In one paragraph
Every partnered platform — Crikey7, Bonza7, Dinkum33 — is scored against the same 8 dimensions, weighted the same way, and re-checked on the same cadence. Total score is out of 10. The single biggest weight is withdrawal speed, because that is what an Australian player actually cares about; it is not scored until we have measured it. We publish the dimension breakdown on every review page so you can see exactly where a platform wins and where it trails.
1. The 8 Scoring Dimensions
These are fixed. We do not change dimensions or weights on a per-brand basis.
| # | Dimension | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Withdrawal speed & reliability | 20% | Real payout times across crypto, bank transfer and e-wallet rails. Whether KYC is clean and front-loaded. Whether the platform adds friction at withdrawal. |
| 2 | Safety & player protection | 15% | TLS, KYC enforcement, responsible-gambling tools exposed in the UI (deposit limits, session reminders, self-exclusion), clarity of complaints process. |
| 3 | Game library & studios | 12% | Depth and breadth of pokies, live-casino tables and specialty titles. Named studios (Aristocrat, Pragmatic Play, Evolution, etc.) rather than anonymous titles. |
| 4 | Bonus fairness | 12% | Wagering multiple, max bet during wagering, expiry, game weighting, cap on winnings — read in full, not from the headline. |
| 5 | Customer support | 12% | Support channels listed and whether a human is reachable (response times not measured). |
| 6 | Mobile experience | 10% | Mobile-first UI, page weight, game loading speed on mid-range Android, deposit/withdrawal flow on mobile. |
| 7 | Community & brand signal | 10% | Active forums/chat, responsiveness of official channels, transparency of ownership and operator communication. |
| 8 | Transparency & terms quality | 9% | Readability and enforceability of terms, RTP disclosure on game info screens, whether bonus terms are stated up front rather than buried. |
2. How We Assess Each Dimension
Withdrawal speed & reliability
We plan to run real withdrawals from a real account and time the full cycle from the Withdraw button to funds arriving. As of September 2026 none has been completed, so no withdrawal speed is published or scored on any MatesWin review. Marketing copy about "instant withdrawals" has zero weight on its own.
Safety & player protection
We inspect the live site (TLS, mixed content, cookie policy, data minimisation in the registration flow), test the responsible-gambling tools end-to-end (can you actually set a deposit limit? does self-exclusion take effect immediately?), and look for a visible complaints / dispute path. A platform that makes self-exclusion hard to find loses points across this dimension, regardless of marketing.
Game library & studios
We catalogue the pokies and live-casino library by studio. Named, regulated studios score higher than unbranded titles. We spot-check RTP disclosure on ten random titles per platform per quarter.
Bonus fairness
We read the full bonus terms and compute the real cost of a welcome offer. Wagering multiples over 35x on the combined deposit+bonus, max-bet restrictions that trap the player, and short expiry windows all cost points. A smaller headline bonus with fair terms outscores a bigger headline bonus buried in restrictive fine print.
Customer support
We record the support channels each platform lists and whether live chat reaches a human agent. We have not measured response times or graded resolution quality, so support response is not scored.
Mobile experience
We review each mobile site for layout and whether the deposit/withdrawal flow is usable on a phone; we have not benchmarked load times on specific devices.
Community & brand signal
Activity in the platform's own chat or community (where present), responsiveness on public channels, and whether the operator is identifiable. Opaque ownership costs points.
Transparency & terms quality
We read the terms of use end-to-end. Enforceability, clarity, RTP disclosure, visibility of bonus terms, and whether the platform makes material changes without notice all feed this score.
3. Data Sources
Our reviews are not written from press releases. Sources are ranked:
- Primary observation (highest weight): our own tests, deposits, withdrawals, livechat transcripts, timed recordings.
- Operator-published material: terms, help centre, bonus pages — cited by URL on the relevant review.
- Regulator/government source: ACMA notices, BetStop records, AUSTRAC guidance, state regulators.
- Independent industry source: named game studios, established industry publications, analytics providers — used for context, not for scoring.
We do not score a dimension we have not tested.
4. Re-checking Cadence
- Platform review pages (Crikey7, Bonza7, Dinkum33): re-checked against published terms every 30 days, and immediately when the platform announces a material change.
- Bonus / withdrawal pages: re-verified every 30–60 days.
- Comparison tables: regenerated from the underlying review scores whenever any component review updates.
5. What Would Drop a Platform from MatesWin
We remove a platform — not just downgrade its score — if any of the following is true:
- Confirmed refusal or material delay of a legitimate withdrawal.
- Bonus terms applied retroactively to a player's detriment.
- Responsible-gambling tools removed or made inaccessible.
- Licensing status lapsed or suspended with no clear remediation path.
- Customer support non-responsive over a sustained period to good-faith player complaints.
This list is enforced. Our commercial relationship with a platform is secondary to this list.
6. What the Score Does Not Mean
A MatesWin score is a structured opinion based on a repeatable process. It is not a guarantee of outcome for any individual player. Casino games are games of chance; responsible gambling is a personal responsibility. A high score means the platform's operational reliability, safety and fairness meet our published bar — not that a player will win money.
7. Changes to This Methodology
If we change the dimensions, weights, or test procedures, we update this page, bump dateModified, and re-score the affected platforms before the change takes effect on review pages. Material methodology changes are also noted at the top of affected review pages for 30 days.
See also: Editorial Policy · About MatesWin · Affiliate Disclosure · Responsible Gambling