do the same so no one gets caught out.

Sources and further reading

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) — Gambling Act 2003 (New Zealand) guidance; venue terms at SkyCity and Christchurch Casino; local bank fee schedules (ANZ, Kiwibank, BNZ). These resources explain regulator rules and banking charges, which I used to shape local practical advice and fee examples for Kiwi punters.

About the author

Longtime Kiwi punter and payments nerd — I’ve worked in hospitality and payments for years, spent many arvos at the pokies and the casino floor, and have swapped notes with mates across Auckland and Christchurch about cashouts and fees. This guide is my practical, local-angle take to help fellow players avoid avoidable charges and keep the fun in the game.