Last updated: June 2026 — Lachlan Mercer, Bythebaychiropractic
At Bythebaychiropractic.com.au, every casino review you read has been put together through a structured, hands-on process. Lachlan Mercer personally tests each PayID pokies site before a single word is written. There are no shortcuts, no copy-pasted operator descriptions, and no paid placements dressed up as honest opinions. This page explains exactly how we arrive at our scores so you can trust what you read.
All reviews published on Bythebaychiropractic are researched, tested, and written by Lachlan Mercer. Lachlan has spent years working through the Australian online casino landscape, with a specific focus on PayID-compatible pokies sites that suit real Aussie players in 2026. He funds his own test accounts, makes real deposits using PayID, claims bonuses under standard player conditions, and plays through wagering requirements before forming a judgment. No casino operator has editorial input into any rating or written conclusion on this site.
Before investing testing time, Lachlan checks whether a site holds a recognised gambling licence. Sites operating without any regulatory oversight are removed from consideration entirely. This first filter protects readers from wasting time on unsafe platforms.
Lachlan registers a real player account using standard Australian details. He goes through the full KYC (Know Your Customer) process to experience exactly what a new player faces, including document uploads, wait times, and any friction in the sign-up flow.
A real deposit is made via PayID to confirm the payment method works as advertised. Processing speed, minimum deposit thresholds, and any hidden fees are recorded at this stage.
Where a welcome bonus or free spins offer exists, Lachlan claims it under normal conditions and works through a portion of the wagering requirement. Bonus terms are read in full, including game contribution rates, maximum bet rules, and expiry windows.
A cross-section of pokies and table games are played, covering titles from different software providers. Game loading speed, mobile performance, and return-to-player (RTP) transparency are all assessed.
Support is contacted via at least one channel — live chat, email, or both — with a genuine question. Response time and the quality of the answer are both noted.
Where possible, a withdrawal back to PayID is requested to confirm the process is smooth and that the advertised timeframe is accurate.
After completing all testing steps, Lachlan applies the scoring criteria below and writes the review in full from his own notes and experience.
Each site is scored out of 10 across six categories. The overall score is a weighted average calculated as follows:
| Category | Weighting | What We Look At |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid gambling licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair terms |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Bonus value, wagering requirements, fairness of terms, ongoing offers |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number of pokies, software providers, RTP availability, game variety |
| Payment Methods | 15% | PayID availability, deposit and withdrawal speeds, fees, minimum limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability hours, response speed, quality of answers, contact options |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Browser performance on mobile, app availability, touch usability, load times |
Final scores are presented on a scale of 1 to 10, rounded to one decimal place. Here is how to interpret those scores:
Independence is the foundation of every review on this site. Here is how that independence is maintained in practice:
If you have a question about how a specific site was rated, or you believe information in a review is out of date, you are welcome to reach out through the contact page. Bythebaychiropractic.com.au is committed to keeping every review accurate, current, and genuinely useful for Australian players in 2026 and beyond.