How Online Gambling Works

Charlotte Wilson
Written by Charlotte Wilson
Oliver Singh
Edited by Oliver Singh
8 Min Read
Updated on Mar 12, 2025

Online gambling in New Zealand is rapidly expanding, despite strict regulations imposed by authorities. The industry continues to grow as more players explore online casino gaming and sports betting. But how exactly do online casinos operate?

The Basics of Online Gambling

Online gambling uses online casinos as its virtual location. Here, they host games, and players can easily access the website and play. To play these games, you need an internet connection, a device such as a mobile phone, computer, or tablet, and money.

When you have them, you can create an account in the online casino and deposit funds. The funds go to your account so you can use it to place wagers and withdraw after winning. Now let us consider some benefits of online gambling.

Online VS Traditional Gambling

Both online and traditional gambling have similar attributes. However, they are quite different in terms of operational style. For example, traditional gambling involves a fixed number of games. This is because space constraints can affect how many games are present in the casino. On the other hand, online casinos have thousands of games since they do not need to store them in a physical location.

Another difference between both is that traditional gambling spots have few themes of games for players. Online games have a wide range of themes to enhance the player experience. When it comes to wagering funds, both are also different. In traditional settings, you’ll need to deposit a specific amount to receive tokens to bet with. However, online gambling allows players to deposit and withdraw instantly without waiting for tokens to stop playing. It offers seamless methods of payment from third-party processors.

Benefits of Online Gambling

Online gambling has perks that make it stand out from traditional gambling. The main factor is convenience because players can gamble when and where they want. All they need is an internet connection. Below, you can find some of the online casinos' benefits.

Payment Methods

Online gambling gives you more options when it comes to funding your account. While land-based casinos offer a wide range of options to accept funds, online casinos allow you to make deposits via a much larger number of payment methods with convenience. Some popular payment options include:

  • Paypal
  • Skrill
  • Neteller
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • POLi
  • Gift cards
  • Wire transfer
  • Prepaid cards
  • Cryptocurrency

Accessibility from Anywhere in the World

Online gambling is easier because you don’t need to travel to access it. This saves you time and costs associated with transport. It works on computers, Android, and iOS devices. While most casinos do not have apps, the games are still available. Users only need to log in and play.

Available 24/7

Online gambling is opened 24/7, so you can play games at any time you prefer. Unlike physical casinos, you don’t need to go home during closing time or wait for someone to step off the machine. Simply log in and play at your convenience.

Legality

Online casinos often have licenses depending on their location. Different bodies regulate their activities to ensure the games are fair and everything is legitimate. The most common license is from the Malta Gaming Authority. It is also a Curaçao license. Others include the UK Gambling Commission or a Gaming Control Board in the United States. All customers of online casinos must be over 18 in most regions. Other regions may require up to 21 years to sign up and play.

Wide Range of Games

As mentioned earlier, online casinos offer a wide range of games. Some of the most popular games include:

  • Pokies: Also known as slots in other parts of the world, this game is one of the oldest in the world. It is also one of the most popular ones. Over time, its design has changed from large, bulky machines in physical casinos to web-based games.
  • Roulette: This is another widely popular game. It was founded in 1655 by Blaise Pascal and has since become a favourite table game for many casino players.
  • Blackjack: This game dates back to the 1700s in French casinos. It was a card game before it was adapted into a casino game. Originally, blackjack was called 'twenty-one'.
  • Poker: Poker is another old game believed to originate from 10th century China. Others believe it came from Persia and was a card game known as “As Nas” it is a suitable game for online casinos because up to 14 people can play it simultaneously.
  • Baccarat: This game also has a long history. Experts believe it came from 14th-century Italy. Baccarat means “zero” in Italian and involves up to 14 players.

Bonuses

Online gambling offers bonuses and promotions that traditional casinos do not. These bonuses apply to both new and existing customers of the casino. Some popular ones include:

  • Welcome bonus: this bonus comes in different forms. Sometimes, they could be deposit match bonuses or regular welcome bonuses. They are available only to new customers.
  • Deposit bonus: This only applies to customers who deposit funds in the casino. You’ll need to deposit above a specific limit to qualify. It may also come with specific requirements for eligibility.
  • No deposit bonus: some casinos allow players to wager without depositing funds. They give them free cash to wager with. However, it may come with some restrictions.
  • Free spins: these bonuses are typical in online casinos with many pokies. They give you free spins to play specific pokies on the platform.
  • Referral bonus: Besides general bonuses, many online casinos reward members for inviting others. This is why they give them a referral bonus that rewards both the referee and the new customer.

Support

Online gambling offers more support to players. Most have more than one channel of communication to make it easier. For instance, players can use a live chat option for instant resolution or send an email. Other casinos offer support to their customers via social media platforms as well. Support is also available 24/7, making it great regardless of your location.

How Online Casinos Ensure Fair Play

Online casinos use Random Number Generator software to operate. It produces strings of random numbers continuously without a discerning pattern. This ensures that the results are random. Therefore, the chances of winning a pokies match are the same in traditional and online casinos. Also, online casinos use software from third-party providers for their games.

Yes, real-money casinos reward their players with real money. However, you need to deposit funds and place wagers. If you win, you’ll get a real money reward.

The main disadvantage of online gambling is the potential addiction. It is also worth mentioning the lack of socializing or interaction. With traditional gambling, players can meet other people and interact while playing. The case is different in online gambling, so it affects players socially.

There are several payout options available to online casino players. They include card payments, debit and credit cards, mobile payments, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and bank transfers. E-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill also work well.

Residents of New Zealand can gamble legally. However, it is slightly complicated. For one, establishing online gambling websites is not permitted in the region, but residents can join offshore casinos without restrictions.

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