Playzee

Playzee New Zealand Review (2023)

Aotearoa New Zealand gamblers who land on the Playzee Casino New Zealand website can be excused for thinking they have entered an online animation workshop. That’s because Zeegmund, the chemist, with a beaker in each hand in Dr Emmett Brown mould (Back to the Future), greets the Kiwi players. The teal-and-gold background platform has a Playskool feel about it, and why not? Gambling should be like child’s play but adult-like rewards for New Zealanders. Kiwis should feel the excitement of running on to a Saturday morning social footy match at the park.

Don’t let Playzee’s playful colours distract you from an online casino operator that offers a safe and secure virtual playground for wagering. Playzee reinforces its legitimacy with a double-whammy of licences from the Gambling Commission of Great Britain and the Malta Gaming Authority. A three-tier casino welcome bonus of $NZ1,500 plus 150 Zee Spins and 500 Zee Points to boot will leave the Kiwi newcomers tickled pink. The only glaring omission seems to be an eCOGRA-type emblem as proof of monitoring Playzee’s impressive 2,000-plus iGaming platform for fairness.

Playzee’s daily colour-co-ordinated promotions have been hung out to dry like freshly painted artwork. A rolling counter displays the latest winners to keep the Kiwis’ ticker at an optimum level of gambling. What’ll yield a hearty hooray from New Zealanders is the blue “PP” emblem of payment provider PayPal.

A newbie on the gambling industry block, Playzee comes under the umbrella of one of 36 online casinos that White Hat Gaming Ltd manages. For that reason, New Zealanders have built a trustworthy affinity with a company that runs 666 Casino, Barz Casino, CasiGO, Jonny Jackpot, and Vegas Lounge Casino, to name a few. However, Playzee doesn’t have a sportsbook.

Range of Games

With 2,000 games you’ve got to have some method to Master Zeegmund’s mesmerising madness, right? Don’t lose sleep over it because Playzee has got Kiwi players sorted with its outstanding, clunk-free navigation. On its website are numerous filters to avoid an Auckland motorway-type of traffic jam. The “popular”, “recent”, and “a-to-zee” ones make it simple to find Kiwi favourites. The “game” or “provider” engines will make the wide-eyed wagering iGamers feel like taking the exit points from the hectic highways for fun and games in smart time.

Hover over a game thumbnail with your mouse for a white button to “play for fun” or the golden one to “play for real”. Like any reputable online operator, Playzee wants New Zealanders to have a feel for its quality games before deciding if they want to venture into its virtual playground to wager on real money. Beauty Pageant-like sashes on the corner of the thumbnails will indicate if games are “exclusive”, “hot”, or “new”.

The throbbing progressive jackpot money meter is a constant reminder of the riches awaiting those game enough to enter the Playzee lounge. More than 80 games cater to those who wish to wear the “Dolmio grin” (thousands of kiwi dollars) to the mind-boggling million-dollar payouts. Playzee also offers a robust variety of card/table games, video pokers, and live-dealer games.

Pokies

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the exhausting library catalogue of games at Playzee is primarily on pokies (slots). More than 1,000 individual pokies games beckon New Zealanders from the virtual shelves. No matter what your preference is for animated characters or themes, Playzee’s reel-rush tube will drip feed you at every click.

If you’ve been there and done that with most traditional favourites, don’t despair. The online operator updates its impressive pokies menu with new numbers every week to add to its classic fruit slots, 3D video pokies and 5-reel ones. Bonus games, multipliers, multi-pay lines, razor-sharp animations, special effects, and snazzy symbols, are among the digital accessories on the pokies’ platform.

Here’s a cross section of new, popular, and random fare New Zealand gamblers can taste on Playzee’s online pokies menu:

• 9 Pyramids of Fortune (new)
• African Legends (random)
• Book of Dead (random)
• Chilli Heat (hot)
• Don Quixote’s Wild Adventures (new)
• Dungeons and Diamonds™ (popular)
• Gods of Rock (new)
• Karen Maneater (popular)
• Mega Moolah™ (new)
• Money Grows on Trees (popular)
• Playzee Branded Megaways™ (exclusive)
• Tombstone R.I.P (hot)
• Wanted Dead or A Wild (new)

Note: Playzee’s catalogue labels are subject to changes from the time this article was posted on our site.

Card/table games

New Zealanders who do their homework before entering Playzee’s iGaming lounge will find Prof Zeegmund is a strategist at heart. A click on the blackjack or roulette links will give Kiwi newcomers an elaborate breakdown of the history of the games, how to play them, the card values as well as the points of difference between the American, European, or French variants.

