Safety and Trustworthiness
In the online gambling world, the safety and trustworthiness of a site come first. A trustworthy casino means that you can share your personal and banking information without the fear that it will leak or be shared with third parties. We want to ensure that you are playing at a regulated, trustworthy casino that follows all the rules to the letter, so the licensing and security of online casinos are our top priority.
Licence from a Reputable Licensing Body
The first thing we check when rating a casino is the licencing. Just like all other companies, casinos need to be registered in a particular jurisdiction to offer its services. Most countries have a gambling watchdog that sets the rules of the game. Casinos with operating licenses from reputable jurisdictions are trustworthy as they follow this strict gambling code.
Some of these reputable jurisdictions include Kahnawake, the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta e-gaming commission. There are also several second-tier reputable gambling jurisdictions, such as Sweden, Denmark and Curacao. We check the jurisdiction in which the casino is licensed, along with information about the registered company and office. Ideally, reputable sites provide this information on their websites so that their customers can verify or contact relevant bodies if they need to.
Regulated by an Independent Authority
An independent authority is an organisation that is not manipulated by a third party or government. It makes its decisions based on their set rules and regulations.
We rate casinos that are regulated by independent authorities highly. It is a statement that the casino indeed follows the highest standards in the industry and has not been favourably rated due to some business connections. An independent casino review team guarantees fair and unbiased assessment, so any gambling site regulated by an independent authority actually makes a statement that it has nothing to hide and takes pride in its services.
SSL Encryption
An SSL certificate encrypts communications between the user device and the website. This prevents hackers from tapping into the information in transit and using it for malicious purposes. Every trustworthy website should have a valid SSL certificate.
You can check if the site has a valid certificate by checking the lock symbol just before the URL in the address bar. You will get information on the insurer and the serial number of the certificate.
All our favourably rated casinos have a valid SSL certificate, so you can be sure that your information is safe.
Privacy Policies
The privacy policies detail how the casino will use your data. Your data may be stolen or sent to third parties by the online casino if the privacy policy is not robust enough. Our highly rated casinos have watertight privacy policies, few or no restrictive terms and no gaps in their data security plans. They also have no history of data leakage or claims of fraud filed against it.
Bonuses and Promotions
Most online casinos offer different bonuses and deals in order to attract more players. The number and type of promotions and bonuses on a casino are a significant factor we take into account when we rate online casinos. We check the potential win for each of the casino's bonuses, the terms of the offer, and any restrictions that the casino has placed on players. Let’s explore some of the main areas we check when rating casinos based on their bonuses and promotions.
Available Bonus Offers
We check the number of offers available in a casino. We expect a reputable casino to have several bonuses for new and available customers. Here are some of the popular casino bonuses:
Welcome Bonus
The welcome is a special offer for new customers at the casino that usually comes in the form of a cash bonus, free spins or a combination of the two. It is an opportunity for new players to test specific games and get acquainted with the casino. A good welcome bonus is extremely beneficial for those who want to try gambling at an online casino, so we check whether the casino offers an welcome package, what exactly it includes, and what games it can be used for.
Read MoreNo Deposit Bonus
With this bonus players can enjoy the casino without depositing any money. The no-deposit bonus is usually offered to new players to sample specific games. They can just sign in and play for free. There are also no-deposit bonuses for existing players - as parts of special promotions or for activities that do not require a deposit, such as welcoming friends and logging in daily. We confirm whether the casino offers this free bonus or not and under what conditions.
Read MoreFree Spins Bonus
A free spin is a round on a selected slot that you do not get charged for. While the bonus is usually offered for a specific game, you may have a choice of titles where you can use your free spins. Free spins can be part of any offer, including a no-deposit bonus, deposit bonus, or welcome bonus. When reviewing online casinos, we always look for free spins bonuses as they're extremely popular and appeal to a large number of players.
Read MoreMatched Deposit Bonus
This is an offer where the casino gives a bonus based on the amount you deposit. The bonus is a percentage of the amount deposited - usually 100% , but it can be 50%, 200%, or any other percentage. The higher the percentage, the better. Matched deposit bonuses may be offered as reload bonuses or special promotions or may be part of the welcome bonus. We check whether the casino offers this lucrative bonus and at what percentage they match the deposit.
Read MoreCashback Bonus
With the cashback bonus, the casino returns a percentage of a lost stake in terms of cash or a free bet. Cashback bonuses are common with the VIP club, although they can be offered as other deals too. The availability of a cashback bonus means that the risk for your money is much smaller, so casinos that offer this type of bonus rank higher on our lists.
Read MoreLoyalty Bonus
Loyalty bonuses reward players who have been consistent on the platform. In most cases, players earn a point each time they play with a specified amount - the comp points can then be converted into real money or bonus cash to wager on games. In other cases, the casino sets a threshold that the players have to meet in deposits to get at a given level of the VIP program. There are bonuses for each level of the programme. This is a great bonus so we always check whether casinos have it or not.
