NZOnlinePokies’s Review Process
This guide is to provide full information on how we rate online casinos and online pokies. In the following lines, you will find the key criteria behind the evaluation process carried out by our distinguished experts. Thus, they are capable of separating only the best brands and slots and offering them to the iGaming audience!
Our Guidelines for Reviewing Online Casinos:
Nowadays, there are thousands of online casinos operating worldwide, and finding a secure spot might be challenging. There are many reputable regulators who strive to keep the environment safe and protect players’ rights. However, security is only one link in the chain that will determine your overall satisfaction!
Security and Trust
Staying on the safe side has always been paramount for online users, and it’s even more important when it comes to gambling. There are a few aspects that we always keep a close eye on, and licensing is the first one. In order to recommend a company, we check if it’s properly regulated by a reputable authority, such as the UK Gambling Commission or the MGA.
Independent regulation is key as that’s what guarantees the protection of your interests in case of unfair practices on the part of the operator. You can also check the validity of a license by checking the casino’s footer. Technical security is another aspect that can be crucial for your overall performance!
The top pokie sites have valid encryption certificates powered by renowned companies like DigiCert and Cloudflare. The SSL / TLS protocols protect your sensitive data, including banking information. Websites that can’t provide a secure connection are better to be avoided. Money safety is impossible under such conditions, so you’ll find many major processors missing from such platforms, too!
Last but not least, I would like to mention responsible gambling and fairness of gaming results. Information about both is also available in the online casinos’ footer sections. The best-rated operators work with independent suitors, like eCogra and BMM, and provide anonymous assistance and self-exclusion features.
Software and Games
Once we are positive that the casino under the microscope is safe, secure, and trustworthy, it’s time to dissect its library! The game variety is crucial, of course, as we care about the quality and quantity of different categories. Pokies are Kiwis’ favorite entertainment, but we also check for table classics, lotto, and live games.
The presence or lack of progressive jackpots and free-playing options is also on our list. You can find numerous demo versions on our website, but each top operator has plenty of them on its platform as well. As for the jackpots, it’s always nice to find multi-million prizes waiting to be claimed!
Besides diversity, quality, and quantity, we spend a lot of time evaluating the games’ origin. We look for top-tier software providers like NetEnt, Games Global, and Pragmatic Play. Usually, an average-sized platform in New Zealand offers content from 50 to 100 studios, so this aspect takes some time.
But software isn’t always related to the source of games, but it also means the playing platform and its mobile counterpart. We recommend only casino sites offering premium-class downloadable apps or high-quality browser experience. Ideally, they will cover both areas, but still, there are other important factors, too!
Promotions and Bonuses
Bonuses are not a must, but I agree that they can help a lot if they are fair. We promote operators by offering juicy welcome deals and regular promotions with excellent T&C. This will include attractive wagering requirements, high limits, and wide game contribution.
We also check for loyalty programs and VIP rewards, as they add value to any online gambling experience. In most cases, these are multi-tiered schemes that award comp points for completing certain tasks or simply for participation. The most dedicated operators provide luxury gifts and unique perks to their VIP members!
Money and Banking
The best NZ casino sites strive to facilitate their Kiwi customers by providing classic and modern banking methods. That will include VISA and MasterCard, as well as PayPal, Skrill, Payz, and many other e-wallets. Furthermore, we add extra points for local favorites, like Clearpay, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and GPay.
We check the available payment tools for both depositing and withdrawing and compare sensitive details, like limits, fees, and processing speed. In fact, the time needed by the casino management to approve a cashout request is also on our agenda, along with potential admin fees, KYC, and max limits.
As I already mentioned, the security of funds is a key factor for each NZ operator. Transactions are protected by encryption, but there are a few other aspects of the subject. For example, casino companies are forbidden to keep their customers’ funds in the same bank account where their own cash is stored.
A huge seal of trustworthiness is the presence of banking methods like VISA, MasterCard, and PayPal. These companies ensure the high security levels of their partners as part of their own protection policies. Finally, we evaluate the deposit and money-delivery processes in terms of speed and convenience.
Customer Service
Often underestimated, customer support is a crucial link between casino operators and users. A well-trained team of professionals can help a player to optimize results and overall experience. Therefore, we test the CS teams anonymously, of course, via all available communication channels – live chat, email, phone, social media, etc.
We care about competent and informative answers provided in a speedy manner during the 24/7 period. Ideally, the company will have sufficient staff to provide quality assistance during both rush hours and more quiet times. Our experts also check how the provided data is protected, even though GDPR is currently not applicable in New Zealand!
Localization (access from NZ)
This aspect is actually the first we have inspected since we strive to offer the best online casinos to our NZ audience. The promoted brands must be accessible to Kiwis from everywhere within the country’s borders. Gambling websites usually have built-in geo-locators and are VPN-sensitive, so localization is key!
This is Our Review Process for Online Casinos:
- Background Check: license, ownership, encryption, fair play & more.
- Evaluating the casino welcome bonus and regular promotions.
- Interior Check: signing up, KYC verification, and making a deposit.
- Explore the platform’s design, navigation tools, and offer for Kiwi players.
