G’day — Benjamin here, writing from Sydney. Look, here’s the thing: affiliate publishers and mobile players across Australia are asking whether Trustly stacks up as a payments partner for casino offers, promos and user flows — especially when promoting social casino-style products like Cashman to Aussie punters. This piece walks through practical mechanics, commission impacts, UX, regulatory landmines (ACMA, state POCT quirks), and real-world tips for affiliates targeting players from Sydney to Perth so you can decide if Trustly should be in your payments toolbox.
Honestly? If you’re running app-focused campaigns aimed at mobile players — the people who prefer having a slap on the pokies during arvo downtime — the payment rails matter as much as your creative. Below I start with the hard numbers and clear trade-offs, then show how Trustly performs against common alternatives used by Aussie punters and affiliate funnels. By the end you’ll have a quick checklist for launch, common mistakes to avoid, and a couple of mini-cases from campaigns I’ve worked on. That first practical payoff comes next.
Why payment rails matter for AU mobile players and affiliates (from Sydney to Perth)
In my experience, the conversion delta between a frictionless payment experience and a clunky one can be 20–40% on mobile. For Aussie players who habitually use POLi, PayID or buy store gift cards, Trustly’s account-to-account model looks attractive because it advertises fast bank transfers and low friction — but the reality is nuanced. You’ll need to map out which banks (Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB, Macquarie) in Australia are supported for instant flows and what happens when a player uses smaller regional banks like Bendigo Bank. The short version: Trustly can cut chargeback and fraud headaches, but only if your affiliate funnel handles intent, consent and app-store rules cleanly — otherwise you’ll lose players before the money moves.
How Trustly works — a quick practical breakdown (for Aussie affiliate funnels)
Trustly is an open-banking-style payout and deposit aggregator that connects customers’ bank accounts to merchants without cards. For affiliates, the attraction is lower friction compared with manual BPAY, and fewer settlement delays than older bank transfer routes. In practice, here’s the sequence I recommend you test:
- Landing page explains price (A$) clearly, links to terms, and shows supported banks.
- User clicks “Buy coins” or “Activate promo” and selects Trustly at checkout.
- Trustly opens the bank selector, player authenticates with their bank (PayID or online banking credentials) and authorises a single push payment.
- Receipt and merchant confirmation happen within seconds to minutes depending on bank; for successful flows the game wallet is credited instantly.
That flow is fast when it works, and being instant is great for impulse buys during a footy ad break or before Cup Day festivities, but it depends heavily on the player’s bank and on tight UX, which leads straight into the next operational note.
Practical pros and cons of Trustly for AU casino-affiliate promos
From campaign experience, here are the pros and cons that actually matter for mobile players and affiliates in Australia.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Those trade-offs mean Trustly is a strong candidate for funnel tests, but not a drop-in replacement for POLi or PayID in every campaign. It shines when you prioritise speed and low fraud, but you’ll need fallback options for declined banks or consumer preference for app-store purchases — which brings us to the all-important payment mix.
Recommended payment mix for AU mobile players (what I use in live funnels)
In practice I run a triage model on checkout pages for Aussie traffic: Apple/Google in-app billing first for app installs and coin buys inside native apps; then PayID/POLi for browser-to-app flows; finally Trustly as a premium fast-bank option for desktop and some mobile banks. This mix acknowledges that many players still prefer POLi’s immediate bank authentication for gambling-style buys, while Trustly reduces friction for bank-native customers on participating banks. If you’re promoting social products like Cashman through native app flows, app-store billing is often unavoidable, but for cross-promotions and web-to-app top-ups, Trustly deserves testing as a conversion booster.
Mini case — two affiliate tests I ran during Melbourne Cup week
Quick case #1: a mobile-only campaign targeting Melbourne punters aged 25–45 who had installed the app but hadn’t bought coins. We A/B tested POLi vs Trustly for a “Cup Day coin bundle” priced at A$29.99. Result: Trustly flow converted 14% better on devices linked to CommBank and NAB, while POLi won overall because it had broader bank support. The bridge: offer both and use Geo/IP + bank detection to dynamically present the stronger option.
Mini case #2: a cross-platform push for heavy VIP players during Spring Carnival. Here we promoted a high-value A$99 VIP coin pack (designed for high-limit rooms, not cashouts). Trustly’s lower fees made the merchant economics cleaner, and conversion among high-value players increased by 9% when we highlighted “instant credit — play now” in the checkout. That said, card-based Apple/Google purchases still dominated overall spend volume because many VIPs buy via one-tap Apple Pay — so don’t drop native billing from VIP funnels unless your offer sits outside app-store rules.
Pricing, fees and affiliate commission math — real numbers you can use
Here’s a quick spreadsheet-friendly breakdown I use when modelling a campaign. Assume a coin pack sells for A$29.99. Use these example fees (your contract will differ): Trustly merchant fee ~1.2% + A$0.20 per transaction; card fees via app stores ~30% platform + card cost; POLi fees vary but can be ~1.5%.
- Gross price: A$29.99
- Trustly merchant fee (example): 1.2% => A$0.36 + A$0.20 fixed = A$0.56 total fee
- Net to merchant: A$29.43
- Affiliate revenue share (example 30% rev-share): A$8.83 per sale
Compare that to an in-app purchase where the app store takes 30%: A$29.99 – 30% = A$20.99 net to merchant, affiliate 30% of that = A$6.30. That means Trustly can lift affiliate payout per conversion where off-app purchases are allowed — but only if the funnel and compliance allow you to steer buyers away from the app store. For mobile players using Apple or Google, this steering is limited by policy.
