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Pokies Validator
Check the public trust signals of an online pokies website in seconds.
How the trust score works
Nine public signals, each with a fixed weight, add up to a score out of 100. Every check runs live when you submit a website, and every point is tied to evidence shown in the report. Signals that can't be checked are left out of the score.
- 80–100 Strong public signals
- 50–79 Mixed signals — check further
- 0–49 Warning signs found
| Signal | What we look for | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| HTTPS & certificate | Valid SSL certificate; HTTP redirects to HTTPS (live TLS check) | 15 |
| Domain age | Registration date from the official RDAP registry record | 15 |
| Website history | First snapshot in the Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) | 10 |
| Business transparency | Contact page, email, phone, company/ABN details, Terms, Privacy | 15 |
| Responsible gambling | RG page, 18+ notice, self-exclusion, help links, limit tools | 15 |
| Australian legality check | Signs of a real-money online casino offer (Interactive Gambling Act 2001) | 10 |
| Email & DNS setup | MX, SPF and DMARC records (live DNS lookup) | 10 |
| Social profiles | Official social profiles linked from the website | 5 |
| Security headers | HSTS, X-Content-Type-Options, frame protection, Referrer-Policy | 5 |
Questions about checking pokies websites
What does Pokies Validator check?
Nine live trust signals: the website's HTTPS certificate, how long the domain has been registered, its public history in the Internet Archive, business transparency (contact, company and policy details), responsible gambling information, Australian legality indicators (signs of a prohibited online casino offer), email and DNS setup, linked social media profiles and browser security headers.
Where does the data come from?
Every check runs live when you submit a website. We connect to the site over HTTPS and read its certificate, look up the domain's official registration record (RDAP), query the Internet Archive, read the site's home, contact, about, terms and responsible gambling pages, and look up its public DNS records. Results are cached for up to six hours. If a source can't be reached, that signal is marked Unavailable and left out of the score.
How is the trust score calculated?
Each signal has a fixed weight, and the weights add up to 100. The score is the share of available points the website earns. If less than 60 points' worth of signals can be checked, the result is capped at "Needs further manual verification". Critical problems — no valid HTTPS, or signs of a real-money online casino offer to Australians — always produce a High risk result.
Does a high score mean a pokies website is safe or legal?
No. The score summarises public evidence only. It isn't a safety guarantee, a licence check or legal advice.
Is it legal to play online pokies in Australia?
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 it's illegal to offer real-money online casino games, including pokies, to people in Australia. The ACMA publishes a list of blocked illegal gambling websites.
Why did a website get "Needs further manual verification"?
Some trust signals were found, but important information was missing, inconsistent or could not be checked automatically. Verify the business independently before creating an account or paying.
Where can I get help with gambling?
Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858. BetStop is Australia's national self-exclusion register for online wagering.
Gambling Help Online — free and confidential, 24/7. Call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. Self-exclude at betstop.gov.au.
An independent research tool for adults 18+. Scores reflect public evidence at the time of the check and are not legal, financial or safety advice. We don't promote or link to gambling operators.
Pokies Validator is a free website trust-checking tool that lets you enter a pokies website URL and review key public trust signals. Each check runs live: it verifies the site’s HTTPS certificate, domain registration age, Internet Archive history, contact and company details, responsible gambling information, Australian legality indicators, email and DNS setup, linked social profiles and security headers, so you can spot warning signs before trusting a website. Use the Pokie Finder tool to make a more informed decision before visiting a pokies website.