Liam Harrington
iGaming editor & reviewer · Stellar Spins Australia

Ten years, a lot of deposits, and an aversion to spin
G'day — I'm Liam Harrington, the iGaming editor and lead reviewer here. I've spent more than a decade writing about online casinos and pokies for Australian players, first as a freelance contributor and now running the editorial desk for this independent guide to Stellar Spins. In that time I've signed up to more casinos than I can count, deposited my own money into most of them, and learned to spot the difference between a site that treats players fairly and one that simply hopes you won't read the fine print.
This site is an independent information and review resource. I don't work for the casino, and I'm not here to sell you a fantasy. My job is to explain how Stellar Spins actually works for an Aussie punter in 2026 — the good, the average and the parts worth a second look — so you can decide for yourself with your eyes open.
Nothing here comes from a press release
Every guide on this site is built from hands-on testing, not marketing copy. Here's the routine I run before a single line gets published.
- I deposit my own money. You can't review a cashier you've never used. I fund accounts with real AUD across the methods Australians actually reach for — PayID first, then cards and crypto — and note exactly what works and what stalls.
- I time withdrawals to the minute. A casino is only as good as its payouts. I request a real cash-out, complete the KYC check like any player would, and record how long the money genuinely takes to land rather than what the FAQ claims.
- I read the bonus terms in full. Wagering multipliers, max-bet caps while a bonus is live, game weightings, expiry windows — I read every clause so you don't have to learn them the hard way at the cashier.
- I play on desktop and mobile. Most Australians play on a phone, so I test the web app on Android and iOS as well as a full browser, checking load speed, layout and whether live tables hold up on a smaller screen.
- I say what I can't verify. Where something can only be confirmed in part, I tell you plainly instead of papering over it, and I revisit these guides as offers, payment rails and game line-ups change through the year.
Areas I know well
A decade of reviewing leaves you with a few specialities. These are the topics I dig into hardest.
Pokies
From three-reel classics to modern Hold & Win machines, RTP, volatility and how to read a paytable without getting dazzled by the marketing.
Bonuses
Translating welcome offers and wagering requirements into plain English, and flagging the terms that quietly decide whether a bonus is worth claiming.
Live casino
Real-dealer blackjack, roulette and baccarat — stream quality, table limits and how the experience compares to a real floor.
PayID & payments
Australian banking rails, deposit and withdrawal speeds, KYC, and which methods actually pay out fastest in practice.
Responsible gambling
Deposit and loss limits, time-outs, self-exclusion and the support services every Australian player should know exist.
Independent review
Holding the brand to the same standard as every other casino I've covered, with no incentive to flatter it.
Honest, independent and on your side
I write for the player, not the operator. This site may earn a commission if you choose to sign up through a link, but that never changes what I publish — a slow payout is reported as a slow payout, and a confusing bonus term is called out as one. Independence only means something if it survives contact with the bottom line, so I keep the reviewing and the business strictly separate.
It also means I won't pretend gambling is harmless. Everything here is for adults aged 18 and over, and every guide carries the same reminder: gambling is entertainment, never a way to make money. Set a budget you can comfortably afford to lose, treat any win as a bonus rather than a plan, and lean on the limit tools and self-exclusion options the moment play stops being fun. If my coverage helps even a handful of readers play more safely, that matters more to me than any bonus headline.
Guides I've written on this site
The deep-dives I've put together on Stellar Spins, each one built from the hands-on testing above.
- Stellar Spins pokies guide — the full library, the headline titles and how to read RTP and volatility before you spin.
- the welcome bonus breakdown — the A$10,000 + 200 free spins mission decoded, wagering and all.
- the live casino walkthrough — real-dealer blackjack, roulette and baccarat, stream quality and table limits.
- the payments and PayID explainer — deposit and withdrawal speeds, fees and KYC for Australian players.
- the mobile app review — the web app on Android and iOS, tested on a real phone.
The process, step by step
Sign up as an ordinary punter
I create a real account using everyday details, with no special treatment, so the experience matches what you'll see.
Deposit and test the cashier
I fund the account with modest amounts of my own money across PayID, cards and crypto, noting what's instant and what isn't.
Play across desktop and mobile
I run pokies, live tables and the bonus flow on a full browser and a phone, checking speed, layout and fairness.
Cash out and verify
I request a genuine withdrawal, complete KYC and time how long the money truly takes to arrive.
Write it up — and keep it current
Only then do I publish, and I update the guide whenever offers, payments or games change.
See the casino I review
If my testing has answered your questions, you can head to Stellar Spins and look around for yourself. Just remember the golden rule — only play with what you can comfortably afford to lose. 18+.
Visit Stellar Spins