◆ Methodology

Methodology

This page explains how Thesimplepromoco decides which online casinos appear in our comparison of nine brands for Australian players, and why some never make the list. A methodology page exists so readers can check our reasoning instead of taking a ranking on faith. Before any brand is recommended, we look at who operates it and under which licence, how fair and clear its bonus terms are, how deposits and withdrawals work in practice, how support responds, and what tools it offers to help players keep gambling under control.

The six areas we score

Our step-by-step review process

1. Identify the operator. We start by establishing who actually runs the casino: the registered company, its licence and any sister brands. If ownership or licensing cannot be confirmed from independent sources, the review stops at this stage and the brand is not listed.
2. Read the full terms. Before creating an account, we read the general terms, bonus terms and privacy policy in full. We note clauses on dormant accounts, bonus abuse definitions, winning caps and document requests, because these decide how a player is treated later.
3. Register as a normal player. We sign up the same way a reader would, using real personal details and without asking the operator for special treatment. This shows how clear the registration form is and whether marketing consent boxes come pre-ticked.
4. Deposit with real money. We fund the account with our own money using methods available to Australian players. We record any fees, the currency shown at the cashier, minimum deposit amounts and whether the payment was credited without delays or extra checks.
5. Test the bonus in practice. Where a welcome offer is available, we claim it and play through part of the wagering to see whether the terms behave as written. We note game restrictions, progress tracking and any surprises compared with the advertised version.
6. Play across the lobby. We spend time on pokies, table games and live dealer tables, checking load times, game information and whether advertised titles are actually available to Australian accounts. We also look for responsible gambling prompts during play.
7. Request a withdrawal. We ask to withdraw and document every stage: verification requests, pending periods, any option to reverse the withdrawal, and the date funds reach us. A slow or confusing payout process weighs heavily on the final assessment.
8. Question customer support. We contact support through each channel offered, with real questions about bonus terms, verification and account limits. Answers are checked against the published terms, and we note whether staff give accurate information or simply repeat scripts.
9. Check safer gambling tools. We set a deposit limit, try a cool-off period and look at how self-exclusion is requested. Tools that are hard to find, slow to apply or easy to reverse count against the brand in our assessment.
10. Editorial review and scoring. Daniel Whitmore writes up the findings, and a second editor checks the facts against our test notes and the operator's current terms. Only then is a brand placed in the comparison of nine, with its strengths and weaknesses stated plainly.

What we pay special attention to

• We pay close attention to the maximum bet rule while a bonus is active, because breaking it is one of the most common reasons winnings are voided.
• We check whether verification is requested at sign-up or only at the first withdrawal, since late document checks often cause payout delays.
• We look for winning caps on bonuses and free spins, which can limit what a player is actually able to withdraw.
• We note how the casino handles Australian dollars, including any conversion costs hidden in the exchange rate.
• We read the terms on account closure and dormant balances, because these clauses decide what happens to money a player leaves behind.

A casino scores lower if we find

• A licence that cannot be verified on the regulator's own register removes a brand from consideration entirely.
• Bonus terms that differ between the promotional page and the full terms lower the score.
• Withdrawals that stall without explanation or require repeated document uploads count heavily against a brand.
• Support agents who give answers that contradict the published terms reduce our trust in the operator.
• Safer gambling tools that are hidden, slow to activate or easy to switch off lower the overall rating.

How reviews get updated

Online casino terms change often, so a review is only useful while it reflects the current site. We revisit each of the nine brands on a regular schedule and also whenever something significant changes: a new welcome offer, revised wagering rules, a change of licence or ownership, new payment methods, or a pattern of reader complaints. Each review shows the date it was last checked. When an update changes our view of a brand, the ranking is adjusted and the reason is explained in the review itself.

Corrections & updates → · Daniel Whitmore →