I've bounced around enough casino sites over the last few years that the flashy homepages don't do much for me anymore. Half of them look the same anyway. What I check first is whether the place feels properly usable for Aussie players without making you jump through hoops from the first click. Deposit options that make sense here, support that doesn't vanish, and a site that doesn't give off that dodgy "we'll be gone by next month" vibe.
Cashouts are the big one for me. I can put up with an average promo or a smaller game lobby if the withdrawals are solid and they don't suddenly ask for your full family history the second you try to take money out. If verification is strict, no worries, just be upfront about it. The sites that give me the shits are the ones that are smooth as butter when you're depositing, then once you hit a win it's delays, extra docs, and some vague payment team apparently "reviewing" things forever.
I don't get sucked in by giant game numbers anymore either. A site saying it has thousands of pokies doesn't mean much if most of it's filler and the decent providers are buried five menus deep. I'd rather a smaller lineup that actually loads fast on mobile and has the good stuff easy to find. Same deal with bonuses... huge offer, heaps of carry-on terms, not really worth the drama. Fair play and clean rules beats a flashy banner every time.
Curious how the rest of you judge these sites now that there are so many floating around. What makes you trust one enough to chuck a few dollars on, and what sends you packing straight away? Keen to hear what other Aussie punters look at first, especially around payouts and KYC, because that's usually where the real review starts.