Last updated: June 2026 — James Wilson, Refugeemarathonproject
At Refugeemarathonproject, every casino and pokies site review you read has been personally tested and evaluated by James Wilson, the site's founder and lead reviewer. James has spent years analysing the Australian online gambling market, and every rating published on refugeemarathonproject.com reflects real, hands-on experience — not guesswork, not press releases, and certainly not payments from operators.
This page explains exactly how we assess each site, what criteria matter most, and how we arrive at a final score. We believe Australian players deserve full transparency about where our ratings come from, so nothing is hidden here.
Before James even creates an account, he verifies the site's licensing credentials. He checks which regulatory body has issued the operator's licence, confirms the licence is active and legitimate, and researches any past complaints, penalties, or regulatory warnings. Sites that cannot demonstrate valid licensing are removed from consideration immediately.
James registers a real player account using standard Australian details. He completes the full sign-up process, submits any required identity verification documents, and makes a real-money deposit using common Australian payment methods including credit cards, POLi, and e-wallets where available.
James claims the welcome bonus or any introductory offer available to new Australian players. He reads the full terms and conditions, documents the wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum withdrawal caps. He never summarises a bonus based on marketing copy alone.
James plays a selection of real-money pokies across different providers and categories, including classic slots, video pokies, and progressive jackpot titles. He tests loading times, game stability, return-to-player (RTP) transparency, and the overall playing experience across multiple sessions.
James submits a real withdrawal request and documents how long the process takes, what documentation is requested, and whether the stated processing times match reality. Fast payouts are a major priority for Australian players, and we hold sites accountable to their advertised timelines.
James contacts customer support through every available channel — live chat, email, and phone where applicable — at different times of day. He assesses response speed, knowledge quality, and how well agents handle common player issues.
James accesses each site on a mobile device, testing both browser-based play and any dedicated apps. He evaluates navigation, game availability, loading performance, and whether the full account management suite works correctly on smaller screens.
Each site is scored across six core categories. The categories are weighted to reflect what matters most to Australian online pokies players in 2026.
| Rating Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, player fund protection |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, fairness of terms, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number of pokies titles, software providers, RTP availability, jackpot options |
| Payment Methods | 15% | AU-friendly options, deposit and withdrawal speeds, fees, minimum and maximum limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response times, quality of assistance, channel variety |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site performance, app quality, game availability, ease of navigation |
Every site reviewed on Refugeemarathonproject receives a final score out of 10. This score is calculated by combining the weighted category scores after James completes all testing steps. Here is how to interpret our scores:
Independence is the foundation of everything we publish. Here is how we protect that independence:
If you have questions about how a specific site was reviewed or why a particular score was assigned, you are welcome to reach out directly through the contact page at refugeemarathonproject.com. James Wilson reads and responds to reader enquiries personally.