Rating and ranking online casinos in New Zealand is never an easy job. Here at Kiwibets, we want to conduct proper research and give players an honest opinion about each casino site. Many of you might wonder about the methodology behind our casino reviews. In this article, we’ll tell you how we rank and rate casinos and what is essential to place one on our list.
The Kiwibets Approach for Reviews
The Kiwibets casino review approach starts by opening an account. Unlike others, we believe going for a test ride is crucial instead of just collecting the most critical data. You can browse every casino with a guest account, but trying it out yourself after signing up offers a true insight into how the casino works.
We always read the terms and conditions and carefully review the bonus policy. We also check all other T&Cs to ensure there are no obstructions to using the side. After that, we look at the welcome offer, claim it, and start wagering. This process allows us to check if the bonus terms are fair and how the wagering works firsthand.
Our content is updated constantly. As welcome offers tend to change, we update our content accordingly. Adding new bonuses and promotions to our reviews keeps you continually in the loop regarding offers. We also pay special attention to the game library updates and promotions section. Of course, the list of casino sites is updated, too, as new casinos emerge on the NZ market.
Other important criteria we check for Kiwibets’ casino reviews include customer support, license, and reputation. Below is a comprehensive overview of our approach to casino reviews.
Welcome Offer
The welcome offer is a significant factor during our casino reviews. After all, players are more likely to sign up at a casino if the welcome bonus looks good. Everyone’s after a good piece of a signup offer, so that’s the first thing we check during our reviews.
Our methodology for these offers includes getting and wagering the offer while going through the terms. We’ll say it like it is. If the terms are unfair, we’ll tell you they’re dishonest. When the terms are reasonable, we’ll praise the bonus offer.
While wagering, our team tests the minimum and maximum available wager. It also pays attention to the eligible games, as not all count toward the wagering requirements. We list the eligible game information on the page of each casino we review
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions for a welcome bonus should be pretty easy to find. Each casino usually lists the most important ones on the banner. However, sometimes you won’t find anything more than the wagering requirements this way. You must dig deep into the terms to learn more about the bonus terms and see if everything is correct.
Instead of letting you do things on your own, our team does that for your convenience. It goes through all the nooks and crannies, so you don’t have to. Each welcome offer is appropriately checked and measured until it’s safe to say that it’s good or bad.
Bonuses and Promotions for Existing Customers
Online casinos want to keep existing players happy. They do that by offering top bonuses and promotions, such as deposit and no deposit bonuses, free spins, cashback bonuses, reload bonuses, and more.
Just like any other bonus, bonuses for existing customers have many terms. We consider them all in our reviews, as we want you to get a clear picture. We list all the existing customer promotions together with the terms and conditions on our casino review pages. No stone is unturned, from the wagering to the maximum bet and eligible games.
Wagering Requirements
The wagering requirements are probably the most important condition for a casino bonus. We value bonuses with lower wagering requirements. That’s the key to a good bonus offer – low wagering means you won’t need to turn the money over endlessly. In turn, you’re more likely to convert the bonus funds to real money, which every player hopes for.
License
The license is an integral part of the online gambling experience. In short, we only rank licensed casinos on our list. It’s the first thing we check when reviewing casino sites in NZ and the most important criteria for our ratings. We do not recommend casino sites that do not have a licence. You can rest assured that all the casinos we recommend are 100% safe to join and licensed by reputable governing bodies.
Reputation
Another important factor in our reviews is the reputation of the casino sites we rate. They must have an excellent reputation among existing customers. We read reviews from real people online, which gives us quite a clear picture of what to expect. Of course, other important factors exist, but we don’t ignore public opinion. It’s a very important piece in our reviews. We regularly check to see what real players think, and if that opinion is changing over time, then compare that with our thoughts. Good or bad, they must align somewhere.
Complaints and Resolution
Here’s another important criterion for Kiwibets’ casino reviews – how the casino handles complaints. We value how casinos handle complaints highly, as we believe that handling and eventually resolving complaints can say a lot about a casino.
An adequately licensed casino that cares for its players’ opinions will handle complaints privately and reasonably. It’s safe to say that it’ll resolve things quickly and in favour of the player. Fake complaints should be equally addressed, and a good casino will report them to the authorities if need be.
