◆ Madcortes
About us
Madcortes is an independent review website focused on online pokies for players in Australia. Our small editorial team is led by Senior Pokies Analyst Rebecca Thornton, with editors James Whitfield, Sophie McAllister and Liam O'Connor. Together we compare 9 brands and explain what each one actually offers: game range, bonus terms, payment options and how withdrawals work in practice. The site is written for adult Australians who want clear, checked information before deciding whether and where to play. It is not for anyone looking for shortcuts or guaranteed wins.
Our mission
Our mission is to make online pokies comparisons easier to read and harder to misread. We focus on the details that usually sit in fine print: wagering requirements, maximum bet rules during bonuses, withdrawal limits, verification steps and how support responds when something goes wrong. We would rather point out a weak spot than smooth it over. We also treat safer gambling as part of every review, because a fair comparison should help readers stay in control, set limits and know when to step away.
What we stand for
Independence first
Rankings are decided by the editorial team using the same criteria for all 9 brands. Commercial partners cannot buy a position, review a draft before publication or ask us to remove criticism they dislike.
Plain, accurate language
We explain bonus terms, payment rules and game features in everyday English. If a condition is complicated, we spell it out carefully rather than shortening it into a misleading headline or a vague promise.
Honesty about risk
Pokies are entertainment with a built-in house edge. We never suggest that a site, game or strategy will make money. Every review includes safer gambling tools and support services as standard information.
Open about mistakes
When we get something wrong, we fix it and say so. Readers can report errors to editor@madcortes.com. Corrections that change the meaning of a review are noted on the page rather than quietly edited away.
Our team
How we operate
We review each site's terms, licences, payment methods and public reviews before it is listed or re-scored. That means registration, identity checks, deposits, browsing the pokies lobby, reading the bonus terms in full and requesting a withdrawal. Rebecca Thornton leads the testing. Each review is then checked by one of our editors, who verifies facts against the operator's own terms and questions any claim that is not supported. No partner sees a review before it goes live, and scores are set by the editorial team alone.
How we make money
Madcortes may earn a commission when readers sign up with a brand through some of the links on our pages. This is how the site covers its running costs. It does not affect what we write. The editorial team sets rankings and scores before commercial arrangements are considered, and a brand with a partner link is assessed by the same criteria as one without. Commission never comes out of player winnings or deposits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madcortes an online casino?+
No. Madcortes is a review and comparison website. We do not offer games, take deposits or hold player funds. Everything you read here is information to help you compare 9 brands. If you choose to play, you deal directly with the operator, and its own terms, verification rules and support channels apply to your account.
Who writes the reviews?+
Reviews are written by Rebecca Thornton, our Senior Pokies Analyst, who has 8 years of experience in the industry. Each piece is then edited and fact-checked by James Whitfield, Sophie McAllister or Liam O'Connor. Author and editor names appear on the page, so readers always know who is responsible for the content they are reading.
Can a casino pay to be ranked higher?+
No. Partner agreements may pay us a commission for referred sign-ups, but they never buy a position, a higher score or a softer review. Rankings are set by the editorial team using the same criteria for every brand. If a partner's terms or service get worse, its score drops, regardless of any commercial relationship.
Is online gambling legal for players in Australia?+
Australian rules on online gambling are set mainly by the Interactive Gambling Act, and they treat operators and players differently. We cannot give legal advice, so we encourage readers to check the current rules for their state or territory. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential help is available through Gambling Help Online and BetStop, the national self-exclusion register.