Casino Reviews

Trustworthiness is the very first thing to consider. We understand how important it is to you that your funds and personal data are always in safe hands. To ensure that a casino is running a secure, fair and legitimate service, we check for the following:

License from a Legitimate Body

Many countries have their own regulators that make casino businesses follow strict guidelines in order to receive operating licences.

It’s crucial that casinos display a license from a legitimate licensing body on their site. Possession of a license means that a casino can operate legally. Examples of the trusted authorities we look out for include the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, along with many others.

Reputable Casinos Safety Check: Security and Licensing

Unfortunately, the anonymity of the internet has given rise to opportunistic people aiming to steal both cash and data from the unknowing. Therefore, when you are sharing personal information and banking details online, you need to be sure that your data is kept out of nefarious hands.

Depending on the market, there are different sets of regulations in place that are there to help keep players safe. The guidelines will often include the need for security software and encryption on their websites, as well as being accountable for payouts. Others do not have such processes in place, which can make it a lot more difficult to identify safe gambling locations. For all our best online casino reviews, we check the required licencing, security and responsible gambling partnerships to ensure that we only recommend safe and trustworthy places to our readers.

For those countries that have regulatory bodies, staying safe is as easy as checking the licence status of a casino. For the countries without their own authorities, a good rule of thumb is to check if the operator holds a licence from the Malta Gaming Authority, the Government of Gibraltar or the United Kingdom Gambling Association (UKGC). These three organisations have some of the most comprehensive criteria when it comes to providing licences to operators in their jurisdictions, particularly the UKGC as the UK has a huge focus on player protections.

Sticking to the biggest names in the industry that have long and solid operational histories is always a good idea also. And if you’re unsure about the validity of a casino then simply keep looking – there are more than enough options out there. Stick to those recommended on this site to have the peace of mind of an expert recommendation.

Independently Regulated

Casinos must also display evidence that they are regulated for security and fairness by a reputable independent authority, such as eCOGRA. If we can’t find this, we instead check that the games are fair by ourselves. To do this, we run the games thousands of times to make sure that the results really are random, and that an RNG is in use.

 Valid SSL Encryption

When it comes to security, we always look for a valid SSL encryption certificate on the casino sites we review. Encryption ensures that any data being exchanged between the player and casino is not at risk of being stolen and means that a site is safe to use.

Unfortunately, the anonymity of the internet has given rise to opportunistic people aiming to steal both cash and data from the unknowing. Therefore, when you are sharing personal information and banking details online, you need to be sure that your data is kept out of nefarious hands.

After ensuring a casino’s safety, the next criteria to check is the selection of games that are available to players.

As the main feature of any casino site, the games offering must be nothing short of amazing. With so many different game variants and software providers out there, we want our readers to be sure that they’ll be enjoying the best of the best at our recommended casinos. A truly impressive game selection should incorporate the following:

 A Wide Variety of Games

When it comes to the games, a great selection is key. We always look out for a good mix of slots, table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker, live dealer and bingo/keno games. The three most important categories are slots, blackjack and roulette – based on global popularity of the gameplay styles. Which makes sense as they are both entertaining, challenging and potentially profitable in their own right. The best online casinos will have a large number and variety of these types.

We also like to see a wide range of variants of each game too. As we wouldn’t want to recommend something we haven’t tried for ourselves, our team also try out a few titles with real money.

Casino Game Options – Cards, Slots and More

After ensuring a casino’s safety, the next criteria to check is the selection of games that are available to players. The quantities of games can vary wildly from as low as 20-30 titles, up to over 1,500 different options on some websites. However, sheer numbers aren’t the only decider – to be one of the best online casinos an operator should also have cultivated a good variety of gameplay styles. Here an overview of all the game categories available online:

Due to the popularity of the three game categories in focus in the table above, please allow us to go a bit more in-depth, before we continue with the main criteria in our guide on how to find the top rated casinos.

