Last updated: May 2026 — Lachlan Drummond, Chicagonewstar
At Chicagonewstar, every PayID pokies review published on chicagonewstar.com is built on a foundation of real, hands-on testing. Our lead reviewer Lachlan Drummond personally signs up, deposits real money, plays games, contacts support, and processes withdrawals before a single word is written. We do not rely on operator-supplied information, press releases, or second-hand accounts. What you read here is the product of genuine experience.
This page explains exactly how we evaluate Australian PayID casino sites, what criteria we use, how much weight each factor carries, and how we arrive at a final score. We believe Australian players deserve full transparency about the process behind every recommendation we make.
Before anything else, Lachlan verifies the site holds a valid gambling licence from a recognised regulatory authority. He cross-references licence numbers directly on the issuing regulator's public database. Any site that cannot be independently verified is immediately disqualified from receiving a review on Chicagonewstar. No exceptions.
Lachlan creates a real player account using standard Australian details and completes the full KYC verification process. He then makes a live deposit using PayID to confirm that the instant deposit feature actually works as advertised, recording the exact time between initiating the transfer and seeing funds appear in the casino balance.
Any available welcome bonus or promotion is claimed during this stage. Lachlan reads the full terms and conditions, paying particular attention to wagering requirements, game restrictions, maximum bet limits, and withdrawal caps. He then attempts to meet the wagering requirements to test whether the bonus is genuinely achievable.
Lachlan browses the full pokies library, filtering by provider, volatility, and RTP where possible. He plays a selection of titles across different software providers to assess loading speeds, gameplay quality, and whether the advertised game count matches what is actually available.
A real withdrawal request is submitted using PayID where available, or the next fastest available method. Lachlan records the processing time from request to receipt of funds in his bank account and notes any friction in the process.
Support is contacted via every available channel, including live chat, email, and telephone if offered. Questions include both simple and complex scenarios to assess the quality and accuracy of responses, not just response speed.
The site is accessed on a real mobile device using both a browser and a dedicated app if one exists. Lachlan evaluates navigation, game performance, and whether PayID deposits function correctly on mobile.
Each site receives a final score out of 10 based on the six categories below. Scores are weighted to reflect what matters most to Australian PayID pokies players.
| Rating Category | 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, fairness of terms, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number and variety of pokies, software providers, RTP transparency, new releases |
| Payment Methods | 15% | PayID availability, deposit and withdrawal speeds, fees, transaction limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability hours, response accuracy, channel variety, helpfulness |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site or app quality, PayID functionality on mobile, game performance |
Independence is the cornerstone of everything we publish. Chicagonewstar operates on an affiliate revenue model, meaning we may earn a commission when a reader clicks through and registers at a recommended site. However, this commercial relationship never influences our scores or recommendations.
Lachlan Drummond applies the identical testing process and scoring methodology to every site, regardless of whether an affiliate relationship exists. Sites that perform poorly receive low scores and honest negative commentary, even if they are paying partners. Sites that fail basic safety checks are removed from the site entirely.
If you have questions about how a specific site was evaluated, or you believe information in a review is inaccurate, you are welcome to reach out to Lachlan Drummond directly through the contact page on chicagonewstar.com. We take accuracy seriously and will investigate and correct any verified errors promptly.