Liam O'Connor — iGaming Reviewer & Editor
I'm Liam O'Connor, and I've been reviewing online casinos for New Zealand players since 2017. I'm based in Auckland, and I write for Kiwis who want a straight answer about which sites actually pay and which ones waste your time. I run the casino ratings on The Coromandel, and I test every site personally before it goes on the list.
How I got here
I started out writing pokies and slots guides when most "NZ casino" content was just recycled Australian pages with the dollar sign swapped. That annoyed me enough to do it properly: real accounts, real deposits, real withdrawals, and notes on what actually happened rather than what the marketing promised. Nine years on, that's still the whole method.
What I cover
- Casino reviews and rankings. Payout speed, bonus fairness, game quality and support — tested, not assumed.
- Bonus terms. I read the wagering, max-bet and game-weighting rules so I can tell you when a big offer is really a small one.
- Payments and withdrawals. How Kiwis get paid — cards, bank transfer, e-wallets, prepaid vouchers and crypto — and how long each really takes.
- NZ regulation. I follow the Department of Internal Affairs' rollout of domestic online-casino licensing closely, because it's about to reshape this market.
- Safer gambling. The tools that keep play under control, and the help available when it isn't.
How I test a casino
Every review follows the same routine, in order:
- Sign up and verify. I create a real account and complete ID verification, noting how long KYC takes and how intrusive it is.
- Deposit. I fund the account with a method a typical Kiwi would use and check it lands instantly and in NZ$.
- Play. I try the pokies, at least one live-dealer table and the support chat with a genuinely awkward question.
- Cash out. I request a withdrawal and time it end to end. This is the number that decides most of the ranking.
- Read the fine print. Bonus terms, withdrawal limits and account rules, in full, before I write a word.
- Re-test. I revisit sites when their terms change, and I pull any casino that stops paying cleanly.
What I won't do
I don't rank a casino I haven't withdrawn from, I don't hide that these listings earn a commission, and I don't dress a slow-paying site up as a good one because the offer is generous. If a casino here lets you down, that's on me to catch and fix.
Responsible gambling
Gambling is entertainment with a cost, and it's strictly R18 in New Zealand. If it stops being fun, Gambling Helpline New Zealand is free and confidential on 0800 654 655, any hour of the day.
Get in touch
Spotted something wrong, or had a payout go sideways at a site I recommend? Email me at [email protected] and I'll re-test it.