If your debit card or credit card was declined at an online casino, your bank is likely rejecting the transaction. Westpac, Kiwibank, ANZ, and other NZ banks actively block gambling payments as part of their harm-minimisation policies. Some blocks are automatic, others are opt-in settings you may have enabled without realising.
This guide explains exactly why your casino deposit was refused, which banks apply gambling restrictions, how to check and lift the block at each bank, and which alternative payment methods like POLi and crypto bypass card-based blocks entirely.
Most common fix: Use POLi instead of your card. POLi transfers funds directly from your bank account without triggering card-based gambling blocks. It works at six of our eight recommended casinos and processes instantly.
If you specifically want to use your card, check whether your bank has a gambling block enabled (see the bank-by-bank guide below). If you cannot remove the block, cryptocurrency is completely bank-independent and works at 7Bit Casino, Mirax Casino, and KatsuBet.
| Bank | Gambling Block | Type | Removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westpac | Yes - Gambling Transaction Control | Opt-in (customer activated) | App/online, 2-day standdown |
| Kiwibank | Yes - Gambling category block | Optional (may be pre-enabled) | Contact support or branch |
| ANZ | No default gambling block | N/A | N/A |
| ASB | No default gambling block | N/A | N/A |
| BNZ | No default gambling block | N/A | N/A |
ANZ, ASB, and BNZ customers should not experience gambling-specific blocks, though individual transactions may still be declined by fraud detection systems for overseas merchants.
Banks lose money when customers accumulate gambling debts on credit cards. If a customer maxes out their credit card at casinos and cannot repay, the bank absorbs the loss. Blocking gambling transactions on credit cards protects the bank's portfolio and the customer's credit score.
NZ banks participate in harm-minimisation initiatives. Westpac's Gambling Transaction Control has been used over 4,000 times since launch, indicating genuine demand from customers who want to limit their own gambling spending. These controls give customers a friction layer between impulse and action.
Most online casinos are registered overseas (Curacao, Malta, Gibraltar). International transactions to gambling merchants trigger automated fraud detection at NZ banks. The transaction may be declined not because of a gambling block, but because the bank's fraud system flagged the overseas merchant.
New Zealand's Online Casino Gambling Bill will ban credit card deposits at casinos entirely from late 2026. Banks are anticipating this regulation by tightening gambling controls now. Debit cards, POLi, and crypto will remain unaffected.
Note: The 2-day delay is intentional. Westpac designed the standdown period to prevent impulsive reactivation. If you need to deposit immediately, use POLi or cryptocurrency instead.
Kiwibank's process is less transparent than Westpac's. If phone support cannot resolve the issue, visit a branch with photo ID.
POLi transfers funds directly from your bank account via internet banking, bypassing card-based gambling blocks entirely. It works because the transaction goes through your bank's transfer system, not your card. POLi is supported at Ruby Fortune, Jackpot City, Spin Casino, Lucky Nugget, Kiwi's Treasure, and Mirax Casino.
Crypto deposits (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT) do not involve your bank at all. Purchase crypto through a local exchange, transfer to the casino's wallet address, and deposit in minutes. 7Bit Casino, Mirax Casino, and KatsuBet accept 15+ cryptocurrencies with zero fees. This is the only payment method that banks cannot block.
E-wallets work if you can fund them with a debit card (not credit). Load funds into Skrill or Neteller, then deposit from the e-wallet to the casino. This adds a layer between your bank and the casino merchant. Note: some casinos exclude e-wallet deposits from welcome bonus eligibility.
| Casino | POLi | Crypto | Min Deposit | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiwi's Treasure | Yes | No | $1 | Claim Bonus |
| Spin Casino | Yes | No | $1 | Claim Bonus |
| Mirax Casino | Yes | 15+ coins | $10 | Claim Bonus |
| KatsuBet | No | 15+ coins | $10 | Claim Bonus |
| 7Bit Casino | No | 15+ coins | $5 | Claim Bonus |
| Ruby Fortune | Yes | No | $5 | Claim Bonus |
| Jackpot City | Yes | No | $1 | Claim Bonus |
New Zealand's Online Casino Gambling Bill introduces the most significant changes to NZ gambling regulation in decades. Here is what players need to know.
Bottom line: If you currently deposit with a debit card, POLi, or crypto, nothing changes for you in December 2026. If you deposit with a credit card, switch to one of these alternatives before the ban takes effect.
Most commonly because of Westpac's Gambling Transaction Control or Kiwibank's category block. ANZ, ASB, and BNZ do not have default gambling blocks but may decline overseas transactions via fraud detection.
Open the Westpac One app, go to Card Settings, toggle off Gambling Transaction Control. There is a mandatory 2-day standdown period before the block lifts.
POLi is the fastest alternative - instant bank transfer that bypasses card blocks. Available at six of our eight recommended casinos.
Yes. The new regulations ban credit card deposits and unlicensed advertising, but debit cards, POLi, crypto, and e-wallets remain fully legal. Access to offshore casinos continues.
Yes. Using alternative payment methods is completely legal. Gambling blocks are voluntary customer tools, not legal restrictions. You are entitled to choose how you spend your own money.
Card and bank transfer deposits show the merchant name on your statement. POLi shows as a bank transfer. Crypto transactions do not appear on bank statements at all.
Your bank's fraud detection may have flagged the overseas transaction. Call your bank to authorise the payment, or switch to POLi or crypto to avoid card-based processing entirely.
Bank gambling blocks exist as a harm-minimisation tool. If you activated a block to control your spending, consider whether removing it is the right decision. Gambling should be entertainment, not a financial strategy.