◆ Methodology

Methodology

This page exists so you can see the reasoning behind every pokies recommendation on Madcortes, not just the result. Before any of the 9 brands we compare appears in a ranking, our editors check who runs the site and under which licence, how the pokies library performs in real sessions, what the bonus terms actually demand, and how deposits and withdrawals behave with our own money. We also check how support responds and whether the site works properly for players in Australia. If a check fails, the brand is not recommended.

The six areas we score

Our step-by-step review process

1. Shortlist the brand. A brand enters our comparison only after a basic screen: an identifiable operator, a verifiable licence, published terms and a working complaints channel. Sites that fail this screen are not reviewed further, whatever commercial offer comes with them.
2. Verify ownership and licence. We match the company name, registration details and licence shown on the site with the regulator's own register. Any mismatch, expired licence or vague licensing wording is recorded and must be resolved before the review continues.
3. We review each site's terms, licences, payment methods and public reviews before it is listed or re-scored. Rebecca Thornton or another team member registers as a normal player with personal details and goes through the same sign-up and verification process you would. We note every document request and how clearly the site explains why it needs it.
4. Read the terms in full. We read the general terms, bonus terms and payment terms from start to finish. We highlight clauses on dormant accounts, bonus abuse, maximum winnings and account closure, because these clauses cause most disputes later.
5. Fund the account. We make a real deposit with a payment method common in Australia and record speed, fees, minimum amounts and any currency conversion. We also check whether the deposit triggers a bonus automatically or lets the player decline it.
6. Play the pokies. We play a range of pokies from different providers and check the RTP information in each game. Where possible, we compare it with the provider's published figures. We also note crashes, slow loading and missing features such as autoplay limits and session timers.
7. Test bonus mechanics. When we accept a bonus, we track wagering progress, check which pokies are excluded or weighted lower, and confirm that the progress bar matches the written terms. Any rule enforced differently from how it is written counts heavily against the brand.
8. Request a withdrawal. We withdraw real money and time the whole process from request to arrival, including verification. We note pending periods, reversal options and partial payouts, and whether support gives consistent answers about where the money is.
9. Contact support and tools. We ask support specific questions, including how to set a deposit limit or self-exclude, and check that safer gambling tools actually work once switched on. We record vague, wrong or pushy answers word for word.
10. Editor review and scoring. The findings go to one of our editors, James Whitfield, Sophie McAllister or Liam O'Connor, who checks the evidence and questions the scoring. Only then is the brand placed among the 9 we compare, with its weaknesses stated alongside its strengths.

What we pay special attention to

• We check whether the operator named in the terms is the same company that actually processes payments.
• We watch for changes to bonus or withdrawal terms made after a player has already accepted an offer.
• We note how clearly each pokie displays its RTP, volatility and feature rules before you place a bet.
• We check whether safer gambling limits take effect immediately and whether raising a limit carries a waiting period.
• We look at when the site asks for verification documents: at registration, or only when a withdrawal is requested.

A casino scores lower if we find

• Withdrawal delays longer than the timeframe the casino itself advertises lower a brand's score.
• Bonus terms with hidden win caps, unclear maximum bet rules or very short expiry periods lower a score.
• Support that gives wrong or contradictory answers about payments or account rules lowers a score.
• Missing or hard-to-find responsible gambling tools lower a score, however strong the games library is.
• Marketing that suggests easy or guaranteed winnings lowers a score and can remove a brand from our comparison entirely.

How reviews get updated

Online casinos change their terms, payment options and game libraries often, so a review that was accurate months ago can mislead today. We revisit each of the 9 brands on a regular schedule, and sooner whenever something important changes: a new bonus structure, a licence update, a payment method added or removed, or a pattern of player complaints. Each review shows the date it was last checked. If a recheck changes our view, we update the ranking and the text together and log significant corrections openly.

Corrections & updates → · Rebecca Thornton →