◆ Methodology

Methodology

This page explains how Sojourneluggage reviews new online casinos before any of them appears among the nine brands we compare. Australian players should be able to see what sits behind a ranking, not just the result. Before we recommend a site, we check who operates it and under which licence. We also check how the bonus terms read in full, how deposits and withdrawals work with real money, whether support gives accurate answers and which safer gambling tools are available. A casino that fails these checks does not make our list.

The six areas we score

Our step-by-step review process

1. Screen the operator first. Before opening an account, we look up the operating company, licence and regulator, and search for unresolved complaints and past sanctions. A casino with an unverifiable licence or a hidden owner is dropped at this stage without further testing.
2. Read every policy document. We read the general terms, bonus terms, privacy policy and responsible gambling page in full. We flag vague wording, one-sided dormancy rules and withdrawal fees. We also flag any clause that lets the operator confiscate balances on loosely defined grounds.
3. Register as a real player. We sign up with genuine details, as any Australian player would. We note how long registration takes and what personal data is requested. We also check whether marketing consent is pre-ticked and whether the welcome offer is explained before the first deposit.
4. Complete identity verification. We complete the know-your-customer process with real documents. We record what is asked for, how documents are uploaded and how long approval takes. If a casino only requests documents after a win, we note this in the review.
5. Make a real deposit. We fund the account with our own money, using methods Australian players commonly choose. We check minimum deposits and processing times. We also check whether AUD is supported directly and whether any conversion or hidden charge appears on the statement.
6. Test games and bonuses. We play a mix of pokies, table games and live dealer titles. Where it makes sense, we claim the welcome bonus to see how wagering progress is displayed, which games count and whether the lobby rules match the written terms.
7. Request a withdrawal. We cash out using at least one method and track each stage: the pending period, approval and the arrival of funds. Delays, extra verification demands or pressure to reverse the withdrawal are recorded and weigh heavily in the final assessment.
8. Question the support team. We send live chat and email questions that have clear correct answers, such as wagering rules or limit settings. We judge whether replies are accurate, polite and consistent. We also check whether agents can solve a problem or only repeat scripted text.
9. Check safer gambling tools. We set a deposit limit, try a cooling-off period and look at how self-exclusion is requested. These tools should be easy to find and should take effect promptly. We also confirm that age verification is enforced before any real-money play.
10. Editorial review and scoring. Craig Mitchell writes up the findings. A second editor, such as Sarah Thompson, James O'Brien or Emily Nguyen, then checks facts, screenshots and terms against the live site. Only after this check is a score agreed and the ranking set. Commercial contacts have no say.

What we pay special attention to

• We pay close attention to whether a new casino's licence can be verified independently on the regulator's own website.
• We check whether bonus terms are written in plain language and stay the same between the promotions page and the full terms.
• We watch how quickly withdrawals are approved, compared with what the cashier page promises.
• We note whether safer gambling tools can be set by the player without contacting support.
• We look at how the casino handles Australian players specifically, including currency, payment methods and any stated residency restrictions.

A casino scores lower if we find

• A score drops if a withdrawal is delayed without explanation or the player is pushed to cancel it.
• A score drops when the terms contain vague clauses that let the operator void winnings or close accounts on loosely defined grounds.
• A score drops when the licence details are missing, outdated or cannot be confirmed with the regulator.
• A score drops if support gives wrong answers about wagering, limits or verification.
• A score drops if deposit limits, time-outs or self-exclusion are hard to find, slow to apply or missing.

How reviews get updated

Reviews of new online casinos go out of date quickly, because new sites often change their bonuses, payment options and terms in the first months. We revisit each of the nine brands we compare on a regular schedule. We also recheck a brand when we notice a change, receive a credible reader report or see news about the operator's licence. Each update means rereading the terms and, where something material has changed, repeating deposits or withdrawals. Every review page shows the date of the last check.

Corrections & updates → · Craig Mitchell →