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About Kiwi Bet

We're a small team of Kiwi sports betting nerds who got sick of dodgy review sites and decided to do it properly. Real money, real bets, real opinions.

Who We Are

Kiwi Bet started because we were frustrated. Every time we searched for "best betting sites NZ," we'd get the same recycled lists written by people who'd clearly never placed a bet in their lives — let alone from New Zealand. Half the sites they recommended didn't even accept Kiwi players.

So we built something different. Kiwi Bet is run by actual punters based in New Zealand who test every single sportsbook we review. We deposit our own money, place real bets on rugby, cricket, and racing, then withdraw and time how long it takes. If a site's rubbish, we say so. If it's great, we explain exactly why.

We're not a faceless corporation. We're a couple of people who love sport, enjoy a punt, and think Kiwi bettors deserve straight-up, honest information about where to put their money. No fluff, no hidden agendas — just what we'd tell a mate down at the pub.

Our Mission

Put simply: we want to help New Zealand punters find betting sites that are actually worth using. That means platforms with better odds than TAB, fair bonus terms, fast payouts, and proper support when something goes wrong.

The international sportsbook market can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of sites out there, and most of them are average at best. We cut through the noise so you don't have to waste your time (or your money) figuring out which ones are legit.

Everything we publish is based on first-hand testing. We don't copy-paste marketing material from bookmakers or rank sites based on who pays us the most. Our rankings are based on genuine testing results — the odds, the payouts, the user experience, and how they treat NZ customers specifically.

Our Team

We're a small but dedicated team. Between us, we've tested over 150 betting platforms, placed thousands of real-money bets, and withdrawn from every single site we recommend. Here's who's behind the reviews you read on Kiwi Bet.

Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson
Senior Sports Betting Analyst
Based in Wellington, NZ
Jack's been betting on sport for over 7 years and writing about it for almost as long. He started out punting on the All Blacks and Warriors before getting into the nitty-gritty of odds comparison and platform analysis. He leads our review process and personally tests every sportsbook before it gets listed on the site. When he's not dissecting bonus terms or timing withdrawal speeds, you'll find him watching Super Rugby with a cold one.
7+
Years Experience
150+
Platforms Tested
500+
Reviews Written
Sophie Chen
Sophie Chen
Research & Data Analyst
Based in Auckland, NZ
Sophie brings the numbers side of things. With 5+ years in data analysis and a genuine interest in sports betting, she's the one crunching the odds comparisons, dissecting bonus maths, and figuring out which wagering requirements are actually achievable for normal punters. She's particularly sharp on value betting and can spot a dodgy T&C clause from a mile away. Sophie also manages our ongoing monitoring of payout speeds and platform reliability.
5+
Years Experience
1,000+
Odds Compared
200+
Bonuses Analysed

Want to see more of what our team has published? Check out our authors page for individual profiles and article archives.

Our Review Process

We don't just browse a sportsbook's homepage and write a review. Every site on Kiwi Bet goes through a proper testing process that takes weeks. Here's how it works:

1
Sign Up & Deposit
We register a real account, verify our identity, and deposit real NZD or crypto. No demo accounts, no press access — we go through the same process you would.
2
Claim the Bonus
We activate the welcome bonus and read every word of the fine print. We check wagering requirements, time limits, game restrictions, and maximum bet rules to see if the bonus is actually worth claiming.
3
Place Real Bets
We place 30-50+ real bets across rugby, cricket, football, racing, and other sports. We compare odds against TAB NZ and other bookies on the same events, and we test live betting during actual matches.
4
Test Withdrawals
We withdraw via every available method — bank transfer, e-wallets, crypto — and time how long each one takes. If a site makes you jump through hoops to get your money, we'll flag it.
5
Test Customer Support
We contact support via live chat, email, and any other channels they offer. We ask real questions and see how quickly and helpfully they respond, especially outside business hours.
6
Write & Publish
Only after all of that do we write the review. We score each site on markets, odds, bonuses, payouts, support, and user experience. Then we keep monitoring and update the review if anything changes.
🔍 Why This Matters

Most review sites have never actually used the platforms they recommend. They sign up to affiliate programs, copy the marketing blurb, and slap a rating on it. That's not what we do. Every sportsbook on Kiwi Bet has been personally tested by our team with real money. If we wouldn't use it ourselves, we won't recommend it to you.

Our Values

These aren't just corporate buzzwords we've stuck on a page. This is genuinely how we operate, and it's what separates us from the dozens of low-effort review sites out there.

🔎
Transparency
We're upfront about how we make money. Some of our links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up through them. But our rankings are based on testing results, not commission rates. If a site pays us more but performs worse, it ranks lower. Simple as that.
Independence
No sportsbook can pay to be #1 on our list. Our reviews are based entirely on our testing experience — the odds, the payouts, the support quality, and how the platform actually works for NZ punters. We've declined partnerships with sites that didn't meet our standards.
🇳🇿
NZ-Focused
Everything we do is through a Kiwi lens. We test with NZD, we bet on All Blacks and Black Caps, and we time payouts to NZ bank accounts. A site that's great for UK punters might be rubbish for us, and we flag that difference.
💪
Responsible Gambling
Betting should be fun, not stressful. We include responsible gambling information on every page, and we encourage all our readers to set limits and bet within their means. If you ever need help, the NZ Gambling Helpline is available on 0800 654 655.

Get in Touch

Got a question, spotted an error, or just want to say g'day? We'd love to hear from you. Head over to our contact page or drop us an email at [email protected]. We usually get back to people within 48 hours.