Last updated: June 2026

How We Rate Casinos

Our scores are not gut feelings. Each casino is rated from 1 to 10 in steps of 0.1, built from a weighted assessment across eight criteria. The same system is applied to every casino without exception, regardless of whether we have an affiliate deal (see our Affiliate Disclosure).

Criteria and weights

What each criterion means

Safety & licence (20%). The heaviest weight, because nothing else matters without it. We check for a valid licence from a recognised regulator, SSL, data practices and incident history; no licence means an automatic 1/10 here and a warning. For Australian-facing sites we also explain the offshore reality and that ACMA enforcement and the absence of local recourse are part of the risk.

Bonuses (15%). We score real value, not headline size (see our welcome bonus guide). Clean 30x-on-bonus wagering rates well; 50x on bonus-plus-deposit rates poorly. We weigh variety, the loyalty programme, the clarity of terms and whether a no-deposit option exists.

Game selection (15%). Quality over raw count - 500 games from top studios beat 3,000 from unknowns. We look at the number of games and providers, the presence of major studios and the spread across pokies, tables, live and game shows.

Payment methods (12%). We score the range, the presence of Australian options such as PayID, the minimum deposit and any fees, with credit for crypto support.

Payout speed (13%). One of the most practical measures (full detail in our withdrawal times guide). Under 24 hours is excellent; one to three days good; three to five acceptable; beyond five poor; unstable or very slow payouts critical. Withdrawal limits factor in too.

Support (10%). The ideal is 24/7 live chat in English answering within a few minutes. We rate channels, speed, competence and whether agents actually answer specific questions.

Mobile (8%). A full responsive site with a working cashier is the baseline; a fast load and complete game catalogue on mobile add credit.

Responsible gambling (7%). We check for deposit limits, self-exclusion, time-outs and reality checks, plus help links and age information (see Responsible Gambling).

The formula

The final score is the sum of each criterion score multiplied by its weight: (Safety x 0.20) + (Bonuses x 0.15) + (Games x 0.15) + (Payments x 0.12) + (Payouts x 0.13) + (Support x 0.10) + (Mobile x 0.08) + (RG x 0.07). For example, scores of 9, 7, 8, 8, 9, 7, 8 and 6 give 1.8 + 1.05 + 1.2 + 0.96 + 1.17 + 0.7 + 0.64 + 0.42 = 7.94, rounded to 7.9/10.

What the scores mean

9.0-10.0 Excellent - the best on the market; recommended with confidence. 8.0-8.9 Very good - high quality with minor gaps; recommended. 7.0-7.9 Good - solid with some room to improve; recommended with caveats. 6.0-6.9 Fair - works but has noticeable weaknesses; approach with care. 5.0-5.9 Below average - serious shortcomings; consider alternatives. Under 5.0 Not recommended - critical problems with safety, payouts or licensing.

Red flags that cut the score

Some findings drag a score down automatically: no licence (1/10 on safety and a warning listing); confirmed non-payment (payout score down to 2/10); winnings confiscated on flimsy grounds (a three-point cut); unrealistic wagering of 60x or more (bonus score to 3/10); no real KYC or age checks (safety cut); no safer-gambling tools (RG to 2/10); and hidden terms uncovered during testing (a general trust cut).

Keeping scores current

Scores are not fixed. We revisit them at re-test (every three to six months), when a casino changes terms materially, when serious complaints emerge, or when a licence or owner changes. When a score moves, we show the old score, the new score and the reason. The method itself is documented in How We Test and governed by our Editorial Policy; questions are welcome via Contact Us.