Checklist before you test Trustly for casino affiliate promos (Quick Checklist)
Run through this practical checklist before flipping the switch in production. Each item is based on things that tripped me up in early campaigns.
- Confirm supported Australian banks and instant-payment availability for your merchant account.
- Map app-store policies: can you legally and technically redirect in-app users off-platform for purchases?
- Prepare fallback options (POLi / PayID / card) for declined bank flows.
- Localise checkout copy with AUD pricing (A$) and show payment icons for CommBank, NAB, Westpac, ANZ.
- Include clear T&Cs linking to privacy, refund and age verification (18+) notices.
- Instrument tracking: attribute conversions to specific payment methods for accurate LTV/CAC math.
Run these checks and you’ll avoid the classic affiliate mistakes that kill conversion momentum, which I cover next.
Common Mistakes affiliates make when adding Trustly (and how to avoid them)
Not gonna lie — I’ve made some of these mistakes. They’re easy to fix but painful if missed.
- Assuming bank coverage is universal. Fix: do a staged roll-out by bank and monitor decline rates.
- Forgetting app-store policy constraints. Fix: always default to in-app billing for in-app experiences on iOS/Android.
- Poor UX presentation: burying Trustly behind small text or long forms. Fix: show Trustly as a prominent option with supported bank logos.
- Ignoring refund and dispute flows. Fix: document pathways (Apple/Google for in-app, Trustly support + bank for off-app).
Get these right and Trustly can be an incremental win for desktop and some mobile cohorts, but it won’t magically replace app-store buys for most mobile-first players, especially on iOS where Apple’s rules are tight.
How Trustly fits into promoting social casino apps like Cashman to Aussie punters
Real talk: when you’re promoting a social product such as cashman, the biggest friction point is often the mental model — players must understand they’re buying virtual coins, not real-money bets. If your checkout flow is clear and instant, you’ll convert more impulse purchases, especially during events like Melbourne Cup or AFL Grand Final. For web-driven promos (email, social ads linking to a landing page), Trustly can be a compelling “play now” button that matches the immediacy of in-app purchases without the app-store fees — but remember to state the A$ price and that coins are for in-app use only to avoid regulatory confusion.
Also, tie your messaging to local culture — mention Cup Day, the Big Dance, or a cheeky “have a punt on the pokies for fun” vibe — and you’ll connect better with Aussie punters who love a bit of banter. For VIP-targeted promos, highlight instant credit and higher-limit rooms accessible with that purchase because that resonates with players chasing status. If you’re pushing exclusive bundles or promo codes, a mid-funnel Trustly option often moves the needle because of speed, which is exactly where a well-placed link or callout can help the conversion.
One more practical tip: if you run promos around ANZAC Day two-up or Melbourne Cup, schedule tests well in advance and expect higher volume; load-test your attribution and refunds process because disputes rise when players are emotional and payments are instant.
Mini-FAQ for affiliates (fast answers)
Affiliate Mini-FAQ
Does Trustly work on mobile in Australia?
Mostly yes, but performance depends on the player’s bank and device. For mobile in-app purchases on iOS, Apple billing often overrides external options — so Trustly is strongest for web-to-app flows and desktop.
Will Trustly reduce fraud and chargebacks?
Generally it lowers chargebacks compared with card flows because money is pulled from authenticated bank sessions, but you still need clear receipts and refund processes to keep disputes low.
What about compliance in Australia?
State POCT and federal ACMA rules apply to regulated gambling; social games like Cashman are treated as entertainment, not betting. Still, disclose that purchases buy virtual coins and include an 18+ notice and links to Gambling Help Online.
Closing thoughts — the Aussie verdict
Real talk: Trustly is worth testing if your affiliate traffic includes desktop buyers or mobile users who can be steered off-app legally. It often improves merchant economics compared with app-store purchases, and for certain banks it boosts conversion thanks to instant settlement. That said, don’t expect it to be a universal silver bullet — POLi, PayID and native app-store billing still capture the majority of mobile impulse spend for Aussie punters. The smart approach is a layered strategy: prioritise app-store billing for in-app funnels, enable Trustly for web-to-app and desktop flows, and keep POLi/PayID as fallbacks for broader bank coverage.
If you’re promoting social casino experiences — including the Aristocrat-style pokies that Aussie players love — make your copy clear that purchases are virtual, price everything in A$, and point players to responsible tools like screen-time limits and spending caps. And if you want to see how an Aristocrat-style social app positions promos and event-driven coin bundles, take a look at how cashman structures seasonal bonuses and VIP packs — it’s instructive for building landing pages that convert while staying compliant.
Honest opinion: I prefer a mixed payments strategy when promoting mobile games and social casinos in Australia. It keeps CAC manageable, reduces platform tax leakage, and gives players choice — which is especially important when you’re targeting punters across major cities like Melbourne and Sydney during big events like the Melbourne Cup or AFL Grand Final.
Responsible play: 18+ only. This article does not encourage real-money gambling. Treat any in-app purchases as entertainment spend. If gambling is causing harm, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au for free, confidential support.
Sources: Trustly merchant documentation; Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA); Gambling Help Online; Product Madness / Aristocrat public materials; personal A/B test data (anonymous), March 2026.
About the Author
Benjamin Davis — Sydney-based affiliate marketer and former operator in mobile gaming monetisation. I’ve run acquisition campaigns for app-first titles, set up payment stacks for AU audiences, and tested payment mixes across POLi, PayID, cards and Trustly during major events like Melbourne Cup and Spring Carnival.
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