CasinoRate’s methodology: how we rate
Understand the CasinoRate Score™ system, our 7 criteria (including Responsible Gambling), and how weighting works.
- Score: 0–10
- Criteria: 7
- Model: weighted
- Updated: monthly
CasinoRate Score™ system
The CasinoRate Score™ is a 0–10 rating that represents an online casino’s performance across seven main areas of evaluation. Each criterion is scored on a 0–10 scale, and then they are combined with a weighted model to form the final score.
What the score represents
- Trustworthiness: licensing, ownership, compliance signals, and fairness controls
- Player experience: usability, stability, support quality, and game offering
- Financial performance: payment methods, fees, and payout processing reliability
- Player protection: responsible gambling tools and safety standards
How the final score is calculated
Each criterion receives an internal score from 0 to 10. We then apply weighting to reflect real player impact, and we compute a final CasinoRate Score™ (0–10).
CasinoRate Score™ =
(Trust & Fairness × 0.20) +
(Payments & Payouts × 0.15) +
(Responsible Gambling × 0.15) +
(Bonuses & Withdrawals × 0.15) +
(Game Selection & Providers × 0.15) +
(Ease of Use (UX / Platform) × 0.10) +
(Customer Support × 0.10)The 7 CasinoRate Score™ criteria
We review each casino across the same seven criteria to ensure comparability across countries, categories, and review pages. This methodology is standardized across CasinoRate.
1) Trust & Fairness
- Licensing and regulatory status
- Ownership transparency and operator reputation
- Compliance signals and policy clarity
- Fairness measures (where verifiable), dispute handling signals
2) Customer Support
- Support availability (hours, channels)
- Response quality and helpfulness
- Dispute escalation pathways (where applicable)
- Language coverage (when relevant to the country page)
3) Game Selection & Providers
- Game variety and depth (slots, live, table, etc.)
- Software providers and content quality
- Transparency signals (game rules, RTP disclosures where available)
- Stability and performance of game delivery
4) Bonuses & Withdrawals
- Bonus clarity and fairness (wagering, max cashout, exclusions)
- Terms transparency and accessibility
- Withdrawal conditions tied to promotions (where applicable)
- Common friction points (verification, restrictions, delays) when verifiable
5) Ease of Use (UX / Platform)
- Mobile usability and navigation clarity
- Page speed, stability, and reliability
- Account flows (registration, verification, cashier UX)
- Accessibility and design consistency signals
6) Payments & Payouts
- Supported deposit/withdrawal methods
- Fees and processing ranges (when disclosed)
- Typical payout speed and reliability signals
- Currency coverage (including crypto options when relevant)
7) Responsible Gambling (NEW)
Player protection is a core trust pillar. We assess the presence and quality of responsible gambling safeguards.
- Self-exclusion and cooling-off tools
- Deposit/loss/time limits and reality checks
- Age gate signals and identity verification posture
- Responsible gambling policy visibility and support links
- Risk prevention measures and ethical design signals
Weighting model
Weighting reflects how strongly each area impacts long-term player safety, trust, and overall experience. The total weight equals 100%.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Trust & Fairness | 20% |
| Payments & Payouts | 15% |
| Responsible Gambling | 15% |
| Bonuses & Withdrawals | 15% |
| Game Selection & Providers | 15% |
| Ease of Use (UX / Platform) | 10% |
| Customer Support | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Responsible gambling framework
Responsible gambling is evaluated as its own criterion and incorporated into the CasinoRate Score™. Our goal is to highlight operators that provide meaningful player protection tools and clear responsible play standards.
What we look for
- Controls: self-exclusion, cool-off periods, reality checks, time/session tools
- Limits: deposit, loss, and wagering limits
- Safety signals: age checks, identity verification posture, risk-prevention messaging
- Support access: visible responsible gambling policy and links to support resources
- Ethical UX: clear terms, no misleading bonus presentation, transparent restrictions
Note: Availability and compliance expectations vary by jurisdiction. We evaluate safeguards in the context of the casino’s target markets and the information the operator makes verifiable.
Score integrity
CasinoRate’s editorial and scoring process is designed to reduce bias and maintain consistency. No casino can purchase a higher score.
Editorial independence
- Standardized criteria applied consistently
- Clear separation between commercial and editorial operations
- Regular methodology updates to reflect player needs and market changes
Continuous updates
- Scores may change as casinos update products, payments, policies, or safeguards
- We review material changes when discovered or reported
- Country pages may incorporate geo-availability and market-specific constraints
Sponsored listings
Sponsored placements may appear on CasinoRate. Sponsored listings are clearly labeled. Sponsorship does not change the CasinoRate Score™ and does not influence our methodology.
- Sponsored listings are presented as advertising placements
- Editorial scoring remains independent of commercial agreements
- We aim to provide transparent context so users can make informed decisions
FAQs
How often is the CasinoRate Score™ updated?
We update reviews and scores as new information becomes available and when material factors change (e.g., licensing, payments, withdrawal policies, product changes, or responsible gambling tools).
Is the CasinoRate Score™ a guarantee of outcomes?
No. The CasinoRate Score™ is an editorial evaluation designed to help compare operators. It does not guarantee individual outcomes, and user experience may vary depending on jurisdiction, account status, and operator policies.
Why add “Responsible Gambling” as a separate criterion?
Responsible gambling safeguards are a core trust requirement for long-term reliability. Treating it as a dedicated criterion ensures player protection standards are visible, measurable, and consistently applied across all casino reviews and lists.
Can casinos pay to improve their score?
No. Commercial agreements may affect advertising placements (clearly labeled), but they do not affect methodology or scoring.