How We Rate Online Casinos

Bonuses & Promos

Easily one of the biggest factors that sway a new player to join a casino is its new player welcome bonus. We understand our readers are looking for high-value, easy-to-follow bonuses that don’t hide potential deal breakers in the terms and conditions.

With that said, we rate a casino bonus on factors such as the bonus value it offers, the extent of its playthrough requirements, which games can contribute towards the offer, and how long a player has to complete the offer before it expires. Of course, we weigh the pros and cons against each other when coming up with our rating; a high-value deposit match bonus has its value proposition lowered by 40x wagering requirements.

We also look at returning player bonuses such as reload bonuses other extras a player might receive for continued play at a casino.

Games Variety

A robust variety of games can set online casinos apart. Therefore, when rating the games catalog of a casino, we always look for a large collection with a good mix of games that will appeal to the broadest range of players.

When looking at slots, we aim to identify casinos with tons of variety, including classic slots, video slots, progressive slots, and even games like Slingo. We also like to see casinos lock in popular games by top slot providers such as NetEnt and IGT.

An online casino should also have a variety of table games, including casino staples such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps. The more variety in table games, the better. We also look for casinos that offer live dealer gaming action, as this online gaming is becoming increasingly popular each year.

Of course, if a casino has an exclusive games catalog, its game variety rating will be even higher.

Customer Support

Knowing a casino has a helpful customer support team gives players peace of mind whether they need to contact them or not.

When we rate the customer support available at a casino, we take a look at what methods of contact are available and if support is available 24/7 from these sources. In order for a casino to score well in this category, we typically want to see 24/7 live support through both phone and live chat communications, as well as a dedicated email address for queries.

However, many players like to troubleshoot information before asking for help from a human, so we also look out for a specific dedicated FAQ section. In this FAQ, we expect the casino to provide written assistance in all areas of the casino, such as games, banking, promotions, mobile apps, and other technical issues. The more in-depth the FAQ goes, the better.

We also appreciate a written section on responsible gambling and where to find help if it becomes a problem.

Mobile & Apps

When rating mobile apps, we want to find a smooth, feature-packed app that is lightweight and offers a huge collection of games similar to that of the desktop version of the casino. We also expect to see features such as banking and customer support built into modern casino apps.

Extra features like streaming live dealer games are always welcome and can tip the scales in favor of a particular app, especially if live dealer gaming is a player’s first choice for betting.

We also test both Android and iOS apps, as while most apps are similar in design, the responsiveness and functionality of each app can and does vary between the two operating systems.

Finally, while we do look into the average rating players leave the apps in their app stores, we take these reviews with a pinch of salt as players are more likely to rate after winning or losing.

Banking Options

While sometimes overlooked, a wide range of banking options available to players is something that every top online casino must provide. Having a fantastic games collection or a large deposit bonus doesn’t mean much if players can’t deposit funds or withdraw winnings in the first place!

When we rate the banking options offered by casinos, we are primarily looking for lots of options with low minimums and high maximums for both deposits and withdrawals. Many casinos provide instant deposits, but some casinos take longer than others to process withdrawals, so speed and efficiency are on our radar for a top rating.

At a minimum, we expect to see casinos offer a method of cash deposit, such as PayNearMe, as well as popular electronic methods, such as debit card and PayPal deposits. When it comes to withdrawals, we expect to see a number of different electronic options; casinos with a cash-at-the-cage option, Play+ cards, or fast delivery for mailed checks will get extra recognition.