How We Rate

Our Casino Review Methodology

At Floorsanding, every online casino review you read has been personally researched, tested, and written by Liam Ashworth. This page explains exactly how that process works, what criteria we use to score each site, and how we keep our ratings honest and independent. We believe New Zealand players deserve transparent, reliable information before they deposit a single dollar.

Who Reviews the Casinos

Liam Ashworth is the author and owner of Floorsanding. With years of hands-on experience in the New Zealand online gambling market, Liam personally signs up to every casino featured on this site using his own details, makes real deposits, plays real games, and contacts customer support as a regular player would. No review on Floorsanding is based on press releases, operator-supplied materials, or second-hand information alone. Every rating reflects direct experience with the platform.

Step-by-Step Review Process

Before a casino receives a score, Liam follows a structured testing process that typically takes several days per site. Here is how it works:

Step 1 – Licensing verification: Liam checks the casino's licence directly on the regulator's official database to confirm it is current and legitimate before any further testing begins.
Step 2 – Account registration: A new account is created using standard New Zealand player details to evaluate the sign-up experience and identity verification process.
Step 3 – Bonus claiming: Welcome bonuses and any available promotions are claimed and the terms are read in full, including wagering requirements, game restrictions, and withdrawal caps.
Step 4 – Game testing: A cross-section of slots, table games, and live dealer titles are played in both demo mode and with real money to assess game quality, load times, and software reliability.
Step 5 – Banking test: Deposits are made using payment methods popular with NZ players including credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfer where available. A withdrawal is requested and the processing time is recorded.
Step 6 – Support contact: The customer support team is contacted via live chat and email with specific questions to evaluate response times and the quality of assistance provided.
Step 7 – Mobile check: The casino is accessed on a mobile device to evaluate the quality of the mobile browser experience or dedicated app.
Step 8 – Scoring and writing: Once all testing is complete, Liam applies the weighted scoring criteria below and writes the final review.

How We Score Each Casino

Every casino is rated on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 represents unacceptable quality and 10 represents an outstanding platform. The overall score is a weighted average based on six core criteria.

Criteria	Weighting	What We Look At
Licensing & Safety	25%	Valid licence from a recognised authority, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair play certification
Bonuses & Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, fairness of terms, ongoing promotions for existing players
Game Selection	20%	Number and variety of games, quality of software providers, live casino offering, RTP transparency
Payment Methods	15%	NZD support, available deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, minimum and maximum limits
Customer Support	10%	Availability hours, response speed, helpfulness of agents, contact channel options
Mobile Experience	10%	Mobile browser performance, app availability, game compatibility, ease of navigation on smaller screens

Our Rating Scale Explained

9–10 – Exceptional: Outstanding across all categories. A top recommendation for NZ players.
7–8 – Good: Strong performance with only minor weaknesses. Worth considering.
5–6 – Average: Meets basic standards but falls short in notable areas.
3–4 – Below Average: Significant problems exist. Proceed with caution.
1–2 – Poor: Serious issues identified. Not recommended for NZ players.

How Floorsanding Stays Unbiased

Floorsanding may earn commission through affiliate partnerships with some of the casinos listed on this site. This is how the site is funded. However, our editorial process operates entirely independently of commercial relationships. Liam Ashworth applies the same methodology to every casino regardless of whether an affiliate agreement exists. Negative findings are reported honestly, and casinos are not given inflated scores in exchange for partnership arrangements.

Casinos cannot pay to improve their rating, request changes to review content, or be listed as a recommendation if they fail our minimum standards on licensing and safety. Floorsanding only recommends casinos that Liam would genuinely feel comfortable using himself as a New Zealand player in 2026.

If you have questions about our review process or want to report an inaccuracy, you are welcome to contact Liam directly through the Floorsanding website.

```