How We Rate Online Casinos

Categories and Default Weights

We use the same core categories across most reviews:

Scoring Scale (0-10)

We score each category on a 0-10 scale:

• 0-2 (High risk / weak evidence): missing key disclosures, repeated issues, or unclear rules
• 3-4 (Below average): notable limitations, mixed signals, or restrictive conditions
• 5-6 (Average): workable but with clear trade-offs
• 7-8 (Above average): generally solid, minor issues only
• 9-10 (Strong): clear disclosures, consistent performance, low friction, good track record

Important: a high score requires not just "claims", but verifiable details (see Evidence section below).

How We Calculate the Overall Score

The overall rating is a weighted average of category scores:

Overall (/10) = Σ (Category Score x Weight) / 100

Example (illustrative)

• License & Regulation: 6.0 x 25%
• Withdrawal Reliability: 6.5 x 25%
• Bonus Fairness: 6.8 x 15%
• Game Library: 8.5 x 20%
• Transparency: 6.2 x 15%

This produces an overall score around 7.3/10.

Category Criteria: What Increases or Decreases Scores

License & Regulation - 25%

We look for:

• Clear legal entity + operator name (not hidden behind vague branding)
• License details that can be verified (jurisdiction, number where applicable)
• Basic compliance signals: responsible gambling tools, clear dispute path

Common reasons for lower scores:

• "License only" jurisdictions with limited player recourse
• Unclear operator identity or missing corporate disclosures
• Policy language that gives the operator overly broad control without specifics

Withdrawal Reliability - 25%

We look for:

• Stated withdrawal processing time and whether it matches typical user reports
• Predictability: do limits/fees/verification rules change mid-process?
• Whether the operator explains KYC triggers and required documents clearly

Common reasons for lower scores:

• Repeated reports of long delays without clear cause
• Unclear or shifting KYC rules
• Vague clauses allowing withholding for broad reasons

Bonus Fairness - 15%

We evaluate:

• Wagering requirements - how hard it is to convert bonus to cash
• Maximum cashout limits - especially if very low vs bonus size
• Time limits and game contribution rules - slots vs live vs table games
• Clarity: can a normal user understand the rules quickly?

Common reasons for lower scores:

• High wagering requirements, strict contribution rules, short time windows
• Low max cashout caps hidden deep in terms
• Broad "bonus abuse" wording without defined examples

Game Library - 20%

We consider:

• Provider portfolio - well-known vs unknown-only
• Range: slots, live casino, instant games, sports (if relevant)
• Stability and access: broken games, frequent geo-blocking, missing RTP info where expected

Common reasons for lower scores:

• Only a small set of unknown providers
• Major gaps (no live, no popular slots, unstable lobbies)
• "Big number of games" but mostly duplicates/low-quality reskins

Transparency - 15%

We check:

• Terms readability and internal consistency
• Clear fees/limits, restricted countries, KYC rules, dormancy fees
• Whether key rules are easy to find (withdrawals, verification, bonus restrictions)

Common reasons for lower scores:

• "Broadly written clauses" that allow unilateral decisions without thresholds
• Missing/unclear limits, fees, or restricted regions
• Important details split across many pages without a clear summary

Evidence We Use (and What We Don't)

We rely on:

• The casino's own legal pages - Terms, Bonus Terms, Withdrawal/KYC policy
• License and operator disclosures on the site
• Consistency checks across pages - policy conflicts are a negative signal
• Player feedback trends (used carefully: patterns matter more than single claims)

We do not rely on:

• Promotional claims without supporting details
• "Big bonus" marketing as a quality indicator
• Game count alone as proof of value

Penalties and "Red Flags"

Some issues can pull the score down across multiple categories:

• Hidden or unclear operator identity
• Contradictory terms (different limits/fees depending on page)
• Broad discretionary clauses related to withdrawals/bonuses
• Repeated reports of withdrawal delays combined with vague policy wording

If we see severe red flags, we may add a clear note in the rating summary explaining why the risk level is higher.

Overall score bands

Updates and Re-Checks

Casino terms, payment methods, and availability can change. When we update a review, we re-check:

• Licensing/operator info
• Withdrawal/KYC rules
• Bonus terms
• Restricted countries
• Common complaint patterns (if any)

We mark the Published and Last updated dates on each review.

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