◆ Thepennymint
About us
Thepennymint is an independent English-language review site that looks at new online casinos from the point of view of players in Australia. We currently compare 9 brands, and every review is written and checked by people who have spent years working around the iGaming industry. Our readers are adults who want plain facts before they sign up: who runs a site, how bonuses really work, how withdrawals behave in AUD, and where the risks sit. We do not run a casino and we do not take bets.
Our mission
Our mission is to make the first decision about a new online casino a slower and better-informed one. New brands launch with big welcome offers and very little track record, so we look past the banner and into the terms, the operator details and the cashier. We want Australian readers to understand what they are agreeing to, to know the legal and practical limits that apply to them, and to treat gambling as paid entertainment rather than a way to make money.
What we stand for
Independence first
Rankings are decided by our editorial team using the same criteria for all 9 brands. Commercial partners cannot buy a position, review a draft before publication or ask us to remove a criticism that is backed by evidence.
Evidence over claims
We report what we can check: terms as written, cashier options as shown, responses from support as received. When something cannot be verified, we say so plainly instead of repeating the operator's marketing copy.
Plain, honest language
We avoid hype and never suggest that a bonus or a game will lead to winnings. Wagering rules, withdrawal caps and fees are explained in everyday English so readers can compare offers without needing to decode fine print.
Player wellbeing
Every review points to deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion tools where a site offers them, and we link to Australian support services such as Gambling Help Online. If a brand makes these tools hard to find, we mark it down.
Our team
How we operate
Each review starts with hands-on testing. Lead author Matthew Harrington, a senior casino analyst with 10 years in the industry, opens accounts, reads the full terms, checks the operator and licence details, tries the games on desktop and mobile, and records how deposits, verification and withdrawals actually behave. Editors Sarah Mitchell, James O'Connor and Emily Nguyen then fact-check the draft, question any claim without evidence and confirm the wording is clear. Commercial staff have no say in scores, and pages are revisited when terms or ownership change.
How we make money
Thepennymint may earn a commission when a reader signs up with a casino through some of the links on our pages. This is how the site is funded, and it costs readers nothing extra. Commissions do not decide rankings: scores come from our published testing criteria, are set by the editorial team before commercial terms are considered, and a brand without a partner agreement can still rank above one that pays us.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thepennymint a casino or gambling operator?+
No. We are an independent review and comparison site. We do not accept deposits, run games or hold player funds, and we have no say in whether a casino approves an account or pays a withdrawal. Any dispute about a balance or bonus has to be raised with the operator itself, although we are happy to hear about it for our reviews.
Is it legal for Australians to play at the casinos you review?+
Australian law, mainly the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, restricts who may offer online casino games to people in Australia, and ACMA regularly blocks offshore sites. Rules can change and individual circumstances differ, so we explain the risks in each review rather than giving legal advice. Readers should check the current position for themselves before signing up anywhere.
Why do you only compare 9 brands?+
We would rather cover a smaller group properly than list dozens of sites we have not tested. Each of the 9 brands has been through the same checks on terms, payments, support and safer gambling tools. When a brand is added or removed, the change is reflected in our comparison and explained on the relevant review page.
How can I tell you about an error or a problem with a casino?+
Email editor@thepennymint.com with the page address, what you believe is wrong and any supporting detail, such as a screenshot of the terms or a support reply. Our editors check every report, correct confirmed errors and note significant changes on the page. For general questions use info@thepennymint.com, and for commercial enquiries partners@thepennymint.com.