How We Rate Casino Sites

How do we need to review a casino game before it can be displayed on our website?

At CasinoList we want you to have fun and have fun while gambling responsibly online. That’s why we use multiple steps to thoroughly test and review all the casinos on our site. On this page, we’ll walk you through each step so you know what we’re checking and how we test each casino.

Review steps

Safety and Trust in Online Gaming

We use a multi-step review process to evaluate the safety and trustworthiness of online casinos. We take our gamers' funds and personal data so seriously. To ensure the casino provides a safe, fair and legal service, we check the following:

1. Permission from legal authorities in the Philippines

Online casinos in the Philippines will display licenses from legal licensing agencies on their websites, and having a license means the casino can operate legally. The gaming authority in the Philippines is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

2. Independent supervision

Casinos must also show proof that they are regulated for safety and fairness by a reputable independent agency such as pagcor. If we can't find this, we'll also check if the game is fair. To do this, we run the game thousands of times to make sure the results are indeed random and are using a Random Number Generator (RNG).

3. Effective SSL encryption

When it comes to security, we always look for a valid SSL encryption certificate on the casino sites we review. Encryption ensures that any data exchanged between players and casinos is not at risk of being stolen and means the site is safe to use.

Review of game software

Online casinos need to have a good selection of games, especially for top casino sites. We want our players to make sure they are playing the best games from top providers at any casino we recommend, which is why we review gaming software:

4. Various games

When it comes to gaming, a good choice is key. We are always looking for a good mix of table games (such as slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker), sports games, live dealers and bingo/keno games. Since we don't want to recommend something we haven't tried ourselves, our team also tried some games for real money.

5. Player’s Jackpot

The player's jackpot is a must for serious slot machine enthusiasts. These thrilling games typically pay out the largest bonuses of all online casino games and will appear in all great game directories.

6. Number and application of free games

The number of free games to play is always at the top of our list. Free games give you the chance to test new games, practice their strategies, and have risk-free fun! We always try a few different free games ourselves to again ensure quality and variety.

7. Use gaming software from top developers

Online casinos require the use of casino software, and the best casino software sources games from top software providers such as JILI, NetEnt, Playtech or Microgaming. The best software providers are known to offer seamless graphics, high-quality sounds and exciting animations among other impressive features.

8. High-quality downloadable application game software

Since some players prefer to download casino software to their mobile devices, our team will also test it ourselves in order to better judge the integrity of online casino games. This way, we can be completely sure that the software is easy to install, will not cause harm to the device, and will provide an experience as good as the online version of the casino.

9. Smooth in-browser experience

For those who prefer to play games via a web browser, high-quality, no-download software, along with a quick and easy sign-up process, is a must. Likewise, we check that the website interface is easy to navigate and that everything runs smoothly. The best casinos will also have fully responsive mobile websites, capable of playing most of the games in their collection.

Game bonuses and promotions

Every player will appreciate an online casino with welcome bonuses and promotions that lower entry requirements to the game and increase their bankroll. You will find that most online casinos have them available. Our experts evaluate and compare every offer to ensure you get the best price and bonuses. Top casinos will check all of the following boxes:

10. Welcome Bonus and Deposit Offers

Having a realistic welcome bonus is a must for top online casinos. We're always looking for the most generous casino bonuses online and strongly recommend you take advantage of any bonus when you sign up. Whether it's a deposit match, free spins, cashback or no deposit offer, a good bonus can have a big impact on your game.

11. Reasonable terms and conditions

For the bonus to be truly beneficial, it is important that the terms and conditions are not too complicated and that there are no extremely high wagering requirements. So we always read the fine print thoroughly and highlight any potential complications of applying for a bonus so you can make an informed decision.

12. Offer promotions for everyone

Promotions shouldn’t be just for new entrants. How often each casino offers new bonuses, gifts and promotions to existing members.

13. VIP and Loyalty Rewards

In addition to great promotions, top casinos will offer well-structured loyalty programs. This allows you to earn extra money from every bet you place. High roller players who bet large amounts of money at the casino also receive VIP benefits. We looked at what each level of the casino loyalty program offers and assessed whether the rewards are really worth your time.

Supported banks and currencies

The security and speed of transactions at an online casino are one of the most important parts of online gambling. We ourselves also review the deposit and withdrawal process, allowing us to identify possible flaws and failures in the way the casino handles your funds. We will then report back to you, giving you a realistic impression of how the casino performs in terms of:

14. Deposit procedures and types

As part of our review process we asked ourselves how easy it was to register with the casino and make a deposit. Things we look at here include the number and variety of payment methods available, the types of currencies accepted, and whether there are any minimum or maximum limits.

15. Security level

All the best casinos make looking after your money a top priority. We always check that all payments are made through trusted and secure means. This involves top-level encryption of your personal data, only asking for relevant details for a successful transaction, and working with reputable payment systems such as GCash, Maya, e-wallets, and credit cards.

16. Efficiency of withdrawals

We know the importance of fast withdrawal times. That’s why when we withdraw money, we not only check the range of banking options and currencies available, but also the general speed of the process.

17. Time for processing withdrawals

In addition to a smooth banking process, we also like to know that the casino itself doesn’t take too long in processing players’ winnings for release. So when requesting a withdrawal, we like to see that they keep their word when it comes to processing times.

18. Fair rate of return for players

To ensure that a casino offers a decent payout rate to its customers, we check if the average Return to Player (RTP) is high and check the average RTP for individual games. All good casinos will display this information publicly on their website.

Support for gamers

No matter which casino site you play at, you will find that sometimes you may need some help from customer support. We will then prioritize those online casinos that have their customers’ best interests at heart by:

19.Protection of player data

When disclosing personal information, you need to ensure that it will only be used for your intended purposes. We only recommend casinos if we are confident that they will not pass on players' personal details to third parties without their permission. To ensure this, we always review their privacy policy thoroughly and encourage all players to do the same.

20. Player safety and welfare

Gamer safety should be a top priority for any reputable casino. Those who provide any responsible gambling or general health features are thoroughly tested and assessed to ensure they provide genuine help and support. These options may include ways to monitor gambling time/money, self-exclusion options, helplines, etc. If you notice that you do have signs of a gambling problem, it is important to seek help immediately.

21. Easy customer support

Providing customer support is a basic feature of an online casino, with 24/7 support available through a range of different options. We're looking for phone, email, and live chat support when reviewing casinos, and an extensive FAQ section on a casino website is always a big plus.

22. Quick and smart solutions

In order to determine the quality of support provided by online casinos, we contact them through all possible means to find out how responsive they are to questions. Once contacted, we are looking for a support team to resolve the issue quickly. They should also be able to communicate with players in their own language.

Support mobile devices

With so many players now playing on mobile phones, casinos must adapt to deliver a high-quality experience on these devices. We visit every casino on many Android, iPhone and tablet devices, focusing specifically on:

23. Game small screen optimization

We test the quality of live casino websites on a range of smartphones and tablets via different browsers. We'd like to see the site run smoothly and provide as good an experience as on desktop, with a similar number of games available.

24. Stable application experience

Top online casinos often offer downloadable apps for mobile devices as well, and we make sure to test every aspect of them as thoroughly as we do on the casino’s main website. We were particularly interested in aspects such as their speed, layout and game selection.

Comprehensive support for localization

When playing online in the Philippines, you have access to a large number of casinos from different countries. We would like to see casinos that have adapted to the different needs of users around the world so that each of them can enjoy a truly incredible experience when playing online.

25. Excellent localized games

To allow Filipino players to have a good online gaming experience, top casinos will provide customers with a tailor-made experience. This means providing a great experience for Filipino players.

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