Last updated: May 2026 — Lachlan Whitmore, Thepretendonefilm
At Thepretendonefilm, every review you read is the result of genuine, hands-on research. Lachlan Whitmore, the founder and lead reviewer of thepretendonefilm.com, personally tests every online pokies site featured on this platform before a single word of a review is written. No shortcuts. No copy-paste summaries. No paid placements dressed up as editorial content. What you get here is an honest, structured assessment built from real Australian player experience in 2026.
This page explains exactly how that process works, what we look for, how we weigh different factors, and why you can trust the scores we publish.
Before any deep testing begins, Lachlan checks whether a site holds a valid licence recognised for Australian players. Any site operating without proper authorisation is immediately disqualified from receiving a full review. Only sites that clear this foundational check move forward.
Lachlan registers a real account using standard Australian details, goes through the identity verification process, and notes how straightforward or frustrating the sign-up experience is. This mirrors exactly what a new Australian player would encounter.
A real deposit is made using payment methods common to Australian players. Lachlan then plays through the site, tests a range of pokies and any relevant table games, and ultimately processes a withdrawal request. The speed, ease, and any friction points of this cycle are all recorded.
Where a welcome bonus or free spins offer exists, Lachlan claims it and works through the wagering requirements. The terms are read in full, including the fine print. Bonus value is assessed against realistic playthrough expectations for an average Australian punter.
Support channels, including live chat, email, and any phone options, are contacted with real questions. Response times, accuracy of answers, and overall helpfulness are evaluated across multiple contact attempts.
The site is accessed on a mobile device to assess the quality of the mobile experience, including loading speed, navigation, game compatibility, and whether a dedicated app is available for Australian users.
Once all testing is complete, Lachlan scores the site across six weighted criteria and writes the full review. The score is calculated before the review is published, not after.
Each casino reviewed on Thepretendonefilm is scored out of 10 in six key areas. A final weighted score is then calculated to produce the overall rating displayed on each review page.
| Rating Criteria | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair play certification |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms fairness, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number and variety of pokies, software providers, RTP transparency, new game updates |
| Payment Methods | 15% | AUD support, available deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response speed, quality of answers, channel variety |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site quality, app availability, game performance on handheld devices |
Every site receives a final score from 1 to 10, calculated from the weighted criteria above. Here is what each score range means in plain terms:
Independence is something we take seriously. Here is how we protect the integrity of every review published on this site:
If you have questions about how a specific site was rated or want to flag something we may have missed, you are welcome to reach out directly through the contact page. Lachlan reads and responds to reader feedback personally, and genuine concerns are taken into account when reviews are next updated.