How we rate online casinos
Quick answer
We score casinos across six categories — bonuses, games, payments, mobile, support and safety — and the headline rating is the average of those six, rounded to one decimal. Safety and licensing carries the same weight as bonuses, and a brand whose licence we cannot verify cannot score well on it.
The six categories
| Category | What we assess |
|---|---|
| Bonuses & promotions | Real terms, not headline totals: wagering multiplier, maximum bet, expiry, win caps, game weighting |
| Games & software | Library size, provider quality, live dealer supply, presence of the games players search for |
| Payments & payouts | Methods that work for New Zealand players, NZD support, minimums, processing windows, payout speed |
| Mobile experience | Whether the lobby, cashier and bonus claim actually work on a phone |
| Support & help | Channels, hours, whether support can action limits, and how quickly they answer |
| Safety & licensing | Who the operator is, whether the licence can be verified, terms clarity, responsible-gambling tools |
The headline rating is the arithmetic mean of the six category scores, rounded to one decimal place. There is no hidden weighting. That means an operator with a huge bonus but an unverifiable licence cannot reach the top of our table, which is the intended behaviour.
What we actually verify
We distinguish clearly between three levels of evidence, and we print the level in every review:
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Verified | We read the primary source: a regulator certificate, or the operator's own terms |
| Partial | An independent reviewer or the affiliate profile published it, and we could not read the binding terms |
| Unverified | Sources disagree, or nothing readable exists |
Where published sources conflict, we print both versions in a comparison table and say so. We do not pick the number that makes a brand look better, and we do not invent a number to fill a gap.
What we do not do
- We do not accept payment for a rating, a ranking position or a verdict.
- We do not publish a bonus total we could not at least attribute to a named source.
- We do not claim any offshore brand is New Zealand licensed.
- We do not present a "safe" verdict as a guarantee. We report what we can verify, and we tell you
what we could not.
How often we re-check
Every review carries a last-updated date. Licence details, bonus terms, payment menus and payout windows change without notice, which is why the practical advice on this site is always the same: verify the terms yourself at the moment you deposit.
Why safety carries equal weight
Most affiliate tables are sorted by bonus size, which rewards the brands with the most aggressive marketing. We score safety at the same weight as bonuses because the licence question is the one that actually determines what happens if something goes wrong. You cannot take a complaint to a regulator that has no jurisdiction over the operator you used.
Why we publish what we could not verify
Publishing gaps is uncomfortable and it costs us the tidy tables that convert well. It is also the only honest way to review an offshore market where licence records are inconsistent and terms are not always published. A review site that claims to have verified everything is either very lucky or not telling the truth.
Reporting an error
If we have something wrong, tell us with the page and a source. We will correct it and note the change.
Play safely in New Zealand
Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. Before you deposit anywhere:
- Set a money limit and a time limit for the session, and stop at it.
- Use the account deposit limits, session reminders and time-out tools every licensed operator must provide.
- Never borrow money to gamble and never try to win back a loss.
- Take a break if gambling stops feeling like a choice.
Free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 (text 8006), or through Safer Gambling Aotearoa. You can also self-exclude from New Zealand pokies venues through the Multi-Venue Exclusion scheme.