- Test: play casino pokies and table games across the library.
- Discuss issues with customer support via all channels.
- Send withdrawal request and evaluate the A-Z process.
How We Rate Online Pokies
This guide aims to provide essential information about our know-how in evaluating online pokies. Our vast experience helps us to determine the pros and cons easily, but in order to put all titles against the same conditions, we follow a specific, proven agenda. Here is how we rate online pokies on the issues we are confident matter most to you!
Our Guidelines for Reviewing Online Pokies:
Our rating system has been improved over the years, thanks to our team of experts with decades of combined iGaming experience. We bring together public facts and our own impressions after testing the pokies for free and for real money. Tech specs reveal the core of a game, but our review reveals its heart!
Entertainment
Well, isn’t that the reason we are all playing online pokies? Sure, there is the thrill of collecting payouts, but that’s all part of the fun. Therefore, we make sure that each title, in particular, is reviewed from the perspective of overall entertainment. Sometimes, that can be the theme or audio-visual representation, while other pokies impress with engaging features and challenging minigames.
Bonus Features
Modern slots look more and more like full-fledged video games thanks to their advanced mechanics and fascinating bonus features. We test them all from the special symbols, like wilds and scatters, through the various grid modifiers. They can include but are not limited to multipliers, random wilds, stacked symbols, Mystery symbols, and many others.
Many pokies accessible in New Zealand are packed with more complex bonus features as well. Free Spins is a common minigame, just like Hold & Win, Jackpot Pick, and Wheel of Fortune. We test each bonus individually to evaluate its entertainment and payout potential.
Graphics and Animation Effects
In recent years, we have all witnessed technological advancements that have had a direct impact on the visual representation of iGaming. Nowadays, many companies use AI-powered tools to deliver crystal-clear graphics, premium-class artwork, and top-notch animations. We also use subjective factors to rank different slots by their visual qualities.
Soundtrack
The sound effects are also affected by the tech revolution and the newest titles come with exciting tunes and melodies. They are usually related to the selected themes, but Kiwis will find plenty of games with rock-n-roll elements and native voiceovers. These details complete a game and make it far more immersive.
Special Features
Besides bonus minigames and modifiers, many online pokies are packed with technical features. They can be tools like Autoplay and Turbo Spin, but also instruments that facilitate bonus triggering. Ante Bets and Bonus Buy are allowed in New Zealand, and if used as part of a betting strategy, they can be quite valuable.
Side bets usually increase the chance of landing scatters or bonus symbols, and in return, players have to pay an increased bet. Bonus Buy, on the other hand, instantly activates the bonus minigame against a certain price. Both features are optional and usually slightly increase the RTP rate.
Responsiveness
Mobile compatibility and game versatility seem like pieces of the standard pack nowadays, but not all pokies are responsive enough. Some of them are built for play on the go and perform poorly on desktop PCs, for example. Therefore, we test each title on different devices via different browsers and operating systems.
Innovation
Innovation is common nowadays, especially in online slots! Providers compete to craft new mechanics with multi-way systems or random modifiers. Great examples of innovation in the field are Megaways and Pay Anywhere. Some companies add extra characters and multi-tiered experience, lowering the difference between casino pokies and RPGs.
RTP Rate
Return to Player is often a critical criterion as it displays the payout potential of a pokie. Games with rates of 96% and more are considered generous and are usually recommended. The indicator shows how much you can expect in return for your bets in the form of winnings in the long run!
Volatility and Hit Frequency
Certainly, the RTP rate is important, but so are these indicators, too! Hit Frequency shows how often the pokie will pay, while the variance displays frequency and quality. High levels of volatility, for example, are a guarantee for fewer payouts on average but an increased chance for landing huge winning combinations.
Demo Availability
An important part of our reviews is also the availability of a demo version. Although widespread, this is not a must for software providers who are standing behind online pokies. On the other hand, it would be reckless for any player to stake real money on an unknown game! We have thousands of demos on our platform!
Distribution in NZ Casinos
Not all pokies are designed for the NZ market and Kiwis might have limited access. Therefore, we check how easy it is to find the title from an IP in the country and if it’s possible to play it without a VPN. The more popular the software provider is, the more widespread its content is across the NZ online casinos.
Overall Experience
This is perhaps the most subjective criterion of all, and we trust our experience over the years. The team tasked with rating online pokies consists of experts who play all titles for free first and then for real money. Their final verdicts are the cherries on the cake and are of utmost importance for pokie newbies!
This is Our Review Process for Online Pokies:
- Pokie Developer: background and license check.
- Demo: play the slot’s free version.
- Features: check all special features and bonus minigames.
- Menu: get acquainted with Paytable and rules.
- Availability: inspect the pokie’s distribution across NZ casino sites.
- Real Test: play the game with real money.
- Review: assess our overall experience and provide a final verdict.
We want to hear from you
We at NZOnlinePokies strive to provide the best resources possible for our audience, which consists of Kiwi pokies fans.
If there a topic we are not covering feel free to share your thoughts, requests, suggestions or feedback by sending an email to [email protected]