Can foreigners play poker in New Zealand?

Yes. Visitors aged 20 or over can play at the casinos with valid photo ID such as a passport. SkyCity also requires a free SHOW by SkyCity or Premier Rewards card to play.

What is the legal gambling age in New Zealand?

20 for casinos, including casino poker. TAB betting, pub pokies and licensed online casino gambling are 18+.

Where can I play poker in New Zealand?

The main poker rooms are at SkyCity Auckland, which runs cash games daily, and Christchurch Casino, which runs games from Wednesday to Sunday evenings. Check directly with SkyCity Hamilton, SkyCity Queenstown and Dunedin Casino for any poker.

Are there poker tournaments in New Zealand?

Yes, SkyCity Auckland and Christchurch Casino run regular tournaments and championship series. See our calendar for upcoming festivals.

Poker in New Zealand

Q: Is online poker legal in New Zealand?

Online poker is covered by the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which allows up to 15 licensed brands, expected to be fully operating in 2027. Players do not commit an offence by playing online, but from 1 December 2026 providers that have not applied for a New Zealand licence must stop serving New Zealanders.

Live poker is legal in New Zealand's licensed casinos for anyone 20 or older, with permanent poker rooms at SkyCity Auckland and Christchurch Casino. Online poker is covered by the new Online Casino Gambling Act 2026: up to 15 licensed brands are expected to go live in 2027, providers that have not applied for a licence must stop serving New Zealanders from 1 December 2026, and players are not committing an offence by playing.

Is Poker Legal in New Zealand?

Live Poker: Legal, Licensed
Online Poker: Legal, Licensed
Casino Age: 20+
Last Checked: October 28, 2026

A summary of the law from official and reliable sources, not legal advice. Laws change: check the sources and the rules of the venue before you play.

ByAsiaPokerHub Data Desk

Reviewed byJessyData Editor & Reviewer

October 28, 2026

•

6 min read

Based on data from AsiaPokerHub and generated using AI assistance. Fact-checked by Gábor Magyari, October 28, 2026.
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New Zealand at a Glance

Capital: Wellington
Population: about 4.7 million
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD, $)
Languages: English, Māori
Time Zone: UTC-11, UTC-10, UTC+12, UTC+12:45, UTC+13
Calling Code: +64

Is Live Poker Legal in New Zealand?

Legal, Licensed

Casino gambling is regulated under the Gambling Act 2003, which prohibits new casinos; the Gambling Commission's 2025 report lists five licensed casino venues: Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown (all SkyCity), Christchurch and Dunedin. Poker is played as a casino table game, and SkyCity Auckland runs the largest poker room in the country, with daily Hold'em and Omaha cash games and regular tournaments. Christchurch Casino runs a poker room from Wednesday to Sunday evenings and hosts annual championship series. Under-20s commit an offence if they gamble in a casino or enter its gambling area.^{[1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]}

Five casino venues are licensed: SkyCity Auckland, SkyCity Hamilton, SkyCity Queenstown, Christchurch Casino and Dunedin Casino; the Act prohibits new casinos.
Minimum age 20; under-20s found in a gambling area can be fined up to $500 and the casino up to $5,000.
SkyCity Auckland Poker Room (Level 3): NLH and PLO cash games from $2/$3 to $5/$10, 10% rake capped at $15-20, plus tournaments.
SkyCity Auckland requires a SHOW by SkyCity or Premier Rewards card and valid photo ID to play.
Christchurch Casino: NLH and PLO cash games from $1/$2 to $5/$10, with its 2026 No Limit Hold'em Championships on 3-6 December 2026.
Current poker at SkyCity Hamilton, SkyCity Queenstown and Dunedin Casino was not confirmed from official sources.

Where You Can Play Legally in New Zealand

SkyCity Auckland Poker Room (daily cash games and tournaments)
Christchurch Casino poker room (Wednesday to Sunday evenings, championship series)
Other licensed casinos (Hamilton, Queenstown, Dunedin): check with the venue

Age: Casino gambling is 20+ (Gambling Act 2003 s 303). Licensed online casino gambling, including online poker, will be 18+ (Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 s 38); TAB betting and pub or club pokies are also 18+.^{[3, 4, 14]}

Is Online Poker Legal in New Zealand?

Legal, Licensed

The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 (in force 1 May 2026) creates up to 15 licences for online casino gambling, which the Act defines to include casino table games 'such as blackjack, poker, or baccarat'. The Department of Internal Affairs auctioned the right to apply in September-October 2026 (NZ$15 million per licence, 11 winning entities including SkyCity, TAB New Zealand and Christchurch Online NZ); licence applications open in October 2026 and the licensed market is expected to be fully in place in 2027. From 1 December 2026 providers that have not applied must stop offering online casino gambling in New Zealand, and those with a pending application may continue without advertising until a decision, at the latest 1 June 2027. The Act targets providers: there is no offence for a player using an unlicensed site, and unlicensed operators face civil penalties of up to $5 million.^{[8, 9, 10, 11]}

Licensed online poker: None
Players can be prosecuted: No
Sites blocked: No
Advertising ban: Yes

Online poker is included: the Act's definition of online casino gambling names poker.
Up to 15 licences, one brand each, with no one controlling more than 3; licences last up to 3 years and can be renewed for up to 5 more.
No licensed online poker or casino is operating yet (October 2026); applications open from October 2026 and the market is expected to be fully in place in 2027.
From 1 December 2026, providers that have not applied for a licence must stop serving New Zealand; the transitional exemption ends 1 June 2027.
Players are not liable; unlicensed providers face civil pecuniary penalties of up to $300,000 (individuals) or $5 million (others).
Advertising: online casino advertising is currently prohibited; only licensed operators will be allowed to advertise, under regulations due by 1 December 2026.
No website blocking power; DIA can issue take-down notices to unlicensed operators, enforced through the High Court.

Poker Cities and What to See

Auckland

New Zealand's largest city and main international gateway, where the SkyCity complex under the Sky Tower holds the country's biggest poker room.

Poker in Auckland

SkyCity Auckland

What to See in Auckland

Christchurch

The South Island's largest city and gateway to Canterbury and the Southern Alps, with the central-city Christchurch Casino hosting regular poker championships.

Poker in Christchurch

Christchurch Casino

What to See in Christchurch

Travel Tips for Players

Visa: Citizens of visa waiver countries can visit for up to 3 months (6 months for UK citizens) but must get an NZeTA electronic travel authority and pay its fee before travel; see immigration.govt.nz.
Money: The currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD). Poker room buy-ins and rake are quoted in NZD.
Casino Entry: You must be 20 or older and carry valid photo ID such as a passport. SkyCity Auckland requires a SHOW by SkyCity or Premier Rewards card to play, which you can sign up for at the casino.
Tax on Winnings: Industry guides say gambling winnings are generally not taxed for recreational players in New Zealand, while people who gamble as a business may owe income tax; this was not confirmed on an Inland Revenue page.

^{[2, 3, 12, 7]}

Responsible Gambling

Gambling should stay fun. If it stops being fun, get help early.

Help in New Zealand: Gambling Helpline Aotearoa 0800 654 655 (free, 24 hours) or text 8006; Maori line 0800 654 656, Pasifika 0800 654 657, Youth 0800 654 659.

Self-exclusion: Under Gambling Act s 310 you can ask a casino to exclude you for up to 2 years; a SkyCity self-exclusion (3 to 24 months) covers its Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown casinos.

More help and international lines on our Responsible Gambling page.^{[13, 15, 16]}