Mike Watters - Author at Australian Gamblers

Mike Waters

Mike Waters

Professional Poker Player

Australian Gamblers wouldn’t be what it is without our star writer Mike – a former professional poker player who has participated in the world’s biggest poker tournaments, including the WSOP, WPT World Championship, EPT, and more (he also used to play blackjack and pokies but doesn’t brag about it… shh). Right now, Mike works as a full-time reviewer and writer for Australian Gamblers to pass on all the knowledge he has gathered in his 20 years of experience playing on casino floors.

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Content by Mike Waters

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July 16, 2025

Living in Australia, gambling is all around us: at the local pub, at hotels, on our phones… After all, we...

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January 8, 2026

Queenspins is a good choice for pokies fans, offering added excitement through progressive jackpots and tournaments. However, the casino is...

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Best Online Roulette Sites for Australians in 2026

September 22, 2025

Roulette is the first game most people think of when they think of a casino. It’s a true classic that...

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New Online Casinos for Australians in 2026

September 17, 2025

New is always better, right? Well, that may be true when it comes to new online casinos, but finding top...

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Best Online Plinko Gambling Sites in Australia for 2026

January 2, 2026

Plinko, like most instant-win games, appeals to players who want something easier to play than casino classics like blackjack or...

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Withdrawing at Online Casinos – A Guide for Australian Players

January 1, 2026

Withdrawing winnings from online casinos isn’t as complicated as some make it out to be, but it surely is more...

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Pai Gow Poker – Rules, Strategies & Playing Style

December 30, 2025

Yes, I do recommend Pai Gow Poker for Australian players, as long as you understand what kind of game it...

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Australia’s Best Real Money Online Poker Sites for 2026

July 16, 2025

If you’re an avid poker player like me, then you’re already aware that there aren’t too many online poker sites...

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Best Megaways Pokies in Australia for 2026

November 26, 2025

Megaways games just hit different. The quality of these games has surged as major pokie developers, including Playson, Yggdrasil, and...

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Best Bitcoin & Crypto Casino Sites in Australia

October 10, 2025

There are several good reasons why so many Australian players are switching to Bitcoin casinos when playing online, and not...

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The Best Bonuses in Australian Online Casinos for 2026

September 23, 2025

Bonus codes, promos, tournaments, free deals… you’ll find plenty of these at any given Australian online casino. The trick is...

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Best Bonus Buy Pokies in Australia for 2026

December 2, 2025

I enjoy pokies as a pastime, but I like them even more when I win, so when those cold streaks...

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Best Australian Real Money Online Blackjack Sites for 2026

September 8, 2025

The best casinos to play online blackjack in Australia offer various forms and formats of real money blackjack, with added...

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Best No Deposit Bonuses in Australian Online Casinos

December 10, 2025

I’ll be honest – it’s in my nature not to say no to freebies, so I look at no deposit...

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Best Cashback Bonuses in Australian Online Casinos for 2026

November 4, 2025

Cashback is everywhere these days. You see it in shops, apps, and even on your coffee on your way to...

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Best Lightning Link Pokies to Play Online for Real Money in Australia

December 12, 2025

Aristocrat’s Lightning Link is a collection of some of the all-time favourite pokies in land-based casinos in Australia. Stacked with...

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Top 10 Fast Payout Online Casinos in Australia

November 20, 2025

If there’s one thing I care about when I play online, it’s payouts. Fast payouts. The usual ups and downs...

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VIP Online Casino Bonuses in Australia: Explore the Top Offers for 2026

November 24, 2025

Unlike standard online casino bonuses, VIP deals do not cater to the recreational player. Sure, some promos like cashback are...

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Best Jackpot Pokies in Australia for 2026

December 25, 2025

In terms of winnings, there’s nothing better than jackpot pokies. Mixing the excitement of high-paying lines and cool features like...

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Best Live Casinos in Australia for 2026

November 27, 2025

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Best Crash Gambling Sites in Australia to Play for Real Money or Crypto in 2026

December 22, 2025

Crash games are one of the simplest casino formats out there, and if you haven’t tried them yet, you’ll be...

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Best Real Money Online Pokies in Australia in 2026

July 16, 2025

Finding the best online pokies in Australia is like looking for a needle in a haystack: it’s not impossible, just...

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December 15, 2025

Ricky Casino turned out to be much better than I expected. The casino delivers on all measurable areas, but what’s...

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June 18, 2025

With King Billy Casino, it’s clear that the brand puts real thought into what players actually want, and they tailor...