Security
The security measures a casino site implements are another important mark in our ratings. We ensure every site has at least SSL encryption to keep your data safe. Firewalls and other security measures are a big plus. A safe and trusted casino site in NZ in 2024 should have it all, ensuring a safe and secure environment where players can focus on having fun with games, not looking over their shoulders for data breaches.
Fair Play Certification
All casino sites we list on Kiwibets must have proper fairness audit seals, such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs. Third-party auditors ensure that players enjoy games without worrying about unfair advantages. You can play confidently with a seal from eCOGRA, knowing the games are fair.
Game Variety
Game variety is another important cog in the online casino ecosystem. The casinos we recommend have thousands of games from top providers, but it’s more important that the offer is varied. By varied, we mean a wide range of games, starting with slots and jackpots, table games such as poker and roulette, and a wide range of live casino games.
A top-rated casino must have excellent game variety—not just a wide range of slots. Our reviews prefer better game variety, so we rank these casinos higher than those that are only focused on slots or another type of game.
Software Providers
The variety of software providers is just as important as the game variety itself. The gaming sites we recommend are powered by the top industry providers, such as Playtech, NetEnt, and Microgaming, with many big and up-and-coming names in their libraries. The more extensive the range of providers, the better the choice of games. It’s also important for casino sites to add new names to that list as they keep building their portfolio.
User Interface
Sites that are easy to browse and look at will always win over non-responsive casinos. The user interface is a super-important factor in our reviews. The best casinos in NZ should look great on any device, including mobile phones and tablets, which most websites are optimized for.
It’s not just about the look – the speed matters too. A good user interface with excellent website speed is the blueprint we look for in the best NZ online casinos.
Mobile Compatibility
Every casino must be mobile compatible. We always check this when ranking casino sites on our list. The best casinos will have a dedicated app, although there’s nothing wrong with only going with a mobile-optimized site.
Mobile App
Mobile apps are superior to mobile-optimized sites. When reviewing an online casino, those with dedicated apps get better scores. Apps don’t just look better. They’re far superior in terms of usability and convenience, so we give them a higher rating.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options
When reviewing casinos, we pay close attention to the number and quality of accepted payment methods. Bank transfers and cards are a given, but a good casino site should also accept modern options, including e-wallets and possibly even cryptocurrencies. That’s why we devote an extended section to this in our casino reviews, giving you a clear overview of the deposit and withdrawal options.
Transaction Fees
While reviewing a casino’s payment methods, we also check for fees. Customers should not be charged fees, and any casino that charges fees gets lower ratings. We also check for hidden fees deep in the payment terms, as these can be a problem since very few customers read the fine print.
Payout Speed
The payout speed is another important financial factor in our reviews. Top-rated NZ casinos should feature lightning-fast withdrawal times, which means getting your money instantly. Compared to casinos with a slower payout speed, the faster ones are positioned higher up the list.
Betting Limits
Betting limits are usually there for your convenience. Players like to know them beforehand, and some casinos aren’t straightforward about it. We check them for you and write about them in our reviews so you can focus on playing, not testing the limits yourself.
Languages Supported
We believe that a proper NZ casino should support several languages. English is the standard, but casinos with more languages get extra points in our book.
Currency Support
When rating casinos on our list, we ensure they all accept NZD. It’s even better if the casino accepts other currencies, including CAD, USD, GBP, and EUR. But NZD currency is a must.
Responsible Gambling Features
While it may not seem necessary to someone, the responsible gambling factor plays a big part in our reviews. Casino sites should help players who show signs of gambling addiction. That starts with a proper, responsible gambling guide and tools that allow self-exclusion, time limits, deposit limits and reality checks. All of our recommended casinos have them.
Trial Games & Free to Play
Playing games for free is crucial before you wager your own money. A casino must provide free to play option to all players, and we give extra points to those who let you play without registration and deposit.
VIP & High Roller Programs
While not crucial, we always check for a casino’s VIP program. It adds to the whole experience and makes you feel like a valued member of an elite club. Casinos with a VIP and High Roller program get better ratings on Kiwibets.
Community and Social Features
If there’s an active community or any social features, such as multi-player competitions, we’ll mention that in our reviews. Casinos get a better rating if they do.
Live Dealer Options
Various live dealer games are also essential for a proper gaming experience. Casinos with varied live dealer options get a higher point score, so they rank better on our pages.
Privacy Policy
Last but not least, we always check how data is processed and used at NZ casinos. This, along with the license and security measures, is very important in shielding your data from falling into the wrong hands.