The state of online casinos in Australia: An interview with Mike Waters from Australian Gamblers

Few people in the Australian gambling scene have the mix of hands-on experience and straight-talking honesty that Mike Waters brings to the table. 

A former professional poker player, Mike has spent decades inside casinos, both on the felt and behind the scenes. Today, he’s the main casino analyst and lead author at Australian Gamblers, a site known for in-depth reviews — and for doing something no other Australian-focused gambling site does: stepping in to help players resolve disputes with operators.

In this exclusive conversation with Focus Gaming News, Mike shares his thoughts on Australia’s unusual online casino laws, why he believes regulation is overdue, and the little details that separate a good site from a bad one.

Interview with Mike (from Australian Gamblers) on the state of online casinos in Australia

Mike, you’ve been around the gambling scene for a long time… How’d you end up as the main guy at australiangamblers.com?

Long story short, I’ve been playing cards since the late ‘90s, first for bragging rights, then for rent money, and eventually for a living. I’ve sat in poker rooms from Melbourne to Monte Carlo, played enough blackjack to see every streak possible, and I’ve had my fair share of wins and wipe-outs. Australian Gamblers was my way of putting all that experience into something useful for players. Plus, I was getting tired of reading “reviews” clearly written by someone who’s never clicked ‘Spin’ in their life.

You run a complaint resolution service, which is rare for an Aussie-focused site. Why add that extra headache to your day?

Because no one else was doing it! You’ve got plenty of review sites out there, but if a player gets stuck in a dispute, they’re told to “contact support” and left to sink or swim. We step in, get the casino’s attention, and try to get it sorted. I’ve been the frustrated player on the other end, and it’s really not that fun. I figured, if we’ve got the contacts and the experience, why not use them?

Let’s talk about the legal side. No online casinos licensed in Australia, yet everyone’s free to play at offshore ones. What’s going on there?

Honestly, it’s bizarre. The government’s basically saying, “We don’t run them here, but we’re not stopping you from playing elsewhere.” It’s like banning local coffee shops but telling people it’s fine to order an espresso from overseas. The result? Offshore sites get all the action, the tax money leaves the country, and players are left without much protection if things go south.

Do you think that will ever change?

I’d love to be wrong, but I don’t think so anytime soon. Politicians like to talk about “protecting Australians” from online gambling, but they don’t seem too interested in building a system that actually does it. If we licensed it here, at least we could hold operators accountable and keep the money in Australia. But that’s a conversation for another decade, apparently.

You’ve played a lot of online casinos in your testing. What’s the one thing you notice straight away when you land on a site?

If a site feels like it was built in 2005 by someone’s cousin, I’m out. I don’t care how big the bonuses are, if it looks like a relic, it probably acts like one, too. On the flip side, I like seeing casinos that put real thought into how players experience the site – clear navigation, quick-loading games, and support that actually replies. It’s not rocket science, really.

You’ve tested a lot of casinos over the years. For someone who wants a safe place to start, how should they choose where to play?

I’d say start with casinos that have been properly tested, not just “looked at” but actually played on. That means we’ve deposited, withdrawn, spoken to support, and checked the fine print. We keep a running list of Australian online casinos that consistently perform well on things like payout speed, game variety, and fairness. It’s not a magic formula, but it does take a lot of the guesswork out of picking where to sign up.

Some people say online casinos are just “luck machines” and there’s no point thinking too much about them. Fair or not?

Look, they’re definitely luck-based. There’s no hidden button combination that makes the reels line up. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be picky. There’s a big difference between a casino that processes your payout in a couple of hours and one that drags its heels for a week. And we truly believe players should be fussy about where they play, even if it’s “just luck.”

If a friend came to you tomorrow saying, “Mike, I’m signing up to play online,” what’s the first thing you’d tell them?

Pick a site you’d actually want to visit more than once. And if you win, cash out. If you lose, don’t go chasing it like a dog after a postie. Simple as that.

Final question – what’s next for Australian Gamblers?

More testing, more reviews, and more player advocacy. We’ve already got the complaint resolution side running and are actively working with players and casinos already, and that’s something I’m proud of — no other Aussie-focused site is really doing that. Plus, I’ve got a few ideas for articles that might ruffle some feathers in the industry. But hey, if you’re not making someone a bit uncomfortable, you’re probably not telling the whole truth.