Last updated: May 2026 — Liam Harewood, Found Art Photography
At Found Art Photography, every online casino review you read has been personally researched, tested, and written by Liam Harewood. Our mission is simple: to give New Zealand players an honest, accurate, and up-to-date picture of every casino we cover, so you can make informed decisions with your own money. We do not accept payment from operators to influence our ratings, and no casino can buy a better score on this site.
This page explains exactly how we evaluate online casinos available to NZ players in 2026, what criteria we use, how much weight each factor carries, and how we translate our findings into a final score.
Before anything else, Liam verifies the casino's licensing status. Any site without a valid licence from a recognised regulatory authority is removed from consideration immediately. He checks the licence number directly on the regulator's public database to confirm it is current and legitimate.
Liam registers a real player account using standard New Zealand details. He documents the sign-up process, noting how long it takes, what personal information is requested, and whether the verification process is smooth or unnecessarily complicated.
A genuine deposit is made using payment methods commonly available to NZ players. This step tests whether advertised methods actually work, how long deposits take to clear, and whether any hidden fees are applied at this stage.
Liam plays a cross-section of the casino's game library, including slots, table games, and live dealer options where available. He checks loading speeds, software quality, fairness certifications, and whether NZ-friendly currency (NZD) is properly supported.
Where a welcome bonus or ongoing promotion is available, Liam claims it and reads the full terms and conditions. He pays close attention to wagering requirements, game contribution rates, maximum bet restrictions, and withdrawal caps tied to bonus funds.
Liam contacts the support team via every available channel — live chat, email, and phone where offered — to assess response times, accuracy of information, and overall helpfulness.
A withdrawal is requested to verify how long the process takes, what documentation is required, and whether the casino processes payments without unnecessary delays or complications.
The casino is accessed on a mobile device to assess the quality of the mobile experience, including navigation, game availability, and ease of completing transactions on a smaller screen.
Each casino is scored out of 10 in six key categories. The final overall score is a weighted average based on the percentages shown below.
| Category | Weighting | What We Evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair play certifications |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Bonus value, wagering requirements, fairness of terms, ongoing offers for NZ players |
| Game Selection | 20% | Total number of games, software providers, variety, NZD compatibility, live casino quality |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options for NZ, processing times, fees, NZD support |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response speed, quality of answers, channels offered |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site or app quality, game availability on mobile, ease of use |
Every casino receives a final score out of 10. Here is what each range means in practice:
Independence is the foundation of everything we publish. Here is how we protect it:
If you have questions about how a specific casino was reviewed, or you believe information on a review page is outdated or inaccurate, you are welcome to reach out to Liam Harewood directly through the contact page at found-art-photography.com. We take reader feedback seriously and investigate all credible concerns.