How We Rate Online Casinos

Why Our Casino Reviews Matter

This is a methodology page, not a promotional pitch. It sets out the review methodology we apply to every brand. The aim is transparency and consistency, so readers know exactly why a site earned its score.

What players can expect:

• Independence from operators and sponsors.
• Clear criteria that apply to every review.
• Evidence-based judgments that support player safety.

Below are the pillars we assess for every brand.

1) Licensing and Legal Compliance

We verify that each casino holds a valid, current licence from a recognised regulator. Our checks cover the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and relevant Canadian frameworks such as AGCO/iGO for Ontario-facing sites. We confirm the licence status on the regulator’s public register and match corporate names, URLs, and reference numbers. If details do not match, we investigate further.

Casinos lose points for unclear ownership, expired permissions, or misleading licence claims. Operators on trusted industry blacklists or with proven illegal targeting of restricted regions receive the lowest possible score in this category. If a site is unlicensed or uses a licence in a way that appears deceptive, we mark it as Do Not Recommend regardless of other strengths.

2) Security and Fairness

Player safety starts with secure infrastructure. We test for TLS/SSL security protocols on all pages, HSTS, and secure cookie practices. We look for clear privacy notices, limited data retention, and responsible data storage. We note support for MFA/2FA where available.

Fairness is assessed through RNG fairness credentials and audit trails. We look for current certificates from labs such as eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, or QUINEL. We verify certificate links and dates. We also check whether the casino publishes RTP information, and whether live dealer products come from reputable studios with track records of integrity.

Responsible gambling is part of fairness. We check for self-exclusion, deposit limits, time-out tools, and visible links to provincial resources. Absence of these tools lowers the score.

3) Payments and Withdrawal Speed

We evaluate the range and reliability of payment options relevant to Canada. That includes Interac e‑Transfer/Online, major cards, e‑wallets, and bank transfer. Where supported and lawful, we note crypto availability, but it does not boost a score by itself.

We test deposits and withdrawals. We record time to cash-out, required KYC steps, and the clarity of payout messaging. We look for daily and monthly caps, manual flush options, and queue times. Casinos that pay out fast and consistently score higher. Casinos with repeated delays, vague communication, or shifting policies score lower.

4) Game Selection and Software Providers

Variety matters. We assess the breadth of game types: slots, table games, live dealer, and jackpots. We verify partnerships with established providers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, Playtech, Evolution, and others with proven quality and compliance records.

We check mobile optimisation and load stability on common devices. We also consider RTP disclosures, game filtering options, and whether the lobby helps players find content quickly. If a site offers only a narrow catalogue or relies on obscure studios with weak reputations, we reduce the score.

5) Bonuses and Wagering Terms

Headline amounts tell only part of the story. We examine effective value. That includes wagering requirements, max bet rules while wagering, game weighting, win caps, and expiry windows. Transparent, fair terms earn higher marks. Complex or hidden clauses reduce scores.

Our review of bonus value focuses on accessibility. Reasonable wagering (e.g., transparent 20x–35x on deposit bonus funds), clear contribution tables, and no retroactive rule changes are positives. We penalise predatory rules, unclear KYC gating of withdrawals, aggressive dormancy fees, and vague wording that allows discretionary confiscation.

6) Customer Support and Player Experience

We measure responsiveness by contacting support at different hours. Live chat under a few minutes and email replies within 24 hours meet our benchmark. We also test multilingual support where relevant in Canada.

User experience includes onboarding flow, clarity of account pages, and the transparency of KYC. We check whether the cashier explains limits and processing times before players deposit. We favour casinos that resolve simple issues without escalation and that explain policies in plain language.

7) Reputation and Player Feedback

We aggregate reputation checks from verified sources. That includes public complaint portals, recognised ADR bodies, and well-moderated community forums. We look at the number of issues, the severity, and the resolution rate. A pattern of unresolved withdrawal disputes or misleading advertising lowers the score. Documented, timely resolutions improve it.

We do not rely on unverified social posts or paid testimonials. Only sources with clear moderation and evidence are considered.

Scoring and Rating System

Our casino review process converts the checks above into a single 1–10 score. We use fixed weights site‑wide so readers can compare brands fairly. Each category gets a score from 1 to 10. The final rating is a weighted average, shown to one decimal place.

Category weights

Final rating = Σ(category score × category weight). We round to one decimal place. The scorecard shows the top three factors that most influenced the result for that casino. These are the largest positive or negative drivers in the audit, not simply the highest‑weighted categories. Example drivers: “Fast payouts,” “eCOGRA certified,” “High wagering on welcome bonus.”

Our Independence and Ethics

All reviews are independent. Paid partnerships do not influence our rankings or scores. We maintain an editorial firewall between commercial teams and reviewers. Editors assign and fact‑check each review. Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Affiliate disclosure: ReviewCasino.ca may receive a commission if readers sign up via our links. Commission does not change the rating, the position in our lists, or the language of our conclusions. Where an offer is sponsored, we mark it as such.

We commit to responsible gambling. We promote safer play, direct readers to official resources, and avoid language that frames gambling as a solution to personal or financial issues.

Continuous Updates and Data Verification

We re‑evaluate every listed casino on a rolling quarterly cycle, with ad‑hoc checks when a licence, banking policy, or terms change. We track versioned notes for each review: what changed, when, and why. If a serious issue emerges between review windows, we update the page without delay.

Data verification is part of our workflow. Licence numbers, audit certificates, payment time claims, and bonus terms are cross‑checked against primary sources. Screenshots, timestamps, and reviewer notes are stored for audit.

We value reader input. If something looks outdated, please report it via our contact form. We review all reports and update pages if evidence supports a change.

Last updated: November 7, 2025.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our rating pages are designed to be auditable and repeatable. The points below summarise the principles that keep our work independent, evidence‑based, and focused on player safety. The result is a set of fair casino reviews that readers can rely on.

• Expertise. Our team combines years of iGaming compliance, content, and expert product testing experience.
• Transparency. The same criteria apply to every review, and the weights are fixed site‑wide.
• Player safety first. No score can compensate for poor casino licensing or predatory terms.
• Independent reviewers. Editors verify facts and enforce conflict policies.
• Clear Canadian focus. We evaluate payment rails, support, and content that matter to players in Canada.