How We Rate Casinos
Every casino on Pokie Scout is tested with real money. Here is exactly what we look at, how we score it, and how often we update.
The Short Version
We fund a real AU account at every casino we review, deposit via PayID, play through a modest amount, then request a withdrawal and time how long it takes. We screenshot bonus terms at the exact time of review. No casino pays to be listed or to improve their rating — commission relationships are disclosed on every page.
The 6-Factor Scoring System
Each casino is scored out of 5 across six weighted categories. The weights below reflect what AU players actually care about based on the complaints we see and the questions we receive.
Payout Speed
We time every withdrawal from request submission to funds clearing in our bank account. Multiple test withdrawals are averaged. Casinos that approve quickly and process via NPP (not just bank transfer) score highest.
Bonus Value
We evaluate the realistic value of the welcome offer: actual cash value (not headline number), wagering requirements, time limits, game restrictions, and maximum win caps. A 0× wagering offer worth less headline cash can score higher than a massive bonus with punishing terms.
Pokies Library
Total game count, provider quality, unique titles not available elsewhere, RTP availability/transparency, and whether live dealer games are included. We weight provider diversity — 50 providers beats 5,000 games from one studio.
Mobile Experience
Tested on both iOS and Android. We look at load speed, touch responsiveness, cashier accessibility, game quality on mobile, and whether the site runs without requiring a separate app download.
Support Quality
We run five live chat sessions per casino: deposit question, bonus question, withdrawal question, account question, and a complaint. We score response time, accuracy, and whether agents escalate appropriately. Email response time is also measured.
Licence & Trust
Licence jurisdiction (Curaçao, Anjouan, Malta — in ascending trust order), verified complaint history via AskGamblers and Casino.Guru, ownership transparency, and whether terms and conditions contain unfair clauses.
Our Testing Process
Account Registration
We register with an AU identity. We do not receive free credits or VIP treatment — accounts are created as standard new players.
PayID Deposit
We deposit via PayID and screenshot the cashier, the bonus terms displayed at time of claiming, and our bank transaction confirmation. Deposit amount is AU$20–50 depending on minimum requirements.
Gameplay Testing
We play through at least 50 spins across multiple games, testing load speed, mobile performance, and whether RTP figures match published values.
Withdrawal Request
We request a withdrawal and record the exact time from submission to funds clearing. We note any KYC steps required and how long document verification takes.
Support Testing
Five live chat sessions are run across separate days to avoid agent familiarity. Sessions are scored on accuracy and resolution speed.
Scoring and Review
All data is combined using the weighted formula. Scores are peer-reviewed before publication. The review date is recorded and the page is scheduled for re-testing.
Update Schedule
Reviews are updated in full every 90 days. We also run a bonus monitoring system that detects changes to casino promotional pages and flags them for immediate manual review — so if a casino drops their wagering requirement or changes minimum deposit terms, we catch it before the next 90-day cycle.
Independence and Affiliate Relationships
Pokie Scout earns commission when you sign up via our links. This is disclosed on every page. Commissions do not influence ratings — casinos cannot pay to improve their score, and no casino has been added to our list because of an affiliate deal. We have declined or terminated relationships with casinos that did not pass our quality threshold.
Questions about our methodology? If you believe a rating is inaccurate or outdated, contact us via the about page. We take correction requests seriously and respond within 48 hours.