Master Zeegmund recommends Blackjack or Blackjack Classic to beginners and casuals, but Prof Zeegmund urges the high rollers and table savvy to have a shot at the Blackjack Classic High or the Blackjack Pro High. The types of hands (double down, hit, sit, stand, etc) and pay-out structures are great additions for Playzee rookie gamblers. Kiwis will treasure such insightful tips to maximise their iGaming experience.

Under the “Zee Facts”, Preacher Zeegmund explains why the roulette spinning wheel has the “Mark of the Devil” when the sum of its 0-36 numbers total 666. Brush aside the unflattering labels, such as “The Devil’s Wheel”, to lap up the bet, description, and payout terminology. Such morsels of information make Playzee palatable to Kiwis, especially the newcomers. 

Live-dealer games

When Prof Zeegmund reaches for his apparatus in the Playzee laboratory, he doesn’t need safety goggles because Evolution Gaming and NetEnt have captured the online casino iGaming community’s imagination with a sense of virtual realism in duplicating the brick-and-mortar feel of land-based establishments, if not the smell of cigar smoke. You somehow get the impression the game developers are leapfrogging the industry into a futuristic era through its game machines via quality online casinos such as Playzee.

Playzee’s multilingual, live-dealer lounge is accessible through a web browser while Kiwis are on the go. Acute-angled camera zooming, wheel sensors on roulette spins, and dealer monitors all combine to make the live gaming an enchanting experience for everyone. The professional dealers’ charm sticks out but Kiwi gamblers who delve deeper into Pro Zeegmund’s flasks and funnels will discover the Playzee staff know the rules like the back of their hands.

The 42 games and variants are no different to what most elite online casino rivals have. However, the Asian versions will draw the attention of immigrant workers and residents living in New Zealand. The number of thumbnails with the golden “new” sashes on them shows Playzee cares about Kiwis’ iGaming experience, in keeping up with the rivals. Newcomers can play for fun or real money because not too many online operators offer that option at their live casinos.

Here’s an at-a-glance look at Kiwi live-dealer favourites on the Playzee platform:

• 2 Hand Casino Holdem
• Andar Bahar (new)
•  BacBo
• Craps (new)
• Deal or No Deal
• Fan Tan (new)
• Football Studio (new)
• Lightning Dice (new)
• Live Baccarat
• Live Caribbean Stud (new)
• Mega Sic Bo
• Monopoly
• Texas Holdem Bonus Poker (new)

Note: Playzee’s catalogue labels are subject to changes from the time this article was posted on our site.

Payout Percentage

 Here’s where the New Zealanders have to watch how much heat Master Zeegmund is applying to his flask above a Bunsen burner at the Playzee lab. With the handsome bonuses and promotions come the litmus test of wagering requirements. Kiwis are advised to put their wins on the backburner until they meet what is also referred to as playthrough requirement — for Playzee, it is 35x. That means, they’ll have to spend $NZ3,500 in a bid to convert $NZ100 bonus, or Zee Spins, and even their own deposit money on any real-money games, before they can transfer or withdraw their winnings.

When juxtaposing Playzee’s 35x with some marquee online casino rivals’ 45x to 70x, it isn’t burdensome when considering Kiwis can playthrough on the casino bonus and player deposit to meet the requirements. New Zealanders shouldn’t put their noses out of joint over this because Prof Zeegmund and Playzee aren’t making any secrets about it. Without such a safety net the online operator is destined to collapse as a viable financial entity. Read the Playzee promotional terms & conditons.

While Master Zeegmund keeps the overall playthrough hovering around the 95% threshold at the Playzee laboratory, it pays for New Zealanders to become familiar with a further breakdown known as return to player or RTP. Newcomers may find it difficult to repel Playzee’s bonuses and free spins loaded to on a three-tiered system, but they should visit the online operator’s website to review what is each game’s RTP rating.

For mathematically-challenged players, the RTPs can feel like sitting algebra exams. Don’t worry. We’ll break it down here for you. RTP is the result of comparing the money paid out from wins against the sum of cash wagered at any given online casino. At Playzee, for example, an average RTP of 95% comes with the understanding that for every $NZ100 a Kiwi gambler wagers, the online casino will fork out $NZ95 in winnings. However, it’s vital to note this is in theory a six-figure number of gamblers over an extended time, rather than some perceived sense of religious returns on spontaneous individual bets.