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July 1, 2025

My experience with Slots Gallery Casino was great because the operator offers a great selection of games, bonuses, quick transactions,...

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July 15, 2025

Neospin is a strong pick for Aussie players. The bonus selection is competitive, especially if you’re a high roller looking...

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October 24, 2025

Lucky7even stands out for its game selection, tournaments, loyalty programs, super low crypto deposits, and top-tier mobile experience. Fantastic progressive...

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July 15, 2025

A no deposit bonus in this day and age definitely deserves praise, even though it does require some action (to...

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July 25, 2025

If I were to summarise everything I've covered about DragonSlots so far, I’d highlight the excellent mobile experience, which is...

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Most Popular Types of Online Pokies in Australia – Classic, Jackpots, Bonus-Buy & More

July 15, 2025

Chance-based and downright exciting to play, online pokies are among the most popular pastimes for Australians. However, before you play,...

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Understanding Online Casino Bonuses at Australian Casino Sites

July 15, 2025

Playing casino games recreationally but without a bonus is like eating a hot dog without mustard. It just feels like...

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Cashback vs. Deposit Bonuses – Which is Better?

September 25, 2025

Years of online gambling have taught me that casino bonuses can be your best friend or your worst nightmare, depending...

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August 12, 2025

The poker traffic here speaks for itself: packed tables, big tournaments, and different poker variants available at all hours. Add...

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July 25, 2025

Ritzo Casino does many things right. It looks great, runs smoothly on mobile, and supports (almost) every payment type under...

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August 12, 2025

If Joe Fortune were spending on its game library as much as it is spending on its marketing department, this...

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December 16, 2025

The casino has the potential to become a serious rival to the best casinos out there in terms of game...

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Best Christmas Casino Bonuses, Tournaments & Games in Australia

December 16, 2025

December in Australia usually means two things for me: way too much food and way too much time on casino...

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How to Play Scratch Cards – Complete Scratchies Guide

December 12, 2025

I often like to joke that I’m a bit of a scratchie expert. I’ve scratched hundreds of them over the...

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Three Card Poker – Rules, Strategies & Playing Style

November 17, 2025

First things first: you’re NOT playing against other players. You only play against the dealer (like blackjack), but you’re using...

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Poker Strategies Guide by Mike Waters (Cash and Tournament Play)

October 14, 2025

I’ve been playing poker casually and professionally for over 20 years, and I can tell you that not all poker...

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How to Play Crash Gambling Games

November 11, 2025

Crash games are still pretty new in the casino scene. The first time I encountered one was in 2014 on...

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How to Play Mines – The Ultimate Mines Guide

December 8, 2025

Remember that old-school puzzle game we first discovered on Windows PCs in the 90s called Minesweeper? You had to click...

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How to Play Plinko – The Ultimate Plinko Guide

December 1, 2025

Plinko dates back to 1983, when it was introduced as one of the games on the US version of The...

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A Beginner’s Guide to Playing Keno Online

October 27, 2025

Exciting, with the potential for big wins, relatively low risk, and easy to learn – this is keno explained in...

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Best High Roller Bonuses in Australian Online Casinos

December 5, 2025

High roller casino bonuses are definitely a bigger commitment than your average deal, but they can also be far more...

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September 9, 2025

RioAce ranks among the top online casinos in Australia for real money play, considering all key factors. The game selection...

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Video Poker Guide – How to Play, Best Variants & RTP

November 21, 2025

Video poker is basically a digital version of five-card draw poker, which is the simplest form of poker you can...

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Best Free Spin Bonuses in Australia

November 13, 2025

Free spins are super tempting, right? They're usually a breeze to claim, but actually cashing out can be a bit...

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August 15, 2025

Let's Lucky is a legit spot to play, even though the gaming license was not easy to find. I double-...

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October 31, 2025

I’ve enjoyed many fun sessions at Spinando with their wide range of pokies, roulette, and blackjack tables. Things got even...

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July 25, 2025

I’ve been playing online casino games for years, and no matter how rewarding it is, doing the same activities repeatedly...

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July 25, 2025

I genuinely enjoyed PlayMojo so much that I was willing to overlook its main flaws, such as high bonus wagering...

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July 25, 2025

If you have around A$20-A$30 to spare (or less if depositing via crypto), I highly recommend trying out Slotozen Casino....

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July 25, 2025

What is the first thing that pops into mind when you think about online casinos? Pokie machines? Bonuses? Risk? Excitement?...

