Liam Hayes

Last updated: 24 June 2026

Liam Hayes

Lead Casino Reviewer · 8 years in iGaming · 180+ casinos tested · Auckland, NZ

Who I am

My name is Liam Hayes, and I have reviewed online casinos professionally since 2018. I studied a BCom in Economics at the University of Auckland, which is where my habit of reading the fine print before the headline came from. I got into iGaming working in player support for an operator, where I saw the inner workings up close — how bonuses are really structured, how KYC and withdrawals actually flow, and where players most often get caught out. Today I am the lead reviewer and editor at Jonny Jackpot, and I personally test every casino we recommend.

My expertise

Bonuses. I have analysed well over 500 offers and can value one in minutes. I know the difference between a clean x35 wagering on the bonus and a trap that runs x60 on bonus-plus-deposit, caps your bet at NZ$5 and excludes live games. I always work out the real cost before recommending a claim.

Licensing. I understand what MGA, UKGC, Curacao and other licences actually protect, and I follow New Zealand’s new regime under the Department of Internal Affairs (dia.govt.nz) — including the fact that no operator holds a DIA licence yet, with the market opening from late 2026. I say so plainly rather than implying protection that doesn’t exist.

Payments. I have tested withdrawals through Visa and Mastercard debit, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfer, MuchBetter and more. Time-to-cash is one of the first numbers I record in any review.

Games and providers. I know the catalogues of 80-plus studios, from NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and Evolution to Nolimit City and Hacksaw Gaming, and I understand RTP, volatility and hit frequency well enough to flag when a lobby is thinner than it looks.

Mobile. Every casino gets tested on a real phone — iOS and Android — for layout, load speed and a working cashier, because that is where most Kiwis actually play.

How I test

I test every casino in person: real registration, real deposit, real play, real withdrawal request. A full test takes 5–7 days — the time it really takes to verify, clear a bonus and get paid. I spend my own money doing it; a typical test deposit is NZ$20–50, and across eight years I have put thousands of dollars through these sites so you don’t have to. I log every step — screenshots, support chats, payout timings — and that record becomes the review. My full method is in How We Test, and the scoring I apply is in How We Rate.

Staying current

New Zealand’s rules are changing fast, so I track legislation and regulator updates and revise our guides to match. You can read more about the team and standards behind my work on the About Us page, or reach me through Contact.