How We Rate
At Online-Casinos.com, we take our casino reviews very seriously, providing our readers with highly credible casino information that’s unrivaled on detail. To ensure we only recommend sites of the highest quality, we’ve developed a comprehensive set of criteria that casinos must meet. Here is how we put each casino to the test.
Security and Trust
We kick off the process by assessing a casino’s security and trustworthiness. We understan how important it is to you that your funds and personal data are always in safe hands.
License from a Legitimate Body
When looking for a new online casino to play at, secure is of paramount importance. That’s why you should look for sites that are legal and regulated in your jurisdiction, as well as carry licenses from globally recognised and trusted bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.
Independently Regulated
Licensed and legal sites undergo regular audits from external organisations tasked with ensuring that everything is safe and fair, such as checking that random number generators (RNGs) are used for all non-live games. The seal of a trusted third-party audit organization is the best way to know a casino site can be trusted.
Valid SSL Encryption
The third and final main security factor in our online casino rating process is technical security. This involves secure socket layer (SSL) technology that is used to encrypt all personal information to ensure everything is kept safe and secure. This ensure your personal and banking details are secure.
Games and Software
As the main feature of any casino site, the games offering must be nothing short of amazing. With so many different game variants and software providers out there, we want our readers to be sure that they’ll be enjoying the best of the best at our recommended casinos. A truly impressive game selection should incorporate the following.
Games Variety
Our casino ranking process is clear. A good casino should offer a diverse portfolio of high quality games. While slots are the most common game type at online casino sites, this should only be the start of the list. We look for an array of table games and live dealer titles as well as bingo, scratchcards, keno, and more.
Jackpots and Features
Jackpot games are a big boost for a casino, with huge prizes available for lucky players who land the grand prize from selected slots or table games. Another tick on our online casino checklist comes for sites that provide variety in features, this could include free spins and cascading reels for slots, and side bets and unique variants for table games.
Quality Software
A broad portfolio of games is all well and good, but they need to be high quality too. That’s why we look out for big name developers like Microgaming, NetEnt, Yggdrasil, and Evolution Gaming, ensuring the titles being offered are guaranteed to provide excellent entertainment for players.
Bonuses and Promotions
Everyone loves a bonus offer to give that extra boost to their bankroll, and you’ll find them available at most online casinos. Our experts not only seek out the most impressive offers, but also take great care to ensure that they really are as beneficial as they sound. The best casinos will tick all of the following boxes.
Welcome Bonus
The welcome offer isn’t only the first bonus you’ll find at an online casino site, it’s also usually the biggest. We like to see a strong deposit match offer, decent number of spins on excellent slots, or a combination of the two. The sites we recommend really know how to make you feel welcome.
Terms & Conditions
We will pick through all the terms and conditions to ensure that any bonuses we recommend are fair on the player. Terms to look out for include wagering requirements, meaning you have to bet a certain amount before you can claim bonus winnings. Other potential terms are game validity, game weighting, ineligible payment methods, and time limits.
VIP & Loyalty Rewards
Welcome bonuses aren’t all that’s on offer at the best online casinos. Top sites will offer a range of ongoing promotions including free spins, deposit matches, and tournaments that can offer various prizes. Also look out for VIP or loyalty programs that offer special perks for frequent players. We seek out the very best promos as part of our online casino rating process.
Fast & Secure Payment Options
It’s of course a no-brainer that security of funds and quick access to winnings are of great importance to all players. We go through the whole process of depositing and withdrawing funds ourselves in order to give you a true impression of what to expect, and rate casinos’ performance in the following.
Easy Deposit
The vital aspects of deposits at the top online casino sites are security, first and foremost, and then the speed of the deposit, the minimum and maximum limits, and what methods are eligible for the welcome bonus and other promotions the site has to offer to players. The sites we rate highest score high across the board.
Fast Withdrawals
Withdrawing funds usually takes longer than depositing, as there are processes needed to ensure everything is above board. However, how much longer it takes can differ considerably between casinos. We recommend those sites with the fastest withdrawal times, preferably one day or less.
