How We Rate

Our Review Methodology at Findasurgeon.co.nz

At Findasurgeon.co.nz, every online casino review published on this site is the result of a thorough, hands-on evaluation process carried out personally by Liam Harrington. This page explains exactly how we assess each casino, what criteria we use, how we weight those criteria, and why New Zealand players can trust our recommendations to be honest, independent, and genuinely useful.

We believe you deserve to know how a casino earns its score before you deposit a single dollar. Transparency is not just a promise here — it is built into every step of our process.

Who Does the Testing

Every casino featured on Findasurgeon.co.nz is personally tested by Liam Harrington before a review is written or a rating is assigned. Liam does not rely on press releases, operator-supplied information, or secondhand reports. He creates real player accounts, makes real deposits using New Zealand dollars, plays real games, contacts customer support, and attempts real withdrawals. Only after completing this full testing cycle does a review get written.

This direct, first-person approach means our reviews reflect genuine player experiences rather than marketing copy. When Liam rates a casino highly, it is because he has used it himself and found it worthy of recommendation to fellow Kiwi players.

Our Step-by-Step Review Process

Each casino review follows the same structured process to ensure consistency and fairness across all sites we evaluate.

Step 1 — Initial Screening: Liam checks whether the casino holds a valid licence from a recognised regulatory authority. Unlicensed or blacklisted casinos are removed from consideration immediately and will never appear in our recommendations.
Step 2 — Account Registration: A real player account is created using a New Zealand identity and address. This allows us to experience the signup process exactly as a Kiwi player would.
Step 3 — Deposit & Payment Testing: A real deposit is made using payment methods commonly available in New Zealand, including Visa, Mastercard, and popular e-wallets. Deposit speeds, fees, and minimum amounts are all recorded.
Step 4 — Bonus Claim & Wagering Assessment: Available welcome bonuses and promotions are claimed and the terms and conditions are read in full. Liam pays close attention to wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum withdrawal caps.
Step 5 — Game Testing: A representative sample of games — including pokies, table games, and live dealer options — is played in real-money mode. Software providers, loading speeds, and game fairness certifications are reviewed.
Step 6 — Customer Support Contact: The support team is contacted via at least two channels (typically live chat and email) with a mix of simple and complex questions. Response times and the quality of answers are noted.
Step 7 — Mobile Experience Check: The casino is accessed on a mobile device to assess the quality of the mobile site or app, including navigation, game availability, and ease of banking on a smaller screen.
Step 8 — Withdrawal Request: A withdrawal is requested to verify processing times, required documentation, and any friction in the cashout process.
Step 9 — Scoring & Writing: After completing all testing steps, Liam assigns scores across each category and writes the final review based solely on his findings.

How We Score Each Casino

Every casino receives a final score out of 10. This overall score is calculated using a weighted formula across six key categories. Each category reflects what matters most to real New Zealand players in 2026.

Category	Weighting	What We Assess
Licensing & Safety	25%	Regulatory licence validity, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, player fund protection
Bonuses & Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus fairness, ongoing promotions for existing players
Game Selection	20%	Number and variety of games, software provider quality, RTP transparency, live casino offering
Payment Methods	15%	NZD support, deposit and withdrawal options, processing speeds, transaction fees
Customer Support	10%	Availability (hours), response times, helpfulness, number of contact channels
Mobile Experience	10%	Mobile site or app quality, game performance on mobile, ease of banking and navigation

Understanding Our Rating Scale

All casinos are scored on a scale of 1 to 10. Here is what each range means in plain terms:

9.0 – 10.0 — Outstanding: Among the very best options available to Kiwi players. Excels across all categories with no significant weaknesses.
7.5 – 8.9 — Very Good: A strong, trustworthy casino with minor areas for improvement. Confidently recommended.
6.0 – 7.4 — Good: A decent option with some notable strengths, but also clear limitations worth considering.
4.0 – 5.9 — Average: Meets the minimum bar but has meaningful drawbacks. Proceed with caution.
Below 4.0 — Poor: Casinos scoring below 4.0 are not recommended and will be listed on our warnings page instead.

How Findasurgeon Stays Unbiased

Maintaining editorial independence is something we take seriously. Here is how we protect the integrity of every review on this site:

No paid placements: Casinos cannot pay to improve their rating or move up in our rankings. Scores are determined entirely by our testing results.
Affiliate relationships disclosed: Findasurgeon.co.nz may earn commission if you sign up to a casino through our links. However, these commercial relationships never influence the score a casino receives. A casino with an affiliate deal is held to exactly the same standards as one without.
Operator content is never used: We do not republish casino marketing materials as our own analysis. All opinions are formed through direct testing.
Scores are reviewed and updated: Casino standards change over time. We revisit our reviews regularly and update ratings when a casino significantly improves or deteriorates in any category.
Negative findings are published: If Liam discovers a problem during testing — such as slow withdrawals, misleading bonus terms, or unhelpful support — that finding is included in the review regardless of any commercial relationship.

Questions About Our Process

If you have questions about how a specific casino was rated, or if you believe a review needs updating based on recent changes at an operator, you are welcome to reach out directly. Contact details are available on the Findasurgeon.co.nz contact page. We read every message and take player feedback seriously when deciding which casinos to