New Zealand’s online casino market could reach $0.86bn, Statista reports

Last Updated on January 27, 2025
You can actually agree that the gambling industry across different New Zealand regions like Auckland has really come a long way. In fact, in those past years, thinking that the industry could have such a multicultural influence was perhaps unheard of.
But now, things have changed, and the sector seems to be growing magically. And as the statistics would have it, the sector might reach $0.86bn within the next few years. What do you think is fueling this growth? Well, that’s enough reason to read this article.
The growing popularity of online platforms
Just as we have already noted, New Zealand’s gambling industry is really changing. For instance, now, you don’t need to access a physical location to get the entertainment. With just a simple touch of a button on your device, you will be able to find the best place to play pokies online from any place and at any time.
And for those working under tight schedules, this is actually good news. Online platforms have made accessing gambling more convenient, which has encouraged more players to join the sector. By the way, are you actually aware? Several studies claim that more than 70% of New Zealand online gamblers access casino experiences using their mobile devices.
And now that operators are actually committed to making their platforms more mobile-optimised, this figure could increase, leading to more growth in the sector. In fact, for that reason, let’s look at how mobile-optimised platforms could drive this industry’s success even further.
The role of responsive platforms
Let’s imagine that you were spinning some wheels on your laptop and wanted to switch to a desktop or laptop. Assuming that you keep zooming or pinching the website to be able to play, would you ever return to it? Well, if you’re shaking your head in disagreement, you’re just part of 70% of consumers who Linearity claims might never return.
Responsiveness is a feature that most mobile users love, and you always want to ensure that your website works well with multiple devices; otherwise, surviving the competition in this sector might not be possible. But thankfully, most operators are now adopting this design approach, which may lead to higher customer retention rates.
And given that about 67% of users love responsive websites when transacting using mobile phones, more operators may adopt them to appeal to this audience. As a result, when players find preferred experiences in this sector, most of them might remain, leading to further growth. Remember, humans, being who they are, will want to associate with brands that prioritise their expectations.
The role of bonuses
Well, as we know it, the casino industry is popular, partly for its engaging bonuses. In fact, it’s almost impossible to find an operator functioning without such. Because how would you distinguish yourself from operators in an industry that’s over $0.70bn if you don’t integrate such features?
Looking at it from a broader e-commerce perspective, many people love bonuses. Reward the World noted that close to seven in ten consumers were more likely to tell their friends about brands with great loyalty programs. As if that were not enough, 84% claim they are more likely to continue doing business with companies offering such perks. Narrowing down to the gambling sector, a study revealed that over 80% of gamblers claimed an incentive.
All these statistics are to prove the point that online gamblers actually love them, and in New Zealand, things might not be different. And now that operators are reinventing them and providing more advanced options, more people could join this sector.
Why are casino bonuses so important? You may ask. Something to note is that acquiring new players becomes more expensive as the industry grows. So, bonuses can act as a customer acquisition and retention strategy. For customers, it means that they can explore new games and learn a few skills in a risk-free environment. Therefore, the industry may grow further with more innovative bonus features likely to emerge.