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July 25, 2025

AllStar has been in operation for less than two years, but it is already giving the top online casinos in...

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August 12, 2025

I’ve spent a lot of time at CoinPoker, and honestly, the poker tables here speak for themselves. Yes, the client...

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August 12, 2025

I started this review on a negative note, flaming Hell Spin’s website design, and I owe them an apology. Yes,...

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August 12, 2025

I believe I covered every side of the casino – good and bad. But a quick recap. PlayAmo will be...

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August 15, 2025

Listing poker as an advantage might seem funny, but many online casinos overlook this classic game in live dealer format....

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September 17, 2025

SlotsGem presents itself as a strong contender among top Australian online casinos, showcasing impressive features despite a few drawbacks. The...

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November 14, 2025

If Heaps O Wins casino actually paid players on time, fixed the broken pages, added more games, removed fees, and...

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How to Play Poker – Poker Rules, Strategies & Playing Style (For Beginners & Pro’s)

July 16, 2025

Hi, my name is Mike Waters – a seasoned poker professional with over 20 years of experience playing poker with...

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Card Counting in Blackjack Explained – Is it Possible Online?

November 6, 2025

You’ve likely heard about card counting in blackjack from a Hollywood movie, and you probably know that American films make...

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July 25, 2025

To only say Wild Tokyo is a legitimate and licensed online casino would be an understatement. It is packed with...

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Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions Explained

October 20, 2025

How many times have you claimed a casino bonus and realised that it’s (almost) impossible to withdraw any winnings from...

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Baccarat Strategies

October 31, 2025

Looking for the absolute best baccarat strategies? I’ve got one for you: just bet on the Banker. Job done. On...

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Basic Blackjack Strategy – How to Increase Your Winning Chances Playing Blackjack

July 16, 2025

At its most basic, blackjack is a simple card game. You play to beat the dealer (house), and for that,...

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July 15, 2025

The overall score for SkyCrown is positive. There are plenty of things I genuinely like here, but a few areas...

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July 25, 2025

I have to admit, Richard Casino surprised me. It really is a Jack of all trades: generous bonuses, fast payments,...

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August 5, 2025

Where many modern casinos only look to fast-track their license without paying close attention to the user experience, Lucky Ones...

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July 25, 2025

Honestly, I was pretty impressed by Rolling Slots. Sure, I do think there are better Australian online casinos out there,...

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July 25, 2025

Lucky Dreams is a fantastic online casino in Australia for pokies enthusiasts, offering over 12,000 pokies across various categories. It...

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July 25, 2025

Stay Casino has been topping charts since 2021, and even won the AskGamblers Best New Casino Award, so it’s no...

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How to Play Craps – The Ultimate Craps Guide

September 29, 2025

You know that casino game from Hollywood movies where the player throws red dice across a large table, the beautiful...

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How to Play Baccarat – The Ultimate Baccarat Guide

October 3, 2025

Let’s be real: you probably first heard about baccarat when you saw James Bond playing it. Okay, you may have...

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A Guide to Hot & Cold Streaks – When to Walk Away

September 24, 2025

We’ve all been there, playing pokies, hitting the roulette table, or playing poker. Experiencing periods of loss is a fact...

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Roulette Strategies Explained – Are These Betting Systems Effective?

July 16, 2025

Roulette is a game of chance and uncertainty, but there is some room for strategizing. It is one of the...

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Pokies Volatility Explained – What Does Volatility (Variance) Mean in Online Pokies?

July 15, 2025

Pokie (slot) volatility, in simple words, is a measure of identifying how risky a game is. Volatility, often used interchangeably...

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How to Play Blackjack – A Beginner’s Guide

July 16, 2025

Ready to test your luck and skill at one of the most thrilling games in the casino? Enter Blackjack, where your...

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Beginner’s Guide to Playing Roulette – Types of Bets, Odds & Different Roulette Games

July 16, 2025

For most casino fans who haven’t played or played only a few times, roulette is just a thrilling game with...

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RTP & Paylines in Online Pokies Explained

September 19, 2025

RTP, volatility, and paylines are the three main aspects that influence how much a pokie pays out over time. They...

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How to Spot Crypto Casino Scams and Avoid Them

September 19, 2025

Ever since diving truly deep into the Australian online gambling industry, my team and I have discovered many things we...

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Casino Bankroll Management 101

September 3, 2025

Gambling’s been part of Aussie life for more than a century. From the very first Melbourne Cup in 1861, to...

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