Online casinos can charge a monthly fee on accounts that have not had any activity — no deposits, no withdrawals, no gameplay — for a set period. For NZ players who open an account, deposit, and then stop playing without withdrawing, these fees can drain a balance to zero over several months. This guide explains how inactivity fees work, what to look for in the terms, and how to avoid the charge.
What a casino inactivity fee is
An inactivity fee (also called a dormant account fee or maintenance charge) is a recurring deduction from your casino account balance when the account has been inactive for a defined period. The operator deducts a fixed amount or a percentage of your remaining balance every month until the balance reaches zero or the account is reactivated by logging in and placing a bet.
The fee is almost always disclosed in the terms and conditions, typically in the “General Terms,” “Account” or “Responsible Gambling” section. Regulators in most jurisdictions require it to be disclosed; finding it requires reading the terms before you register, not after.
How inactivity fees work: the key terms to check
1. What counts as inactivity? Most operators define inactivity as no deposits, no withdrawals, and no gameplay during the specified period. Some operators define it as no login — meaning simply opening the app resets the clock. Check which definition applies.
2. What is the inactivity period? The period before fees begin varies widely: 3 months is common, 12 months is typical for more conservative operators, 6 months sits in the middle. Shorter periods are more aggressive.
3. How much is the fee? Fees are typically either:
- A flat monthly amount (e.g. NZ$5–NZ$20 per month), or
- A percentage of the remaining balance (e.g. 10% per month).
A percentage-based fee is more aggressive than it appears because it compounds. A 10% monthly fee does not drain the account linearly — the deductions get smaller as the balance shrinks, but it still reaches near-zero within 18–24 months from any starting balance.
4. When does the fee stop? Fees typically stop when the balance hits zero. Some operators also stop the fee if the balance falls below a minimum (e.g. NZ$5). The account itself is usually not closed; it just has a zero balance.
How quickly a 10% monthly fee drains a balance
Starting balance NZ$100, 10% fee per month, no reactivation:
| Month | Balance after fee |
|---|---|
| Start | NZ$100.00 |
| Month 1 | NZ$90.00 |
| Month 3 | NZ$72.90 |
| Month 6 | NZ$53.14 |
| Month 12 | NZ$28.24 |
| Month 24 | NZ$7.98 |
After two years of dormancy, a NZ$100 balance has been reduced to under NZ$8. If the starting balance is larger — for example, a player who deposited but stopped playing after winning — the amounts lost are proportionally larger.
Which reviewed NZ casinos charge inactivity fees
| Casino | Inactivity fee | Period before fee begins | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdreams | 10% per month | 3 months | Most aggressive fee structure in our rankings — shortest trigger period |
| Ice Casino | Verify in T&C | Verify | Check before registering |
| Cashy | Verify in T&C | Verify | Check before registering |
| BitStarz | Verify in T&C | Verify | Check before registering |
| FastPay Casino | Verify in T&C | Verify | Check before registering |
| V.Vegas | Verify in T&C | Verify | Check before registering |
| Slotoro | Verify in T&C | Verify | Check before registering |
“Verify in T&C” means the specific fee structure was not confirmed in publicly available terms at the time of scoring. Check the operator’s T&Cs under “Dormant Accounts” or “Inactive Accounts” before registering.
Bitdreams is the only operator in our review set where the inactivity fee is confirmed: 10% of remaining balance per month after 3 consecutive months of no activity. This is disclosed in the Bitdreams terms and is the most aggressive structure among reviewed operators.
How to avoid inactivity fees
The simplest approach: withdraw before going inactive. If you know you will not play for an extended period, withdraw your entire balance before you stop. A zero balance cannot be reduced further by an inactivity fee.
Set a calendar reminder. If you leave a balance in an account, set a reminder for 2 months after your last session to log in and place a single bet. A single real-money bet, however small, typically resets the inactivity clock.
Check the definition of “activity.” At some operators, a login alone resets the clock. At others, only a real-money bet qualifies. Know which applies so you do not rely on a login that does not actually protect your balance.
Read the T&Cs before registering. The inactivity fee section is under “Dormant Accounts” or “Inactive Accounts” in almost every operator’s general terms. Find it before you deposit.
What to do if fees have already been charged
Contact support immediately. Some operators will waive or refund recently charged fees as a goodwill gesture, particularly for long-standing accounts that went briefly inactive. This is at the operator’s discretion, not a right.
Submit a formal complaint if refused. If you were not adequately informed of the fee (for example, if the T&C was unclear or the fee was charged before the disclosed period), use the operator’s formal complaints process. Document everything: screenshots of the T&Cs as they appeared when you registered, your account statements, and your support conversations.
Check whether the fee was properly disclosed. The fee must be in the T&Cs you accepted at registration. If you cannot find it, or if the operator changed the terms without notice, you have grounds for a complaint.
Responsible gambling note
Inactivity fees should not be the reason you keep returning to a casino you have chosen to stop using. If you have stopped playing because of a loss-chasing pattern or because gambling has stopped being enjoyable, do not reactivate an account just to prevent a fee. Withdraw your balance and, if necessary, self-exclude. Our player protection toolkit explains how, and our responsible gambling page lists free New Zealand support services.
Q: What is a casino inactivity fee?
A: A monthly deduction from your casino account balance when the account has not had any activity — deposits, withdrawals or gameplay — for a set period. Fees typically range from NZ$5–NZ$20 per month (flat) or 5%–10% of the remaining balance per month (percentage-based).
Q: How do I avoid casino inactivity fees?
A: Withdraw your entire balance if you plan to stop playing. If you leave a balance, place at least one real-money bet before the inactivity period expires to reset the clock. Set a calendar reminder for 6–8 weeks after your last session.
Q: Can the casino charge a fee without telling me?
A: The fee must be disclosed in the T&Cs you accepted at registration. If it was not disclosed, or was added after you registered without notice, you have grounds for a complaint through the operator’s formal complaints process.
Q: Which NZ casino has the most aggressive inactivity fee?
A: Of the casinos reviewed on this site, Bitdreams charges 10% of your remaining balance per month after just 3 months of inactivity — the shortest trigger period and the highest percentage-based fee confirmed in our review set. The trade-off is that Bitdreams offers 1× wagering on bonuses, the lowest of any deposit-match casino in our rankings.
Q: Does logging in reset the inactivity clock?
A: It depends on the operator. Some operators reset the clock on any login; others require a real-money bet. Read the specific definition of “activity” in the T&Cs before relying on a login to protect your balance.