Read MoreBonus Terms & Conditions
Bonuses come with various terms that you should meet to be allowed to withdraw the winnings. These terms and conditions may include:
Withdrawal Process
Good real-money casinos have a smooth withdrawal process. We check the withdrawal conditions the casino has set for customers to make withdrawals. Some casinos may ask players to verify their name and location. Others may restrict withdrawals to specific methods or the ones the player used for deposits.
Then we look at the withdrawal limits - the amount you can withdraw at a given time. The limits are usually daily, weekly and monthly. A low withdrawal limit means that your big winnings will take a long time to reach your wallet, which can be a disservice in case you win a jackpot. We check this when evaluating the withdrawal process.
Finally, we consider cash-out times - the duration it takes to have your money. We recommend casinos with shorter withdrawal times. Our team evaluates the wait periods for each category of payment method, whether cryptocurrencies, bank transfers, e-wallets, cards or individual providers, to make an accurate recommendation.
Games Diversity and Quality
The type and quality of casino games offered by an online platform are of uttermost importance for a superb online gambling experience, so we only recommend casinos that offer a wide variety of games of high quality. There are several game categories and tons of game developers. When we review online casinos, we consider their game selection and the software providers they work with. We check several aspects of the games and the reputation of the game developers, as explained below.
The Variety of Games
An ideal casino is one that offers a wide variety of games to its players, so every gaming style and preference is catered to. When looking at the available games in an online casino, we consider popular categories such as slot games, table games, live casino games and poker. We check of the casino offers free demo games as well. Needless to say, our top rated casinos offer not only a great game selection, but also very high quality games.
In each category, we check the number of titles and their variety. A casino that works with several software providers is able to provide a greater number of titles so that players can easily find their favourite online casino games, have fun and enhance their winning potential.
For example, in the slots, we would check for subcategories like classics, jackpots and video slots. On the live casino, we would check for the variety of blackjack, roulette, game shows and poker titles.
The Game Software Developers
We also check the number of software providers that work with a given casino. The higher the number of game developers, the more likely it is that the casino is offering a diverse number of titles. This gives players the advantages discussed above.
Besides, a high number of software providers open up the casino to more bonuses, tournaments and network-based features such as jackpot titles. We check if the casino works with reputable companies and the quality of games for each provider. Ideally, the casino should have a mix of renowned brands and upcoming industry disruptors so that there are diverse games.
Progressive Jackpot Availability
We check to see if there is a progressive jackpot section and the number of titles available. Progressive jackpots are titles where the cash prize is pooled from all the casinos that feature the said title. It keeps increasing until there is a winner.
Progressive jackpots offer an opportunity to increase players' earnings and go home with life-changing amounts. We consider both high- and low-win progressive titles and make the appropriate recommendations to our customers. Casinos with several progressive titles rank highly in this section.
Free-to-Play Options
You can play your favourite casino games with real money or for free. Unfortunately, not all casinos have a free-to-play option. We look for specific casinos that offer free-to-play options across major categories. Ideally, these categories include slots, table games, provably fair games, poker, bingo and the lottery. Live casino tables are usually not available for free games, as the total win is based on the amount wagered by all the players. We recommend casinos with a free-to-play option and encourage our readers to try various titles there.
Live Casino
When gambling online, a live casino is what can make your experience feel real. The live casino is a table games and live show section of the online casino where human dealers deal games. Random number generator software runs the rest of the sections. It gives online players a chance to enjoy the feeling of a land casino from their devices. We check to see if the casino we are looking at has a live casino.
Our team explores the software providers who offer games in the section, along with the variety of games there. We recommend casinos with an extensive live casino section with diverse titles, several software providers and bonuses that can be used in the section.
Mobile Gambling
Over 60 percent of people game on their mobile devices. Therefore, every serious casino has a mobile casino. We want our readers to be able to enjoy casino games on the go, so we evaluate the mobile casino for each casino brand we pick.
Good online casino sites are optimised for use with small screens. It means that you will not need to zoom out or change the orientation of your mobile screen in order to enjoy games on your device. Besides, it is easy to click tabs and navigate from one page to the next.
We actually use the mobile platform to ascertain these features. Our team is also keen on the user experience, the number of games available on the mobile casino and if there are features that are available on the main casino that you would not enjoy on the mobile casino.
We also check if the casino has any apps. Apps enable you to play on the go on your mobile device without having to first search for the casino in the browser. Most casinos develop apps for Android and iOS operating systems. During evaluation, we check the user experience of each of the apps.
The availability of mobile bonuses - the offers that are only available to players who use mobile devices - is also important. Casinos offer these bonuses to encourage players to use their mobile devices for gaming. Any casino with a mobile bonus is a testament to its commitment to mobile gaming. It is also likely to offer quality user experiences on the mobile platform. This is the reason why we are always on the lookout for such offers.
Transactions and Money
The ease of transactions is a vital consideration for online gamblers. The best online casinos allow players to deposit and withdraw cash quickly with low fees and few restrictions. So, when evaluating new casinos, we check on the following banking and money features:
Accepted Payment Methods
We determine the accepted payment methods at any given casino. Our team categorizes them accordingly into such classes as cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, bank transfers, etc. Where different methods are available in particular regions, we note that too. This is because such casinos offer regional solutions to their players for added convenience. A casino with a huge number of popular payment methods caters well to the transaction needs of its players.
