Christchurch Casino
30 Victoria Street, Christchurch · Christchurch · New Zealand
Christchurch Casino calls itself the home of New Zealand poker, and on the evidence of what it actually publishes the claim stands up: it is the only venue in the country running both a nightly cash-game spread and a full tournament championship programme with a satellite ladder behind it.
The poker room opens Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm. Which tables run on a given night is set by demand rather than a fixed grid — the games the casino says can be dealt daily are No-Limit Hold'em at $1/$3 (buy-in $100–$400) and $2/$5 (buy-in $150–$600), and Pot Limit Omaha at $1/$2 (buy-in $100–$400) and $5/$5 (buy-in $300–$1,000). All four are raked at 10 per cent with a $15 cap, which is the number worth knowing: on the smaller games the cap bites early and the effective rake falls as the pot grows. Higher limits are available on request, and $5/$10 Hold'em has its own waiting-list code.
Seating is handled by text or kiosk rather than a podium queue. Once you are registered on the casino's poker system you text a game code to 5422 to join the list — 095 for $1/$3 Hold'em, 072 for $2/$5, 063 for $5/$10, 007 for $1/$2 Omaha and 090 for $5/$5/$10 Omaha — or swipe your card at the kiosk, pick the game and confirm. The kiosk route works even when no supervisor is on the floor.
The tournament side peaks in December with the No Limit Hold'em Championships, four events from 3 to 6 December 2026 headlined by the NZ$1,600 Christchurch Masters, fed by a two-phase satellite programme that has been running since early October. The casino also publishes its house poker rules as a downloadable sheet, which is unusual and useful if you are travelling in and want to know how it handles string bets and the like before you sit down. All facts here were re-read on the casino's own poker page on 17 October 2026 and the cash-game spread was unchanged from the September reading.
Upcoming tournaments at Christchurch Casino
| Dates | Event | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct – 28 Nov 2026 | 2026 NLHC Main Event Phase 1 Satellite — NZ$25 | NZ$25 |
| 18 Oct – 29 Nov 2026 | 2026 NLHC Main Event Phase 2 Satellite — NZ$210 | NZ$210 |
| 25 Oct – 21 Nov 2026 | 2026 NLHC Package Phase 1 Satellite — NZ$30 | NZ$30 |
| 1 – 22 Nov 2026 | 2026 NLHC Package Phase 2 Satellite — NZ$250 | NZ$250 |
| 3 – 6 Dec 2026 | 2026 No Limit Hold'em Championships — Christchurch Casino | NZ$550 |
| 3 Dec 2026 | 2026 NLHC Turbo — NZ$550 No Limit Hold'em | NZ$550 |
| 4 Dec 2026 | 2026 NLHC Friday Feature — NZ$1,100 No Limit Hold'em | NZ$1,100 |
| 5 – 6 Dec 2026 | 2026 NLHC Main Event — The Christchurch Masters, NZ$1,600 | NZ$1,600 |
| 6 Dec 2026 | 2026 NLHC Big Bounty — NZ$750 No Limit Hold'em | NZ$750 |
Can't make it to Christchurch? Play online
Frequently asked questions
When does poker run at Christchurch Casino?
The poker room opens Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm. Which tables open on the night depends on player demand, so the published list is what can be dealt rather than what will be.
What are the stakes and the rake?
No-Limit Hold'em at $1/$3 and $2/$5 and Pot Limit Omaha at $1/$2 and $5/$5, all raked at 10 per cent with a $15 cap. Higher limits are available on request and $5/$10 Hold'em has its own waiting-list code.
How do I get on the waiting list?
Once registered on the casino's poker system, text the game code to 5422 — 095 for $1/$3 Hold'em, 072 for $2/$5, 063 for $5/$10, 007 for $1/$2 Omaha, 090 for $5/$5/$10 Omaha — or swipe your card at the kiosk and choose a game, which works even when no supervisor is available.
What is the biggest tournament of the year?
The No Limit Hold'em Championships, four events from 3 to 6 December 2026, headlined by the NZ$1,600 Main Event known as The Christchurch Masters.