Is SportsBet available in NZ? - SportsBet New Zealand Review

Not anymore, no. SportsBet is perhaps the biggest online sportsbook brand within the Australian market. Owned by Irish gambling giant, Flutter, with several large sponsorship deals with Australian sporting properties like the NRL, NBL & AFL among others. Since these properties are highly visible in New Zealand, their brand is also very much a household name with Kiwi sports fans.

However, as with essentially all Australia-based bookies, SportsBet has closed the door to Kiwi customers. Why? New Zealand announced that they are created a newly regulated online casino market. But that market will not include sports betting. TAB will remain the only official legal offering for Kiwis. So if you want a piece of the new casino market to come, companies like Flutter needed to shutter their sportsbook brands that were serving New Zealand customers.

Did SportsBet have New Zealand Dollar accounts?

No, SportsBet, only offered AUD accounts on its site.  NZD was not available as your base account currency at SportsBet.  This was one of the foremost reasons that we could not recommend SportsBet or any other Aussie-based operators to our readers in New Zealand when they did accept Kiwi customers.  With no NZD accounts available, if you were to play at SportsBet from New Zealand, you were hit with 2% to 5% value-destruction on your transacted deposits and withdrawals as a result of currency exchange via your e-wallet, bank or card provider.  Since these fees come through the exchange rate itself, you won't even see how substantial these fees are. 

For example, if you make a deposit of $300 AUD, you would actually buy this amount with your NZD source funds. The rate on offer will be at a premium in comparison to the rate you would be given if you were to sell your $300 AUD in order withdraw funds and convert back to NZD.  In other words, players in New Zealand see a significant value loss in both directions. There is no reason that Kiwis must submit to this manner of value loss, before you've even placed a bet.  Why waste your hard-earned cash on exchange fees? Save it for your own enjoyment and register with a premier betting brand that offers NZD accounts, so you can avoid FX fees.

Did SportsBet offer online live, in-play betting for New Zealand?

No, SportsBet is based solely in the Australian gaming regime, which has a ban in place for live, in-play sports betting as accessed online (though some in-play markets may be phoned in). So no matter your sport of interest, SportsBet only offered online pre-match betting markets to all their players. However, since all our recommended betting sites for New Zealand players are based in other jurisdictions, outside of the Australian regime, you may properly bet online, live and in-play at all of our listed providers, without having to phone in your wager.

Did SportsBet have open account offers for New Zealand?

No, SportsBet cannot have new player offers. Again, as a result of Australian regulations, new player bonuses are banned.  Thus, if you wanted to get started at your sportsbook of choice with a little something extra to go along with your deposited bankroll, you simply could not get it at SportsBet from New Zealand. If you would like a bonus as you sign up, since all our recommended betting sites are based in outside Australia, in other gaming regimes, they all are able to have open account offers for New Zealand bettors.

Does SportsBet New Zealand offer casino games or poker?

No, SportsBet does not offer online or live dealer casino games, nor do they offer an online poker room. Operators based in the Australian regime are banned from offering these gaming verticals on their sites.  The good news is that Kiwis can look beyond the options within the Australian regime, to brands based in other jurisdictions that do allow for these games.  We also highlight New Zealand Dollar casino sites.

SportsBet New Zealand payment methods

Toward your AUD betting account at SportsBet from New Zealand, you were able to deposit via Visa & Mastercard credit or debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and bank transfer. Note that via credit card, your card provider would most likely charge "Cash Advance" fees and interest, as your deposit is not a purchase. No matter which provider you choose, you would do well to avoid the use of credit cards given the high fees & interest charges.

SportsBet New Zealand in summary

SportsBet is a top sports betting brand within the Australia's regulated market, but you are here because you are hoping to learn if SportsBet is a top option for New Zealanders.  They are no longer open to you at all from New Zealand. We think we've made a pretty clear case as to why they were never a premier option for Kiwis. SportsBet did not have NZD accounts, could not have in-play betting as accessed online, could not offer new player bonuses and could not offer other types of online gaming, like casino.

Why would New Zealanders ever have chosen to play at SportsBet when as a provider, they are lacking in all these categories?  More than likely, it's the marketing that SportsBet has done that has helped to pull the wool over people's eyes.  Thankfully, they are no longer an option for New Zealand bettors.