Frequently Asked Questions

Our safety scores are derived from a comprehensive 15-point audit methodology developed by Dr. Claire Whitfield and our research team. Each criterion is weighted according to its impact on player protection, with encryption standards, licence verification, and responsible gambling tools carrying the highest weighting. Scores range from 0 to 100, with platforms scoring 85 or above receiving a 'Trusted' designation, those between 70 and 84 receiving 'Caution', and those below 70 classified as 'Avoid'.

The legal landscape for Australian online gambling is governed by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Under this legislation, it is not an offence for Australian residents to gamble at offshore online casinos, though it is illegal for operators to offer certain interactive gambling services to Australian customers. Players should be aware that offshore operators are not subject to Australian regulatory oversight, which is precisely why independent safety evaluations like ours serve a critical consumer protection function.

If you believe your gambling behaviour may be problematic, we strongly encourage you to contact Gambling Help Online at 1800 858 858 (available 24/7) or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. You can also contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14. Most platforms reviewed on this site offer self-exclusion tools that can be activated immediately. Recognising a potential problem is an important first step, and professional support is available at no cost.

Our safety evaluations are conducted on a rolling quarterly basis. Each platform undergoes a complete reassessment every three months, with interim updates published if significant changes occur — such as licence suspensions, major security incidents, or substantial changes to terms and conditions. The date of the most recent assessment is displayed on each review page.

Our research establishes 256-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption as the minimum acceptable standard for online casino platforms. This is the same encryption standard used by major financial institutions. Platforms utilising 128-bit encryption receive a reduced safety score, as this standard, while functional, provides measurably lower protection against sophisticated attack vectors.

Wagering requirements specify how many times a bonus amount must be wagered before winnings can be withdrawn. From a safety perspective, excessively high wagering requirements (above 40x) can encourage players to gamble more than they intended, which is a recognised harm indicator. Our evaluation penalises platforms with requirements exceeding 35x and considers the combination of wagering multiplier and completion timeframe when assessing responsible gambling risk.

We recommend cross-referencing the licence number displayed on a casino's website with the issuing authority's public register. For Curaçao eGaming licences, this information is available through the Curaçao Gaming Control Board. For Malta Gaming Authority licences, the MGA maintains a searchable database of all active licensees. Our reviews include independently verified licence details for each platform.

RNG (Random Number Generator) certification confirms that game outcomes are genuinely random and not manipulated in favour of the operator. Independent testing laboratories such as iTech Labs, eCOGRA, and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) conduct rigorous statistical analysis of game outputs to verify randomness. All platforms receiving a 'Trusted' designation on our site have been confirmed to use RNG-certified games from licensed software providers.

Cryptocurrency support does not inherently make a platform safer, but it can provide additional benefits including enhanced transaction privacy and faster processing times. From a security perspective, blockchain transactions are immutable and transparent. However, cryptocurrency casinos must still meet all other safety criteria in our framework. Players should note that cryptocurrency transactions may offer less consumer protection than traditional banking methods in the event of disputes.

Based on our research, a comprehensive responsible gambling toolkit should include: deposit limits (daily, weekly, and monthly), session duration reminders, loss limits, cooling-off periods (ranging from 24 hours to 30 days), permanent self-exclusion options, and reality checks displaying time and expenditure. Additionally, platforms should provide clearly accessible links to professional support services such as Gambling Help Online and Lifeline Australia. Operators lacking any of these core tools receive reduced scores in our evaluation.