Top 5 Gaming Lounges in Auckland

In the heart of Auckland’s vibrant urban landscape, a haven for gamers awaits – gaming lounges.

These immersive entertainment spaces, often nestled within prestigious hotels or exclusive clubs, offer an exhilarating mix of video games, pokies machines, live sports broadcasts, and an array of gaming tables.

Auckland has emerged as a focal point for these gaming lounges, attracting a diverse community of gaming enthusiasts.

From the bustling city center to serene suburban corners, this article unveils the top 5 gaming lounges that Auckland proudly hosts.

Let’s embark on a journey through these gaming havens that promise excitement and memorable experiences.

If you are in Auckland or visiting this area here are the top 5 Gaming Rooms or Lounges in Auckland to have fun and play games.

Top 5 Gaming Lounges in Auckland

1. Gordy’s Bar and Gaming

Location:  5 Jack Conway Ave, Manukau, Auckland 2104, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9-262 0899
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=124971194241364

Gordy’s Bar and Gaming is the best gaming lounge to relax with your friends and play games. The bar at the lounge offers great drinks, alongside music and friendly chat sessions.

When it comes to pokies there are 20 poker machines and over games to enjoy here with a TAB terminal.

Gordy’s Bar and Gaming: A Top Spot for Thrills and Spills

Gordy’s Bar and Gaming, a hot spot in town, offers more than just a cold pint and tasty pub food.

With 20 state-of-the-art gaming machines featuring games like Big Red, Lightning Link, Mega Moolah, and Starburst from top-notch manufacturers like Aristocrat, Novomatic, and Konami, it’s a paradise for pokie lovers.

Their gaming portfolio extends with TAB facilities, enabling betting on sports, horse, greyhound, and harness racing, plus Lotto and Instant Kiwi.

Keno, the popular lottery game, is another crowd-puller with drawings every few minutes and enticing prizes. Beyond gaming, Gordy’s welcomes patrons to savor a varied menu of beers, wines, spirits, burgers, pizzas, and wings.

The bar’s vibrant atmosphere makes it an excellent choice for a fun night out with mates. Whether you’re a fan of pokies, TAB, Keno, or just a hearty meal and drink, Gordy’s has got you covered.

Enjoy Pool games or watch live sports events. When tired have a wonderful meal and food to enjoy. For entertainment, they have DJ nights as well as other forms of fun activities to keep you busy for the rest of the time.

2. 123 Palm Bar

Location: 495 Pakuranga Rd, Pakuranga Heights, Manukau 2010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9-533 8560
Website: www.123bar.co.nz

The 123 Palm Bar is a South African-themed gaming lounge that not only provides 12 pokies to play but also delicious food, refreshing beverages, a great atmosphere, and a safe environment to have fun with family and friends.

Unwind and Win at 123 Palm Bar

123 Palm Bar, a bustling hub of entertainment, offers not just drinks and hearty pub grub, but also an array of gaming experiences.

Housing 12 state-of-the-art gaming machines, each armed with a selection of games and progressive jackpots, the bar delivers ample opportunities for those hoping to try their luck.

Games range from the iconic Big Red and Lightning Link to Gold Reef and Plenty O’ Fortune, catering to varied tastes.

Alongside the pokies, patrons can tap into the thrill of betting via TAB facilities that encompass sports, horse, and greyhound racing.

The bar also hosts a popular lottery game, Keno, with frequent drawings and exciting prizes. Coupled with a broad drink menu and a selection of lip-smacking food like burgers, pizzas, and wings, 123 Palm Bar is the go-to place for a fun, fulfilling night out.

The Cook on the Rock is their specialty where you can find awesome naturally cooked food starting from $16.

3. Fox’s Ale House

Location: 85/87 Customs St W, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9-358 2767

The Fox is Auckland’s iconic sporting bar and restaurant situated in the beautiful Viaduct Harbour, in the heart of Auckland City.  

