Our Review Methodology — How We Test & Rank

If you’ve ever wondered how we decide which gambling sites make our recommended lists and which ones don’t, you’re in the right place. We take our review process seriously because we know you’re trusting us with real money decisions. Here’s exactly how we test, score, and rank every casino and sportsbook we cover.

How We Test Casinos & Sportsbooks

We don’t rely on press releases or marketing materials. Every platform we review goes through a hands-on evaluation that mirrors the experience a real player would have. Here’s what that looks like:

Real Money Deposits

We create accounts and deposit our own money using multiple payment methods — credit cards, crypto, e-wallets, and bank transfers. We track deposit times, fees, and minimum amounts. If a casino claims “instant deposits,” we verify it. We also test bonus claim processes during signup to confirm bonus terms match what’s advertised.

Withdrawal Testing

This is where many casinos fall short, and it’s a dealbreaker for us. We request withdrawals using every available method and measure the actual time from request to funds hitting our account. We note any verification delays, withdrawal limits, or hidden fees. Our fastest payout casinos rankings are built directly from these real-world withdrawal tests.

Game & Platform Testing

We play actual games — slots, table games, live dealer, and sports betting markets. We evaluate game variety, software providers, load times, and overall gameplay quality. For crypto casinos, we specifically test blockchain transaction speeds and provably fair verification. On mobile, we test on both iOS and Android to confirm responsive design and app functionality.

Customer Support Checks

We contact support through every available channel — live chat, email, and phone — with real questions about bonuses, withdrawals, and account issues. We measure response times, accuracy of answers, and whether agents can actually resolve problems or just read from scripts.

Our Rating Criteria & Weights

Every casino and sportsbook receives a weighted score based on six categories. We chose these weights to reflect what matters most to real players — keeping your money safe comes first, followed by how fair the bonus terms are and how fast you actually get paid.

Security & Licensing (25%)

This is non-negotiable. We verify every platform’s licensing status with the issuing jurisdiction — Curacao eGaming, Malta Gaming Authority, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, or others. We check SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, and whether the operator has a history of disputes or non-payment. Any platform with unresolved player complaints or a revoked license is automatically disqualified.

Bonus Terms & Fairness (20%)

A flashy bonus number means nothing if the wagering requirements make it impossible to cash out. We read the full terms and conditions for every bonus offer, evaluating rollover requirements, game contribution percentages, maximum bet limits during wagering, and expiration windows. A 25x rollover on slots with a 30-day window scores well; a 60x rollover with a 7-day deadline and $5 max bet does not.

Payout Speed & Reliability (20%)

We measure actual withdrawal processing times across all available methods. Crypto payouts under 1 hour score highest. We also check for consistency — a casino that pays out in 2 hours one week and 5 days the next loses points for unreliability. Withdrawal limits, fees, and verification requirements all factor in.

Game Selection (15%)

We look at total game count, provider diversity, and the quality of featured titles. A casino with 3,000+ games from 20+ providers like Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and NetEnt scores higher than one with 500 generic titles. We also evaluate live dealer options, sports betting markets, and specialty games.

Mobile Experience (10%)

We test every platform on real devices — not just by resizing a browser window. We evaluate page load times, navigation, game performance, and whether the full desktop feature set is available on mobile. Dedicated apps get extra testing for stability and notifications.

Customer Support (10%)

We evaluate response times, channel availability (live chat, email, phone), knowledge of the platform, and the ability to resolve issues on the first contact. 24/7 live chat with knowledgeable agents is the gold standard. Email-only support with 48-hour response times scores poorly.

Our Transparency Commitment

We believe you deserve to know exactly how and why we recommend a platform. Here’s what that means in practice:

• Affiliate relationships are always disclosed. We earn commissions from some of the platforms we recommend, but this never affects our ratings. A casino that pays us more does not receive a higher score.
• We show our work. Every review includes specific pros and cons, real test results, and the criteria that drove the final score. You’ll never see a vague “great casino, check it out!” from us.
• Negative findings are published. If a platform has slow payouts, predatory bonus terms, or poor support, we say so — even if they’re an affiliate partner.
• We don’t accept payment for reviews. No casino or sportsbook can pay for a higher ranking or a more favorable write-up.

How Often We Update Reviews

The online gambling landscape changes fast. Bonuses get updated, ownership changes hands, and new payment methods launch regularly. To keep our recommendations current:

• Full re-tests happen every 90 days. We go through the complete deposit-play-withdraw cycle again and update scores accordingly.
• Bonus and promotion details are verified weekly to ensure accuracy.
• Breaking changes — like a licensing revocation, ownership change, or widespread payout issue — trigger an immediate review update regardless of the regular schedule.
• Reader reports are investigated within 48 hours. If you’ve had an experience that doesn’t match our review, we want to know.

Corrections & Contact

We’re committed to accuracy, but we’re human. If you spot an error in any of our reviews — an outdated bonus amount, an incorrect payout time, or a broken link — let us know and we’ll investigate and correct it promptly.

Email: [email protected]

Please include the specific page URL and the detail you believe is incorrect. We review all corrections within 48 hours.