Many players can use the methods they naturally use for their online shopping. Besides, the choice enables players to pick the provider that serves them best. We always recommend casinos with many and diverse payment methods to players, along with other features we have discussed in this section.
Processing Times
We also check the length of time it takes to get your cash after requesting a withdrawal. Different methods have varying processing times. Besides, some casinos have pending times that further lengthen the wait period. Other times, random verifications further delay withdrawals.
Our team checks both the pending times and processing periods for each category of payment providers. We provide the average wait time and recommend the best methods. From experience, reputable casinos offer the fastest withdrawals via cryptocurrencies, followed by e-wallets and then cards. The processing time rating also counts when comparing casinos against each other.
Processing Fees
Sometimes, the casino charges a commission for processing payments. This lowers your deposits and withdrawals. We check if the casino charges a commission for processing withdrawals and if the payment providers charge a processing fee. Where this is the case, we determine the amount. Casinos with low or no processing fees get a higher rating in this category.
Transaction Limits
A transaction limit is the amount beyond which you cannot deposit or withdraw. Casinos place transaction limits to protect customers from fraud or themselves from overdrawing in the case of withdrawals. We rate casinos as per their transaction limits and recommend those with higher limits. Where the payment providers set limits, we explore those with high ones for recommendation to our readers.
Security Levels
Your banking information is as important as your personal data. You should only play at a casino that adequately protects your banking data. We explore the security features that the casino has put in place to protect customer data as well as incidences of past fraud or data leakage. Our team looks for such features as an SSL certificate, an anti-fraud mechanism and the storage of banking data away from the rest of the casino data. We also check if the casino reviews its security features regularly and how it has handled past threats. Those with robust security tools and a solid past record get a high rating.
The RTP of the Casino
The RTP stands for return-to-player percentage. When rating casinos, we check the average RTP of the casino to determine what pay you can expect. Casinos with a high average RTP are likely to give higher payouts.
Customer Care
Effective customer service ensures that players get help as soon as they have a problem. It also enables the smooth operation of accounts, as the casino handles issues as soon as they occur.
We check how the casino handles and stores customer data. Our team researches possible loopholes where personal data may be lost or stolen in the customer support system and evaluates the risk to the casino’s players. Safety is of paramount importance, so we also check if the casinos have been accused of data-related issues in the past. Highly rated casinos have a strict data handling policy. They keep customer data secure and invest in tools to prevent unauthorised access.
We also check the methods that the casino has put in place and the length of time it takes to get help from customer service. Some of the popular methods we look at when making an evaluation include live chat, email, phone, social media accounts and the user community. Our rating takes into account the ease of access to customer care. Those that have speedy service across several methods get a higher rating in our review.
Ideally, customer support should provide answers to all customer needs and go out of their way to ensure that the customer is satisfied. We read customer feedback to determine if the solutions they get from customer service are efficient and workable. Our teams also seek to know how long it took to get the said solutions. Highly rated casinos offer speedy solutions and strive to solve each problem within a limited timeline.
Customer Experience
The customer experience depends on the overall service that a casino provides to its players. Here is what we check when exploring the customer experience:
Clear Rules and Transparent Policies
We check the terms and conditions page to determine what rules and policies the casino has put in place. Our team also points out the grey areas and policies that are not favourable to players during the evaluation. It also checks cases where the casino keeps changing the rules with a clear need. We use this report to rate the casino based on its policies. A highly rated casino has transparent policies that clearly define the obligations of each party. Its rules are also clear, neutral and in the best interest of the player.
User Interface
We analyze the casino's website and mobile platforms to determine the user experience. The website should have fast loading times, even with poor internet connectivity. It should also be easy to navigate without having to look at the site map or explore different links. We also check the mobile casino to determine if it is optimised for small screens. Where the casino has apps, we check if they are easy to install and to use and how functional they are.
Players' Reviews
It is very important for us what players have said about a casino. Players give insight into issues that are not laid bare when exploring different features of the casino. They can tell about things like the speed of payouts, the quality of games, the user experience and the efficiency of customer service. Our teams check customer reviews regularly and determine if the casino has acted on any complaints that customers bring against it. We also consider customer ratings when compiling our own ratings.
Periodical Updates of Casino Reviews
Finally, at Casino.Online, we stive to update our online casino reviews every six months or so. As the gaming market evolves, we expect the casino to adjust accordingly and improve the quality of their services. This is witnessed by changes in the casino site and its communications across the internet.
So, we check for new features such as new games or new bonuses added to the casino, additional customer services methods and improvements in both navigation and quality of customer support, etc. We also periodically check the state of a casino's security features and reevaluate the banking policy of the operator. Our casino review team also carefully analyses the impact of such changes on customer experience.
This way, we make sure we always provide our readers with up-to-date, helpful information about online casinos. Our expert, honest reviews can be trusted and used to find the best online casino for every player.