That raises the question of why Playzee doesn’t sport the eCOGRA-type of emblem of fairness that software providers put games through an RNG (random number generator) process to protect players from lopsided outcomes. Playzee’s overall average of 95% RTP is inside the desirable cut-off rate for online casinos. The RTP is like buying a car not just for its sleek shape and vibrant colour but, more importantly, its mileage. The RTP becomes that indicator iGamers must identify before selecting a game to maximise their returns.

The gaming software manufacturers set the RTPs of individual games to deflect any accusations of rigging. The Playzee website shows the top RTP ratings go to its blackjack games. Pokies follow on the heels of scratch cards for the lowest RTP percentages.

Here’s a mixture of some of individual games on the Playzee platform with the highest RTPs:

• Apollo God of Sun (jackpot) 97.17%
• Atlantic City Blackjack 99.65%
• Baccarat Lobby 98.94%
• Bikini Party 98%
• Cash or Crash (live casino) 99.59%
• Casino Hold’em 98.75%
• Craps (live casino) 99.17%
• DJ Wild Stud Poker 99.33%
• European Roulette Gold 98%
• Fan Tan (live casino) 98.75%
• Gorilla Golf Megaways Power 4 Slots 97%
• Himalaya 97.75%
• I Luv Suits 98.41%
• Jacks or Better 99%
• Mega Joker (jackpot) 99%
• Mississippi Stud Poker 98.63%
• Pirates Plenty 96.10%
• Rainforest Magic Bingo 97.38%
• Soldier of Rome 97.82%
• Texas Holdem Bonus Poker 97.96%
• Valkyrie Fire 98%
• Vegas Single Deck Blackjack 99.65%

It’s important for New Zealanders to note that just because an individual game has a high RTP at one online casino, it doesn’t mean it’ll be the same at other rival casinos.

Software Manufacturers

It can be quite exhausting to go to Playzee’s drop-down link to count the number of software providers who turn the online casino’s virtual playground into one mega fireworks display. Well, we have done the hard yards for Kiwis so they can spend more time playing their favourite games. Playzee subscribes to close to 150 software creators to ensure it offers New Zealand gamblers the ultimate wagering experience.

Unlike other high-profile online casinos in New Zealand, Playzee doesn’t put all its gaming eggs in a handful of baskets. It banks not only on the pioneering wizardry of the traditional software genies, but also a string of supporting studios. It makes a big change from other reputable online casinos flying the Microgaming flag as a hallmark of quality. Evolution Gaming, the king of live streaming table/card gaming technology, and NetEnt, put their thinking caps on to provide seamless engagement at the Playzee live casino.

Some of Playzee’s software providers at random include:

• 1x2 gaming
• 4theplayer
• Alchemy Gaming
• Bla Bla Studio
• Crazy Tooth Studio
• Dice Lab
• Ezugi
• Gameburger Studio
• Hacksaw Gaming
• Kalamba
• Old Skool Studios
• Pragmatic
• Red Tiger
• Slingo
• Touchstone Gaming
• Wazdan
• Yoloplay

While Playzee has a search engine for finding games via software providers, all its thumbnails display the names of the creators. New Zealanders will be able to see their top 50 games played every time they log into their account.

Loyalty Programme

It’s a 10 out of 10 from us for the way Playzee Casino presents its loyalty programme. Call it what you like but the online casino operator’s Zee Club is its VIP treatment. Just click on the sparkling diamond logo — between the “games” and “Zee Club” at the top of the website landing page — to explore Playzee’s promotional offerings.

Prof Zeegmund hangs out a different colour promotion for every day of the week, bar Sunday. Just when you think it’s a rest day for gamblers you find out that Prof Zeegmund has declared Sunday a fun day. It is deemed the Zee Club Day. Kiwis should find an extra bonus in their accounts. If not, just contact the support crew members to inform them that Prof Zeegmund has sent you for that extra bonus.

Newcomers will automatically qualify for the Zee Club the minute they make a minimum $NZ10 deposit. Accumulate 7,500 Zee points to move up a floor to Master Zee status. Muster to 15,000 Zee points to acquire Dr Zee’s qualifications, and 30,000 to claim Prof Zee’s privileges. The Zee Secret Society is via invitation only. Effectively, it means Kiwis who receive an invite have acquired Pro Zee status. Playzee doesn’t revoke any society invitations. VIP perks include weekly bonuses, spins, as well as improved deposit and withdrawal conditions, but do note the expiry times.

Here are the Zee Club Day rewards, subject to how many times Kiwis play: 

• Zee Club: 5 free Zee spins.
• Master Zee: 20 free Zee spins.
• Dr Zee: 50 free Zee spins.
• Prof Zee: $NZ50 bonus.
• Zee Secret Society: $NZ100 bonus.

