Tai Sai Casinos in New Zealand | Where To Play?

Tai Sai is a game that is not as popular in New Zealand compared to pokies and other games like Blackjack, Roulette, Live Games, and Baccarat.

However, it is still present in many casinos as Sic Bo. You might be wondering, “Are Tai Sai and Sic Bo the same?”

Yes, obviously. Tai Sai and Sic Bo are the same game. Tai Sai is a game of Chinese origin that is known by many names, such as

• Sic Bo (known in Asia)
• Dai Siu (Macau, Hong Kong)
• Big and Small
• Hi-Lo (Philippines)

However, Tai Sai is almost nonexistent in land-based casinos in New Zealand, but the game can still be found in many online casinos.

Tai Sai Casinos in New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Tai Sai game is known as Sic Bo, and it is available in almost all casinos except for SkyCity Casino, which refers to it as Sic Bo.

1. SkyCity Casino NZ

SkyCity is a casino brand that is very popular in New Zealand because of its presence in both online and offline forms.

SkyCity has brick-and-mortar casinos in Auckland, Queenstown, and Hamilton. In addition to this, since 2012, the brand has created its online presence by providing online casino games via its website.

The SkyCity Online Casino website has many games, and the list includes Tai Sai as well. However, it’s the only casino that mentions Tai Sai as Tai Sai and not Sic Bo.

SkyCity Online Casino does not allow demo play and is only accessible to players aged 20 years or above. It is present in the “Table Games” category.

Not only the online casino, but the version can also be found at SkyCity Auckland Casino, though the tables are comparatively fewer than Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette tables.

At SkyCity, a bonus of $1,000 with 1,000 loyalty points can be claimed; however, it has no specific bonus for the Tai Sai game.

The available methods include Paysafecard, Skrill, PayPal, and debit cards.

2. Jackpot City Casino

Jackpot City is a Baytree Casino licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. The website not only holds the license but is also verified by a third party, i.e., eCOGRA. In the table games category, they have two games of Sic Bo, i.e., Sic Bo and Real Sic Bo with Sarati. However, both are not live, and the game with Sarati presents a recorded video. Both games can be played in demo mode.

Not only this, but the “Live Casino” section also has two live Sic Bo versions, including Live Mega Sic Bo (Pragmatic Play) and Live Super Sic Bo (Evolution Gaming). Remember, no demo play for live games.

There are no specific bonuses for the Sic Bo game, but instead, they have a general bonus of $1,600 with any deposit of more than $10, and this bonus can be used in any game; there are no restrictions.

Different games contribute differently when it comes to playthrough requirements, but Sic Bo is excluded from it.

3. Christchurch Casino

Similar to SkyCity Casino, Christchurch is also a popular brand of casinos, especially in New Zealand.

Christchurch Casino is located in Christchurch Central City, where people typically spend up to three hours enjoying the games along with its food.

The table for the Sic Bo game is available at Christchurch’s brick-and-mortar casino.

To expand, Christchurch has created its online casino and gained a license for Type 1 Gaming Services, i.e., Casino Games.

It is a brand managed by Two Islands Enterprise Limited (Company), and eCOGRA verifies the website as well.

However, when it comes to the Tai Sai game, Christchurch only has one game, Mega Sic Bo, which is provided by Pragmatic Play.

It is only a “Live Version” and can’t be tried or played for free. Out of 47 live games, only one is Sic Bo.

4. Zodiac Casino

Zodiac Casino is a Tai Sai casino owned by a brand named Casino Rewards and licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

In the “Table Games” section, we saw two versions of Sic Bo, similar to Baytree Casinos, i.e., Sic Bo and Real Sic Bo with Sarati.

Zodiac Casino does not promote free play, so neither the live version nor the table game version can be played for free.

Sic Bo is also present in the form of live games. Casino Rewards has three screens of Live Games: Live Casino, Pragmatic Play Live, and Live Casino 2.

The Sic Bo versions were seen in the “Live Casino 2” section. The available games are Speed Super Sic Bo and Super Sic Bo.

5. Emu Casino

Emu Casino is a casino that is different from other casinos that have ownership from top brands like Baytree LTD or Casino Rewards.

It was established in 2012 and has more games compared to all the casinos listed above. It has 2,100+ games, all powered by 30+ software providers, including the top ones.

However, the ownership and licensing information is not publicly available, but the website seems very legitimate.

All the games, except the live versions, can be tried for free in demo mode. It is a crypto casino with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies available for transactions.

Regarding Sic Bo, except for live versions, it has two games: Sic Bo Dragon and Sic Bo.

However, in the live version, we saw an interesting game, Bac Bo, which is a mixture of Baccarat and Sic Bo.

How to Choose Tai Sai or Sic Bo Casinos?

When choosing a Tai Sai or Sic Bo casino, consider the following practical factors:

1. Game Availability

• Check if the casino offers Tai Sai or Sic Bo in both table games and live versions.
• Some casinos, like SkyCity, list Tai Sai separately, while others group it under Sic Bo.

2. Free Play Option

• If you want to practice before betting real money, choose casinos that allow demo play (e.g., Emu Casino offers demo play for non-live versions).
• Some casinos, like Zodiac Casino, do not support free play.

3. Live Sic Bo Options

• If you prefer live dealer Sic Bo, check the casino’s live game providers.
• Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play offer good live Sic Bo options like Mega Sic Bo and Speed Sic Bo.

4. Bonuses & Promotions

• No casino typically offers a specific Sic Bo bonus, but some have general deposit bonuses.
• Example: Jackpot City gives a $1,600 bonus, usable on all games.

5. Betting Limits & Game Features

• Look at minimum and maximum bets to match your budget.
• Some versions, like Bac Bo (at Emu Casino), mix Sic Bo with Baccarat for added variety.

6. Payment Methods

• If you prefer crypto, go for a casino like Emu Casino that supports Bitcoin.
• If you use e-wallets (Skrill, PayPal), check casinos like SkyCity and Zodiac Casino.

7. Casino Reputation & Licensing

• Choose casinos licensed by trusted authorities (e.g., Kahnawake, Alderney, Malta).
• Ensure they are verified by eCOGRA for fairness.

Should We Play Tai Sai or Sic Bo?

The decision to play Tai Sai or not is a person’s physical choice. Tai Sai is more commonly known as Sic Bo in New Zealand. However, there’s a practical approach to help you decide:

• Less Availability – Tai Sai is a less commonly offered game and is not available in variety at many casinos. Almost all the casinos only share 1 or 2 varieties of the game.
• Multi-Availability – We loved the fact that the game is available as a live and non-live version. So, the game is experienced in both ways.
• No specific bonus – However, casinos do not explicitly have bonuses for the Tai Sai but the general casino match deposit bonus can be claimed to play this.
• Check for any deposit bonuses or loyalty rewards.

So, in short, If you’re specifically looking to experience Tai Sai, are fine with fewer casino options, no demo play, and prefer a live experience, you can go ahead and play while also checking for any available bonuses that can be used on the game.

What Do We Think?

Sic Bo and Tai Sai are the same games and can be played at both online and land-based casinos in New Zealand.

It is a game with a Chinese origin and theme, but it has yet to gain popularity like pokies and other table games such as blackjack, baccarat, and roulette.

Brick-and-mortar casinos in New Zealand are dominated by pokie machines. Tai Sai is not a bad game, but players have yet to recognise its gaming experience.

It is available at many online casinos from top companies like Baytree Limited and Casino Rewards.

All the casinos from these companies offer two versions of the game, which can also be tried for free. Additionally, a live version of the game is available.

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