How We Rate Online Casinos for Our Reviews

Our team here at SPCasinos.com takes their time to go through online casino sites, evaluating every detail and writing thorough reviews for you to enjoy.

On this webpage you will find us shedding light on how the behind the scenes process works, and what we take into consideration as we go through our assessment steps.

  • Aleksandra Nolan
  • Updated: 18.10.2023

  • Updated: 18.10.2023

    We Don' Sugar-Coat

    We Don’t Sugar-Coat it

    First and foremost, we want to let you know that we report everything a player must know before playing at an online casino – and this includes the good, the bad, and the ugly.

    We are casino enthusiasts ourselves and have played at many-a-casino. We know our way around big and lesser-known websites, we have learnt first-hand which licences to trust and which are fake, but most of all we have understood what a punter looks for in a casino and the sort of experience they hope to have.

    We like to report on everything we find. Be it positive or negative, a reader is entitled to know whether the provider they wanted to check out is any good or not. After all, we are all trying to have a fun time and line our pockets with some winnings.

    Review Criteria

    Criteria we Take Into Consideration

    When assessing an online casino, we go through a list of aspects we wish to analyse.

    These include:

    • The overall website safety
    • Whether the online casino is blacklisted or not
    • The safety of transactions
    • The variety of games
    • The quality of the game developers
    • The overall web design
    • The app or mobile optimisation
    • The online casino’s licence
    • The casino’s responsible gambling efforts
    • The RTP and RNG

    Each and every one of the points listed above are crucial to us: we want to experience a fun, safe environment where no shortcuts are taken.

    We will delve further into every aspect in detail down below so you can learn all that goes on behind-the-scenes at SPCasinos.com

    Transaction Security

    Secure Payment Methods and Transactions are Fundamental

    Speaking of safety, monetary transactions must be safe and secure. Nobody wants to lose their hard-earned money to some crook on the internet.

    We at SPCasinos make sure to evaluate the payment methods offered by the online casinos we are reviewing. What is of utmost importance to us is that whichever method is chosen by the player ensures maximum safety and protection.

    Certain providers pass further tests which award them with badges that certify their positive outcome.

    Secure payment methods at online casinos

    Casino Game Library

    We Check Game Libraries for Variety and Fun

    De gustibus non disputandum est: the Romans knew it well. Everyone has different tastes in music, food, books, clothing… and of course, games.

    One person may love jumping into a time machine and exploring Ancient Egypt, whilst others might prefer joining pirates on their quest to find a hidden treasure. Online casino games come in a rainbow of colours and styles, which is what we at SPCasinos like to see.

    Firstly, we assess the sort of games on offer. Do they encompass different game types? Is the casino only focused on one type? We like to see a good assortment of:

    • Table games
    • Slots
    • Live casino
    • Sportsbook

    After understanding the array of entertainment at hand, we look at whether the games are mono-themed or if they cater to different preferences. We like being able to try out newer games but also enjoy folding back on better-known titles such as Book of Dead or Bonanza.

    Our team is not a fan of obsolete games, and appreciate casinos that periodically refresh their collection with new names. Sounds must also coincide with the actions happening on screen, and the fluidity of motions is also assessed. We don’t let anything slip!

    Most importantly, we look into fairness of the games as mentioned in the paragraph above.

    888casino games

    Casino Bonuses

    Web design and Easy Navigation are a Plus

    Something we definitely consider when reviewing online casinos is whether their web design is newfangled and easy to explore.

    We don’t like having to go on a scavenger hunt every time we want to enjoy some slots, and neither do we want to lose precious time looking for information such as responsible gambling or whether a casino is properly licensed.

    In our books, a clean design is the best. We also appreciate rapid loading times, links that actually work and are not broken, images properly displaying, and an overarching theme.

    We Check Mobile Optimisation and Casino Apps

    All of the above are useless if lost when we use our smartphones.

    As more and more players take up playing on the go from their phones, online casinos must perform just as highly on mobile as they do from desktop.

    Another piece of our review puzzle is trying out providers from our phones, and we like to see websites properly adapting to a smaller screen.

    Since that is not always the case, extra brownie points are given to those operators that have an app we can download.

    With online casino apps we check whether the ease of use is just the same as the website (or better, or worse), and if the game library is just as packed. Moreover, we like to easily read text from our phone screens – so fonts and their size are just as important.

    Lastly, no bugs need to be loose and any fixes or patches are also checked.

    Mobile Gaming Casino

    Design and Optimisation

    Casino Licences

    We Only Accept Proper Licences

    All is lost if the online casino fails to showcase an official licence.

    One thing we absolutely do not compromise upon is the licensing: if an online casino is not accredited by a reputable jurisdiction with an official, legal licence then it’s game over. We won’t even consider continuing with our review.

    It is vital that casinos are regulated and overseen by a trustworthy body. We need to know that players are safely playing on websites that will not simply up and disappear with their money.

    Online casinos must be held accountable for any wrongdoings, and the only way for them to adhere to rules and regulations is that of being holders of a legal casino licence issued by an accredited commission.

    SPCasinos cross-references the licence numbers shown on the websites with the accrediting body for extra security.

    The Wellbeing of the Players is Most Important

    As you may have noticed, the concept of safeguarding the players is of utmost importance to us.

    This is why we at SPCasinos always thoroughly analyse the Responsible Gambling Programme an online casino offers.

    Gambling can be addictive, we are well aware of that. An online provider must offer a positive approach to gaming, and be ready to give a helping hand to those punters who are most in need.

    Online gamblign should be a fun, entertaining experience at all times – and if that were to dwindle, then a programme should be in place to help those in need.

    Customer Service and Responsible Gambling

    Customer Service Needs to be Top-Notch

    Just in case of dispute or for the sake of clearing up any doubts a player may have, customer service must be offered by an online casino.

    Our team reaches out to customer support through the different channels they might offer such as:

    • Live chat
    • Telephone line
    • E-mail

    Not only is the timing of the answers taken into consideration, we also observe the attitude and kindness (or lack thereof) of the agents.

    Aleksandra Nolan

    Experienced online casino writer and reviewer who loves to share her knowledge and experience with others. She enjoys analyzing the latest trends in the industry and offering valuable tips to help others by having the most from betting at online casinos. She is constantly looking for new and interesting topics to write about and stays up-to-date on the latest changes in the online gambling industry.