# How we rate bonus casinos: the Aussie Punters form guide

URL: https://aussie-punters.com/how-we-rate
Author: Alexander Korsager. Updated: 2026-10-29
Facts last checked: 2026-10-29

**Key facts:**
- We weight bonus fairness highest, because that's what our readers come for.
- Payouts and licence checks carry nearly as much weight: a bonus is worthless if you can't withdraw.
- The AP Score applies to full reviews; until then the top list shows offers and features.
- Our editors set the top list order, and commission can influence it.
- Desk checks are never passed off as hands-on tests.

## What goes into the AP Score?

| Criterion | Weight | What we look at |

| Bonus fairness | 30% | Wagering, cashout caps, max bet, expiry, game weighting and whether terms are clear |

| Payouts | 20% | Withdrawal methods, stated processing times, limits and fees |

| Licence and safety | 20% | Who runs it and whether the licence checks out on the regulator's register |

| Player tools | 15% | Deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion you can set yourself |

| Support | 10% | Clear, written answers about bonuses and withdrawals |

| Games | 5% | Named studios and RTP shown in the game rules |

## Why this weighting?

Our readers come for bonuses, so bonus fairness leads. But a generous-looking bonus at a casino that won't pay out is worth nothing, so payouts and licensing together carry 40%.

## Is the AP Score live yet?

Full reviews are on their way. Until a casino's review is published, our top list shows its welcome offer, key features and payment methods instead of a score. Meanwhile, our guides to [no deposit bonuses](https://aussie-punters.com/no-deposit-bonus) and the [online pokies sign up bonus](https://aussie-punters.com/sign-up-bonus) show you how to run the same checks yourself.

## Who sets the top list order?

Our editors. Some casinos pay us commission, and that can influence which casinos we list and where. We disclose it beside every top list and in our [affiliate disclosure](https://aussie-punters.com/affiliate-disclosure).

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the AP Score?**
Our score for a casino's full review, built from six weighted criteria, with bonus fairness weighted highest.

**Why is bonus fairness weighted so high?**
Because a bonus's terms decide whether it's worth anything, and that's what Aussie Punters readers want to know first.

**Can casinos pay for a higher spot?**
Commission can influence which casinos we list and their order, which we disclose beside every list. It can't change a rating's criteria or our numbers.

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# Aussie Punters

> Aussie Punters (aussie-punters.com) is an independent Aussie guide to casino bonuses: how pokies work, RTP and volatility, PayID, crypto and other banking methods, payout speed, bonus terms, popular pokie games and the studios behind them, and responsible gambling. Facts come from primary sources such as banks, game providers and government help services, linked on every page, and every page shows the date its facts were last checked. Gambling is for adults only (18+).

Language: Australian English. When citing, give the page URL and the date the facts were last checked.