The Most Popular Slots

Across the globe, the most popular online casino games are arguably slots. Now there are thousands of titles out there, all with new and unique themes and features. Dozens of software developers are releasing more on a regular basis, so the entertainment value continues to grow. The games are easy to understand and require very little input from the player but offer the sliver of potential for a big pay day for a lucky winner.

 Incredible Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots are a must for serious slots fans. These thrilling games often pay out the greatest winnings of all online casino games and will be featured in all good game catalogues.

The best online slots casinos are those that offer not only a massive number of the games, but also a wide selection from several software developers. This will provide the most variety in the themes and gameplay elements, as well as give you access to the progressive jackpots that flaunt their millionaire-making prizes.

 The Option to Play for Free

The option to play free games is always high on our list. Free games give you the chance to test new games, practice their strategy and simply have fun with no risk! We always try out a few different free games ourselves to again ensure quality and variety.

 Game Software from Top Developers

Contrary to popular belief, even the top online casinos generally do not produce their own gaming software. Instead, there are dozens of developers that create thousands of titles, which are then provided to the operators that pay to offer the games on their websites. Many, like Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n GO, NextGen and Playtech, have cultivated varied portfolios that cover many gameplay styles, while others choose to focus solely on developing unique slots, for example.

Each developer will have its own unique style of aesthetic and gameplay features, so the best gambling sites will gather titles from many providers. The biggest global operators often produce the highest quality of software as well, giving you a better gaming experience in terms of smooth graphics, quality soundtracks and generous payouts.

A Smooth In-browser Experience

For those preferring to play at the casino’s website via a web browser, high quality no-download software is essential, along with a quick and easy sign-up process. Again, we check that the website interface is easy to navigate and that everything runs smoothly.

Finding a good bonus takes more than just looking at the face value of an offer – you also have to take wagering requirements into account. This is a topic that is central in our casino reviews and is certainly well worth investigating closely.

Everyone loves a bonus offer to give that extra boost to their bankroll, and you’ll find them available at most online casinos. Our experts not only seek out the most impressive offers, but also take great care to ensure that they really are as beneficial as they sound. The best casinos will tick all of the following boxes:

 Welcome Bonus

A substantial welcome bonus should be expected from all top casinos. We search far and wide to find you the most generous casino bonuses on the web, and always advise checking out the bonus on offer when signing up. Whether it’s a deposit match, free spins, cash-back or no-deposit offer, a good bonus can make all the difference to your game.

Reasonable Terms & Conditions

For a bonus to be truly beneficial, it’s important that the terms and conditions aren’t too complex, and that there are no extremely high wagering requirements. As such, we always read through the fine print and highlight any potential complications with claiming a bonus to our readers.

 Offers for All

Promotions shouldn’t just be for new joiners. We are constantly keeping an eye on how frequently each casino offers new bonuses, gifts and freebies to their members.

 VIP & Loyalty Rewards

In addition to special promotions, top casinos will offer a well-structured loyalty scheme. This allows you to earn additional benefits from each bet you make. VIP perks may also be awarded to high roller players who wager a lot of money with the casino. We take a look at what’s offered with each tier of a casino’s loyalty program and assess whether the rewards really make it worth your while.

Bonus Terms and Wagering Conditions to Watch For:
Regardless of the type of bonus being offered by any casino, keep in mind that giving things away for free, no strings attached, is rarely a good business model. In order for you to actually get your hands on the perks of a bonus, you must meet a set of wagering requirements as set out by the operator. Most importantly are the playthrough requirements, which set out the number of times you must wager a bonus amount before you will receive it. This must be completed within a certain period of time, and not all games will contribute to the requirement with equal weighting.

For a deposit bonus to be claimed, you will need to make a payment of the minimum amount required, which must also be processed using a valid payment method. Often, the use of eWallets and pre-paid cards will not be acceptable methods for claiming a bonus. There can also be restrictions on the value of the wagers you can place, as well as the types of wagers you can make. There are a lot of factors to consider here, so let us do the heavy lifting by following our recommendations for the top online casinos, which all offer fair conditions for their promotions. If you need help understanding the terms and conditions, each casino review we do contains a dedicated section explaining the fine print so you know exactly what you have to do to obtain your offer.

