Last updated: June 2026 — James Wilson, Markadamdouglass
At markadamdouglass.com, every casino review you read is the result of a thorough, hands-on evaluation process carried out by site owner and lead reviewer James Wilson. This page explains exactly how we assess online pokies sites, what criteria we use, how much weight each factor carries, and why Australian players can trust our ratings to be honest, independent, and grounded in real experience.
We do not accept payment from operators to influence our scores. We do not publish a review until James Wilson has personally tested the site. What you read on Markadamdouglass reflects genuine research, not sponsored opinion.
Before creating an account, James researches the operator behind the site. This includes checking the licensing authority, reading the terms and conditions in full, and scanning for any regulatory warnings, player complaints, or enforcement actions. Sites that show serious red flags at this stage are removed from consideration entirely.
James creates a real player account using standard Australian details. He documents how long registration takes, how clear the process is, and whether KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is straightforward or unnecessarily complicated.
James makes a real-money deposit using common Australian payment methods including credit cards, PayID, and popular e-wallets. This tests how smooth the deposit flow is, whether fees apply, and how quickly funds become available for play.
James plays a representative selection of pokies available on the site, covering classic three-reel games, five-reel video pokies, and progressive jackpot titles. He assesses game performance, loading speed, software quality, and whether the lobby is easy to navigate.
Where a welcome bonus or free spins offer is available, James claims it under the same conditions as any real player. He reads the wagering requirements carefully and tests whether the bonus experience matches what was advertised.
James contacts the support team through available channels, typically live chat and email, to evaluate response times, the quality of answers, and overall helpfulness. He asks both simple and more complex questions to test depth of knowledge.
James initiates a real withdrawal and records how long it takes to process. Withdrawal speed, clarity of the process, and any unexpected friction are all factored into the final score.
James accesses the site on both Android and iOS devices to assess the mobile experience. He checks whether games load properly, buttons are easy to tap, and whether all key features are accessible without a desktop.
Each site is scored out of 10 across six categories. The final overall score is a weighted average based on the importance of each factor to Australian players.
| Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid gambling licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair terms |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, free spins availability, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number and variety of pokies, software providers, jackpot games, demo play availability |
| Payment Methods | 15% | AUD support, deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fee transparency |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability hours, live chat quality, email response time, helpfulness |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Browser and app performance, game compatibility, ease of navigation on small screens |
Every site on Markadamdouglass receives an overall score between 1 and 10. Here is how to interpret those scores:
Independence is the foundation of everything we publish. Here is how we protect it:
If you have questions about how a specific site was reviewed or scored, you are welcome to reach out through the contact page at markadamdouglass.com. James Wilson reads all correspondence personally and is committed to transparency about the review process.