Author profile
Matthew Harrington
Senior Casino Analyst · 10 years of experience
Senior Casino Analyst reviewing new online casinos for Australians
Matthew Harrington is the lead author at Thepennymint and has spent ten years working in and around the online gambling industry. He started as a sports and betting writer before moving into casino analysis. He now focuses on new online casinos that accept Australian players. His writing is plain and practical. He explains what a site does, where the terms catch people out and what a player should check before depositing, without hype or promises of winnings.
Career
- Harbourside Sports DigestJunior Sports and Betting Writer · 2016-2018
Started as a junior writer covering racing, AFL and NRL betting markets. Learned to read product terms closely, check promotions against the fine print and write for readers who wanted straight answers rather than marketing language. Also handled fact-checking for weekly preview columns.
- AusGaming InsiderIndustry Reporter · 2018-2020
Reported on the Australian gambling regulatory landscape, including ACMA enforcement updates under the Interactive Gambling Act and state-level changes. Interviewed compliance staff and payment specialists. That work shaped a lasting interest in how operators handle verification, withdrawals and player complaints.
- Bayside Odds NetworkCasino Review Lead · 2020-2023
Led a small team reviewing online casino platforms, games and bonus structures. Built review templates that separated headline bonus value from wagering conditions. Introduced a habit of recording real deposit and withdrawal attempts instead of relying on operator claims or promotional briefing documents.
- ThepennymintSenior Casino Analyst · 2023-present
Leads research and writing on new online casinos for Australian readers and oversees the comparison of the 9 brands currently covered. Works with editors Sarah Mitchell, James O'Connor and Emily Nguyen to check facts, update reviews when terms change and keep the ranking criteria transparent.
Professional highlights
- Designed the scoring framework Thepennymint uses to compare its 9 brands across trust, games, bonuses, payments, support and mobile use.
- Wrote the site's plain-language guide to wagering requirements, maximum bet rules and bonus expiry terms.
- Introduced a standard withdrawal log so every review records the payment method used, the verification steps requested and the time taken.
- Helped set up the editorial process in which a second editor checks every new casino review before publication.
- Added a dedicated safer gambling section to each review, covering deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion tools and links to Gambling Help Online.
- Built a routine of revisiting reviews after readers report changed terms, treating reader feedback as part of fact-checking.
How I test casinos
- I register a fresh account at each casino and record every step of sign-up and identity verification.
- I read the full bonus terms before scoring any offer, including wagering, game weighting, maximum bet and expiry rules.
- I make real deposits and request withdrawals using methods Australian players commonly use, and I note how long each one takes.
- I contact live chat and email support with practical questions and judge the answers on accuracy, not just speed.
- I test each site on a phone and in a desktop browser, checking load times, game filters and how easy the responsible gambling tools are to find.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Matthew Harrington get paid by the casinos he reviews?+
No casino pays for a review or a ranking position. Thepennymint may earn a commission when readers sign up through partner links, but that arrangement sits with the commercial side of the site. Matthew's scores are based on the published testing criteria. Editors check that each rating follows the evidence recorded during testing.
Why does Matthew focus on new online casinos?+
New sites often arrive with large welcome offers and limited track records, which makes them harder to judge. Matthew focuses on them because readers need someone to check the terms, payments and support before they deposit. A new brand is not treated as better or worse by default. It has to show the same basics as any established site.
Can a casino review help me win money?+
No. Reviews explain how a site works, what its terms mean and how it handles payments and support. Casino games are built with a house edge, and results are random. Matthew writes to help readers make informed choices and set sensible limits. He does not suggest that any game or bonus will produce a profit.
How can I report an error in one of Matthew's reviews?+
Email editor@thepennymint.com with the page link and the statement you think is wrong. Where possible, include a screenshot or a link to the casino's current terms. Matthew or another editor will check the information against the source. If a correction is needed, the review is updated and the change is noted on the page.