Pillar 1 — Licensing and safety (30%)
We verify the operating licence directly with the regulator’s public register — not the logo in a casino’s footer. Sites licensed by recognised authorities score highest; unverifiable or lapsed licences disqualify a brand outright.
We also check encryption, published RNG audits and how player funds are held.
Pillar 2 — Payout speed and reliability (25%)
A casino is only as good as its withdrawals. We time real cashouts across methods — e-wallets, cards and bank transfer — and record how often requests are delayed, reversed or buried under extra verification.
Consistent same-day or next-day payouts score highest. Hidden withdrawal limits and ‘pending periods’ longer than 48 hours cost points.
Pillar 3 — Bonus fairness (20%)
We read the full terms of every welcome offer: wagering requirements, game weightings, max-bet rules, expiry windows and withdrawal caps. A 35x wagered bonus with fair weightings beats a flashy headline with 60x and traps.
Offers are scored on the value a typical player realistically keeps, not the number in the banner.
Pillar 4 — Games and software (15%)
We catalogue the lobby: slot count, live dealer tables, RTP transparency and the studios behind the games. A wide library from audited providers scores better than a big number padded with unknown titles.
Pillar 5 — Support and usability (10%)
We contact support at off-peak hours with real questions, test the mobile experience, and score how easy it is to set deposit limits, self-exclude and find responsible play tools.
Re-checks and delisting
Scores are re-checked quarterly and whenever we receive credible player reports. A brand that fails a re-check is delisted and its review is updated to say why.