question Where do you get a proper read on a new bookie?

When you’re checking out a new bookie, what do you lot actually look for before signing up? I’m not really talking about the flashy promo stuff, more the real-world bits like whether they pay out without mucking you around, how painful the ID check is, if the odds are decent across AFL/NRL, and whether the app is usable or just a headache.

I’ve had a squiz at a few comparison pages and half of them feel a bit same same, like every bookie magically gets a good wrap. Makes it hard to tell what’s legit and what’s just filler. Reckon forum posts from actual punters are usually more useful, but even then some are ancient and things change pretty quick.

So yeah, if you’re sizing up a new one, what’s your process? Do you trust review pages at all, or just chuck in a small deposit and test it yourself? Keen to hear which things are the biggest green flags or red flags for you.

I get a bit suss when the pretty front end looks great but the rules are buried three menus deep. First thing I check is the boring stuff they hope you skip - account limits, withdrawal terms, whether they can knock back bets or clamp you fast if you do alright. The shiny comparison pages almost never mention that part, so yeah I’m keen to know how others sniff that out before bothering with a deposit.