Betsafe review

Betsafe is one of the best-known online casino and sports betting companies in New Zealand, belonging to the well-known Betsson group. Betsafe holds a local New Zealand gambling licence and has earned widespread player trust.

Betsafe used to have a fairly wide network of physical betting shops, but this online casino now operates purely online, where it offers very wide and diverse gambling services.

In this review we’ll talk about Betsafe in more detail. We’ll cover what the Betsafe company is, talk about Betsafe’s main services, and cover this online casino’s main advantages and disadvantages. We’ll also talk about foreign online casino companies that could be an alternative to Betsafe.

What is Betsafe?

Betsafe is an international gambling company that operates legally in New Zealand under a licence from the New Zealand Gambling Commission. This online casino offers not just sports betting but also thousands of slot machines, live casino games and other services. The company is known for its high level of safety, convenient site design and competitive game selection.

Betsafe’s predecessor in New Zealand was the company Tonybet, but a Swedish gambling group later acquired Tonybet, and the Betsafe brand began operating in New Zealand. Betsafe has built up, and continues to build, its popularity by actively sponsoring sport. Betsafe remains the main sponsor of the New Zealand men’s basketball team, and title sponsor of New Zealand’s National Basketball League, officially known as Betsafe-NBL.

The Betsafe brand doesn’t only operate in New Zealand. This online casino and sports betting company is also popular in other markets – it’s well known in Australia, as well as in Sweden and several other countries.

Types of gambling offered by Betsafe

Betsafe is a fairly universal online casino and sports betting company, offering something for every style of gambler. First of all, it’s worth noting that Betsafe has a fairly large number of slot machines, although it lags a little behind competing companies in sheer numbers. Betsafe can also boast live casino games with real dealers and, of course, a wide sports betting offer covering both pre-match and live betting. We’ll cover Betsafe’s main types of gambling in a bit more detail.

Slots

Right now, Betsafe’s online casino can offer New Zealand players a little over 2,000 different slot machines. To make things more convenient for users, slot machines are sorted into separate categories. At Betsafe you’ll find categories for new games, the most popular games, and games with the highest RTP rating. During holiday periods, Betsafe also often creates themed game categories, such as Christmas or Halloween game categories.

Looking more closely at Betsafe’s slot machine selection, it’s worth noting that Betsafe features the most popular slot machine providers, including Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, Tomhorn, Amusnet and others, all loved by users around the world.

These slot machine providers guarantee that this online casino company has the most popular slots, such as Gates of Olympus, Starburst, Legacy of Dead and Big Bass Bonanza.

Live casino

Looking at Betsafe’s live casino game selection, you’ll find both computer-generated and live versions of classic games. At Betsafe you can play live casino games such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette. All of these games can be played with live dealers, offering an authentic casino gaming experience.

Betsafe’s selection includes games from three live casino providers – at this casino you can play games created by Pragmatic Play Live, Evolution and Ezugi.

It’s also worth mentioning that Betsafe was, for a long time, the only online casino company operating in New Zealand that offered poker. This online casino genuinely has a huge number of different poker rooms with varying bet sizes.

Sports betting

Betsafe originally started out as a sports betting company, so it should come as no surprise that it offers a wide sports betting range. This online casino lets you bet on basketball, football, tennis, ice hockey and plenty of other sports.

Betting limits depend on the league you choose. If you want to bet on, say, the NBA or the Champions League at Betsafe, you’ll be offered genuinely very high betting limits.

Betsafe can also boast a wide live sports betting selection. One of Betsafe’s key advantages is the ability to combine pre-match and live events, since not all New Zealand-licensed online casinos that offer sports betting can offer this feature.

Betsafe’s advantages and disadvantages

Like other online casinos, the Betsafe online casino and sports betting company has both advantages and disadvantages. We’ll cover Betsafe’s strengths and weaknesses in a bit more detail.

Betsafe’s advantages

Licence and safety. The Betsafe online casino operates using a New Zealand licence, issued by the New Zealand Gambling Commission. This licence is considered trustworthy and safe, and if a dispute arises between the online casino and a player, the player has somewhere to turn to have their interests protected. Because of this, Betsafe can be considered a completely trustworthy and safe online casino.

Wide game selection. Betsafe offers a wide range of slot machines, live casino games and sports betting. At this online casino you can play games from the most popular casino developers, such as Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, Evolution. When it comes to sports betting, you can bet both pre-match and live. Betting on matches that have already started is actually the most popular option.

Convenient mobile version. The Betsafe online casino site generally receives plenty of praise for its innovative design and convenient navigation. Most Betsafe players use the mobile version, which is beautifully adapted to mobile devices of every size. It’s also worth noting that Betsafe has its own mobile app, which stands out in the New Zealand market.

Range of payment methods. The Betsafe online casino also has fairly universal payment methods – players can top up their account using New Zealand banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and others), payment cards (Visa, Mastercard) and e-wallets, such as Skrill and Neteller.

