Last updated: May 2026 — Liam Hargreaves, Sortedcoffee
At Sortedcoffee, every review you read on sortedcoffee.co.nz is the product of genuine, hands-on testing. Site owner and lead reviewer Liam Hargreaves personally registers an account, makes real deposits, claims available bonuses, plays a selection of games, and contacts customer support before a single word of any review is written. There are no shortcuts, no copy-pasted operator press releases, and no ratings handed out in exchange for advertising fees. What you get is an honest assessment based on real experience as a New Zealand player in 2026.
The New Zealand online casino market is crowded, and not every site that targets Kiwi players deserves your trust or your money. A clear, consistent methodology means you can compare our scores fairly across different casinos, understand exactly why a site ranked the way it did, and make an informed decision that suits your own priorities. Transparency is the foundation of everything we publish.
Before spending a single dollar, Liam researches the operator's licensing history, ownership structure, and any documented complaints from players. Casinos with unresolved fraud allegations or no verifiable licence are removed from consideration entirely and will never appear in a Sortedcoffee recommendation.
Liam creates a new player account using a New Zealand identity and goes through the full KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process. This reveals how smooth onboarding is, how quickly documents are accepted, and whether the process matches what the casino advertises.
A real deposit is made using payment methods commonly available to NZ players, including options such as Visa, Mastercard, POLi, and e-wallets. Processing times, fees, currency handling (NZD support), and minimum deposit thresholds are all recorded.
Liam opts into the welcome bonus and any available promotions, then reads the full terms and conditions. He tracks wagering requirements, game contribution percentages, time limits, and maximum bet rules to assess whether bonuses are genuinely rewarding or misleadingly restrictive.
A cross-section of games is played, covering slots, table games, and live dealer titles where available. Software providers, game load times, and return-to-player (RTP) transparency are all evaluated.
Liam contacts the support team through live chat, email, or both, asking a mix of straightforward and complex questions. Response times, accuracy of answers, and overall helpfulness are scored.
The casino is accessed on a mobile browser and, where applicable, a dedicated app. Navigation, game availability, and payment functionality on mobile are assessed separately from the desktop experience.
A withdrawal is requested and the full process is documented, including pending times, any additional verification requirements, and whether the funds arrived within the stated timeframe.
Each casino receives a final score out of 10, calculated as a weighted average across six core categories:
| Category | Weighting | What We Look At |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing & Safety | 25% | Valid gambling licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair dispute resolution |
| Bonuses & Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, ongoing promotions, fairness of terms |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number and variety of titles, software providers, RTP availability, live casino quality |
| Payment Methods | 15% | NZD support, available deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability hours, response speed, quality of assistance, contact channels |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile browser performance, app availability, game library on mobile, ease of navigation |
All casinos are scored on a scale of 1 to 10. Here is how to interpret those scores:
Independence is not just a principle at Sortedcoffee — it is a practical commitment enforced through the way the site operates. Here is how we protect our editorial integrity:
If you have a question about how a specific casino was evaluated, or if you have had a personal experience with a site we cover, Liam welcomes direct feedback. Genuine player reports help keep our reviews accurate and up to date for the wider New Zealand casino community.