How We Review Casinos

Our review process is built around hands-on testing. We don't rank casinos based on marketing materials, affiliate commission rates, or third-party data. Every casino we recommend has been tested by our team with real NZD deposits.

The entire process — from account creation to final withdrawal — takes 7-10 days per casino. We test payment methods, bonus terms, game selection, customer support, and withdrawal speed before assigning a final score.

Casinos that fail critical tests (licence verification, withdrawal approval, or bonus claim issues) are excluded from our rankings — regardless of commission offers.

Before we deposit any money, we verify the casino holds a valid licence from a reputable regulator. We check:

• Licence number and issuing authority (Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Curaçao eGaming, etc.)
• Licence status on the regulator's public database
• Operating company details and jurisdiction
• Regulatory conditions or sanctions on record

Unlicensed casinos or operators with suspended licences are automatically rejected. We don't test them further.

We create a real account using NZ details and make a deposit in NZD (usually $50-100). This tests:

• Payment method availability — do they accept credit cards, POLi, bank transfer, or crypto from NZ?
• Processing speed — how long does the deposit take to show in our account?
• Fees or currency conversion — are there hidden charges or forced AUD conversions?
• Deposit limits — are minimum/maximum deposit amounts reasonable?

Casinos that force currency conversion, charge excessive fees, or fail to credit deposits within 10 minutes are flagged.

If the casino offers a welcome bonus, we claim it and verify the terms. We check:

• Bonus activation — is the bonus applied automatically, or do you need to opt in?
• Wagering requirements — are they clearly stated? (We look for 30x-40x as fair, 50x+ as high)
• Game contribution rates — which games count toward wagering, and at what percentage?
• Max bet limits — are there restrictions on bet size while wagering the bonus?
• Withdrawal restrictions — can you withdraw winnings immediately after completing wagering?

Casinos with unclear terms, hidden restrictions, or unreasonable wagering requirements (70x+) are downgraded.

We play through the bonus wagering requirements using real spins on slots or table games. This tests:

• Wagering progress tracking — does the casino show how much you've wagered?
• Game contribution accuracy — do slots count at 100%, and table games at the stated rate?
• Max bet enforcement — does the software prevent you from exceeding the max bet limit?
• Bonus funds vs. real funds separation — is it clear which balance you're playing with?

We also check if bonus funds are forfeited when you request a withdrawal before completing wagering (as stated in T&Cs).

After completing wagering (or playing with our deposit funds), we request a withdrawal. This is the most critical test. We measure:

• Verification requirements — do they ask for ID, proof of address, or payment method verification?
• Approval time — how long does the casino take to approve the withdrawal request?
• Processing speed — how long does it take for funds to arrive in our bank account or e-wallet?
• Withdrawal limits — are there daily/weekly/monthly caps on payouts?
• Fees — does the casino charge withdrawal fees, or pass on payment processor costs?

We rate casinos based on total withdrawal time (approval + processing):

• Excellent: 0-24 hours
• Good: 24-48 hours
• Average: 48-72 hours
• Slow: 3-7 days
• Poor: 7+ days or unresolved

Casinos that delay withdrawals beyond 7 days, request excessive verification documents, or void winnings on technicalities are flagged and removed from rankings.

We test customer support at multiple touchpoints during the review process:

• Live chat availability — is it 24/7, or limited hours? How long is the wait time?
• Email response time — do they reply within 24 hours, or take days to respond?
• Agent knowledge — can support answer questions about bonus terms, withdrawal processing, or game RTP?
• NZ-specific support — do agents understand NZD transactions, POLi payments, or local banking hours?

We send test queries like "How long does a bank transfer withdrawal take?" and "What's the wagering requirement on the welcome bonus?" to gauge response quality.

For slots and table games, we check published RTP (Return to Player) rates. We verify:

• RTP disclosure — does the casino publish RTP rates for each game?
• RTP accuracy — do the published rates match the game provider's official RTP?
• RTP manipulation — has the casino lowered RTP settings compared to industry standard?

Most reputable slots have an RTP of 96-97%. If a casino is running the same game at 92-94%, we flag it as a poor value operator.

We also check if RTP information is easily accessible (game info panel, help section) or hidden in obscure T&Cs.

After completing all 7 steps, we assign scores in the following categories:

• Licencing & Security (10 points) — valid licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools
• Deposit Experience (10 points) — payment method variety, processing speed, fees
• Bonus Fairness (15 points) — clear terms, reasonable wagering, no hidden restrictions
• Withdrawal Speed (25 points) — approval time, processing speed, withdrawal limits
• Customer Support (15 points) — availability, response time, agent knowledge
• Game Selection & RTP (15 points) — game variety, RTP transparency, provider quality
• Overall UX (10 points) — site design, mobile performance, navigation

Total score: 100 points. Casinos scoring 80+ are ranked in our top 10. Casinos below 60 are not recommended.

Critical failures (unresolved withdrawal, voided winnings, unlicensed operation) result in immediate disqualification, regardless of score.

Our reviews aren't static. We re-test casinos every 6 months to check for:

• Changes in withdrawal speed or payment method availability
• Updated bonus terms or wagering requirements
• Licence renewals or regulatory actions
• Customer complaints or trust score changes

If a previously top-ranked casino starts delaying withdrawals, worsens bonus terms, or receives regulatory sanctions, we downgrade or remove it from our list.

All review updates are timestamped and noted in the "Last Updated" field on each casino review page.

To keep our reviews focused and efficient, we don't test:

• VIP programs — most require months of high-volume play to access meaningful rewards
• Live dealer performance — we note availability but don't run full live casino sessions
• Mobile app functionality — we test mobile browser performance but not native apps
• Game fairness audits — we rely on third-party testing labs (eCOGRA, iTech Labs) for RNG certification

Our focus is on the core player experience: deposits, bonuses, withdrawals, and support. These are the areas where most issues occur.

If you have questions about our testing process, or want to know how a specific casino was scored, contact us at [email protected].

We're also open to feedback on our methodology. If you think we've missed a critical testing area, let us know.