Unibet New Zealand Review 2024 - Is Unibet available in NZ?

Unibet, a major online sportsbook brand in the Australian regulated market, is owned by the Kindred Group, a major online gaming conglomerate. It holds significant sponsorship deals with prominent Australian sporting leagues such as the NRL, AFL and various national sporting bodies within football and cricket.  These marketing arrangements while meant for Australia, of course allow the brand to enjoy visibility in New Zealand, given a shared sporting interest, making it a well-recognized brand among Kiwi sports enthusiasts.

Is Unibet accessible in New Zealand? Yes, it is. However, being an online sportsbook based in the Australian regulatory framework, New Zealand bettors face several disadvantages. Despite its visibility, Unibet may not be the ideal choice for Kiwis. We outline the key reasons why Unibet and most other betting sites operating out of Australia may not offer the best experience for New Zealanders. It begins with the choice of currency for your betting account.

Does Unibet have New Zealand Dollar accounts?

No, Unibet exclusively offers AUD accounts on its platform meant for Australia and New Zealand, since it is regulated in the former. NZD is not available as the base account currency at Unibet.com.au. This limitation is one of the primary reasons why we cannot recommend Unibet or any other AUD-based operators to our New Zealand readers. Without NZD accounts accessible, playing at Unibet from New Zealand would result in a 2% to 5% devaluation on your deposits and withdrawals due to currency exchange via your e-wallet, bank, or card provider. These fees are incurred through the exchange rate itself, often unnoticed by players.

For instance, if you deposit $100 AUD, you would actually purchase this amount with your NZD funds. The rate offered would be at a premium compared to the rate you would receive when selling your $100 AUD to withdraw funds and convert back to NZD. In essence, players in New Zealand experience significant value loss in both directions. There's no need for Kiwis to endure such value loss before even placing a bet. Why squander your hard-earned money on exchange fees? Preserve it for your enjoyment by registering with a premier betting brand that offers NZD accounts, enabling you to bypass FX fees.

Does Unibet have online in-play betting for New Zealand?

No. Players in New Zealand must play at the Unibet site based in the Australian regime, which is not allowed to offer online in-play sports betting. To place a bet related to a live, in-play market, New Zealand bettors would need to make a phone call to lay their wager at Unibet. Any live, in-play betting done at sportsbooks based in Australia must be placed in this manner. Compare this to all the NZD sportsbooks that we recommend, where you can place your in-play bet directly in the betting app or within the site, without a phone call. 

Does Unibet New Zealand have new player offers?

No, Unibet cannot offer new player bonuses either. Due to Australian regulations, new player bonuses are prohibited. Therefore, if you're looking to kick off your betting experience with an added incentive at your chosen sportsbook, Unibet cannot provide it for New Zealanders. However, since all our recommended betting sites are based outside of Australia, in different gaming jurisdictions, they all have the flexibility to offer new player sign-up bonuses for New Zealand.

Does Unibet New Zealand have casino games or poker?

No, Unibet does not offer online or live dealer casino games, nor does it offer an online poker room for Kiwi players. Regulated providers based in the Australian regime are prohibited from offering these gaming types on their platforms. However, the silver lining is that New Zealanders have the option to explore brands based in other jurisdictions that do allow for these games. All of our recommended operators provide slots, and other online and live dealer casino games, and bet365 also offers a top-tier poker room network.

Unibet New Zealand payment methods

Toward your Unibet Australia betting account, which will be based in AUD, customers in New Zealand may use Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, PayPal and Apple Pay. Your NZD funding method will be used to buy a balance in AUD, which comes with significant costs. This currency conversion is why we do not recommend operators based in Australia for Kiwi players.  Also, note that the use of credit cards to any gambling site from New Zealand will likely be treated as "cash advances", which come with high fees and interest rates from your bank or card company from the moment of the transaction. If you wish to bet online, you would be well-advised to avoid the use of credit cards given these costs. Use more cost-effective methods like debit or PayPal as linked to your bank account.

Unibet New Zealand in summary

Unibet is a renowned sports betting brand in Australia's regulated market, but if you're in New Zealand, you might be wondering if it's the right choice for you. However, we believe there are clear reasons why it might not be the top option for Kiwis. Unibet doesn't support NZD accounts, lacks in-play betting online, doesn't provide new player bonuses, and doesn't offer other online gaming options like casino games or poker.

Given these limitations, you might wonder why New Zealanders would choose Unibet. It's likely due to the extensive marketing efforts by Unibet within Australia that have permeated New Zealand, which may have created this misconception. However, it's important not to let marketing overshadow the importance of a comprehensive betting and gaming experience. Fortunately, there are several top-tier alternatives that offer everything Unibet lacks for New Zealand bettors.

We really wish that Unibet would allow their New Zealand players to register at their international site as based in Malta, where they would be allowed to have a better gaming experience, as well as NZD accounts. Instead, Unibet forces Kiwi players to play at the .com.au platform, which is really an inferior experience for New Zealanders for the reasons we outline.