Security
If you’re depositing and playing with your own cash at an online casino site, you want to guarantee you’ll be protected. Trusted banking methods have security measures in place to protect you and your money. We will only rank sites that provide nothing but safe and reliable deposit and withdrawal options.
Support Channels for Customers
Our casino ranking process prioritises user experience and satisfaction. For that reason, a casino site needs to offer excellent customer service with multiple avenues of contact in order to rank highly. Additionally, we look for well trained and helpful support staff who respond quickly to queries and complaints.
Diverse Contact Channels
The more channels the better, but there are three main forms of customer service contact that we always look for. We like to see a live chat service, preferably 24/7 , as well as an email address and phone number for both local and international players.
Language Support
While great customer supports is hugely important, it’s limited in its usefulness if it’s only in one language. The presence of customer support services in multiple languages plays a big part in how we rate online casinos.
Quick Response Times
We look for around the clock fast response times and rapid complaint resolutions from the best online casino customer service. That’s why we hold 24/7 live chat in such high regard, but a quick answer vie email or phone will score highly, too.
Mobile Casino Platform
Most of our readers enjoy the freedom of gaming on the go, which is why we consider mobile compatibility to important factor in how we rate online casinos. A top-quality mobile app with an intuitive interface and all the perks of the desktop site – maybe even some extras – is the least we expect from a mobile casino.
Mobile Browser Access
While an excellent mobile app is a big plus for an online gambling site, it shouldn’t be the only way to play at an online casino from your smartphone or tablet. The best sites can be accessed using the browser of your device. While some features from apps are not available via browsers, players can enjoy touchscreen controls, and top games and bonuses without having to fill space on their mobile device.
Dedicated Casino App
As mentioned above, a dedicated casino app is not a must for playing on the move, but it does offer several advantages compared to browser play. The interface is designed to fit smaller screens, some bonuses are exclusively available for mobile customers, and push notifications can keep you up to date with the latest promotions and games.
Android and iOS Performance
While some casino apps are available on lesser used operating systems, we look especially for compatibility with Android and iOS devices. To pass our online casino testing process, a casino app should provide excellent gaming options and simple access for players using both these operating systems.
Localization
It’s a modern world and it feels smaller than ever thanks to increased connectivity. As a result, many online casino sites cater to players all around the globe. Due to changes in regulation and software from country to country, a casino’s output can very. That’s why you may see fluctuations in our reviews, as we test suitability on all markets a casino offers its services in.
Compliance with Local Regulations
In order to provide services in a country, a site must follow all the laws and licensing regulations of that specific jurisdiction. We take the time to make sure every law is followed as part of our online casino ranking process.
Language and Currency Support
The review process of Online-Casinos.com favours accessibility, and that’s why extra points are given if an online casino is not only available in various countries, but also in a range of languages and providing an array of currency options. As far as we are concerned, the more people a site makes the effort to cater to, the better.
Responsible Gambling Support
Under all regulations, online casinos have an obligation to provide responsible gambling support for players. This includes tools such as self-exclusion and deposit limits, as well as providing the phone lines and details for your local helplines.
Dangerous sites
We only recommend sites that have passed the needed checks – the rest are removed from our platform. If a site does not tick all the boxes laid out in our online casino testing process, it will find itself on our blacklist. Blacklisted casinos are those that we do not recommend due to unsafe practices of a lack of necessary services. Here are some of the ways an operator can fail the review process of Online-Casinos.com:
There are currently over 90 casinos on our blacklist, which we are constantly updating with further rogue sites to be avoided.
We understand how important it is to our readers that the casinos we recommend offer a secure and enjoyable gambling experience. As such, each casino on our blacklist has been thoroughly investigated by our team of experts, who warn against sites where you may be subjected to:
- Lack of appropriate license(s)
- No data protection
- Lack of responsible gambling tools
- Untrustworthy payment methods
- Too many customer complaints
We are always open to the help of our readers when it comes to flagging dangerous sites. If you have any concerns about an online casino, feel free to speak with us via our contact form.