Last updated: 27 June 2026
Mason Whitlock — Online Casino Reviewer
Who I am
My name is Mason Whitlock, and I have been reviewing online casinos professionally since 2017. I studied a Bachelor of Media and Communications at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 2014, before drifting into the gambling industry. My path into iGaming started on the operations side of an offshore-facing sportsbook, where I first saw how the machine really works — from how bonus maths are designed to how licensing and payouts are handled behind the scenes. Today I am the lead reviewer at Joe Fortune AU Review, where I personally test every casino we recommend.
My expertise
Bonuses. I have analysed well over 500 bonus offers and can size up the real value of one in minutes. I know the difference between a transparent 35x-on-deposit deal and a trap that hides 60x on bonus-plus-deposit with a A$5 max bet and live games excluded.
Licensing. I understand the practical differences between MGA, UKGC and Curaçao licences and what protection each actually gives a player. For the Australian market I am clear-eyed: the ACMA (acma.gov.au) regulates and blocks, but does not licence casinos, so Aussie-facing operators run offshore — and I treat that licensing gap as a real risk, not a footnote.
Payments. I have tested withdrawals through Visa, Mastercard, PayID, bank transfer and a long list of cryptocurrencies. Average payout time is one of the criteria I weight most heavily, because it is where weak casinos are exposed.
Game libraries. I know the catalogues of more than 80 providers, from mainstream studios like Realtime Gaming, Pragmatic Play and Evolution to niche names like Hacksaw Gaming and Nolimit City, and I understand RTP, volatility and hit frequency.
Mobile play. Every casino gets tested on a phone — iOS and Android — for layout, load speed, navigation and whether the cashier works the same as on desktop.
My approach to testing
I test every casino personally: real registration, real deposit, real play and a real withdrawal request. A full test takes me five to seven days — the time it takes to pass verification, work through a bonus and actually receive a payout. I use my own money; a typical test deposit is A$20–A$50, and over nine years I have put thousands of dollars through casinos purely to test them. I record each step — registration screenshots, support chats, withdrawal timings — and those notes are the backbone of every review. My full method is on How We Test, and the scoring I apply is on How We Rate.
Publications and ongoing work
My reviews and analysis appear on Joe Fortune AU Review and are read by thousands of Australian players each month. I keep a close eye on changes to Australian online-gambling law and the ACMA's enforcement activity, and I update reviews when the ground shifts. I also help shape our Editorial Policy and the standards every contributor follows.
Contact me
If you have a question about a review, you have spotted an error, or you want to suggest a casino for testing, email me at [email protected] or use the Contact Us page. You can read more about the team on About Us.