How We Test Casinos

Every brand we review goes through the same pipeline before it appears on this site. We document each step so readers can verify our claims or repeat the test themselves.

Step 1 — Sign-up

We open a real account using a personal email and ID. We document: time-to-account-created, any verification steps the operator triggers at sign-up (most defer KYC to first withdrawal), and whether the welcome bonus is opt-in or auto-applied.

Step 2 — Deposit

We deposit at least once via two different methods (typically crypto and one local method — Interac eTransfer for Canada, PayID for Australia). We record: deposit confirmation time, fees, exchange rate spread for fiat-to-crypto, and whether the bonus credits correctly.

Step 3 — Play sessions

We run sessions on at least three game categories (slots, live casino, table games) and across at least three different software providers. The goal is not to win — it is to:

  • Verify advertised RTPs against actual play data (over enough hands to be meaningful)
  • Test mobile UX on iOS Safari and Android Chrome
  • Trigger any wagering-requirement edge cases (max bet rules, game contribution %)
  • Surface any session-time or deposit-limit prompts

Step 4 — Withdrawal

We request withdrawals through every payment method we have access to, of varying amounts (small to KYC-triggering). We record:

  • Time from withdrawal request to processed-by-operator
  • Time from processed to received in our wallet/account
  • Whether KYC verification is triggered, what documents are requested, and how long it takes
  • Any fees charged by the operator
  • Any second-tier verification or "call back" requests

Step 5 — Support testing

We test live chat and email support at least three times during the review period, at different hours. We measure: response time, accuracy of answers, willingness to escalate, and language quality (specifically: do agents speak fluent English with reasonable AU/CA cultural awareness).

Step 6 — Publish

Once the steps above are complete, we write the review. Every numeric claim ("crypto withdrawal averaged 4h 12m across five tests") is backed by raw data we retain for at least 12 months in case of a reader query.

Step 7 — Re-test

We re-test every brand at least every 90 days. If a bonus offer, payment method, or license status changes, we update the review and flag the change in the article's last-updated date.

What we don't do

  • We don't accept "press access" accounts or comped chips from operators
  • We don't outsource testing to overseas freelancers without verification
  • We don't republish other reviewers' numbers without independent testing
  • We don't pretend to have tested operators we have not

Verification

If you have reason to doubt a specific claim in a review, contact us — we will share the timestamped evidence (with personal details redacted). This applies for 12 months after publication.

Editorial firewall — agency vs editor

This site is operated by RedClaw, a performance marketing agency. That arrangement is disclosed up front in our footer, the about page, and our disclosure. The firewall between agency operations and editorial scoring is enforced by the following rules:

  • Score weighting is fixed. The methodology grid above (sign-up KYC tier, deposit confirmation latency, payout time, support response, post-publication re-test cadence) does not change based on which operator pays the highest commission. The weights were set before any commercial relationship and apply uniformly across reviewed brands.
  • Failed payout tests get published.If a brand fails Step 4 (withdrawal), the brand either (a) does not appear in “best of” lists and does not receive an affiliate placement, or (b) is reviewed with the failure documented (see our Ritzo Casino review for a 6.4 “Below average” verdict on a brand we have an affiliate relationship with).
  • Commission tier does not unlock score points.A €220 CPA operator and a €110 CPA operator are scored identically on identical performance. The agency's commercial team does not see scores before they are published.
  • The editor has unilateral takedown authority.If a previously-reviewed operator's terms degrade — wagering requirement increases, withdrawal cap drops, KYC tier worsens — the editor publishes the update without agency approval. Affiliate links are removed if the brand falls below the “recommendable” threshold, regardless of revenue impact.

We disclose RedClaw operation because the worst pattern in our industry is hidden ownership networks. We'd rather you know who runs the site and judge the editorial firewall by its receipts (every brand review names cons; the Ritzo review names the confiscation history) than wonder if there's something we're not telling you.