Independent Ratings and Reviews of Online Casinos

How We Rate and Test Online Casinos

We mentioned some of the criteria that affect our online casino comparisons above, but now we'll give you a detailed look at how each of those figure into an online casino's overall review.

1. Do a Safety and Background Check

We take safety and security very seriously on every online casino review. The process begins by researching a casino's certification, looking for trusted bodies like eCogra. It then moves on to looking at what gaming software it's built on. We focus on finding casinos using reliable software made by leading developers like Netent or Microgaming. Finally, our reviewers test that the site in question is fully protected with 128-bit SSL encrypted, the strongest type of protective measure. If all those security checks can be verified, we'll move on to reviewing the player experience at the casino.

2. Add Funds and Talk with Customer Support

During the casino ratings comparison, our experts take a good hard look at the deposit bonuses available at the casino, and the requirements of those bonuses. They then make a real money deposit that utilizes the bonus. Review scores depend heavily on how smooth the deposit process goes, so it's evaluated closely across several major payment methods like MasterCard, Neteller and PayPal. Once a member of the casino, our experts contact customer support and test each communication method available, checking the response times and gauging how helpful casinos are during this process. If support is quick to respond and helpful, they'll receive a good review.

3. Try the Games and Cash out

Once the deposits go through, our reviewers take the time to try out games offered on the site. They make sure to look at all the different game types, including live dealer games, video poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, slots, keno, faro and table games. Our reviewers also make use of Android and iOS smartphones and tablets to test out casino apps and mobile compatibility. Finally, after all the real money gambling games have been tested on computer, iPad, iPhone and Android, the remaining balance on the account is withdrawn to evaluate how hard or easy it is to cash out, and how fast the process is.

4. Add The Casino To The Shortlist

Once the team has tried everything out, they form opinions about various sites and features they've liked, or not liked. A group decision is made over whether a casino should be shortlisted, as well as where it should place in our casino comparison rankings. And for those sites that don't deliver? We have a blacklist guide for sites we think are the worst, and pose a risk to players. We only recommend those sites we're happy to send players to. The online casino reviews team regularly check in with the listed sites to make sure the information here is up to date and that the quality of the gaming experience is still excellent. Our top rated online casinos include 888 Casino, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Sky Vegas, Betway and others.

View our recommended casinos

Meet The Team

Our team of reviewers are experts in the industry and have a combined 30 years of experience as a group. From odds and strategy experts, to tech guru and statistics wizards, this team of people have all been part of the casino industry in one way or another. It takes a lot to put your trust in someone but with the combined knowledge and expertise of our team, it's hard to see why you wouldn't.

• David Sheldon

  Casino Reviewer

  David has been playing casino games for over 10 years. His speciality is blackjack and baccarat and, although he has never had the success that the MIT Blackjack team had, he does enjoy passing on his accumulated wisdom regarding strategy and odds. He now spends most of his time in online casinos, as he prefers to play games from the comfort of his home.

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• Katie Barlowe

  Casino Reviewer

  Katie is our resident slot machines guru. If you don't know what a payline, bonus game, free spin or a scatter symbol is - Katie is the girl to ask. She can often be found spinning the reels of her favorite games, testing out new machines, and keeping a close eye on the progressive jackpot meters.

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• Kevin Horridge

  Casino Reviewer

  Kevin has probably forgotten more about odds and statistics than many people ever know. He is always the man to ask about which game to play in a casino (and why). Kevin is also a history buff and can tell you all about the obscure origins of many of the games you can find in an online casino.

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• Samantha Beckett

  Casino Reviewer

  Samantha is our go to girl when we want to know what goes on behind the scenes in a casino. A self confessed tech geek, she can explain the inner workings of random number generators, as well as cast a critical eye on the software an online casino uses.

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• Mary Jackson

  Video Reviewer

  Mary found her calling when she discovered mobile casinos on her commute to work one day, 5 years later and now she's a professional online gambler. She swapped the long London commutes for the opportunity to work from home, still making the big bucks as well as being able to renovate her house. The master of multitasking, Mary's advice on mobile casinos and how to best take advantage of their perks & bonuses is second to none.

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• Dan Holley

  Video Reviewer

  Previously, Dan Holley moonlighted as a freelance writer for gambling publications in addition to his 9 to 5 office job. After years of writing about online gambling, Dan decided to try his hand at reviewing given that he knew the casino world inside out. Now he works full time reviewing casinos for our readers, whilst juggling the demand of family life, and has also been known to frequent brick-and-mortar casinos in order to brush up on his knowledge of real life game play.

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