Best Sports betting sites in New Zealand
Sports betting is one of the most widespread types of gambling and involves placing a wager, or bet, on the outcome of a particular sporting event. Its origins date back hundreds of years and it is difficult to trace exactly where and when sports betting started. No one can say for certain how long sports betting has taken place, but it can be assumed that for as long as there have been results of sporting events, there has also been wagering on those results. Evidence suggests that sports betting can be traced as far back as Ancient Greece, but some believe there’s evidence to suggest it goes back even farther.
In 2014, BitStarz made its entrance into the online gambling world. Since then, it has consistently upheld its popularity, becoming a hub for crypto players globally.
LeoVegas is an established Swedish company that offers both online casino and sports betting services. While their name may suggest a focus on casinos, they have developed into a reputable NZ bookmaker as well.
Mr. Green is a sleek sports book offering a strong mobile app that's particularly appealing for live sports betting enthusiasts.
Initially known as OmniBet, TonyBet underwent a significant transformation when professional poker player Tony G acquired the site, resulting in its rebranding as TonyBet.
Neds, founded in 2017 by Australian bookmaker Dean Shannon, has become a popular online betting platform. Neds is currently Entain PLC, headquartered in Bowen Hills, Queensland.
In 2005, Betfair launched its operations in Australia, and it quickly became popular due to its betting exchange model, which allows users to bet against each other on various sports and events.
In recent years, an increasing number of New Zealanders have been veering away from the TAB NZ, the country's long-standing sports betting organization.
Bet365, a prominent online betting platform, was established in 2000 and has gained recognition as a leading name in the industry.
RIZK NZ has become a popular choice among online casino enthusiasts, despite discontinuing its sportsbook in 2021.
Sportsbet is a prominent online betting platform in Australia and a widely used international bookmaker in New Zealand, serving over 1.25 million customers.
Guts may not be a household name in New Zealand just yet, but it's quickly becoming one of our favourite sports betting websites.
Conquestador, a world-class gambling site, has gained a reputation as a top-notch platform primarily focused on casino games.
The Royal Panda Sportsbook is a recently established betting site in New Zealand, having launched in 2020.
BetVictor, one of the longest-standing betting operators in the UK, has successfully expanded its polished product to New Zealand, providing Kiwi customers with an exceptional betting experience tailored to their preferences.
Founded by William Hill in 1934, the company underwent various changes in ownership. It was successively acquired by Sears Holdings in 1971, Grand Metropolitan in 1988, and Brent Walker in 1989.
Betway is a notable option that can serve as an alternative or complement to your current sportsbook accounts. With a wide range of daily sports markets exceeding 30,000 and a selection of over 400 casino games, Betway caters to the preferences of diverse individuals from New Zealand.
22bet is a global bookmaker that offers sports betting and online casino services to players from various countries, including New Zealand.
888sport, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Gibraltar, is a popular online sports betting platform. With over one million registered players, they offer a wide range of unique betting events on a daily basis.
Ladbrokes NZ has established itself as one of the oldest and most reputable bookmakers in the world. With a rich history dating back to 1886, Ladbrokes has garnered a loyal following in Australia and the UK.
Betstar is a popular online sports betting platform, packed full of great features for users to enjoy.
Today, sports betting has become a favourite pastime for millions of sports fans worldwide, and generates staggering revenues. The online world has brought with it the emergence of online bookmakers, who make betting on your favourite sport more convenient than ever, eliminating the need to even leave the comfort of your own home.
Over the past two decades, numerous traditional brick and mortar bookmakers have migrated online, creating a huge range of specialized betting websites to select from. By utilising these online betting sites, sports enthusiasts can place bets on a staggering variety of sports, ranging from popular team sports like football and basketball to punters’ favourites like greyhound or horse racing.
Some regions have criminalized such activities, deeming them unlawful. Yet, in most countries, sports betting is considered a lawful form of gambling, which is regulated and authorised by specialised commissions.
At the most basic level, sports betting involves placing a monetary stake on a sports event’s result with the intention of creating additional profits by making accurate predictions on the outcome. Winning results in a pay-out, whilst losing results in the loss of the wagered money. However, this is only the short answer to the question “What is sports betting?”. There are numerous other factors that make up the complete answer. Continue reading to learn some more information about the world of sports betting.
Always remember to practice responsible gambling by exercising control over your betting activity and spending. Do not underestimate the risk of losing money, as even experienced bettors lose bets from time to time. Betting on your favourite team or athlete should be enjoyable, and should not interfere with your personal or professional life. If you or someone you know has been affected by a gambling addiction, there’s no shame in taking the necessary steps to reach out and get help.
The Bookmaker
A bookmaker, also referred to as a “betting agency” or “sportsbook,” is a person or company that offers sports betting services at predetermined odds. Essentially, the bookmaker is who bettors turn to in order to make their bets and predictions about the outcome of a sports event. Typically, bookmakers focus on professional sports like football or horse racing.
Bookmakers also provide odds for sports events. The bookmaker’s profits are mostly derived from the markets they offer, rather than the odds themselves. For example, some popular markets for football include Winner (where you predict the winning team), First Goal Scorer, Half-Time Result, and Correct Score. In addition, bettors can make multiple correct predictions and place bets on multiple selections, known as Accumulators or Parleys, which can result in greater pay-outs if all their predictions are correct.
It’s natural for bookmakers to aim at making profits as well. Since they cannot control the outcome of the game, they could face significant losses if a large number of punters make accurate predictions about an outcome. To minimize their losses, bookmakers run their businesses using specific methods that guarantee they make a profit regardless of the event’s result. The odds are set in such a way that the bookmakers can collect commissions on all the bets that are placed, ensuring a balanced book. This allows them to pay out roughly the same amount, regardless of the outcome.
