How We Rate: Our Casino & Betting Review Methodology
Every site on Cool As is scored against the same transparent 50-point methodology. Here's exactly how we test, what we measure and how we turn it into a rating out of five.
Our Testing Process
- Sign up & deposit real money using NZ payment methods (POLi, card, e-wallet, crypto).
- Play the games across pokies, live dealer and table games; note load times and mobile performance.
- Claim the bonus and work through the wagering to test how fair the terms really are.
- Request a withdrawal and time it to the minute; record the KYC experience.
- Verify the licence and check complaint history and responsible-gambling tools.
What We Score (and the Weighting)
| Category | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Safety & licensing | 25% | Live licence, encryption, audits, complaint history |
| Payouts & banking | 20% | Withdrawal speed, NZD support, POLi/crypto, fees, limits |
| Bonuses & value | 20% | True value after wagering, fair terms, game weighting |
| Games & software | 15% | Range, providers, RTP, live-dealer quality |
| Mobile & UX | 10% | Speed, usability, mobile web app |
| Support & RG tools | 10% | Live-chat response, deposit limits, self-exclusion |
How Ratings Are Calculated
Each category is scored, weighted and combined into a rating out of five. A site must pass our safety and payout checks to be listed at all — we would rather leave a slow-paying casino off the page than rank it. Ratings are reviewed at least quarterly and whenever an operator changes its terms.
Independence & Affiliate Disclosure
We earn commission from operator links, but this never affects scores. See our editorial standards. Spotted something we got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.