Last updated: May 2026 — Liam Hargreaves, Unpacified
Every casino review published on Unpacified is the result of a structured, hands-on evaluation process carried out personally by Liam Hargreaves. This page explains exactly how that process works, what criteria are assessed, how each category is weighted, and why New Zealand players can trust the ratings they find here. There are no shortcuts, no copy-paste assessments, and no operator influence. Just honest, independent analysis built for Kiwi players in 2026.
Liam Hargreaves is the author and owner of Unpacified. Every casino that appears on this site has been personally registered, funded, and tested by Liam before a single word of the review is written. This means creating a real player account using a New Zealand identity, making actual deposits in NZD where possible, playing a range of online pokies, and contacting customer support as a genuine customer would. No casino receives a published rating based on operator-supplied information alone.
This hands-on approach is what separates Unpacified from directories that simply aggregate data. Real testing surfaces real problems, including slow withdrawal processing, misleading bonus terms, and poor mobile performance, that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Each casino is scored across six core categories. The final overall rating out of 10 is a weighted composite of these individual scores. Below is a breakdown of each category and its contribution to the total score.
| Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing & Safety | 25% | Regulatory authority, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, player fund protection |
| Bonuses & Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms clarity, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Total pokie titles, software providers, RTP transparency, jackpot availability, game filtering |
| Payment Methods | 15% | NZD support, deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fee structures |
| Customer Support | 10% | Live chat availability, response speed, quality of answers, support hours |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Browser compatibility, dedicated app quality, pokie loading performance on mobile devices |
This carries the highest weight because no other factor matters if a casino is not safe. Liam checks the issuing authority, verifies the licence is active, reviews the casino's responsible gambling provisions, and assesses how transparent the operator is about its ownership and terms. Casinos holding licences from reputable jurisdictions such as Malta, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man score highest in this category.
Bonus offers are read in full, including the fine print. Wagering requirements, eligible games, time limits, and withdrawal caps are all recorded and compared against industry norms. A generous headline figure paired with unrealistic wagering conditions results in a lower score, not a higher one.
With a primary focus on online pokies for NZ players, Liam catalogues the available titles, identifies the software providers powering them, and looks for variety across themes, volatility levels, and jackpot types. RTP figures are checked for accessibility and accuracy.
The availability of NZD accounts, the presence of payment options commonly used by New Zealanders, and the real-world speed of withdrawals are all tested directly. Stated processing times are compared against actual times experienced during testing.
Support agents are contacted via live chat and email with specific, realistic questions. Response times, accuracy of answers, and the agent's willingness to assist are all noted. Support that is difficult to reach or evasive on bonus questions scores poorly.
Pokies and key account functions are tested on mobile browsers across both iOS and Android environments. Load times, display quality, and the ease of navigating the cashier on a smaller screen all contribute to this score.
All casinos are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, displayed on each review page. The bands are interpreted as follows:
Unpacified may earn affiliate commissions when readers sign up to a recommended casino. This is standard practice across the industry and is disclosed openly. However, commercial relationships do not influence scores. The following practices protect editorial independence:
If you have questions about the review process or want to flag an inaccuracy, you are welcome to contact Liam directly through the contact page at unpacified.com.