Last updated: May 2026 — Lachlan Bennett, Indoor2outdoor
At Indoor2outdoor (indoor2outdoor.com), every casino and pokies site review you read has been personally tested and evaluated by Lachlan Bennett. We are not affiliated with, paid by, or influenced by any of the operators we review. Our only obligation is to Australian players who deserve accurate, transparent information before depositing their money.
This page explains exactly how we assess every online pokies site we cover, what criteria we use, how much each factor influences our final score, and how we maintain our independence. If you have ever wondered why one site scores an 8.5 and another scores a 6.0, the answer is on this page.
No review on Indoor2outdoor is written from a press release or a casino's own marketing materials. Every rating follows the same structured process from start to finish.
Before anything else, Lachlan checks whether the site holds a valid licence from a recognised regulatory authority. Sites without verifiable licencing are removed from consideration immediately. He also checks blacklists maintained by player advocacy groups and scans for any recent fraud complaints or unresolved withdrawal disputes.
Lachlan creates a real player account using Australian credentials and makes a genuine deposit using common Australian payment methods. This ensures the sign-up process, identity verification steps, and deposit experience are assessed from a real player's perspective, not a hypothetical one.
Once funded, Lachlan plays a selection of pokies and table games, claims available bonuses, and navigates the site as a regular player would. He tests the mobile browser version and, where available, any dedicated app. Customer support is contacted at least twice using different channels to assess response times and the quality of answers provided.
A withdrawal is requested to assess how smoothly the cashout process works. Processing times, any unexpected fees, and the clarity of the identity verification requirements are all recorded.
After completing all hands-on testing, Lachlan assigns scores across each rating category (detailed below), calculates a weighted overall score, and writes the final review based entirely on his own experience and findings.
Every site receives a score between 1 and 10 in each of the six categories below. Each category carries a specific weighting that reflects its importance to the typical Australian pokies player. These weighted scores are combined to produce the final overall rating displayed on each review page.
| Rating Category | Weighting | What We Look At |
|---|---|---|
| Licencing & Safety | 25% | Valid licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair terms |
| Bonuses & Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, free spins, ongoing promos |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number of pokies, software providers, RTP transparency, game quality |
| Payment Methods | 15% | AUD support, deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees |
| Customer Support | 10% | Live chat availability, response speed, helpfulness, Australian hours |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site performance, app availability, load times, touch navigation |
Our overall scores are presented as a single number between 1 and 10. Here is what each range means:
Independence is the foundation of everything we publish. Here is how we protect it:
If you have questions about how a specific site was rated, or if you believe a review needs to be updated based on new information, you are welcome to reach out directly to Lachlan Bennett through the contact page on indoor2outdoor.com. We take reader feedback seriously and will investigate any credible concerns raised about a reviewed operator.