Independent Online Casino Reviews & Ratings

They too were once new and unreliable in the eyes of the average online casino player. This page shows you our full casino review collection, and as you can see, we've spent quite some time rating, checking and reviewing casino sites. Regardless of the size of the casino, and the brand exposure it has, we like to do our audits. After all, players like you will deposit real money, and nobody wants to get tricked or scammed. Fortunately, scams have been brought to the very minimum in the past couple of years, especially in UK online casinos. Needless to say, even then casino sites can differ a lot. Below, you can find the reviews of the best casinos online, and then, there's the full list of casinos, reviewed by our gaming experts.

Remember, once you make the first deposit, there's no going back. Read the casino review before you commit, if you want to avoid buyer's remorse or better said, players' remorse!

From the Welcome Bonus to VIP Rewards

New customers are considered a special player group, and they usually get more attention, especially in the early stage. The first deposit bonus is typically the selling point, the last push a player needs to sign up and make that first deposit. Welcome bonuses are just the tip of the iceberg, and the only thing all casinos show so proudly is the max bonus amount and the bonus percentage. However, these parameters are not the only ones that define the welcome bonus. That's why we go more in-depth and analyse the wagering requirements, maximum cashout limits (if there are any), the game contributions per game type, and so on. The full terms are dissected and evaluated in our casino reviews. We go that extra mile and benchmark the bonuses with what is considered the online gambling standard so you can make an informed decision. Finding a deposit bonus is easy, but finding a deposit bonus with favourable bonus terms, now that is much trickier.

Wagering Requirements Evaluated

One of the more mysterious aspects of casino bonuses are wagering requirements. Many new players find it challenging to understand them, but in reality, they are as simple as any other bonus term. To make them more simple, we usually compare the casino's wagering requirements with what their competitors are prepared to offer. As you will see, they can vary quite a lot, and if you make a decision based on the welcome bonus amount only, you will have a bad time. The bonus amount is just one side of the coin, and the wagering requirements are the other, and probably more important than how much you get in bonus money. Depending on the generosity of the online casino, you can expect wagering requirements in the range of 10 times the bonus amount, up to a staggering 100 times the bonus amount. Also, pay attention to the wording. Casino sites can require the bonus amount to be wagered only, but some online casinos ask for both deposit and bonus amount wagering.

Hidden Terms and the true meaning of the "Small Print"

Even in this age, some casino sites dare to trick players and hide important bonus terms that might change their mind. Usually, these terms include maximum cash out limits, or withdrawal limits, game contributions to wagering requirements, game restrictions, and how many days new players have to meet all terms, including the wagering ones. Also, in recent times, we've noticed that operators tend to be mysterious when it comes to the games that players can enjoy. For example, most jackpot games are not available to bonus players, unless specifically mentioned otherwise. On the other hand, games like video poker, roulette or Blackjack may contribute only a percentage of the bet amount to the playthrough requirements. This needs to be made clear!

Real Money Casino Players VS. Casino Bonus Hunters

Let's face it, we all love casino bonuses, so much so that there is a unique player base called bonus hunters. This is, by all means, not a derogative term. Instead, it perfectly describes what these players are looking for. The "high" they get from getting a welcome bonus, boasting the "new player" tag, and getting more generous than the usual bonuses, is not easily matched by free spins or bonus money that is available to existing players, offered as reload bonuses or weekly promotions. New players eventually learn that playing with bonus money reduces their chances of winning, but gives them more playtime. It's up to you! Do you want to play longer, or you'd rather avoid going through the bonus terms and play with real money only?

Which Casino Sites Can be Trusted? - Check a Casino Review Before You Register

Much like quality online casino bonuses, finding an online casino that can meet all players' needs in full is not that easy. Furthermore, no two players are alike, and they have different preferences to games, access to payment methods, different criteria for bonuses and promotions, and last but not least, the customer service can vary quite a lot. If you were to test all of these yourself, it would take you at least two weeks before you get all the information and make a well-informed decision.

