Casino Mag: How We Review Casinos

Casino Mag takes reviewing of casinos very seriously – which is why we employ our multi-step process to ensure our readers get the best value for their money while playing – never mind spending their money – at our recommended best casinos.

The 5-Star Rating – What Does it Mean?

Casino Mag rates online casinos out of 5 stars, with 1 star being the worst possible rating (avoid this one!) and 5 stars the best (play here!). Getting 5 stars requires a casino to go the extra mile, be it through game selection, superb customer support, excellent security and appropriate responsible gaming tools. 

The Games and Software

An online casino is nothing without the games it offers. This is why we go through its game offering and check:

1. How is the Game Variety?
2. Are Jackpots Available?
3. Play for Free?
4. Are the Game Developers Well Known?
5. How is the In-Browser Experience?
6. How is the Downloadable Software?

Bonuses and Promotions

This part is perhaps self-explanatory: what bonuses does the casino offer? These are rated by following these guidelines:

1. Welcome Bonus
2. Terms & Conditions?
3. Any Bonuses for Returning Players?
4. What About VIP and Loyalty Programmes?

Safety and Security

Players need to feel sure that they are in safe hands before they can start having fun at a casino. How does one check this? We follow this straightforward 5-step process: 

1. Licence from a Legitimate Regulator – does the casino’s licence come from the likes of the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority?
2. Independent Regulation – the casino needs to be regulated by a reputable independent authority such as eCOGRA in order to ensure the games are fair.
3. Site Encryption – does the site possess a valid SSL certificate?
4. Responsible Gaming (RG) Tools – does the casino offer RG tools to help players safeguard their play through reality checks, spending limits and gambling activity history?
5. Know Your Customer (KYC) Checks – does the casino help create an honest gaming environment by checking all customers are legitimate?

Deposits and Withdrawals

How easy is it for players to both deposit money and withdraw their winnings?  Are these processes properly encrypted? 

The Mobile Experience

More players are gambling exclusively on their smartphones, so we need to check how their sites run on a smaller screen and, if available, the app experience. 

Customer Support

Does the casino offer easy access for customer support? Are the answers the support agents offer up to scratch? In addition, we also check whether the casino offers appropriate data protection by going through its privacy policy.