SkyCity Casino New Zealand

Gaming at Three Destinations

We run three unique casino venues here in New Zealand. The main Auckland site is at the base of the Sky Tower, opened in 1996, and is the only casino in Auckland and the second casino ever established in New Zealand. Our casinos in Hamilton and Queenstown provide regional access with unique atmospheres. Auckland stands out as our flagship, featuring approximately 2,100 gaming machines and approximately 150 table games.

Our Auckland property is far more than just a casino. With three hotels, approximately 14 bars and restaurants, a theatre and conference facilities, it’s a complete entertainment spot. The SkyCity Auckland complex also includes the iconic Sky Tower and a theatre with a 700-seat auditorium, offering a diverse range of entertainment experiences. Gaming operates 24/7, excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday, and 3am–1pm on ANZAC Day. Entry requires age 20+. If you want to play at our machines or tables, you need to register for a SHOW by SkyCity card.

There’s a 12-hour stay limit within every 18-hour window, applied across all New Zealand venues. Our casino licences are locked in until at least 2048 for Auckland, ensuring we’re here for the long run. The NZICC in Auckland is set to open in February 2026, as part of an agreement to develop a convention centre. This deal included 230 additional poker machines, 40 tables plus 12 substitutable, in exchange for building a $402M convention centre.

SkyCity Queenstown opened in December 2000 with 86 gambling machines and 12 gambling tables, bringing our regional presence to the South Island.

Table Games and Machine Variety

For table game enthusiasts, Auckland’s floors offer classics like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and various poker variants — 150 tables in total. For players seeking privacy and higher stakes, our VIP rooms create that special atmosphere. Queenstown features 8 standard tables and 4 VIP tables, licensed for up to 23 tables if needed.

Auckland offers approximately 2,100 slot machines. Queenstown, on a smaller scale, has 86 (but we’re licensed for as many as 339 down there). There’s everything from video slots to electronic roulette and automated poker screens. Promoting responsible gaming, our SkyCare system sometimes pauses machines so players can take a break.

Playing on our machines or tables means putting your SHOW card in, which lets you keep track of time and spending. The system also helps us meet host responsibility standards.

Denominations range from 1¢ to high-stakes options. If you haven’t played before, the lower denominations are a solid way to ease in and get a feeling for the pace.

VIP Room Experience

VIP gaming is available at every property. These are private spaces set up for our high-stakes guests, with professional dealers, a higher level of service, and betting limits that top the main floor’s. You need an invitation, or to show a certain level of play, before getting in.

Within these exclusive rooms, players get perks like private dining, premium drinks, and an individual account manager. VIPs can also jump the queue with preferred bookings for our hotels and restaurants. In Queenstown, we have four separate VIP tables away from the other main tables just for this.

SHOW Card: Registration and Use

Every player needs a SHOW card before hitting tables or machines. Signing up happens at our service desks in each casino or you can register online. Just bring photo ID – passport, driver’s licence, NZ firearms licence or overseas national identity card – to show you’re 20 or over.

A quick walkthrough of registration:

1. Get to the SHOW card counter with your ID
2. Fill in your details for our team
3. Card gets printed and handed to you straight away
4. Pop it into a machine (or give to a table dealer) and you’re set

The card does more than just let you play - it tracks your time and spend automatically. Use the self-serve kiosks any time to check your points, account balance or session. If you’ve been playing a bit too long, the system will pick up on it and flag us to step in.

Earning rewards with the SHOW card is simple. Your volume of play unlocks things like restaurant meals, hotel nights, and tickets to special events. As your points go up, so does your reward tier, right up to platinum. No need to claim anything by hand - it all happens automatically.

Our Approach to Responsible Gaming

By law in New Zealand, casinos return a portion of profits to the community. We also go further by offering several responsible play services. For starters, anyone can choose a self-exclusion period - anywhere from three months to a permanent break if needed.

To set up self-exclusion, here’s how:

1. Call our Host Responsibility team at 09 363 6000
2. Fill out the application
3. Let us know how long and what areas you want excluded
4. We’ll confirm by phone or in person and deactivate your card

If friends or family feel someone’s at risk, they can apply for third-party exclusion as well. Once we review, we’ll put measures in place if there’s a concern.

For more tailored support or a friendly chat, our Gaming Helpline is always open at 0800 654 655. Our SkyCare system also steps in at intervals on machines, promoting breaks and sharing reminders about time spent gaming. If you have questions during your visit, staff at the service desks and host responsibility team can provide assistance at any time.

Hotels, Food & Entertainment

Auckland’s complex offers guests their pick among three hotels: SkyCity Hotel Auckland, Horizon By SkyCity, and The Grand by SkyCity – from comfy standard suites to premium spaces with Sky Tower views. You can walk right from your room into the gaming areas and restaurants without stepping outside.

We have approximately 14 bars and restaurants to cover every taste: casual eateries, steakhouses, Asian spots and cocktail lounges. Several venues stay open late, syncing with our 24-hour casino floor for those who prefer to eat and play after midnight.

Need space for a big event? Our convention and events center is designed for gatherings large and small - perfect for work functions or a great night out. Plus, we host live shows and special events at our own theatre throughout the year.

Our Regional Casinos

SkyCity Hamilton is a regional casino with similar policies to Auckland, offering its own gaming machines, table and VIP options, as well as food and drink spots. Policies, opening hours, and check-in rules are pretty much the same as in Auckland.

SkyCity owns five casinos: SkyCity Auckland, SkyCity Hamilton, SkyCity Queenstown, SkyCity Wharf Casino, and SkyCity Adelaide. The SkyCity group owns five casinos across Australia and New Zealand, expanding our presence on both sides of the Tasman. All the responsible play systems and SHOW cards are the same - SHOW cards are valid across all SkyCity New Zealand casinos. SkyCity operates casinos in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown (NZ) and Adelaide (Australia), expanding our presence beyond New Zealand.

Getting in Touch

You can reach our main Auckland team at 0800 SKYCITY (0800 759 2489) for anything from bookings to shift manager requests. For responsible gaming and exclusion requests, our Host Responsibility line is 09 363 6000.

If you or someone close needs confidential help with gambling, the Gaming Helpline at 0800 654 655 is independent and always open.

Auckland gaming floors are open every day, 24 hours, excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday, and 3am–1pm on ANZAC Day. Regional venues like Hamilton and Queenstown maintain a similar schedule, but always check local regulations for details.