Basic & Fundamental Security Systems

When we say basic or fundamental, we mean the essentials like the licenses the online casino has, and the website security systems, like SSL certificate, a Privacy Policy and clearly displayed Terms and Conditions, that make it clear who owns the casino, where it's based and under which jurisdiction's laws it's operated. Failure to meet these is a sign of potential problems down the road. If the casino cannot provide information regarding the license, license number and name of the license holder, we recommend keeping away from it. This is what online casino reviews are for!

Certificates, Accreditations and Independent Audits

Fortunately, the online gambling community is quite agile, and it quickly deals with scammers and operators that once in a while act maliciously, or fail to meet the laws of the respective jurisdiction. However, certificates and independent audits are a stepping stone for new online casinos to get exposure and attract new players. One of the leading online gaming auditors, eCOGRA, has done so much for the industry, that some players are making decisions based on whether the online casino has been audited by eCOGRA or not.

Getting the popular vote or winning an EGR is also very important, especially among well-established casinos. There's a point when basic security features do not add more value. From this point on, it's all about the community and EGR awards. An award-winning online casino is always a safe and easy choice to make. That casino not only managed to deliver service better than its competitors, but it also managed to get the sympathy of online gambling experts with years of experience and clear understanding of the industry.

Funds Protection - a feature of Industry-leading Casino Sites

Some UK online casinos come with added security that protects the players' funds even in the event of insolvency or going bankrupt. However, this is not available with most UK online casinos. There are three levels of funds security.

• No Protection- Players' funds are considered part of the company, and will be used to clear off any debt the company has towards creditors or entities that have carried legal procedures.
• Medium Protection - Some measures have been taken (e.g. Insurance) to pay off players even if the company, the casino operator, goes bankrupt.
• High Protection- Players' funds are kept entirely separate from the operator's accounts. This money is in control of an external auditor.

This is a thing at UKGC licensed online casinos only. We hope that it will become a thing at MGA casinos as well. This is a step in the right direction!

Responsible Gambling is Vital!

Although many of you might not agree, responsible gambling and the promotion of responsible gambling is essential for the industry. Fortunately, organisations like GamCare and GambleAware are doing the right thing, providing help where help is needed, and assisting operators in dealing with troubled casino players. Seeing that BeGambleAware logo has become synonymous with safe and reliable online gambling, mainly because of the nature of online casinos, and the efforts operators are making to maintain a good reputation, online casinos have become safer than brick-and-mortar casinos.

Payment Options & Withdrawal Policy

To buy-in, or start playing with real money, you will eventually have to make a deposit. To do so, you will need access to the likes of VISA, MasterCard or the increasingly popular Skrill and NETeller. Nevertheless, PayPal is the absolute player favourite, and it plays a vital role in the industry, helping online casinos to stand out from the competition, and players can make deposits and fast payouts, all thanks to the market leader PayPal. We like to examine the min deposit limits per payment method, the weekly, monthly or even the daily withdrawal limits, all with one purpose, to expose any predatory/rogue terms that might harm your gaming experience.

Moreover, if you want to play with bonus funds, we will find e-wallet alternatives for you, because UK casinos in specific, do not allow bonus players to deposit with NETeller or Skrill, and in some cases, this includes Paysafecard and PayPal. Do not worry, because even if the casino doesn't show the full terms, we do!

E-wallets for Fast Payouts

It's your money, and you should be allowed to withdraw your winnings as soon as possible. Due to their nature, e-wallets enable players to withdraw quickly and efficiently. Although sometimes the fees can be considerable, e-Wallets are still the go-to payment options for real money casino players. We already mentioned a few, but there are way more. Depending on your location, you might be familiar with EcoPayz, Qiwi E-wallet, or maybe, you're based in a country where online banking is more popular. We have them covered as well!

Alternative Payment Methods by Market

Some markets are not as liberal despite being unregulated. If you happen to be based in a region where gambling is frowned upon, you might want to check out the likes of Neosurf, Jeton, Paysafecard and Bitcoin. They not only offer complete online anonymity, but they also add another layer of security, that removes the problems with credit cards, such as fraud and identity theft. Then again, you will have to withdraw down the road, so you better look for accepted withdrawal methods!

