Last updated: May 2026 — Liam Hargreaves, Dimsumbites

How We Rate Online Pokies Sites: Our Review Methodology

Our Commitment to Honest, Independent Reviews

At Dimsumbites, every review you read on dimsumbites.com is the result of genuine, hands-on testing carried out by Liam Hargreaves. We are not a marketing arm for any casino operator. We do not accept payment to inflate scores or bury negative findings. Our sole purpose is to help New Zealand players make informed decisions about where they spend their time and money playing online pokies in 2026.

This page explains exactly how we evaluate each site, what criteria matter most, and how we calculate the final score you see on every review. We believe in full transparency, so nothing about our process is hidden.

Step-by-Step: How Liam Hargreaves Reviews a Site

Liam Hargreaves personally tests every single casino or pokies site before a review is published. No review on Dimsumbites is written from a press release, a summary sheet, or second-hand information. The process follows these steps:

• Step 1 – Account Registration: Liam creates a real player account using standard NZ details to assess how smooth and transparent the sign-up process is.
• Step 2 – Licence and Safety Verification: Licensing credentials are cross-checked directly against the issuing authority's public register before any further testing begins.
• Step 3 – Bonus Claiming: Welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions are claimed and the full terms and conditions are read, documented, and assessed for fairness.
• Step 4 – Game Testing: A representative sample of pokies and other available games are played, covering multiple software providers and RTP disclosures.
• Step 5 – Deposits and Withdrawals: Real deposits are made using payment methods available to NZ players. Withdrawal requests are submitted and processing times are recorded.
• Step 6 – Customer Support Contact: The support team is contacted via live chat, email, and where available, phone, to evaluate response times and the quality of assistance.
• Step 7 – Mobile Testing: The site is accessed on both iOS and Android devices to evaluate the mobile experience without a dedicated app and, where applicable, with one.
• Step 8 – Score Calculation and Write-Up: All findings are compiled, weighted scores are applied, and the review is written in full before publication.

Our Rating Criteria and Weightings

Each site is scored across six core categories. The final score out of 10 is a weighted average calculated from each category score. Here is how the weighting breaks down:

Category	Weighting	What We Assess
Licensing and Safety	25%	Valid gambling licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, data privacy standards
Bonuses and Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms clarity, ongoing promotions for NZ players
Game Selection	20%	Number and variety of pokies, software providers, RTP transparency, jackpot availability
Payment Methods	15%	NZD support, deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, transaction fees
Customer Support	10%	Availability hours, response speed, helpfulness, number of contact channels
Mobile Experience	10%	Browser performance on mobile, app availability, loading speed, touch-screen usability

Understanding Our Rating Scale

All sites on Dimsumbites are scored on a 1 to 10 scale, where 10 represents an outstanding, near-flawless experience for NZ pokies players and 1 represents a site that fails on fundamental standards.

• 9.0 – 10.0: Exceptional. Recommended without reservation.
• 7.0 – 8.9: Good to Very Good. Solid choice with minor drawbacks.
• 5.0 – 6.9: Average. May suit some players but notable weaknesses exist.
• 3.0 – 4.9: Below Average. Significant issues that affect player experience.
• 1.0 – 2.9: Poor. Not recommended. Serious concerns identified.

How Dimsumbites Stays Unbiased

Independence is non-negotiable at Dimsumbites. Liam Hargreaves funds all testing personally and is not employed by, contracted to, or financially incentivised by any casino operator reviewed on this site. Where affiliate relationships exist and commissions may be earned if readers click through and register, this is disclosed clearly on each review page. Affiliate relationships never influence scores. A site with a commercial arrangement receives the same rigorous scrutiny as one without. Negative findings are published regardless of commercial impact, and scores are never adjusted following operator complaints or requests.

Reviews are revisited and updated when operators make significant changes to their terms, game libraries, or licensing status, ensuring that information on dimsumbites.com reflects the current reality for NZ players in 2026 and beyond.

Questions About Our Methodology

If you have questions about how a specific site was reviewed or scored, you are welcome to reach out directly through the contact page at dimsumbites.com. Liam Hargreaves is committed to full accountability for every rating published on this site.