How do We Test Our Online Casinos?

Criteria is very important. At Casino Online New Zealand we’re not in the business of just flogging our visitors with any old online casino or something we picked up off the strip. We believe that for an operator to be worthy of your time and money, they need to tick the right boxes. In order to ascertain an online casino’s worthiness, we look at the following:

  • Games Selection
  • Welcome Bonus
  • Security
  • Withdrawal Options
  • Casino License
  • Age of Casino
  • Casino Awards

Games Selection

You’ve come to an online casino because you want to play games. Games that you have a genuine interest in and games that provide fair and random payouts. When looking at the casino games on offer, it’s important to note the people or company responsible for the creation of these games. You need to be sure that the supplier is reputable. It doesn’t hurt if the supplier is also the recipient of certain awards within the online casino industry as this does add to its credibility. Often a good and reputable software supplier won’t back an operator with questionable operational practices. The online casinos we endorse are backed by top manufactures and award recipients. These include:

  • Microgaming
  • Net Entertainment
  • Playtech
  • Random Logic
  • NextGen Gaming
  • Play ‘n Go
  • BetSoft

Welcome Bonuses

A welcome bonus is vital, especially in the attracting of new players. There are a few things that need to be noted. There is no such things as a free ride, it doesn’t exist. In the early years of online gaming, it was quite possible to receive a no-deposit bonus. Bonus abuse has forced operators to tighten the requirements and the nature of these offers. As a result, these days match offers are what the vast majority of online casinos offer. The match offer is not a bad deal. You can win money on it, that’s the truth. Before accepting it though, check the wagering requirements. Industry standards dictate that bonus cash be wagered between 30 and 40 times. These are standards we accept as legit.

Security

Another vital component of any online casino is security. You need to know that your information is safe, that your banking details won’t be compromised and that the gaming environment you’re playing in is safe. We look at the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) component – the digital channel that allows communication between two points. This technology ensures that when you’re logging into your account, the information cannot be viewed by another. Regulatory and testing bodies are important. So before signing up, always go to the bottom of the site and have a look for certain emblems or logos associated with these institutions. We take all these aspects into account along with the licencing of the online casinos we endorse.

Withdrawal Options

In the case of withdrawal options we look at what is available and how long these mechanisms take to deposit and more importantly to receive cash that has been won. A good online casino will only allow reputable financial bodies to do business with them, Good yardsticks are companies like Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, UKash and Citadel Wire transfers. These are examples of what to look out for in the legitimacy of withdrawal options. Anything between 1 – 7 business days is acceptable in terms of waiting for a withdrawal with 7 being the absolute longest one should have to wait.

Casino Licence

It’s always advisable to make sure that the online casino you’re about to sign up with has a valid licence. It’s something we look into ourselves before giving that casino our approval. Territories allowed to issue licences are:

  • Alderney
  • Austria
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Costa Rica
  • Curacao & Netherlands Antilles
  • Dominican Republic
  • Estonia
  • Gibraltar
  • Isle of Man
  • Kahnawake
  • Malta

The majority of the online casinos that we endorse are licenced by the Malta Gaming Authority. We have chosen to punt these operators specifically because Malta was the first EU member state to offer remote gaming licences.

Age of the Casino

Believe it or not, age is important when it comes to online casinos. The older an establishment, the more likely it’s been operating in a manner befitting a certain level of professionalism. A good yardstick for us and something indicative of trust is 5 years and older. There are exceptions to the rule but anything over five years without being branded a rogue casino or a non-recommended casino will mean the establishment is good to go.

Casino Awards

Casino awards are often indicative of reliability and reputability. When choosing to promote or advertise an online casino, we always look to see if the following awards or accolades have been bestowed:

  • EGR Awards
  • Casinomiester®
  • Casino Players
  • Gambling Online Magazine
  • Global Gaming Awards

The operator doesn’t need to have every award under the sun. Even having one or two is already indicative of a quality establishment.