Regardless of the amount you deposit, it can be a minimum deposit of $/£10 or maybe you like to double down and go for the high roller bonus; the operator has to uphold to the Terms and Conditions. Probably the worst thing an online casino can do is mandate a high minimum withdrawal limit. Money that is below this threshold is in limbo, stuck at the casino, and you can't withdraw it. You have to either lose it all, or play to win, and then withdraw, once you go above the minimum withdrawal threshold.

Quality of Casino Games - Software Providers and User- Interface

Whether you show interest in online slots only, or you like to test your blackjack experience or take the roulette wheel for a spin, you should know what you're getting yourself into. Personally, we hate casinos that do not show the full game library to unregistered players. Nowadays, the majority of online casinos offer instant-play games only, which makes online gaming experience more convenient.

In our online casino reviews, we pay great attention to how the games are made available. Sure, almost all of them are instant-play, but what you have to do to get to them is also essential, especially if you like to play on mobile.

Top-rated Casino Game Studios that Lead the Pack

A few software providers stand out from the rest, setting the industry trends, what will be popular and in what way. Netent, alongside Microgaming and Playtech, have de facto become the market leaders. However, Play'n Go, and Evolution Gaming are also essential for any casino's success. Most of these online casino studios are available at the majority of casino sites. Not so long ago, Novomatic was also rather popular, with its Book of Ra slot at the forefront. Now, Play'n Go's Book of Ra has completely taken over. It has cast a shadow over Netent's leading slot Starburst as well! Starburst was once considered undisputed, but things have changed! This is healthy for the online gaming industry. Hopefully, we will see even fiercer competition, which will result in more entertaining and more rewarding online slots.

Game Filters and Game Selection Examined

A usually overlooked aspect in many online casino reviews are the game filters. When we say game filters, we don't mean game types, but filters, that enable players to view the games based on their theme, their bonus features, the bonus elements such as Wild symbols, multipliers, and so on. There are times when players want to make a step beyond what they've played to that point. An excellent direction to make that step is the game filters section. Nevertheless, most casino sites do not offer such filters, not beyond a search box, game types bar and at best a "New" and "Popular" tabs.

What constitutes a good selection of games? It's a question that nobody can answer because different players have different preferences. In general, quantity breeds quality, which is why we praise casinos like Casumo, Bet-at-home, Betway, Videoslots and LeoVegas, for instance. They offer games produced by those mentioned above, but they also cater to fans of NextGen Gaming, Betsoft, Barcrest, Thunderkick and many more.

Instant-Play VS. Download Online Casino Games

Download online casinos are a thing of the past. Nowadays, most new online casinos offer instant play games only. Although download casinos have their advantages, when compared with the instant play ones, they end up being the worse option, which is why they have been almost completely removed. Only a few online casinos require players to download the not so user-friendly clients before they can start playing their games. To be sure that you're going for the real deal, check back to our online casino review.

What Makes a Good Mobile Casino?

Both online slots and table games must be well represented even on mobile. A couple of years ago, mobile casino games were a problem, sort of, because there weren't enough mobile-friendly games. Today, games are first designed to look good on mobile, and then they get their desktop counterpart. How can you know which casino has a decent mobile game offer? A casino review is a good start, but it's always best if you visit the casino yourself first. Some casino sites have IP filters, meaning players from different regions see different games. Now, we usually do our reviews from a UK casino player point of view, and when applicable, we do it from Australia and Canada as well.

Mobile-friendly Features and Navigation

Offering high-quality games is a great start, but mobile casino apps must bring some added value to the player. Otherwise, they will not enjoy gambling on the "small screen". Convenient filters, easily accessible main menu, refined mobile game offer, access to customer support and live casino games are also on the menu whenever we conduct a casino review. The only way to be sure that everything is in good order is to do just that, check everything! However, since you don't have all the time in the world, an in-depth casino review is the shortcut you want to take!

