New Zealand bookie payment methods for NZD banking

Learn all you need to know about New Zealand online sports betting payment methods.  We explain why credit cards are a convenient but expensive option compared to debit solutions. We explain whether or not PayPal is available and explore if Apple Pay is available for Kiwi bettors.  We also touch upon pre-paid methods, other e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, Payz and MuchBetter, as well as cryptocurrencies for use at online sportsbooks from New Zealand - it's all below. No matter what method you're trying to learn about, remember that Australia-based sportsbooks all require AUD accounts. Thus no matter your payment method, you'll be hit with big FX fees, on top of the other bank fees where applicable. So be sure to select a reputable sports betting provider that has NZD accounts, like those we recommend.

Why credit cards are expensive vs. debit & some e-wallet solutions for bookie payments

Credit cards are widely available to make deposits at all sports betting sites.  However, while convenient, credit card payments from New Zealand to betting sites are treated as ‘cash advances’, as opposed to 'purchases'.   This means that interest begins to accrue from the moment of the transaction, even if you always fully pay your monthly balance. Plus your bank or card provider will charge a cash advance fee, perhaps around $5.  At an interest rate of 20% or likely even higher on your card, this can be an expensive method of transaction that you may wish to avoid on an on-going basis.

Thankfully, there are plenty of reputable bank debit or e-wallet methods that work instantly and directly with your New Zealand Dollar bank account & come with very low fees, likely a few dollars per transaction at most.  These include, PayPal and Visa & Mastercard debit cards. Some sites may even support debit card payments through Apple Pay.

Is PayPal available at betting sites for New Zealand?

If you want to make payments directly in New Zealand Dollars to gambling sites based outside New Zealand, no, PayPal is no longer available.  PayPal may be available to use toward sites based in Australia, but those betting brands mandate that you play in Australian Dollars.  This would require you to convert your NZD funds into AUD before sending the funds to the betting site.  Converting funds is not free and will come with a significant cost to you, especially when PayPal does the conversion, which is famously known for high FX fees as integrated into their conversion rates.

Is Apple Pay available as an online sportsbook & casino payment method in New Zealand?

Yes, Apple Pay is available as an online sportsbook payment method from New Zealand. However, the availability of this method comes down to the individual operator.  Since Apple Pay works with credit and debit cards, you can simply use either of these directly at essentially any offshore betting sites. However, as we've discussed above, credit card payments, even via Apple Pay, will come with fees associated to "cash advances", so if using Apple Pay, it is better to use your debit as the underlying payment method if possible.

Secondly, if you use Apple Pay at a a bookie brand based within the Australian regime, like SportsBet, Ladbrokes, Neds, Unibet or PalmerBet, etc., you will have to play in Australian Dollars. This means that you will incur a significant cost on each deposit or withdrawal, in addition to the cash advance fees, if you use a credit card as your underlying funding method with Apple Pay.  Ensure to look for NZD sportsbooks outside the Australian regime, which is part of our wider discussion here on SNBET.

Lastly regarding Apple Pay for use to betting & casino sites from New Zealand; they are good for deposits only. When you are ready to make a withdrawal after having used Apple Pay for your deposit, the bookie operator will likely dictate the available withdrawal method. This might be a cheque or bank transfer, but due to Anti-money laundering rules, it will be their choice.  

What other e-wallets are available for online sportsbook & casino payments in New Zealand?

Other e-wallets, Skrill, Neteller and Payz are available for use from New Zealand. These are similar to PayPal in terms of how you may use them to buy things online or make payments by linking them to credit cards, debit cards or funding them from New Zealand bank accounts, or even via cryptocurrencies. Skrill, Neteller and Payz support accounts in New Zealand Dollars, so you may use your NZD base funding methods to add funds without having to pay costly currency exchange fees.

Does the MuchBetter e-wallet work from New Zealand?

Advertised within some sporting leagues, MuchBetter has become a popular e-wallet app for use toward betting sites.  However, MuchBetter is more focused on other international markets. It does not really work very well for New Zealand, as NZD accounts are not supported.  The only functionality that appears to work from New Zealand with MuchBetter is with regard to cryptocurrency payments, but given the lack of NZD accounts, other methods are likely more suitable for Kiwis in this regard.

Are cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum or Tether available for payments at the top sportsbooks for New Zealand?

Yes, but crypto and sports betting is a bit of a complicated situation. Most of the best betting sites for New Zealand players come to you from the jurisdictions of Gibraltar and Malta.  Brands in these jurisdictions do not accept direct crypto payments toward crypto betting accounts, nor do they accept them for conversion into a fiat currency, like NZD.  

In some cases, the betting site might support an e-wallet like Skrill, Neteller or Payz, that lets you exchange your cryptocurrency toward a value of NZD, and that NZD amount may then be deposited to your betting account.  We only recommend one brand that works from the jurisdiction of Curacao, that's MarathonBet.  MarathonBet will accept direct payments in several cryptocurrencies, toward exchange into your NZD account.

However, none of our main betting sites for New Zealand offer direct betting in cryptocurrencies.  In other words, none offer the ability to bet directly in units of crypto.  This is still a relatively niche area of online sports betting, so we don't cover it across our main list of recommended operators.  But, there is one fully crypto sportsbook for New Zealand that we do recommend, with a full write up as to why we feel this way.  They are long-established, and in a jurisdiction that requires segregated crypto betting accounts.

What are the pre-paid solutions available at online bookies for New Zealand

Paysafecard is by far the most widely supported pre-paid solution online sportsboooks for New Zealand, as well as the most widely available pre-paid option for physical purchase at retailers across the country.  Paysafecards are also available for purchase online in several New Zealand Dollar denominations.  With them, you simply buy the card (or virtual card), then once at the betting site cashier page, enter the card PIN code to grant your funds. Read more about New Zealand paysafecard sportsbooks and how it works.  Another prepaid solution similar to paysafecard, is called Neosurf, which is available at Betway New Zealand.  

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