How we compare casinos
Picking an online casino platform is not complicated if you know what to look for. This page walks through the factors we assess, explains what actually matters in practice, and shows how our comparison cards are structured so you can use them effectively.
Start with the licence
Every operator we include holds a current UK Gambling Commission licence. That is not negotiable — it is the baseline. The UKGC requires licensed operators to meet specific standards around player protection, responsible gambling tools, and fair terms. An unlicensed operator has no such obligations and offers no meaningful consumer protection.
You can verify any operator's licence yourself using the UKGC public register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk. We recommend doing this before you register anywhere, regardless of what any comparison site says.
What the score represents
Our editorial scores (expressed as a decimal out of 10) are comparative rather than absolute. A score of 8.2 does not mean “excellent by some independent standard” — it means that operator performed well relative to others we assessed across the same set of criteria. A score of 7.4 still represents an operator that passed our inclusion criteria; it just does certain things less well than higher-scoring alternatives.
Scores are not customer satisfaction ratings, not regulatory quality grades, and not a forecast of your experience. They are editorial comparisons, formed by the same team using the same process for every operator.
The seven things we actually look at
Site usability
Can you find what you need? Navigation structure, account settings access, game search, and page load speed all factor in. An operator that makes it hard to set a deposit limit or close your account does not score well here.
Payment options
What can you actually deposit and withdraw with? We look at the range of methods (Visa, PayPal, Skrill, bank transfer, etc.), stated withdrawal times, and whether limits are reasonable for typical UK players.
Game range
We look at the depth and variety of the library — slots, live tables, lottery, and specialty content — not just the headline number. A library of 3,000 titles that are mostly duplicates from one provider is less useful than 800 titles from a well-curated mix.
Mobile experience
Whether via a dedicated app or mobile browser, we check if the core experience is functional on a phone. This includes game loading, account management, and deposit/withdrawal flows.
Responsible gambling tools
Are deposit limits, session timers, self-exclusion, and loss limits present and easy to find? Do they activate promptly? Operators that bury these tools or make them hard to use score poorly here, regardless of their other merits.
Terms transparency
Promotional terms should be visible before you opt in — not discoverable only after the fact. We check whether wagering requirements, game weighting, and expiry periods are written in plain language and positioned where a new player would actually read them.
UKGC licence verification
We check each operator against the UKGC public register. An operator not listed there does not appear on this site.
What you should still verify yourself
Our assessments reflect a point in time. Operator features, payment options, and terms change. Offers expire. New restrictions are introduced. Our comparison cards are a starting point — before you register, check the operator's own site for current terms, available payment methods, and active offer conditions.
We are not responsible for the accuracy of information on operator websites, and we cannot guarantee that any specific feature we describe at time of review is still present.
For the full detail on our assessment process and independence standards, see the Editorial Review Policy.