Last updated: June 2026 — James Wilson, Salut

How We Rate

Our Review Methodology at Salut

At Salut (salut.co.nz), every casino and online pokies site you see reviewed has been personally tested by James Wilson before a single word is written. No shortcuts. No second-hand opinions. No copy-pasting operator marketing material. This page explains exactly how we evaluate each site, what we look for, and how we arrive at a final score — so you can trust that our recommendations reflect real experience, not paid placements.

Who Reviews the Sites

James Wilson is the founder, author, and sole reviewer behind Salut. Based in New Zealand, James has spent years playing at and analysing online pokies sites available to Kiwi players. His process combines hands-on gameplay testing with a structured scoring framework. James funds his own accounts, makes real deposits, triggers bonuses, tests withdrawals, and contacts customer support — all as a regular player would. No operator has access to his scores before publication, and no rating is ever negotiated or adjusted in exchange for placement or advertising fees.

Step-by-Step: How a Site Gets Reviewed

Step 1 — Initial Eligibility Check

Before a full review begins, James confirms that the site accepts players from New Zealand, supports NZD or offers a practical currency alternative, and has been operating for enough time to assess reliability. Sites that fail this basic check are not reviewed.

Step 2 — Account Creation and Verification

James registers a genuine account using standard New Zealand details. He documents how smooth the sign-up process is, whether identity verification (KYC) is clear and reasonable, and how long it takes to get fully approved.

Step 3 — Deposit and Bonus Activation

A real deposit is made using at least one payment method commonly used by NZ players. Any welcome bonus or free spins offer is claimed and the terms — including wagering requirements, game restrictions, and time limits — are read in full and tested in practice.

Step 4 — Gameplay Testing

James plays a selection of pokies across different software providers, stakes ranges, and volatility levels. He notes load times, game fairness indicators, RTP availability, and whether the overall experience matches what the site advertises.

Step 5 — Withdrawal Request

A withdrawal is requested to assess processing speed, any fees applied, and whether the site creates unnecessary friction. This is one of the most important steps — how a site handles your winnings tells you more than almost anything else.

Step 6 — Customer Support Contact

James contacts support at least twice — once by live chat and once by email — with genuine questions. Response time, accuracy, and helpfulness are all recorded.

Step 7 — Mobile Testing

The site is accessed on a mobile device without using any desktop browser. James checks layout, loading speed, game availability, and whether the full account functionality is available on mobile.

Step 8 — Final Scoring and Write-Up

All findings are compiled, scored against the criteria below, and written up in plain language designed to help NZ players make informed decisions.

Rating Criteria and Weightings

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

Category	Weighting	What We Assess
Licensing and Safety	25%	Valid gambling licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair terms and conditions
Bonuses and Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, game contributions, bonus terms fairness
Game Selection	20%	Number and variety of pokies, software providers, RTP transparency, game quality
Payment Methods	15%	NZD support, deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees
Customer Support	10%	Availability, response speed, accuracy, live chat and email quality
Mobile Experience	10%	Mobile layout, game availability, account functionality, loading performance

Understanding Our Scores

Every site receives a final score on a scale of 1 to 10. Here is what each range means in practice:

• 9.0 – 10.0 — Outstanding. Among the very best options for NZ players. Excels across all categories.
• 7.5 – 8.9 — Very Good. A strong, reliable choice with only minor weaknesses.
• 6.0 – 7.4 — Decent. Worth considering but has noticeable areas for improvement.
• 4.0 – 5.9 — Below Average. Significant issues in one or more key areas. Approach with caution.
• 1.0 – 3.9 — Poor. Not recommended. Serious concerns around safety, fairness, or player experience.

How Salut Stays Unbiased

Independence is the foundation of everything we do at Salut. Here is how we protect it:

• No paid reviews. Operators cannot pay to receive a review, a higher score, or a featured placement based on commercial arrangements alone.
• Affiliate transparency. Salut may earn a commission if you sign up through one of our links. This is disclosed openly. However, affiliate relationships do not influence scores — sites are ranked and recommended on merit only.
• Scores are final before publication. No operator is shown their score in advance or given the opportunity to request changes.
• Reviews are updated. James revisits previously reviewed sites when significant changes occur — such as a change of ownership, new bonus terms, or player complaints — and scores are adjusted accordingly.
• We decline to review sites we cannot verify. If a site does not provide enough publicly available information to assess properly, it does not receive a recommendation on Salut.

If you have questions about our methodology or want to flag something about a site we have reviewed, you are welcome to reach out directly through our contact page. We take reader feedback seriously and use it to keep our reviews accurate and up to date.