Online casinos currently represent a small fraction of the overall gambling industry in NZ. But as far as annual growth is concerned, they are virtually unrivalled. The reasons people prefer online casinos range from convenience to privacy. Yet, people who play online casino games share the same drive to win as those that go to physical casinos. What’s the best online casino game to win money in New Zealand? We’ll explore and answer that question in this article.
Why Game Selection Matters
The reason that identifying the best game to win money matters is because online casino games are not identical. Certain types of games inherently provide a better shot at winning. That’s primarily because each casino game has a different payout rate, odds and rates of volatility. Paying attention to how a game performs as far as these metrics are concerned increases the likelihood of winning more money from the start.
Factors to Consider
When choosing the online casino game that is best for winning money, it is important that you look at a number of factors.
House Edge
The house edge is the money the casino expects to retain from the total of player wagers over time. It is expressed as a percentage. The lower the house edge, the better the likelihood of players winning.
Player Skill Level
The amount of skill needed to determine game outcomes varies from one game type to the next. Games like blackjack and poker have a strong element of gameplay skill while slots have a low need for player skill. You are better off opting for games that you are skilled at as that can significantly improve your chances of winning.
Return to Player (RTP)
The RTP is the percentage of wagered money that the casino pays back to players over time. It is the flipside of the house edge, i.e. what remains after the casino takes its income/profit from wagers. Games with higher RTPs have better returns.
Variance/Volatility
Game variance/volatility is a measure of the level of risk and unpredictability associated with a game. Higher variance/volatility comes with a potential for a large payout but less frequent wins. Casual and beginner players are better off playing games with low variance/volatility.
Best Types of Casino Games for Winning Money
Let’s get to the crux of the matter by examining the types of online casino games that are the best for winning money in NZ.
Blackjack
At about 0.5%, blackjack has a low house edge and with that, a high RTP. However, making the most of this attractive house edge depends on the player’s ability to understand and consistently execute the best playing strategies.
Poker
Like blackjack, poker is an online casino game that combines luck with player skill and strategy. The better you are at playing poker, the greater your chances of winning consistently over the long term.
Roulette
Roulette is a game of chance and there is not much in terms of player skill that can determine game outcomes. The house edge is usually around 5%. Nevertheless, there are strategies you can follow, and you can also select roulette games with better odds (eg: European roulette, with only one zero vs American roulette with two zeros).
Craps
The house edge for craps is about 5%. However, this depends on the specific bets you decide to place. Understanding the rules is key to choosing the best types of bets to place, with the best chances of winning.
Slots (Progressive Jackpots)
Slots (also known as pokies) not only have high volatility but are the casino game that has the lowest element of skill in determining gameplay outcome. Nevertheless, progressive jackpots provide potential for massive payout. Not all slots have the same payout rate, in fact each game will have its own rates, so choosing one with the best chances of winning is a smart decision. Read the next section where I discuss the best online casino slot games to win money.
Best Casino Slot Games to Win Money in NZ
Slots may not have the high payout rates of blackjack, but the potential for a big payday (especially with progressive jackpots) is a major reason they remain the most popular online casino game in NZ. The following are the top paying slots:
Mega Joker - 99.00% [PLAY NOW]
Jackpot 6000 - 98.90% [PLAY NOW]
Blood Suckers - 98.00% [PLAY NOW]
Immortal Romance - 96.86% [PLAY NOW]
Joker Pro - 96.80% [PLAY NOW]
Thunderstruck II - 96.65% [PLAY NOW]
Book of Dead - 96.21% [PLAY NOW]
Starburst - 96.10% [PLAY NOW]
Bonanza Megaways - 96.00% [PLAY NOW]
Mega Joker - 99.00%
Jackpot 6000 - 98.90%
Blood Suckers - 98.00%
Immortal Romance - 96.86%
Joker Pro - 96.8%
Thunderstruck II - 96.65%
Book of Dead - 96.21%
Starburst - 96.10%
Bonanza Megaways - 96.00%
How to Improve Chances of Winning Money for Each Game
Each type of online casino game has strategies you can deploy to improve your chances of winning. The following are some of the tried and tested ones.
Blackjack
Blackjack’s low house edge is only as useful as your capability to play the game. Learn, practice and perfect basic blackjack strategies. Learn the best response to every dealer up-card, knowing when to stand, hit, split or double. You can also increase your odds through card counting i.e. tracking the ratio of high vs low value cards left in the deck.
Poker
Study the game, understand odds and practise various strategies such as hand selection and bluffing. Familiarise with aspects characteristic to online poker such as the time-bank feature. Start off with low stakes and single table poker before venturing into the complexity of higher stakes and/or multi table online poker.
Roulette
Certain games have better odds of winning. For example, placing a bet on red-vs-black, or even-vs-odd has odds of about 47%. Also, European roulette (2.7%) has a lower house edge than American roulette (5.4%) since there is only one zero instead of two.
Craps
Pay attention to the odds and rules of different types of craps bets. If winning is your primary goal, start off with bets that have a low house edge. Avoid single roll bets since the house edge is often over 10%.
Slots
Slots are about luck but not entirely. You can safeguard your wins and minimise losses by managing the bankroll, going for slots with a higher RTP and betting on all paylines.
Conclusion
Identifying the best online casino game to win money in NZ involves choosing the right game and employing a suitable strategy. When choosing a game, look at the house edge, RTP, variance/volatility while taking into consideration your own skills. Overall, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps and progressive jackpot slots provide the best proposition.
As you focus on winning though, do not lose sight of the basic principles of responsible gambling. Create a budget, practice time discipline and do not allow gambling to inhibit your ability to live a balanced, well-rounded life.