Last updated: May 2026 — Lachlan Mercer, Barebones Computer Guide
How We Rate Online Casinos: Our Review Methodology
Our Commitment to Honest, Independent Casino Reviews
At Barebones Computer Guide, every review you read has been personally researched and tested by site owner Lachlan Mercer. This page explains exactly how we evaluate Australian online casinos, what criteria we use, how we weight each factor, and why you can trust our recommendations to be independent and unbiased.
We believe Australian players deserve clear, straightforward information before they deposit real money. That means no vague impressions, no copied marketing copy from casino websites, and no ratings that reflect sponsorship deals. What you get instead is a documented, repeatable process that we apply consistently to every site we review.
Step-by-Step: How Lachlan Mercer Reviews Each Casino
Before a single word of a review is written, Lachlan Mercer personally tests each casino site using the following process:
- Step 1 – Licence Verification: We locate and verify the operator's gambling licence directly with the issuing authority. We check the licence number, jurisdiction, and expiry date before proceeding with any further testing.
- Step 2 – Account Registration: Lachlan creates a real player account using standard Australian identification details to experience the sign-up process firsthand, including KYC verification steps.
- Step 3 – Bonus Claiming: We claim the welcome bonus or any current promotional offer and carefully read the full terms and conditions, paying close attention to wagering requirements, game restrictions, and withdrawal caps.
- Step 4 – Game Testing: We browse and play a range of real-money games across categories including pokies, table games, and live dealer titles to assess variety, loading speed, and software quality.
- Step 5 – Payment Cycling: We make a real deposit using at least one common Australian payment method and initiate a withdrawal to measure processing times and identify any hidden fees.
- Step 6 – Customer Support Testing: We contact support via live chat and email with a range of questions, noting response times, accuracy of answers, and overall professionalism.
- Step 7 – Mobile Assessment: We access the casino on a mobile browser and, where available, a dedicated app, evaluating usability, performance, and feature parity with the desktop version.
- Step 8 – Scoring and Writing: Once all testing is complete, Lachlan assigns scores across our six weighted criteria and writes the final review based solely on his direct experience.
Our Rating Criteria and Weightings
Every casino reviewed on Barebones Computer Guide receives a final score out of 10. That score is calculated by combining six individual criteria, each weighted according to its importance to the average Australian player.
| Criteria |
Weighting |
What We Look At |
| Licensing & Safety |
25% |
Valid licence from a recognised authority, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fairness certifications, and player fund protection policies. |
| Bonuses & Promotions |
20% |
Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, time limits, game contribution rates, ongoing promotions, and transparency of bonus terms. |
| Game Selection |
20% |
Total number of titles, software provider quality, variety across pokies and table games, live dealer options, and return-to-player (RTP) availability. |
| Payment Methods |
15% |
Availability of AUD banking options, deposit and withdrawal speeds, minimum and maximum transaction limits, and any associated fees. |
| Customer Support |
10% |
Availability hours, contact channels offered, response speed, quality of answers, and language support for Australian players. |
| Mobile Experience |
10% |
Mobile browser performance, dedicated app availability, game loading on mobile, ease of navigation, and access to all key account features on smaller screens. |
Understanding Our Rating Scale
Our final scores are presented as a number out of 10. Here is how to interpret each score range:
- 9.0 – 10.0 (Exceptional): Among the very best options available to Australian players. Excels across nearly all criteria.
- 7.5 – 8.9 (Recommended): A strong, reliable casino with only minor shortcomings. Suitable for most players.
- 6.0 – 7.4 (Average): Meets basic standards but has notable weaknesses in one or more areas. Proceed with awareness.
- Below 6.0 (Not Recommended): Significant issues identified during testing. We advise Australian players to look elsewhere.
How Barebones Computer Guide Stays Unbiased
Independence is the foundation of everything we publish. Here is how we protect it:
- No paid placements: Casinos cannot pay to appear higher in our rankings or receive inflated scores. Our ranking order reflects our methodology scores only.
- Affiliate transparency: Barebones Computer Guide may earn a commission if you sign up through our links. This is clearly disclosed and never influences our ratings or written assessments.
- Operator separation: Lachlan Mercer has no ownership stake, employment relationship, or undisclosed financial arrangement with any casino operator reviewed on this site.
- Regular re-reviews: Casinos are re-evaluated periodically. If a site's quality declines, its score is updated to reflect current conditions regardless of any commercial relationship.
- Negative reviews published: We publish unfavourable reviews and low scores when testing warrants it. A site is never approved simply because it has an affiliate programme in place.
Questions About Our Methodology?
If you have questions about how a specific casino was evaluated, or if you believe a score should be reviewed, you are welcome to contact Lachlan Mercer directly through the contact page at barebones-computer-guide.com. We take reader feedback seriously and investigate every substantive concern raised.