Established in 2002, The Fox has since thrived on the Viaduct and has a long-standing, well-deserved reputation as the best place to watch sports in New Zealand.

Fox’s Ale House is located in the heart of Auckland, on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Street. The bar is open seven days a week, from 12 pm to 12 am.

You can find all the major international and New Zealand sports that are streamed live here on the 9 large TV screens.

The bar has a 24/7 license so a good choice when big international events are being played in the middle of the night in New Zealand. The bar includes 11 tap beers, two pool tables, and a private gaming lounge as well.

The Perfect Blend of Brews and Games

Fox’s Ale House is a go-to destination for friends seeking fun, food, and an enticing gaming experience.

The venue is equipped with 15 state-of-the-art gaming machines from Aristocrat, all hosting a diverse assortment of games like Big Red, Lightning Link, Buffalo, Gold Reef, and Plenty O’ Fortune.

Players also get the opportunity to try their luck with progressive jackpots available on all games.

The establishment provides a complete betting experience with TAB facilities for sports, horse, and greyhound racing. Keno, the fan-favorite lottery game, runs its exciting drawings every few minutes, promising gratifying prizes.

Beyond its thrilling gaming scene, Fox’s Ale House entices patrons with a comprehensive bar service featuring a myriad of beers, wines, and spirits, and a food menu serving mouthwatering pub favorites like burgers, pizzas, and wings.

With its vibrant atmosphere, Fox’s Ale House guarantees a stellar night out for any gaming enthusiast or casual diner.

4. The Way Point

Location: 89 Springs Road East Tamaki East Tamaki-Dannemora, 2013, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 265 1612

The Waypoint bar is another popular destination for those seeking the best pokies, leisure, delectable food and drink best gaming lounge in Auckland where you get to taste a quality selection of delicious food and refreshing beverages.

You can relax with wine over lunch or dinner, or pop in for social after-work drinks to unwind for the day. Sports fans can enjoy Sky Sports events LIVE on the Big Screen.

There are 10 flat-screen TVs to watch live sports and games. Also, pool table games are available for casual players, and gaming and TAB facilities are for those who wish to try their luck with pokies games.

You can enjoy nightclub music and dance with your friends or family.

A Hub for Entertainment and Gaming Machines

The gaming arena features 10 top-notch gaming machines complemented by TAB and Keno facilities, providing a variety of entertainment options for patrons. The Waypoint boasts a function room, ideal for hosting private events such as parties or corporate gatherings.

With 10 Aristocrat poker machines, The Waypoint promises a captivating and thrilling gaming experience to all patrons. The pokies feature a wide range of popular games, engaging both seasoned players and newcomers alike.

Pokies machines at The Waypoint Auckland:

• Big Red
• Lightning Link
• Buffalo
• Gold Reef
• Plenty O’ Fortune

5. Shakespeare Tavern

Location:  61 Albert St, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9-373 5396
Website: www.shakespeare.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShakespeareNZ/

Located centrally in Auckland’s CBD, Shakespeare Tavern is an English-style bar that also doubles up as a 10-room hotel. The 120-year-old bar has several large-screen TVs, a gaming lounge, and a restaurant complete with an outdoor decking area.

The Shakespeare Brewery has been renowned over the decades for giving New Zealand its iconic craft beer brand.

The beer is LIVE here which means, they don’t flash pasteurize or filter beer and you can taste all the luscious flavors of malts.

The Shakespeare’s main bar located level to Albert Street and Wyndham Street is a great place to relax and unwind, with a choice of eight beers on tap, some of which are brewed in-house, and a fantastic selection of New Zealand wine and spirits for your refreshment.

There are 16 pokies at Shakespeare Tavern:

• Big Red
• Buffalo
• Cleopatra
• Da Vinci Diamonds
• Golden Goddess
• Hot Shot Progressive
• Jackpot Party
• King Cashalot
• Lucky Links
• Mega Moolah
• Piggy Riches
• Quick Hit Platinum
• Red, White, & Blue Diamond
• Ruby Slippers
• Serenity
• Starburst
• Wheel of Fortune

Shakespeare Tavern does not offer TAB betting.

