How We Rate

Our Casino Review Methodology

Every casino review published on Floorsanding is the result of a structured, hands-on evaluation process carried out by Mitchell Raukawa. This page explains exactly how we assess online casinos for New Zealand players, what criteria we use, how much weight each factor carries, and how we arrive at a final score. We believe you deserve full transparency before trusting any recommendation.

Who Reviews the Casinos

Mitchell Raukawa is the author, owner, and sole reviewer behind Floorsanding. Mitchell has spent years researching and testing online gambling platforms available to New Zealand players. Every casino featured on this site has been personally registered, funded, and played on by Mitchell before a review is written or a score is assigned. No review is based on promotional material supplied by operators, press releases, or second-hand information.

Mitchell holds no financial relationships with any casino operator that would influence a review outcome. Affiliate commissions, where earned, are disclosed clearly and never affect the scores or rankings you see on this site.

Step-by-Step Review Process

Before any score is assigned, Mitchell follows a consistent process for every casino evaluated:

Step 1 – Licence verification: Mitchell checks the casino's regulatory licence directly with the issuing authority before anything else.
Step 2 – Account registration: A real account is created using New Zealand details to test the sign-up flow, identity verification, and any welcome bonus activation.
Step 3 – Deposit testing: A real deposit is made using payment methods commonly available to NZ players, including bank transfer and popular e-wallets.
Step 4 – Game exploration: Mitchell plays across multiple game categories — slots, table games, and live dealer titles — to assess library depth, software quality, and load times.
Step 5 – Bonus evaluation: All bonus terms and conditions are read in full, wagering requirements are calculated, and time limits are noted.
Step 6 – Withdrawal request: A withdrawal is requested to measure processing speed and to verify that the cashout experience matches the casino's stated policy.
Step 7 – Support contact: The customer support team is contacted via live chat and email to assess response times, helpfulness, and availability.
Step 8 – Mobile testing: The casino is accessed on a mobile device to evaluate layout, performance, and whether all features work correctly without a dedicated app.
Step 9 – Scoring and writing: Each criterion is scored individually. A final weighted score is calculated, and the review is written based solely on the findings.

Rating Criteria and Weightings

Floorsanding uses a weighted scoring system across six key criteria. Each criterion is scored from 1 to 10, and the final overall score reflects the weighted average of all six areas.

Criterion	Weighting	What We Look At
Licensing & Safety	25%	Regulatory licence validity, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, player fund protection
Bonuses & Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms fairness, ongoing promotions for NZ players
Game Selection	20%	Total number of titles, software providers, variety of categories, live dealer quality, NZD-compatible games
Payment Methods	15%	NZD support, available deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, transaction fees
Customer Support	10%	Live chat availability, email response time, quality of answers, support hours
Mobile Experience	10%	Mobile browser performance, app availability, navigation ease, game availability on mobile

Understanding Our Scores

Each casino receives a final score out of 10, calculated using the weighted criteria above. Here is how to interpret the scores you see across Floorsanding:

9.0 – 10.0: Exceptional. Among the very best choices for NZ players in 2026.
7.5 – 8.9: Very good. A strong all-round casino with minor areas for improvement.
6.0 – 7.4: Average. Suitable for some players but has noticeable limitations.
4.0 – 5.9: Below average. Significant drawbacks that make it hard to recommend.
Below 4.0: Poor. We do not recommend casinos in this range to NZ players.

How Floorsanding Stays Unbiased

Independence is the foundation of everything published on this site. Mitchell Raukawa does not accept payment from casino operators in exchange for higher scores, positive reviews, or featured placements. Where affiliate partnerships exist, they are disclosed in line with standard transparency practices, and commercial relationships have zero influence over the scoring methodology described on this page.

Casinos are reviewed on their own merits. A casino that pays a higher affiliate commission rate does not receive a higher score. If a casino that was previously rated positively changes its terms, reduces its game library, or fails to process withdrawals properly, Mitchell will update or downgrade the review to reflect the current reality.

Floorsanding is not operated by, affiliated with, or funded by any casino operator. Our only obligation is to New Zealand players looking for honest, tested, and up-to-date information before they deposit real money online.

Review Updates

The online casino market changes frequently. Floorsanding reviews are revisited regularly throughout 2026 to ensure scores and information remain accurate. If you spot something that appears outdated or incorrect, you are welcome to contact Mitchell directly through the site's contact page.

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