Betsafe’s disadvantages

Bonuses and promotions. A few years ago, Betsafe had a wide range of bonuses. Players could receive welcome bonuses, take part in various tournaments, VIP programmes and so on. But a few years ago, New Zealand’s gambling laws changed, and any type of bonus was banned at companies operating with a New Zealand licence.

Crypto payments. Users in the online casino market increasingly value anonymity. Players often don’t want their bank to see their payments to online casinos. This can partly be offset by using Skrill, Neteller or other e-wallets, but these also don’t guarantee complete anonymity.

The very best online casinos abroad offer payments in at least the main cryptocurrencies, such as BTC, ETH, USDT, ADA and similar. Unfortunately, crypto payments to gambling companies are prohibited in New Zealand, so Betsafe can’t offer the option to deposit or withdraw using crypto.

Betsafe alternatives

Betsafe is a well-known online casino and sports betting company, but it does have certain downsides. Because of this, plenty of New Zealand players often decide to play not at New Zealand companies but at foreign online casinos. Because of this, we’ll describe a few foreign casinos that can be a great alternative to Betsafe.

Gizbo.Casino mini review

One company that can replace Betsafe is Gizbo.Casino. This online casino operates with a Curaçao licence, well regarded in the gambling world, and can offer an even wider game range than Betsafe – here you’ll find even more slot machines, especially high-quality live casino, and, of course, sports betting.

Gizbo.Casino lets you make payments using all the same methods as Betsafe, including New Zealand banks. You can also make deposits using the most popular crypto – BTC, USDC and others.

Gizbo.Casino can also boast especially high withdrawal limits – every month, each player here can withdraw up to 125,000 euros, considerably more than the market standard. Gizbo.Casino is also known for its bonuses. Here players receive a solid welcome package covering their first four deposits. Afterwards, players are encouraged to stick around with personal offers, a VIP programme, solid weekly cashback and other bonuses.

Irwin.Casino

Irwin.Casino is very similar to the already-mentioned Gizbo.Casino. This online casino also uses the same Curaçao licence, which ensures a safe gaming experience. At Irwin.Casino you can also play slot machines and live casino games, as well as place sports bets.

Irwin.Casino’s payment methods are broad and perfectly suited to the New Zealand market. New Zealand players can make deposits directly from their New Zealand bank accounts, as well as using payment cards (Visa, Mastercard) and e-wallets (Skrill and others). Crypto payments are also available at Irwin.Casino – the company accepts deposits in major currencies (BTC, ETH and similar). When it comes to withdrawal limits, Irwin.Casino lets you withdraw up to 125,000 euros per month.

Promotions and bonuses at Irwin.Casino are offered from the very first deposit. Newcomers receive a newcomer package covering a few deposits. And players who stick around longer at this online casino can take part in the loyalty programme, play in slot tournaments and so on.

Wazbee.Casino

Another alternative to Betsafe is Wazbee.Casino, which is especially popular among players who use crypto, since cryptocurrency payments are the most popular payment method at this online casino. This company also operates with a Curaçao licence, so players can feel safe and secure.

Besides letting you make deposits in various crypto, Wazbee.Casino also has other universal payment methods. You can top up your gaming account directly from a New Zealand bank, as well as with bank cards – Visa, Mastercard – and e-wallets – Neteller, Skrill and similar.

Promotions and bonuses at Wazbee.Casino are solid right from your first deposit. Loyal players can climb through the loyalty programme’s levels here and receive personal offers. Wazbee.Casino also offers solid weekly cashback and other competitive bonuses.

Summary

Betsafe is a popular New Zealand online casino and sports betting company that offers universal gambling services. Betsafe has a wide range of slot machines, live casino games with real dealers, and pre-match and live sports betting.

Betsafe operates with a New Zealand licence, which guarantees player safety, and has universal payment methods – you can top up your gaming account via banks, payment cards and e-wallets. Unfortunately, Betsafe doesn’t accept crypto payments, so it can’t guarantee players complete anonymity.

It’s also worth mentioning that Betsafe can’t offer its players any bonuses or promotions, since this is prohibited under the New Zealand gambling licence. Because of this, plenty of Betsafe players look for alternatives abroad, and options include Gizbo.Casino, Irwin.Casino and Wazbee.Casino.

Are all foreign online casinos equally safe?

As we mentioned, we highly recommend choosing only licensed casinos (e.g. those with a Curaçao licence), as only such casinos ensure safety.

I live in New Zealand, but I want to play at foreign online casinos. Is that possible?

Yes, but you’ll need to take certain steps – you’ll find them described in our “Guides” section.

From what age can you play online casinos?

Anyone over 18 years old can play at online casinos.

Do all casinos offer the same bonuses?

Definitely not – we always recommend reviewing at least a few different companies and choosing the one that suits you best.

I play at a New Zealand online casino, but I don’t get any bonuses. Why?

That’s because current New Zealand law prohibits New Zealand-licensed companies from offering their players bonuses or promotions.