Placing a bet on your favourite team or athlete has become incredibly easy and convenient in today’s hyper-connected world. As mentioned earlier, plenty of established bookmakers have transitioned to the online sports betting landscape, and betting can now be done on their websites or apps. Getting started is easy, as all you have to do is sign up for an account on one of these bookmakers’ sites. Many online bookmakers provide detailed explanations of betting terms and offer useful tips to new punters, making it even more convenient.
As mobile technology has become more widespread, you can even place bets on the go using your smartphones and tablets. Many bookmakers provide handy mobile apps, which make betting more convenient than ever. Bettors can receive notifications about their wagers straight from the app.
Online betting offers a range of benefits, such as easy to use, user-friendly interfaces and heavily encrypted security measures that are put in place to protect bettors’ financial and personal details. Registered punters can also take advantage of various promotional offers and bonuses, increasing their chances of winning and their shot at a bigger pay-out. The most reputable online bookmakers are known for their generosity in rewarding regular punters with free bets and special promotions.
An added benefit of online sports betting is the sheer range of options available. Online bookmakers’ options cover all of the world’s major sports leagues including the NFL, NBA, NHL, ATP, WTA, MLB, and the UEFA Champions League, as well as individual sports like boxing, snooker, pool, darts, and Formula 1 racing.
The In-Play feature offered by many online bookmakers is particularly popular, allowing punters to place bets on events that are already in progress, which can increase the chances of making accurate wagers. Some online bookmakers even offer the option to bet while watching a live stream on their site.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that many online betting providers offer highly competitive odds, which can greatly benefit more experienced punters. The higher the odds, the greater the potential pay-out on a successful bet. Additionally, punters can register with multiple online bookmakers to compare the odds offered to increase their chances of finding the best possible deal.
What are the odds?
Let’s take a closer look at the betting term “odds”. Essentially, the potential pay-out you could receive from a bet is calculated by multiplying your bet with the odds of winning. As such, odds are closely tied to your chances of winning, and many bettors refer to odds as the “price” of a wager.
There are three types of odds used in sports betting: Odds On, Odds Against, and Even Odds. Odds On means that your potential winnings will be lower than your bet, while Odds Against means that your profits will be greater than your bet. Even Odds means your winnings will be equal to your bet, typically resulting in neither a profit nor a loss. The value of a wager depends on the odds that it offers, so comparing odds from different bookmakers is a good idea for both novice and veteran bettors.
Remember that higher odds increase your chances of winning, but they also mean that the potential pay-out from a winning bet will be smaller. Conversely, lower odds make it harder to win, but if you do, your pay-out will be significantly larger.
It’s also important to note that there are three different formats used to express odds in sports betting. The most common format is the Decimal format, written, for example, as 2.00 or 1.50. This format is easy to use and has become the standard format in the industry.
The Fractional format is commonly used in the United Kingdom and uses fractions to express odds, e.g., 1/1, 4/6, 7/4, etc. Finally, in the United States, bookmakers use the American format or Moneyline, which can be positive or negative, such as +200 or -150.
Most common types of bets
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of bets. Although there are numerous types of bets out there, we’re going to concentrate on several of the most commonly used ones: win bets, handicaps, parlays, futures, and in-play bets.
The Win Bet is the simplest type of bet. With this bet, punters place a wager on the team or athlete they believe will win the game. The odds are determined based on the likelihood of their bet winning. This is as simple as it gets, and there are many other betting options to choose from.
Handicaps, also known as straight bets in the US, are highly favoured among American football fans. These bets bear a resemblance to the Win Bet, but there’s an important difference. The bettor chooses which team they believe will win, but a Point Spread is introduced to even out the odds for both teams. The bettor can either choose the favourite to win or root for the underdog.
In contrast, parlays involve making two or more bet selections. A parlay with two picks is known as a “Double,” while one with three picks is known as a “Treble.” Punters usually pick up to 14 or more selections. The odds are adjusted according to the number of bets grouped together. Parlays are considered risky since bettors must predict every selection correctly to secure a pay-out.
Outrights, also known as Futures, are placed on who will be the winner of a particular tournament, competition, or league, before the event begins. Alternatively, In-Play or Live betting, which is has become increasingly popular among punters, allows for wagers to be placed on events that are currently in progress. In-Play bets can be placed from the start of the event until the end and can provide an advantageous opportunity for punters who like to get more into the action. By keeping an eye on the event, savvy bettors can put themselves in a better position to receive a big pay-out.
Sports betting legislation
Most countries worldwide consider sports betting, whether it be online or offline, as a legal type of gambling. However, when choosing an online sportsbook, it is essential to be sure what you’re using is safe and legitimate. Reputable bookmakers are typically transparent and prominently display their license numbers, as well as the names of the governing authorities and commissions that oversee their operations.
It’s important to note that different regions have different regulatory practices when it comes to sports betting. Some regions are stricter than others, and this can impact the fairness of betting operators. Despite the illegality of online sports betting in certain countries, many bookmakers still welcome punters from those areas, arguing that they are not breaking any laws because they are based and licensed in regions where online betting is permitted.
Another consideration is the potential taxation of bettors’ winnings, even in countries where online sports betting is legal. For instance, some countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden don’t impose taxes on sports betting winnings, whilst other countries like Germany do, but with varying tax percentages. Before placing any bets, it’s important to check whether taxes are imposed on betting winnings in your country of residence. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Betting on sports can be an enjoyable and potentially lucrative activity. However, it is crucial to have a good understanding of the ins and out of sports betting beforehand in order to make profitable bets. Additionally, it is important to be familiar with the different odds formats used by various online bookmakers. Lastly, it is essential to practice responsible gambling by managing your winnings and not risking it all after a big win.