Paying a casino directly from your bank account — rather than with a card — has long appealed to New Zealanders who’d rather not share card details or use credit. POLi was the best-known way to do that, but its role has changed, and the safer approach is shifting toward open banking. This guide explains where POLi stands in 2026, how open banking works, and how bank-based deposits fit New Zealand’s new gambling rules.
What POLi is — and where it stands now
POLi let you pay a merchant straight from your internet banking without a credit card. It’s still around in New Zealand for general online payments, but its presence at New Zealand online casinos has largely fallen away in 2026, as operators moved to more reliable methods and banks tightened their policies on services that access online-banking credentials.
That last point is the important one. Traditional POLi worked by having you log in to your bank through POLi’s interface, which means handing your internet-banking username and password to a third party. Consumer NZ has warned that doing so likely breaches most banks’ terms and conditions and could compromise the protection you’d otherwise have if something went wrong — and banks consistently advise never sharing your banking login. So even where POLi still appears, that credential-sharing model is a genuine reason for caution rather than the “gold standard” it’s sometimes billed as.
Open banking: the safer direction
The better answer is open banking, which is now rolling out across New Zealand’s major banks. Instead of giving a third party your login, open banking lets you authorise a payment inside your own bank’s app or portal — the bank confirms the payment to the merchant, and your username and password never leave your control. Providers such as Akahu operate in this open-banking space, and even POLi has been moving toward bank open-banking APIs to remove the credential-sharing step. For anyone funding a gambling account, that shift matters: it keeps the convenience of a direct bank payment without the security trade-off.
Why bank-based payments suit the 2026 rules
Bank transfers and open banking fit neatly with New Zealand’s new framework. Under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, credit cards and buy-now-pay-later services are banned for gambling deposits, while debit and bank-based methods remain — because they move only cleared funds you already have, rather than borrowed money. A bank-based payment also means your card details aren’t shared with the casino at all. Our guides to the credit-card ban and casino payment methods cover the wider payment picture.
How to pay safely by bank
If you’re funding an account from your bank, a few habits keep you on the safe side.
The single most useful rule is to prefer methods that don’t ask for your internet-banking username and password — open banking is designed precisely so you never share them. Beyond that, treat payment method and legality as separate questions: a casino accepting a New Zealand bank payment or using NZ-focused wording is not automatically licensed here. Once the Department of Internal Affairs’ public register is live, checking that an operator is licensed is the reliable test. Our guide to cross-border casino payments explains more about how these transactions move.
The regulatory backdrop
New Zealand’s online casino market is being formalised under the Act 2026, which came into force on 1 May 2026, with the licensed market expected from around 1 December 2026 and the DIA maintaining a public register of approved operators. Licensed operators must verify age (18+) before you can deposit, offer player-set limits, and meet anti-money-laundering obligations. Until you’re using a licensed operator, the responsibility to check who you’re dealing with — and how you’re paying — sits with you. Our overview of New Zealand’s gambling laws has the full context.
Final thoughts
Bank-based payments remain a sensible way to fund a casino account — no card details shared, no credit involved, just money you already have. The key change to absorb is how you make them: open banking, which authorises payments inside your own bank without exposing your login, is replacing older screen-scraping methods like traditional POLi for good reason. Choose methods that keep your banking credentials to yourself, favour operators you can verify, and remember that however you pay, gambling is entertainment with a cost rather than a way to make money.
This article is general, factual information and is not legal, financial or gambling advice. Payment services and their availability change, and the regime is still being implemented, so check an official source for the current position. Nothing here encourages you to gamble, and gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand from the Gambling Helpline (0800 654 655), PGF Services and the Department of Internal Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use POLi at New Zealand casinos?
POLi still operates in New Zealand for general online payments, but its presence at NZ online casinos has largely fallen away in 2026. Operators moved to more reliable methods, and banks have tightened their policies on services that use internet-banking credentials.
Is POLi safe to use?
Traditional POLi requires entering your internet-banking login into a third party. Consumer NZ has warned this likely breaches most banks’ terms and conditions and could compromise your fraud protection, and banks advise never sharing your login. Open banking, which doesn’t require sharing credentials, is the safer alternative.
What is open banking?
Open banking lets you authorise a payment inside your own bank’s app or portal, so the bank confirms the payment without you handing your username and password to a third party. It’s rolling out across New Zealand’s major banks and is the safer direction for direct bank payments.
What is Akahu?
Akahu is a New Zealand open-banking provider that lets you connect your bank to other apps with your consent. It’s an example of the open-banking approach that authorises access securely rather than relying on shared login credentials.
Can I use a credit card instead?
No. Credit cards and buy-now-pay-later services are banned for gambling deposits under the 2026 rules. Debit cards and bank-based payments remain available, because they use cleared funds you already have rather than borrowed money.
Does accepting a NZ bank payment mean a casino is licensed?
No. A payment method doesn’t establish legal status — a casino that accepts New Zealand bank payments or uses NZ wording is not automatically licensed here. Once the DIA’s public register is live, checking it is the reliable way to confirm an operator is licensed.
