◆ Methodology

Methodology

This page explains how Ushdhanak reviews online casinos before any brand appears in our comparison of 9 brands. Readers in Australia deserve to know what sits behind a rating, so we publish our checks instead of asking for blind trust. Before we recommend anything, we confirm who operates the site and which regulator oversees it. Analisamos termos, licenças, métodos de pagamento e avaliações públicas de cada site antes de listá-lo ou reavaliá-lo. We also explain the legal position for Australians, because offshore casinos carry real risks.

The six areas we score

Our step-by-step review process

1. Confirm the operator and licence. We start by finding the company behind the brand and checking its licence directly on the regulator's register. If the licence cannot be verified, the review stops here and the brand is not considered for our comparison.
2. Check the Australian legal position. We review how the brand handles Australian players under the Interactive Gambling Act and whether ACMA has blocked it. We tell readers plainly that offshore casinos sit outside Australian consumer protections.
3. We review each site's terms, licences, payment methods and public reviews before it is listed or re-scored. An editor registers as an ordinary player using the standard sign-up form. We note what personal details are requested, how clearly the terms are presented at sign-up, and whether marketing consent is opt-in or pre-ticked.
4. Complete identity verification. We go through the know-your-customer process and record which documents were requested and how long approval took. Delays or unclear requests at this stage often predict withdrawal problems later, so we write them into the review.
5. Make a test deposit. We deposit with a method available to Australians and record any fees, currency conversion and minimum amounts. We also check whether bonus offers are applied automatically or have to be declined deliberately.
6. Play across game types. We play slots, table games and live dealer tables on desktop and mobile. We check load times and stability, and whether game rules and return-to-player information can be found inside each game.
7. Read the bonus terms. Two people read the full bonus and general terms separately. We then compare notes on wagering, game weighting, bet limits and withdrawal conditions, and record any clause that could catch a player out.
8. Request a withdrawal. We request a withdrawal and track it from submission to arrival. We note pending periods, extra checks and any attempt to get us to reverse the request. The time we report is the time we saw, not the advertised one.
9. Test support and limits. We ask support specific questions. We also set deposit limits and a cooling-off period ourselves to see whether the tools actually work and how quickly changes take effect on the account.
10. Editorial review and sign-off. Emma Whitfield or another senior editor checks the draft against our notes and evidence. A second editor then confirms the facts before the review is published. The testing date is shown on the page.

What we pay special attention to

• We check that the licence shown in the site footer matches the regulator's register exactly.
• We look carefully at maximum win caps and maximum bet rules attached to bonuses.
• We check whether withdrawal limits are realistic compared with the deposit limits on offer.
• We note how a brand responds to complaints raised on public dispute platforms.
• We watch for changes to terms after sign-up and whether players are told about them.

A casino scores lower if we find

• A licence that cannot be verified on the regulator's register lowers a score and usually removes the brand from our comparison entirely.
• Withdrawals that stall without explanation, or repeated document requests, lower the payments rating.
• Bonus terms that hide win caps or let the operator void winnings at its discretion lower the bonus rating.
• Safer gambling tools that are missing, hard to find or slow to apply lower the overall score.
• Support answers that are inaccurate or contradict the published terms lower the support rating.

How reviews get updated

We revisit reviews on a regular schedule and whenever something important changes. Casinos often alter bonus terms, payment methods and withdrawal limits, so a review that was accurate months ago can mislead a reader today. We recheck key facts such as licence status, terms and payment options. When payment performance is in question, we repeat a withdrawal test. Reader reports and regulator actions, including new ACMA blocking orders, trigger an earlier review. Every page shows the date it was last checked and notes any significant changes.

Corrections & updates → · Emma Whitfield →