Sophia Novakivska

Sophia is the lead casino tester at Daily Wonders, responsible for deposit testing, bonus claim verification, and wagering requirement audits. She's been testing online casinos since 2019, with a focus on bonus terms transparency and player protection.

Before joining Daily Wonders, Sophia worked as a compliance analyst for an iGaming affiliate network, where she audited casino bonus T&Cs and flagged operators with predatory wagering requirements. She joined Daily Wonders in 2024 to bring hands-on testing and player advocacy to the NZ market.

Sophia holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Auckland and is a member of the New Zealand Responsible Gambling Foundation's advisory network.

Sophia's primary responsibilities at Daily Wonders include:

• Bonus claim testing — verifying welcome bonuses, free spins offers, and cashback promotions
• Wagering requirement audits — checking if casinos accurately track wagering progress and game contributions
• Deposit method testing — testing credit card, POLi, bank transfer, and crypto deposits with real NZD
• T&C analysis — identifying hidden restrictions, max bet limits, and withdrawal caps in bonus terms
• Payment speed verification — timing deposit processing from submission to account credit

Sophia has tested over 200 online casinos since 2019, with a focus on operators targeting the Australian and New Zealand markets. She's identified multiple cases of casinos manipulating bonus terms post-signup or voiding winnings on technicalities.

Sophia started focusing on bonus audits after seeing how many casinos use unclear or predatory bonus terms to trap players. Common issues she's identified include:

• Hidden max bet limits — T&Cs state "no max bet" but the software voids winnings for bets over $5
• Game exclusions — bonuses claim "500+ games eligible" but exclude all high-RTP slots
• Time limits — wagering must be completed in 24-48 hours, making high wagering requirements impossible
• Withdrawal restrictions — winnings are capped at 5x the bonus amount, buried in fine print

Sophia's testing process involves claiming every bonus type (deposit match, free spins, cashback), documenting the exact steps required, and verifying that the stated terms match reality. If a casino fails her bonus claim test, it's flagged in our reviews.

Sophia's approach to casino testing is simple: test like a player, not a reviewer. She doesn't contact casino reps in advance or identify herself as a tester. Every review starts with a fresh account, real deposit, and standard signup flow.

She tracks every bonus claim in a spreadsheet, noting:

• Exact time the bonus was claimed
• Wagering progress at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% completion
• Games played and contribution rates verified
• Final wagering completion time
• Any errors, glitches, or term violations encountered

This data is used to calculate realistic wagering completion times for each casino, which we include in our reviews. If a casino claims a 40x wagering requirement is "easy to complete," Sophia's testing will show if that's true.

Sophia has written detailed reviews for all casinos ranked on Daily Wonders, including:

• Spin Casino — tested 100% match bonus, 40x wagering, withdrawal in 26 hours
• Jackpot City — tested $1600 welcome package across 4 deposits, full audit
• Royal Vegas — tested free spins offer, identified max bet limit issue
• Ruby Fortune — tested cashback promotion, verified T&C accuracy

She also maintains the Casino Bonuses Guide, which explains wagering requirements, game contributions, and bonus abuse policies.

For questions about bonus testing, wagering requirements, or casino reviews, reach Sophia at:

Email: sophia@dailywonders.co.nz

Sophia responds to reader questions within 48 hours. If you've had a bonus-related issue at a casino we've reviewed, she's happy to investigate and update our review if needed.