The six-day nonstop promotions must be the envy of rival online casino operators. It enables New Zealand gamblers to join Master Zeegmund in experimenting with what it takes to be a Pro Zee. How much fizz Kiwis find will depend on how often they frequent the Playzee lab to conduct gambling experiments. Here’s a snapshot of what each day will have instore for the players:

• Buzee Monday: Kiwis will start the week at the Playzee lab with double the fizz (Zee points) on selected games.
• Crazee Tuesday: It’s a Playzee mental overdrive with a 10% cashback on real-money losses of up to $NZ100, based on week-long activities.
• Lazee Wednesday: It’s just that — an “easy-peasy” day to cruise over a judder bar by making a deposit that’ll yield a bonus (20% up to $NZ500).
• Noizee Thursday: It’s time for the bells and whistles to go off at the Playzee lab. Don’t panic, it’s not the fire alarm. Just the online casino luring Kiwis to the live-dealer tables with a $NZ10 bonus if they place $NZ200 in bets. Use the bonus on any games — win or lose.
• TGIF: Amp up in style for the weekend. For every $NZ100 you wager on pokies, Playzee will boost your account (win or lose) with a $NZ5 bonus of up to $NZ20.
• Zee Rocks Saturday: White coat-clad Zeegmund certainly makes the beakers and flasks clink like champagne flutes on this day. For every $NZ1 Kiwis deposit, they’ll receive 1 free spin up to a whopping 500.

Mobile site/Apps

Playzee NZ doesn’t have a dedicated casino app for mobile portals on its website but that’s no reason to start “tut-tutting”. Its mobile casino website is sufficiently suitable for accessing its services through your mobile devices’ standard HTML5 browser. Kiwis will find they can download in smart time, albeit some of the mobile menu elements may appear a little squished.

A fantastic feature that some may not have factored in is that if there are any incoming calls on your mobile portals, then they’ll simply override the active game, putting it on pause. Once the call is terminated, play will automatically resume. Just re-login and click on the same game.

However, for those New Zealand gamblers who want to download an app outside the mobile site for whatever reasons, click this Playzee casino app link to follow step-by-step instructions.

Customer Support

It’s kind of scary for Kiwis to be dealing with money on any platform when customers and clients are hemispheres apart. Playzee gets that, advising New Zealand gamblers to click on contact to see if its frequently asked questions (FAQs) will resolve any issues. The FAQs offer compact question-and-answer types of information on matters such as account, deposits, withdrawals, and such.

However, Playzee provides round-the-clock customer support to its Kiwi iGaming faithful, even though there’s no telephone/freephone service. A teal-coloured, live-chat widget lives on the bottom left corner of the website. We asked a question and Keanan had responded almost immediately to say someone would help soon. Within 60 seconds he wanted to know all my personal details. Just a yes or no would have been fine, but you can’t fault Playzee’s support.

If your queries are not urgent, you can contact Playzee on:

• Email: support@playzee.com
• Social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter

A multicultural Master Zeegmund is proficient in English, French, German, Spanish, Suomi, and Portuguese, but it’s not stated if Playzee’s friendly and professional customer support staff are, too.

Payment Methods

The most heartening thing is Playzee showing the PP (PayPal) logo as the fourth item on the bottom of its website landing page. However, click to the payment-methods page and you won’t find a breakdown of PayPal in the “about” section of the eight-provider graph. To be considered a New Zealand PayPal Online Casino, Playzee must consider doing justice to a payment provider many New Zealanders prefer.

Suffice it to say, Playzee only partners with trustworthy payment providers from resident countries to protect its reputation and safeguard Kiwi gamblers’ interests. All deposits are instant, bar bank transfers (1-5 business days). The online operator doesn’t levy any fees on deposits/withdrawals, but the banks and Neteller may do. Playzee pledges to process any withdrawals within the first working day of a request. Delays are likely if documentation is required amid security fears, although Playzee will notify Kiwis accordingly. Banks also may hold up proceedings under their know-your-customer (KYC) procedures.

Needless to say, not all payment methods are functional when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. Here are the main payment methods listed on the Playzee website page (deposit/withdrawal):

• ApplePay: Yes/Yes
• Bank transfer: Yes/Yes
• Maestro, MasterCard, Visa: Yes/No
• Much Better: Yes/Yes
• Neteller: Yes/Yes
• PaysafeCard: Yes/No
• Skrill: Yes/Yes
• Visa Voucher: Yes/No