Captain Cooks Casino Review NZ

Launched way back in 2000, Captain Cooks Casino is one of the pioneers in online gambling and remains an industry leader, thanks to their excellent features. New Zealanders can enjoy a wide selection of games, along with other perks that attract the latest-gen casino players to Captain Cooks. They have more than 550 premium casino games to enjoy, available on laptop as well as mobile.

What impressed me more was that almost every game at Captain Cooks is provided by industry-renowned Microgaming. New Zealanders can expect a smooth and flawless casino gaming experience with top-notch graphics and exciting themes. Captain Cooks has the biggest range of slots, but they also have table and card games, live games, jackpots, and more.

Captain Cooks offered me 100 free spins and up to $475 on the first five deposits at the casino. They also have regular deals along with a VIP program for their loyal players. I also loved the quick and secure banking experience, excellent support, and security at Captain Cooks. In this Captain Cooks Casino review for New Zealanders, I will discuss all of their features and share my experience with them.

Games: 9.2/10

There are several reasons why, despite having a relatively smaller gaming library, Captain Cooks stands out among the top online casinos in New Zealand. They focus more on quality and the user experience, having a sole game provider, Microgaming, which ensures that all of their games are optimised and highly enjoyable. 

Although Captain Cooks only has around 550 games, players like me who love playing pokies will not be disappointed as they have several hundred slots on offer. I played 3-reel slots, multi-line slots, classic games, hot titles, and more in a single session without ever getting bored. I was also quite impressed with their table and card games with different themes and game modes. However, Captain Cooks lacks variety in their live dealer games and jackpot games sections. I could only find a few titles that are not enough to entertain those who are serious about those particular games.

The navigation at Captain Cooks is very easy. All popular casino gaming categories have their own dedicated sections, and there is even a "For you” category where I found new and interesting games that kept me hooked. I was able to search for games by a particular keyword, name, or type, and the results would appear instantly.

I picked dozens of titles from different casino gaming categories to test the gameplay and evaluate my experience. Captain Cooks does not offer demo mode, so I had to make a deposit to begin playing. Once I was in, I didn’t encounter any problems. The games loaded pretty quickly, the interface was beginner-friendly, the gameplay was smooth, and the games looked brilliant. I loved the sharp and bright graphics integrated into all of the games, paired with immersive sound and exciting themes.

I tested blackjack and roulette in the live casino available at Captain Cooks. It was another fascinating experience, thanks to the real-casino feel and atmosphere. The games were streamed live in HD, and I joined several other players in a public room. A professional dealer was hosting the game and catering to all the bets and wagers of the players. I was able to chat with others through the live chat button and socialise just like in a real casino. As I had a stable internet connection, I did not face any buffer, lag, or pixelated stream and thoroughly enjoyed the session.

Bonuses: 9.4/10

Although the entire welcome bonus of Captain Cooks is quite attractive, I only decided to claim the first and second deposit bonus as these were the most beneficial to me. On the first deposit of only $5, you receive 100 free spins to become a millionaire! On the second deposit, there is a 100% math bonus up to $100.

However, the welcome bonus is subject to a few terms and conditions. The wagering requirements are set to 200 times for the first and second deposit bonuses and 30 times for subsequent bonuses. Captain Cooks should lower their initial wagering requirements as they are very high and require a lot of time and dedication to fulfil.

To claim a bonus, the first deposit only requires a minimum of $5, and all other bonuses require a minimum of $10. The free spins claimed from the first deposit bonus must be claimed within the first 7 days of registration, and can only be used on the game Mega Money Wheel.

Players who intend to stay at Captain Cooks won't be disappointed as there are regular deals to look forward to. There are jackpots, game promotions, double-point deals, and more updated regularly. The VIP program of Captain Cooks has several ranks, and each one has a bigger jackpot that you can participate in.

