How we review UK casinos

Transparency matters. Here is exactly how we assess every casino on this site, what we look for, and why some casinos never make it onto our pages.

Our review criteria

Every casino is assessed across six core areas. Each receives a score out of 10, and these combine into an overall rating. We weight responsible gambling and bonus fairness more heavily than game variety, because player protection matters more than entertainment breadth.

Bonus fairness

High weight

We look beyond the headline offer. What are the actual wagering requirements? Are they applied to the bonus only, or bonus + deposit? What games are restricted? What is the realistic cash value after wagering? We calculate real value for every bonus we assess.

Withdrawal speed

High weight

We check advertised withdrawal times against real player experiences. E-wallet, card, and bank transfer times are assessed separately. Casinos that add unnecessary pending periods lose points.

Responsible gambling tools

Highest weight

Does the casino offer deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, reality checks, cool-off periods, and self-exclusion? How easy are these to find and use? Does the casino proactively promote responsible gambling, or bury the tools?

Game variety

Standard weight

How many games are available? Which providers are represented? Is the library diverse (slots, table games, live casino)? Are new games added regularly?

Customer support

Standard weight

We test live chat response times, email response quality, and whether phone support is available. We also check support hours — UK players need coverage during UK hours at minimum.

Licence and compliance

Mandatory

No UKGC licence, no listing. We verify every licence directly with the Gambling Commission public register. We also check for any regulatory actions, fines, or licence conditions.

Why some casinos don't make our list

We actively exclude casinos that meet any of the following criteria:

  • No UKGC licence: If a casino does not hold an active UK Gambling Commission licence, we will not list it regardless of any other factor.
  • Excessive wagering requirements (50x+): Bonuses with wagering requirements above 50x are effectively worthless to players. We consider this misleading.
  • Poor responsible gambling provisions: Casinos that make it difficult to find or use self-exclusion, deposit limits, or other player protection tools.
  • Unresolved player complaints: Casinos with a pattern of unresolved complaints on public platforms, particularly around withdrawal delays or account restrictions.
  • Misleading advertising: Casinos that advertise bonuses or terms that are materially different from the actual terms and conditions.
  • Recent regulatory action: Casinos that have received significant fines or licence conditions from the UKGC within the past 12 months.

Affiliate disclosure

CasinoCompass may earn commission when you visit a casino through our links and create an account. This is how we fund the operation of this site.

However, affiliate commission does not influence our reviews, scores, or rankings. We include honest criticism in every review. Several casinos with affiliate programmes have been excluded from our site because they did not meet our standards.

We believe transparency about this relationship is essential for trust. If you have questions about our review process, contact us and we will explain our reasoning.

How often do we update reviews?

We aim to review every listed casino at least once every six months. We also update reviews whenever we become aware of significant changes — such as new bonus terms, regulatory actions, or changes to responsible gambling tools.

If you notice something outdated in a review, please let us know.