Mastering Casino Etiquette in New Zealand
Whether you’re stepping into a SkyCity casino or any other NZ land-based casinos for the first time or you’re a highly experienced gambler heading back to the blackjack table, understanding basic casino etiquette can make all the difference.
New Zealand casinos pride themselves on being welcoming, social spaces, but there are some unspoken rules you should be aware of – especially if you don’t want to look like a total newbie at the table!
General Casino Conduct and Table Manners
Casino etiquette is important, no matter what anyone says – and you’d be amazed at how far a little courtesy can go on the gaming floor. As a general rule of thumb, you should always wait for a dealer to finish a hand before joining the table. You should also avoid touching your chips once your bets are placed: in fact, in some casinos, touching chips once the game has begun could get you kicked out!
You should also never criticise another player’s decision – no matter how ridiculous you might think it is! Plus, if you’re unsure of a game’s flow – especially in blackjack, poker, or roulette – watch a few rounds first or politely ask the dealer for guidance.
Just like if you were playing at one of the top online casinos in New Zealand like Zodiac Casino, you wouldn’t jump into a game without knowing all the rules – so don’t be afraid to ask the dealers; they’ll usually be more than happy to help!
Above all, keep the atmosphere friendly and avoid behaviour that could ruin the experience for others.
What to Wear: A Guide to the NZ Dress Code
New Zealand casinos are generally relaxed, but there are still standards to follow. Most venues expect smart casual attire: this means collared shirts, neat trousers, dresses, or tidy shoes.
While daytime visitors might get away with jeans and trainers, late-night gaming or VIP areas are often much stricter with their enforcement of dress codes – so it’s worth checking in advance with New Zealand land-based casino establishments to find out the actual rules.
For a full breakdown of what’s acceptable at each major venue, check our dedicated Casino Dress Code Guide here.
Tipping at NZ Casinos: What You Need to Know
Unlike the U.S., tipping isn’t an overly common part of New Zealand gambling culture – but, of course, if you do well at the tables, small gestures are always appreciated.
Dealers and servers will never expect it, but if you’re winning, or got incredibly lucky, offering a few chips after a big win or for great service is seen as a kind sign of respect.
We actually have a full guide on learning the norms in NZ land-based casinos and when it’s appropriate to tip in our Casino Tipping Guide.
The First Rule: Understanding Age Restrictions
Every casino in New Zealand has a strict 20+ age limit – even if you’re just walking through the gaming floor. This is a legal requirement, and casinos like SkyCity Casino Queenstown can be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars if they’re found to have allowed underage gambling.
You will always need to show a valid photo ID (passport, NZ driver’s licence, or Kiwi Access card) to enter a casino – and if you don’t have one with you, you won’t be allowed in; no exceptions.
Find more details about proof of age and entry requirements in our Casino Age Limit Guide.
Playing Smart: Responsible Gambling & Loyalty Rewards
Casinos are designed for entertainment, and you should never see them as a way of making money. Good gambling etiquette includes knowing your limits, recognising when to take breaks, and respecting others’ enjoyment of the game – always.
Now, thankfully, most of the best NZ casinos run loyalty programmes, and these are designed to reward responsible play with points, discounts, and special perks. The more you play, the more points you earn – and these points can, at a later date, be redeemed for things like free meals, or even gaming chips!
To learn more about joining, earning, and redeeming points, visit our Loyalty Programmes Guide.
Conclusion: Gamble with Confidence and Courtesy
Whether you’re heading to your local land-based casino to play pokies, or are simply curious about casino etiquette, you should know it’s not just about following rigid rules. It’s more about keeping the gaming floor enjoyable for everyone – including yourself!
If you’re heading to your local land-based casino, dress well, treat all staff and players with respect – and always play within your limits.
Gambling is a fun activity that isn't intended to be used for financial gain. Chasing losses and expecting to win are two main behaviors that may lead to gambling addiction with dire consequences on your life. If you feel like you have a problem, stop immediately, read our Responsible Gambling page, and seek help. Problem Gambling Foundation offers free and confidential support to anyone affected by problem gambling in New Zealand.
Our New Zealand-based reviewers and editorial team, trusted by 12,000 visitors, test 4 online casinos per week. The reviewers, including Edward Howarth, Mark Dash, Sophia Novakivska, thoroughly test each casino as mystery shoppers who actually deposit money into the casino and then report back on what their experience was like from the player's perspective. Our ratings are based on the testers' experiences as well as diligent research of the casino background, the legal terms and conditions, and the reputation among New Zealand players, in compliance with Gambling Act of 2003. Our DashScore provides a comprehensive evaluation of each casino we tested. Our reviews comply with the Gambling Act of 2003 ensuring legal reliability.
This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission for registrations and/or player activity at no additional cost to the player. We ensure affiliate links do not influence our rankings or reviews, maintaining our commitment to providing truthful content to our readers. Our affiliate links support our unbiased reviews, ensuring we provide genuine insights to our readers.
While we may earn commissions from brands listed on this website, our reviewers' unedited opinions, based on first-hand experiences, are always their own and are not influenced by the financial aspect in any way. Our Kiwi Experts review the brands from the player's perspective and present their own opinions. This allows us to publish objective, unbiased and true reviews.
Online casinos mentioned on this website allow players aged 20 and over to gamble. For New Zealand players, legal gambling age is 20, as enforced by the Gambling Act of 2003 and its amendments. Fine can be up to NZ$500 for persons caught underage gambling. If you are visiting us from another country, you are expected to obey the local laws regarding legal gambling age.
All our content is reviewed by a certified expert at least quarterly. We update data on terms and conditions, regulation, bonuses, payment systems, reread our content, make corrections and update pages. So you can be sure you are receiving up-to-date data on our website.