Deposits and Withdrawals: 9.8/10

Captain Cooks offers a long list of secure and convenient payment options like credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, e-wallets, and payment vouchers. I opted for debit card payment and used my Visa card to deposit $10. After entering the credentials and entering the OTP, my transaction was approved almost instantly, and my account was credited with the funds. I also received the free spins that I could play at Mega Money Wheel. I was not charged any sort of fee, and the entire process was completed flawlessly. For the complete list of payment options at Captain Cooks, refer to the list below:

Deposit methods

• Visa (Min. $10)
• Mastercard (Min. $10)
• JCB (Min. $10)
• MuchBetter (Min. $10)
• Google Pay (Min. $10)
• Paysafecard (Min. $10)
• Neteller (Min. $10)
• Payz (Min. $10)
• Skrill (Min. $10)
• Neosurf (Min. $10)

Withdrawal methods

• Direct bank withdrawal
• Skrill
• Neteller
• Neosurf
• MuchBetter
• Payz

Processing time for withdrawals ranges from three to five business days. However, I received my withdrawal within 48 hours from Captain Cooks. As it was my first withdrawal with them, I had to complete the identity verification procedure by submitting my documents. Withdrawal limits vary from method to method and can be found at the time of withdrawal.

Mobile Gaming: 9.6/10  

Captain Cooks brings the convenience of playing casino games on mobile devices. The casino has a mobile-friendly website that can be accessed from pretty much any smartphone. There is no need to download or install any app as your mobile browser will do the job efficiently. I opened the Chrome browser on my phone, and visited Captain Cooks by entering the URL. The interface was very similar to the desktop version of the casino. I was able to log into my account easily; however, there was also the option to register from scratch. Once I was in, I had access to all the casino features, including making deposits and withdrawals, contacting support, claiming bonuses, and the gaming library.

Almost the entire gaming library of Captain Cooks is available for mobile players, and I was able to find slots, jackpots, card games, table games, and more. I played a few slot games as well as table games, and the titles worked quite flawlessly on my device. The games stretched perfectly to the screen of my mobile, and I was able to enjoy them in fullscreen mode. I could also easily navigate, place bets, and explore options thanks to the excellent responsiveness and optimisation. The graphics of the games were also quite sharp and looked brilliant even on a smaller screen. I recommend an updated browser on your device and a stable internet connection to avoid lag, buffer, or freezing.

Customer Support: 9.5/10  

I had a great experience dealing with the customer support team of Captain Cooks as it was fast and efficient. They have 24/7 live chat support, which is the only option available to contact them. When I clicked on the live support from the help centre, a pop-up window appeared where I could write a message. I quickly realised I was talking to an AI bot once I explained my issue. The AI bot answered my query almost immediately and asked if it solved the problem. Although it did, I decided to ask for further assistance to test how good the support staff are. A support member got in touch with me quickly, and I explained my issue and received a detailed response, which passed my test.

It is a good idea to check out the FAQs and terms and conditions of Captain Cooks if you are looking for answers to basic queries. I checked out these sections and found a lot of info regarding the promos, security, licensing, account, and payment options at Captain Cooks.

Security and Licensing: 9.7/10  

Captain Cooks Casino is owned by Fresh Horizons Limited, which owns several other online casinos that I have also previously reviewed. Fresh Horizons Limited has authorisation from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and is fully licensed. Captain Cooks is certified by eCOGRA for fair play.

Captain Cooks uses SSL encryption to secure their site. I was able to set a strong password and enable SMS and email notifications. However, I could not find the option to set 2FA. The casino also uses identity checks to ensure there is no fraudulent activity.

Verdict

Captain Cooks has cemented their position as one of the best online casinos in New Zealand. They have an impressive selection of casino games that include slots, jackpot games, roulette, baccarat, game shows, and more. All their games are sourced from one of the best game providers, Microgaming. Every game I played at Captain Cooks, whether on my laptop or mobile, worked flawlessly and had excellent graphics. The gameplay was engaging, and I never felt bored exploring different titles. The welcome bonus I received was also quite good, as I was offered 100 free spins and up to $475. They have frequent deals and a VIP program for their regular players.

I also loved the wide variety of banking options at Captain Cooks, along with their instant customer support and security features. Their live games and jackpots lack variety, and the wagering requirements for the welcome bonus should be lowered. But it does not change the fact that I would still rely on Captain Cooks for an enjoyable casino gaming experience.

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