Shakespeare Tavern is a great place to enjoy a night of gaming and entertainment.

The restaurant here caters to all with mouth-watering burgers, deliciously fresh salads, and tender steaks with all your old favorites.

24-Hour Gaming Lounges In Auckland

Pixel Gaming Lounge

• Location: Shop 4, 342 Great North Road, Henderson, Auckland
• Phone: 09-838-1230
• Operating Hours: Open Monday to Sunday

Pixel Gaming Lounge boasts a strong community, with over 1000 members relishing their extensive gaming portfolio. Coupled with an enticing selection of food and drink, it ensures patrons are fueled for long gaming sessions.

Notably, the lounge frequently hosts tournaments for fan-favorite games like Fortnite, League of Legends, CS: GO, DOTA2, and Valorant. Players can immerse themselves in the latest titles using:

• LG 27″ 240Hz monitors
• ASUS Strix video cards
• Overclocked Ryzen 2600X CPUs
• Corsair T2 Road Warrior seating for optimum comfort.

Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery

• Location: 61 Albert Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
• Phone: 09 373 5396
• Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday Till 9 am

The Shakespeare Hotel is really special with its old-style design, made of brick brought in from Melbourne. It’s in a great spot, close to cool places like The Sky City Casino, Britomart Centre, and the Viaduct area. Being near the waterfront and shopping areas in Auckland CBD is awesome too.

At The Shakespeare Hotel Auckland, you can have fun in the gaming area. There are 18 cool pokies machines and a TAB terminal for betting. It’s a comfy and friendly place to visit if you’re in Auckland City.

The Cav Gastropub

• Location: 68 College Hill, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand
• Phone: 09 -376 4230
• Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday Till 1 am

The Cav is a fancy pub in Ponsonby, around since 1866. It used to be called Suffolk Hotel in the days of Deadwood, the old name for Ponsonby. Until 1972, it was mainly managed by Campbell and Ehrenfried, but then they sold most of their pubs to Lion Breweries.

This place also has a cool gaming lounge with eight of the best pokies machines. It’s a favorite spot for pokies gaming in Ponsonby, Auckland CBD, with machines from IGT and Aristocrat that Kiwis enjoy playing.

SKYCITY Casino Auckland

• Location: 72 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
• Phone: 09 363 6000
• Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday for 24 hours

Whatever game you’re into, there’s a good chance it’s being played at this very moment at SkyCity Auckland Casino. With over 2,100 Gaming Machines and 150 Table Games, they offer excitement at various levels.

Just a reminder, you need to be 20 years or older to access the Gaming areas at SkyCity Auckland.

QF Tavern Auckland

• Location: Level1/16 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
• Phone: 09 302 0228
• Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday till 4 am

This place in the middle of Auckland city is one of the coolest spots for playing pokies. They’ve got 18 of the latest and most loved pokies machines from IGT and Aristocrat.

Inside, there’s a big screen for popular sports matches and four other TVs with great sound for other games. You can check the blackboard outside for the list of matches. And when big sports events are on, they have special deals on drinks.

If you’re coming by bus or taxi, there’s a stop right outside, and Britomart is close. And if you’re driving, you can park on the street.

Other notable mentions include:

• Oceans Bar & Gaming Lounge: Known for its coastal-themed interiors and a mix of classic and modern gaming titles.
• Coyote Bar and Gaming Lounge: Offers a vibrant setting with live music on select nights, enhancing the gaming ambiance.
• Mercury Bar and Gaming Lounge: Popular for its spacious layout and exclusive membership deals.
• M’m Lounge VR gaming lounge: Standing out from the crowd, M’m Lounge exclusively offers a virtual reality gaming experience, a must-visit for tech aficionados.

Is Playing Pokies at Gaming Lounges Legal?

