Short answer: yes. If you want a longer one – keep reading.
I’ve been involved in the world of online gambling for years, not professionally but as a passionate and frequent user of iGaming platforms. From testing new sportsbooks to exploring niche eSports betting sites, I’ve developed a decent sense of what separates a reliable platform from a mediocre one.
Recently, I came across BetKiwi while comparing resources for eSports betting in New Zealand. I’d seen the name pop up when exploring casino reviews, but this time, I wanted to find out if it could help me discover the best eSports betting options and whether it was worth recommending to other bettors.
After several weeks of putting it through its paces, I created my in-depth, unbiased assessment of whether BetKiwi is the best place to find eSports betting sites.
I would like to begin with the obvious fact that eSports isn’t just a niche anymore. The establishment of global events like The International and League of Legends World Championship and regionally hyped Dota 2 and CS: GO tournaments has heightened the interest of gamers in wagering on digital competitions.
This surge has opened the floodgates to hundreds of betting platforms adding eSports to their offerings, but not all are built equally. If you’re like me, you want more than just a list of bookies. Do you want a licensed platform? Are the odds competitive? How user-friendly is the eSports section? That’s where aggregators like BetKiwi come into play.
One of the first things I look at when landing on a new site is how quickly I can find the information I need. I remember clearly sitting down one morning with a cup of coffee and searching “best eSports betting sites in New Zealand”. BetKiwi was one of the top organic results on Google.
I was pleasantly surprised when—in less than a minute—I was able to find a dedicated section on eSports betting. The homepage didn’t overwhelm me with ads or flashy banners. Instead, it guided me with a clean design and a helpful top navigation bar that made it easy to jump to relevant content—whether it was casino reviews, bonus comparisons, or eSports coverage.
A common issue with many affiliate review sites is that they offer cookie-cutter blurbs and affiliate links with minimal analysis. BetKiwi stood out because each eSports betting site it listed came with:
As someone who often bets on match winners and in-play options for Valorant tournaments, I appreciated how BetKiwi noted which platforms offered live betting options or early access to odds.
BetKiwi allows users to filter based on criteria like bonuses, game variety, license type, and user feedback. What stood out to me was their transparency. This website is not afraid to say, “This site may not be great for eSports fans,” and then provide an alternative.
This shows a level of editorial independence I don’t always see on affiliate-driven platforms. For instance, some of the top-ranked eSports bookies on BetKiwi weren’t necessarily the ones offering the biggest welcome bonuses, but the ones that had excellent in-play features, detailed match stats, and high trust scores.
When assessing the credibility of any comparison site, I always look at the team. Who’s behind the recommendations?
On BetKiwi, they’re surprisingly transparent. They provide full bios for their writers, editors, and analysts—many of whom have backgrounds in online gambling, game development, or professional eSports commentary.This brand is openly showcasing who’s behind their reviews and guides. The editorial team features a range of contributors, including:
For example, the eSports section was authored by Lucius Boehm, who notes in his bio that he’s followed all kinds of sports since his teenage years and brings a grassroots perspective to evaluating sports betting platforms.
This level of transparency and subject-matter alignment gives me more trust in the content. The team isn’t just churning out articles, they’re selecting writers who understand the topic they’re covering.
Additionally, their editorial team includes compliance experts who ensure they only list trusted platforms. That’s a huge plus for New Zealand bettors who want to stay above board.
I tested out their contact form with a specific query about one of the eSports platforms they listed—“Does this site offer same-day withdrawals on eSports winnings?”
To my surprise, I got a detailed response within four hours. The reply included not only the answer (yes, if using Skrill or Neteller), but also links to the terms and even a screenshot showing where to find the payout timelines on the betting site itself.
This level of support—even from an affiliate site—was unexpected and impressive. It blew my mind, especially its organization and responsiveness.
BetKiwi’s content isn’t just fluff. They back up their claims with real metrics—monthly traffic estimates via SimilarWeb, payout processing timelines from both gambling sites’ T & T&Cs and their own tests, and Trustpilot ratings of each featured platform.
For example, in their coverage of a major eSports bookie, they mentioned it received over 420,000 monthly visits, with over 20% of users engaging in eSports betting markets. These figures were cited with sources and—based on my own independent checks—were accurate.
This use of data adds a layer of credibility that most comparison sites just don’t bother with.
No platform is perfect. While BetKiwi ticks many boxes, there are a few areas I feel could be improved.
While the site is NZ-centric, I’d love to see more content that addresses New Zealand-specific laws, taxes, or cultural betting trends in the eSports space. I would also love to see creative content ideas that appeal to Gen Z and millennials.
A blog that updates readers on upcoming tournaments, predictions, and expert tips would make BetKiwi more than just a comparison tool. Right now, the content is static. Adding dynamic, timely eSports content could draw repeat visitors.
The homepage and top pages load flawlessly on mobile, but some of the deep-dive articles feel a bit cluttered on smaller screens. A responsive overhaul of their article layout would help improve usability for mobile-first users.
Let me be blunt here, I’ve tried dozens of gambling affiliate sites over the years, and most fall into two categories.
BetKiwi finds a sweet spot between both. It has the polish and structure of a large site, with the editorial integrity of a niche publication. Compared to other NZ-facing sites, it stands out due to:
Here’s a scenario I found myself in recently. I was looking to bet on the CS: GO IEM Chengdu 2024 Finals, with specific interest in in-play bets. I went to BetKiwi and filtered by:
In under two minutes, I had three platform recommendations. One of them was a site I hadn’t tried before. I registered, made a deposit, and was placing live bets before the second map began. This type of seamless flow from research to action is exactly what experienced bettors like me need.
Based on my hands-on experience, BetKiwi is one of the top resources for finding trusted, well-reviewed eSports betting sites in New Zealand.
It’s not just the listings that make the platform shine—it’s the people, the process, and the ethics behind it.
You’re not getting fluff. You’re getting expertise, real interaction, and clear guidance. If you’re new to eSports betting or a seasoned pro looking for deeper insight into platforms, BetKiwi delivers a balanced, data-backed, and user-friendly experience that’s hard to beat.
If you’re serious about eSports betting and want a platform that respects your time and intelligence, BetKiwi should be high on your list.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
