Casinos in New Zealand: All Five Land-Based Casinos
New Zealand has five land-based casinos: SkyCity Auckland, SkyCity Hamilton, SkyCity Queenstown, Christchurch Casino and Grand Casino Dunedin. No new casino licences can be issued under the Gambling Act 2003, so this list will not grow. Below are the hours, games and entry rules for each, checked on the casinos’ own websites on 28 October 2026.
The five casinos at a glance
| Casino | Hours | Tables | Machines | To play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyCity Auckland | Open 24/7 | 150 | 2,100+ | SHOW by SkyCity card |
| Christchurch Casino | 12pm-1am, Fri-Sat to 3am | 32 | 450+ | Free Players Club card for rewards |
| SkyCity Queenstown | 11am-1am, Fri-Sat to 2am | 8 | 80+ | SHOW by SkyCity card |
| Grand Casino Dunedin | Daily from 12pm | Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Caribbean Stud | 180 | Free Grand Rewards card for rewards |
| SkyCity Hamilton | Open daily | Not published on pages we could read | Not published on pages we could read | SHOW by SkyCity card |
All five close on Christmas Day and Good Friday; the SkyCity casinos also close between 3am and 1pm on Anzac Day, as section 172 of the Gambling Act 2003 requires of every casino. Hours can change on public holidays, so check the casino’s own page before a late trip.
Rules that apply at every casino
- You must be 20 or over to enter. Christchurch Casino and Grand Casino Dunedin apply the 20+ rule to their restaurants and bars too.
- Bring photo ID: a passport or a New Zealand driver’s licence is accepted everywhere; SkyCity and Christchurch also accept a New Zealand firearms licence.
- Dress neat and tidy. Christchurch Casino describes its code as smart casual.
- Casinos cannot charge you for the right to play, other than a commission set in the game rules such as the 5% on a winning baccarat Banker bet (section 174).
- Each table must display a notice that the game rules are available on request, together with the minimum and maximum bets (section 175).
- On request, a casino must issue an exclusion order that bars you from its gambling area for up to 2 years (section 310). Grand Casino Dunedin also offers a national exclusion covering every New Zealand casino.
SkyCity cards and Christchurch Casino’s new owner
At the three SkyCity casinos you need a SHOW by SkyCity card to play any game; the card tracks play time and SkyCare breaks. SkyCity Entertainment Group also runs the SkyCity Online Casino from Malta, and two SkyCity companies won the right to apply for New Zealand online casino licences in October 2026. The Press reported on 27 December 2025 that Christchurch Casino had been sold to an Australian purchaser.
Pub and club pokies
Most New Zealand pokies are not in casinos. At the end of June 2026, 948 pubs, clubs and other venues ran 13,613 gaming machines between them. Our pokies near me directory lists every venue by town and suburb.
Learn the games
Before you sit down, read our guides to blackjack, roulette and baccarat, and our page on live poker in New Zealand for the poker rooms.
Help
Free help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by free text to 8006; see our gambling help page for other services.