Instant-play Online Slots Available on the Go

Native iOS and Android apps are quite popular, especially in the United Kingdom. However, they are not detrimental. Mobile web apps are enough to enable any mobile casino player to enjoy any online casino game. Moreover, we think that it's crucial to keep mobile players aware of any bonus codes that might be available to them as new customers. Some casino sites fail gravely in this regard. If you play a lot on mobile, we recommend downloading the app from the respective app store, be that iOS App Store, or Google's Play Store.

Live Casino Games

Live casino games are pretty well-consolidated. Both the players and we know very well where what software provider supplies the best live dealer casino games. It is none other than Evolution Gaming. It's been the award-winning studio in the live casino department for years now. Another provider you should keep an eye on is Pragmatic Play. It has recently joined the live casino scene, and it's looking promising. Netent Live is also a worthy competitor, but they do not provide a full range of live dealer games. Instead, they focus on roulette and Blackjack only.

Desktop and Mobile - Instantly Available Live Dealer Games

Accessing a live dealer stream is as easy as starting an online slot game. Live dealer casino games are available 24/7 and on all continents. No matter where you are, you can play versus a live dealer, in a land-based casino like setting. The best part, you do not have to download any software to get started. All you need is a player account and a device that is compatible with any browser, desktop or mobile; it doesn't matter.

More Convenient than Land-based Casinos

The majority of casino players enjoys table games online. This is a fact, and there are excellent reasons why online table games have prevailed. For starters, they offer convenience, which cannot be matched by any land-based casino. Well-known casino sites that have become sort of household brands have gone the extra mile to deliver exclusive live dealer table games, with their very own live casino promotions. In practice, this makes them equal or even better than online casinos. On top of this, we are perfectly aware that there are live casino players that are into bonuses. Unsurprisingly, if you happen to be interested in a welcome bonus for live casino games, we have that covered as well!

Table Limits, Stream Quality

Although we hate it, we have to be frank with you, 90% of the live casinos online are identical. The only differences that we can point out are access to live casino promotions, exclusive live table games and tournaments, which have become extremely rare nowadays. Both Playtech and Evolution Gaming offer HD streams. 

Customer Support - May You Never Need Assistance

Whether you're experiencing problems with the welcome bonus, technical difficulties, or you need extra information regarding the payment methods, casino sites offer customer support, which you should reach out for whenever required. The quality of customer support is of the utmost importance. Your money is on the line, and you do not want to be in an unenviable situation, with your money in jeopardy. Our online casino reviews give you a detailed overview of the type of communication channels that are open to you, but we also cover the working hours of the casino sites' customer service department open hours.

Live Chat Test of Response Time

If available, we always do a live chat test. This allows us to examine how skilled are the customer support agents, are they knowledgeable of the product they offer, and most importantly, how long it takes them to get back to us. A simple test of this kind says a lot about the casino's capabilities. However, we consider the size of the casino, and also, whether it's a new casino or a well-established online casino that's been online for years. Sometimes, there is no need for live support 24/7, and we make it clear when that's the case. Nevertheless, casino sites that target players from all around the world have to provide live assistance round the clock. This is not negotiable.

In our experience, some casino sites do not put all contact details on display. Fortunately for you, we like to dig deep and make our online casino reviews as in-depth as possible, providing you with the phone number, the email address and the working hours in general.

Online Gambling Made Safe and Reliable

Whether you're looking for bonus codes or you'd like an unbiased view on a particular casino, you're in the right place, that's for sure. A casino review should give you all the information you need to get familiar with the casino's product, with the service they provide and what you're going to miss out by joining a specific online casino. Why? Because no casino can have it all. Some casino will offer wager-free spins, whereas another one might have a more generous welcome bonus with favourable bonus terms. A no deposit bonus is not necessarily better than a deposit bonus, despite being free. We recommend joining an online casino that's best for your region in specific. This way, you guarantee access to prompt customer service, variety of payment options that are available to you, and games that designed with your people's preferences in mind.

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