Last updated: June 2026 — James Wilson, Drone To Kill

How We Rate

Our Review Methodology at Drone To Kill

At Drone To Kill (drone-to-kill.com), every casino and pokie site we recommend has been put through a rigorous, structured evaluation process. Our goal is simple: to give New Zealand players honest, reliable guidance so they can make informed decisions about where to spend their time and money online. This page explains exactly how we assess each site, what criteria matter most, and why you can trust our ratings.

Who Does the Reviewing?

Every review published on Drone To Kill is personally conducted by James Wilson, the site's founder and lead reviewer. James does not rely on press releases, operator-supplied information, or secondhand accounts. Before any rating is published, James creates a real player account, deposits his own funds, plays a selection of pokies, tests the withdrawal process, and contacts customer support with genuine questions. This hands-on approach ensures that every score reflects a real-world experience, not a theoretical assessment.

James has spent years studying the New Zealand online gaming market, tracking regulatory changes, bonus structures, software providers, and player protection standards. That accumulated knowledge underpins every review you read here.

Our Step-by-Step Review Process

Each casino review follows a consistent sequence of steps to ensure nothing is missed:

• Step 1 – Licence Verification: James checks the operator's licence directly with the issuing authority before anything else. Unlicensed sites are removed from consideration immediately.
• Step 2 – Account Registration: A genuine player account is created using standard New Zealand details to test the sign-up experience from start to finish.
• Step 3 – Deposit and Payment Testing: James deposits real money using payment methods commonly available to NZ players, including credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers, to verify processing times and any hidden fees.
• Step 4 – Pokie and Game Testing: A broad selection of pokies is played, covering classic slots, video pokies, and progressive jackpot titles, assessing load speed, software quality, and fairness certifications.
• Step 5 – Bonus Claiming: The welcome bonus and any available promotions are claimed and their terms and conditions examined in full, including wagering requirements, game restrictions, and cashout limits.
• Step 6 – Customer Support Evaluation: James contacts support through live chat, email, and where available, phone, to assess response times, accuracy of answers, and overall helpfulness.
• Step 7 – Mobile Testing: The site is accessed on mobile devices to evaluate the responsive design, pokie performance, and ease of navigation without a desktop browser.
• Step 8 – Withdrawal Request: A withdrawal is requested to verify processing times and confirm that cashouts work as advertised.
• Step 9 – Final Scoring: All findings are compiled and scored against our weighted criteria before the review is written and published.

Our Rating Criteria and Weightings

Each casino is scored out of 10 in six key categories. These category scores are then combined using the weightings below to produce an overall score out of 10.

Category	Weighting	What We Assess
Licensing and Safety	25%	Licence validity, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, and fair play certification from independent auditors such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs.
Bonuses and Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, fairness of wagering requirements, ongoing promotions, and transparency of bonus terms.
Game Selection	20%	Number and variety of pokies, quality of software providers, availability of progressive jackpots, and presence of demo play options.
Payment Methods	15%	Availability of NZD accounts, range of deposit and withdrawal options, processing speeds, and fee structures.
Customer Support	10%	Availability hours, response speed, quality of assistance, and number of contact channels offered.
Mobile Experience	10%	Quality of mobile browser or app performance, pokie loading times, navigation ease, and feature parity with desktop.

Understanding Our Rating Scale

All sites are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, where each range carries a clear meaning:

• 9.0 – 10.0: Exceptional. Among the very best options for NZ players in 2026.
• 7.0 – 8.9: Very Good. Strong across most categories with only minor weaknesses.
• 5.0 – 6.9: Average. Acceptable but with notable drawbacks worth considering.
• 3.0 – 4.9: Below Average. Significant problems that outweigh the positives.
• 1.0 – 2.9: Poor. Not recommended under current conditions.

Only casinos scoring 7.0 or above are listed in our recommended sections. Lower-rated sites may still be reviewed, but they will carry a clear warning for players.

How Drone To Kill Stays Unbiased

Independence is the foundation of everything we publish. Drone To Kill operates on an affiliate model, meaning we may earn a commission if a reader signs up at a recommended casino. However, this commercial arrangement never influences our scores or recommendations. The following safeguards are in place at all times:

• Operators cannot pay to improve their rating or appear in our top lists.
• James Wilson funds all personal testing from his own pocket and accepts no complimentary credits from casinos under review.
• Negative findings are always published, regardless of whether we have an affiliate relationship with the operator.
• Ratings are reviewed and updated whenever a site's standards change, whether for better or worse.
• We clearly disclose our affiliate relationships on all relevant pages in line with honest advertising standards.

Our readers come first. If a site does not meet our standards for New Zealand players, it does not get our recommendation, regardless of any financial incentive.

Questions About Our Reviews?

If you have questions about how a specific casino was rated, or if you believe any information on our site is inaccurate, James Wilson welcomes direct feedback. Transparency and accountability are central to the Drone To Kill mission, and reader input helps us maintain the highest possible standards for the NZ pokies community.