How we rate casinos
Our method is deliberately narrow: we score what we can verify from public sources, show our working, and mark everything else as pending.
What kind of research this is
GamCasual's reviews are independent desk research based on public sources: the Gambling Commission public register, the Commission's published enforcement decisions and news releases, and the operators' own published offer pages and terms. We do not claim to have played at the casinos, made deposits or tested withdrawals. When we do, we will say so, review by review.
Step 1: eligibility, the licence gate
A brand is reviewed only if its licensee appears on the Gambling Commission public register with an active remote casino licence and the brand's domain is listed for that licensee as Active or White Label. For each brand we record the licensee, account number, licence number, activity start date, head office as listed, domain status and trading names. Register data was last read on 27 October 2026.
Step 2: the desk-research score
The score is out of 10 and has two parts today:
| Criterion | Weight | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Licence standing and regulatory record | 55% | Public register: licence status, domain status, regulatory actions |
| Welcome-offer terms | 45% | The operator's own offer page and terms, read on the check date |
Overall score = 0.55 × licence score + 0.45 × offer-terms score, rounded to one decimal place.
How the licence score is calculated
- Start at 9.0 if the brand's domain is marked Active on the licensee's register entry, or 8.5 if it is marked White Label, because the brand is then operated through a partnership under the licensee's licence.
- Subtract for each regulatory action recorded on the register: 3.5 if decided within 12 months of our check, 3.0 if 12 to 24 months, 2.0 if 24 to 36 months.
- Subtract 0.5 if the action imposed an additional licence condition.
- Subtract 0.5 if there has been more than one enforcement outcome in the last five years, including outcomes published in Commission news releases that are older than the register's three-year window.
We do not give 10/10 because we have not tested the products. A brand with no actions on record cannot score above 9.0 on licence standing.
How the offer-terms score is set
An editor scores the terms of the welcome offer from 0 to 10 against the 2026 UK bonus rules and the advertising codes. The things that move it:
- Up: no wagering on winnings, a clearly stated spin value, a reasonable time limit, protected deposit withdrawal, terms consistent across pages.
- Down: wagering at the 10x cap, very short deadlines, low maximum bets or cash-out caps, extra qualifying wagers, restrictive payment methods, and contradictions between pages.
The rationale for each score is shown on the brand page. If the UK terms cannot be verified, the offer is marked pending and no terms score is given.
Pending criteria
These criteria need hands-on testing and are not yet scored: payments and withdrawals, game range and providers, customer support, mobile experience, and use of safer-gambling tools in practice. When tests are done they will be added to the score and the weights updated here.
Ranking
Brands with an overall score are ranked by that score. Brands without one follow, ordered by licence score. Ties are broken by licence score, then alphabetically. Ranking is never influenced by commission or any commercial relationship. See how we make money.
Limits of this method
- Offers and terms change often. Every offer shows the date we read it.
- Some operator pages are not available from every location or block automated reading. Where we could not read the UK version, we say so and do not publish a figure.
- A register entry shows regulatory actions for a limited period. Older matters may not appear.
- A licence is not a guarantee of service quality.
Corrections
If you believe something is wrong, tell us on the contact page. We correct factual errors promptly and note material changes. See our editorial policy.
Frequently asked questions
Do you test the casinos with real deposits?
Not at this stage. Our ratings are independent desk research from the public register, regulatory decisions and the operators' published terms. The criteria that need hands-on testing are shown as pending and will be added when tests are done.
Why do some casinos have no overall score?
We publish an overall score only when both scored criteria can be verified. Where a UK welcome offer could not be verified, we show the licence information and mark the score as pending.
Can a casino pay to change its score?
No. Scores are calculated from the rules on this page and the evidence on each review. Commercial relationships do not enter the calculation.