Trust & Transparency
The non-negotiable foundation
A platform can have all the games in the world, but without demonstrable trust it's worthless. This pillar is pass/fail for entry to our index.
Forensic UKGC Licence Verification
We don't just "check for a licence." We conduct a full forensic audit: verifying active status on the UKGC public register, scrutinising the parent company history, and flagging any sanctions, warnings or past revocations. A clean, long-standing record with zero enforcement actions scores the maximum.
E-E-A-T Signal Analysis
We assess the platform's Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Does the operator have a transparent leadership team? Is their responsible gambling information genuinely accessible — or buried? We score their willingness to be held accountable.
Independent Auditing & RNG Certification
We verify evidence of third-party auditing by eCOGRA, iTech Labs or GLI. These certifications prove that the Random Number Generators used in games are genuinely unpredictable and fair. Uncertified operators receive a significant penalty.
Data Security Protocol Audit
We verify SSL/TLS encryption strength across the entire domain. We also deep-dive the Privacy Policy, flagging ambiguous data-sharing language or clauses that could be detrimental. Your personal and financial data must be sacrosanct.
Our Commitment to Trust
Our entire research methodology is public. You can read the full academic white paper on our TDUX Framework on GitBook.
Data Depth
Where analysts beat advertisers
We believe a good review provides not just an opinion, but the data for *you* to form your own. Our reviews are structured like intelligence briefs, not sales brochures.
Granular Review Metrics
Our reviews track and publish over 15 specific data points: minimum deposit/withdrawal limits, advertised vs. independently tested payout speeds broken down by method, exact wagering requirements, capped winnings thresholds, and game contribution percentages for bonuses.
Comprehensive Game Database Audit
We maintain a proprietary database of 4,600+ individual slot titles. For each operator we analyse: the exact game count, the number of software providers, distribution by volatility and RTP, and the presence of top-tier progressives. We don't estimate — we count.
Bonus Deconstruction — True Bonus Value
We calculate the True Bonus Value (TBV) mathematically. A £200 bonus at 50× wager is statistically inferior to a £100 bonus at 35× wager. We do the maths so you don't have to. Every bonus section includes the actual expected return figure.
Live Casino Quality Assessment
We evaluate the live dealer suite on provider quality (Evolution vs. lesser providers is a meaningful distinction), stream resolution and stability, game variety beyond standard Blackjack and Roulette, and minimum stake accessibility for all player levels.
See the Data Live
You can see this work in action on our public Tableau Dashboard, where we visualise the entire UK slots market across 4,600+ games.
User Experience
Design is respect for the user's time
A platform's design is a direct signal of its respect for users. Clunky sites hide bad terms. Great UX is never accidental.
Performance & Core Web Vitals
We use Google's own metrics. We measure Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). A slow, unstable site is a red flag — it correlates strongly with poor operational quality across the board.
Mobile-First Usability Testing
Our team tests every site on a range of iOS and Android devices. We assess navigation logic, game loading times, and the accessibility of critical features — the cashier, deposit/withdrawal, and support — on a small screen.
Dark Pattern Audit
We actively analyse site layout for manipulative UX. Is the bonus balance clearly separated from cash? Are bonus terms buried? We hunt for and penalise 'dark patterns' — manipulative design tricks that keep you playing longer than intended.
Search & Filtering Power
A great library is useless without a great librarian. We test on-site search and filtering with a standard query: 'find a high-volatility slot from Red Tiger with a bonus buy feature in under 15 seconds.' Failure here is scored harshly.
Our Exposé on Dark Patterns
Read our detailed feature on the 3 UX dark patterns most commonly used by online casinos to keep players in session longer than intended.
The X-Factor
Good to great — the differentiators
This pillar scores the unique features that elevate a platform from competent to genuinely outstanding. Rare, hard to fake, and rewarded generously.
Unique Tools & Player Resources
Does the site offer something genuinely innovative? We score exclusive games, unique tournament formats, interactive responsible gambling tools, or educational resources that go beyond the regulatory minimum. Innovation here is rewarded.
Customer Support Gauntlet
We don't check for 24/7 support — we test it. Our team contacts support at various times including 3 AM on a Sunday, via every available channel (Live Chat, email, phone), with complex questions. We score on response time, first-contact resolution, and knowledge depth.
Community & Reputation Intelligence
We monitor major community hubs and player forums (including Casinomeister) to gauge operator standing among experienced players. A pattern of unresolved complaints or adversarial communication is a significant red flag that overrides positive scores elsewhere.
The Final Score & Our Blacklist
How the Score is Calculated
An operator must excel across all four pillars to receive a high ranking on Casimo.org. Each pillar score is weighted, then combined into a final score out of 10.
Our Public Blacklist
If a platform fails our initial trust and safety checks — or performs consistently poorly in critical areas like payout speed or bonus transparency — it doesn't just receive a low score. It gets added to our public blacklist.
- UKGC licence invalid or revoked
- Confirmed history of bonus term manipulation
- Payout refusal patterns in community data
- Unresolved player complaints > 15% ratio
- SSL grade below B or privacy policy violations
Our loyalty is to you,
the player.
Casimo.org earns revenue through affiliate links. This does not influence our scores — ever. We will, and do, review casinos negatively even when they are in our affiliate programme. Our editorial team operates independently of the commercial team.
By making our methodology this transparent, we are not only helping you make better choices — we are applying industry-wide pressure for higher standards. Our process is rigorous, analytical, and uncompromising because we believe in data over opinion, and transparency over revenue.