In New Zealand, gambling on gaming machines in places such as pubs, hotels, and clubs is classified as Class 4 gambling.

While this classification does not encompass casinos, it’s entirely legal for Kiwis to engage in pokies at these gaming lounges.

Understanding Class 4 Gambling:

• Purpose: Class 4 gambling operates on a not-for-profit basis, aiming to generate revenue that gets returned to communities through contestable grant processes.
• Operation: The venues hosting these machines are managed by venue operators, with a designated person, the venue manager, overseeing the gaming machine operation.
• Revenue Management: Gaming lounges must keep the proceeds from gaming machines separate from other funds. These machines are electronically monitored to track the money input. After prizes are dispensed, the remaining amount is sent to the society’s bank account, which then distributes it to the community.
• Commission: Gaming lounges receive up to 1.28 percent of their weekly turnover as commission, capped at 16 percent of their yearly net gaming machine profits. The commission rate ensures that while the actual costs of operating Class 4 gambling are covered, pubs and bars don’t profit from gaming machine operations.

Gambling Classifications under the Gambling Act 2003:

• Class 1 & 2: These involve smaller money amounts, like office sweepstakes.
• Class 3: This includes bingo and larger raffles, requiring a license from the Department.
• Class 4: Pertains to non-casino electronic gaming machines in pubs, clubs, or gaming lounges.

Pokie Machine Limits: The permissible number of pokie machines in gaming lounges depends on when the venue’s license was granted:

• Before October 2001: A maximum of 18 machines.
• After October 2001: A maximum of nine machines.

Many gaming lounges opt to host pokie machines, providing customers with a diverse entertainment range within their premises.

Gaming Lounges and Gambling Ethics in New Zealand

Gaming lounges in New Zealand, while providing entertainment and revenue to communities, must adhere to strict ethical guidelines. Class 4 gambling is designed to be not-for-profit, with venues receiving commissions based on turnover to cover operational costs.

• Playing Fair: Gaming lounges in New Zealand follow important rules to make sure everything is fair and right.
• Not for Big Profits: Most gaming lounges work on a not-for-profit idea. They get money based on how much people play, and that money helps run the place without making a lot of extra cash.
• Open and Honest: It’s super important for gaming lounges to be open about what they’re doing and not try any tricky stuff to get more people to play.
• Balancing Fun and Help: They try to balance having fun and helping the local community without trying to make too much money.
• Different Choices: In New Zealand, people can choose from different kinds of legal gambling, like going to a casino, playing on machines, buying lottery tickets, and more.
• Auckland’s Fun Spots: Auckland’s gaming lounges offer all kinds of fun, from playing games to watching sports. They’re a big part of how people enjoy themselves in the city.

In New Zealand, individuals have plenty of legal gambling options, including:

• Casino gambling
• Electronic gaming machines
• Lotto and Instant Kiwi (scratch tickets)
• Track betting (for horse and dog races)
• Sports betting
• Keno
• Housie (bingo)
• Internet gambling
• Telephone gambling

This diverse array ensures that there’s something for everyone, catering to various preferences and levels of risk tolerance.

Click here to locate various other games’ lounges or rooms in Auckland.

Conclusion

Auckland’s gaming lounges offer a captivating blend of entertainment, from pokies and gaming tables to live sports and vibrant social atmospheres.

These venues have become integral to the city’s culture, attracting a diverse range of gaming enthusiasts seeking thrilling experiences.

From the relaxed ambiance of Gordy’s Bar and Gaming to the South African-inspired 123 Palm Bar, each lounge offers its unique charm.

Fox’s Ale House stands as a testament to sports fervor, while The Way Point caters to those seeking a complete entertainment package.

Shakespeare Tavern, with its rich history and craft beer, adds a distinctive touch. Whether you’re a pokies enthusiast, a sports lover, or simply looking for a night of fun, Auckland’s gaming lounges have you covered, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of Auckland’s entertainment scene.

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