Making a deposit or withdrawal from a casino should be a simple task for the player.

It’s of course a no-brainer that security of funds and quick access to winnings are of great importance to all players. It’s important to take into account variables such as fees, transaction processing times and payment limits that are imposed, as these will all affect your experience.

Easy Deposit Process

As part of our review process, we’ll see how easy it is to sign up to the casinos ourselves and make a deposit. The things we look out for here include the number of payment methods available, the currencies accepted and whether there are any minimum or maximum limits.

 Security of Your Funds

We want to see that all payments are effected via trusted and secure means. This should involve encryption of personal data and no unnecessary details being shared with the casino. What’s more, to ensure that casinos are always able to make payouts when requested, we check that they segregate player funds from those used for general operations.

 Fast Withdrawals

When we’re ready to claim our winnings, we’ll make a withdrawal and again check that a good range of banking options and currencies are available. We’re also very interested to see how soon the funds reach our account.

Speedy Processing

In addition to smooth banking processes, we want to know that casinos themselves don’t take too long in processing players’ winnings for release. As such, when requesting a withdrawal, we like to see that they stay true to their word on processing times.

A Fair RTP

To be sure that a casino is offering its customers a decent payout rate, we check that the average RTP is high, and also check those of the individual games. All good casinos will have no problem displaying this information on their site.

In each casino review we write, we clearly highlight the payment methods accepted by the online casino.

The ability to ask for help from a business is always important, particularly when there are tricky terms and conditions or concerns with payments. The best online casino sites will offer many communication channels that are open all day, every day, with common options such as live chat, email, phone and contact forms.

No matter which site you play at, you’ll find that you may sometimes need a little help from customer support. We therefore ensure that each casino we recommend keeps the best interests of its customers at heart in the following ways:

 Data Protection

When disclosing personal information, you want reassurance that it will only be used for the purposes you intended. We only recommend casinos if we’re confident that they won’t pass on personal details to third parties without players’ permission. To be sure of this, we always take a thorough look through their privacy policies and encourage all players to do the same.

 Safety & Wellbeing

Customer safety should be a high priority for any reputable casino. We rate those offering features to monitor time/money spent gambling, to ensure that players aren’t taking the fun that bit too far. Of course, we always give these features a try for ourselves to properly test their effectiveness.

Customer support should be accessible 24/7 via a range of means. When reviewing a casino, we are looking for telephone, email and live chat support, and an extensive FAQ section on the casino’s website is always a big plus.

Replacing a home computer with a smartphone or tablet has become a common situation in a growing number of households worldwide. As the technology develops and the prices of the technology lowers, the penetration of smartphones expands further.

With a huge number of players now opting for mobile devices either instead of or in addition to desktop, it’s vital that casinos adapt to both. Our casino reviews particular focus on:

 Optimization for the Smaller Screen

We test the quality of instant-play casino websites on a range of smartphones and tablets via different browsers. We’re looking to see that the site runs smoothly and offers just as good an experience as on desktop, with a similar number of games available. We also look out for any additional bonuses and promotions exclusively available to mobile gamblers.

 Solid App Experience

Downloadable apps for mobile devices are also usually offered by top casinos, and we make sure to test every aspect of them just as thoroughly as we would on the casino’s main website. We take particular interest in aspects such as their speed, layout and game selection.

Gambling is a global industry, and when playing online, you’ll have access to a huge number of casinos from various countries. Having an understanding of what makes a great online casino on international standings will give you the ability to judge in general terms. However, there will always be market-specific information to take into consideration, which is why we have put together some country pages for you to get a more focused set of information.

For the best user experience, it is important that casinos are adapted for players from different locations and can offer them a tailored experience in their own language and currency. To get a true impression of how well each casino manages to do this, we’ve expanded our team over the years to cover a range of different countries and languages.