Online casino reviews & ratings by real experts for 2025

How we review online casinos

CasinoTopsOnline only lists casino sites that we’ve thoroughly tested and deemed 100% safe and secure. 

With tens of thousands of online casinos available, and new ones popping up every month, we want to make it easier for you to find the right one. 

Our Online Casino Reviews are based on extensive research and honest opinions, as well as input from objective online casino players. 

We have unique ranking systems and rigid criteria that the top online casinos must meet before they can feature as a verified, secure site. Our listed casinos are reviewed and ranked based on the following criteria:

Licence and jurisdiction

One of the first things we look at is where a casino is licensed. This can tell us a lot about how safe a site is. While multiple online casino regulators issue licences, they all have a different approach to regulation, and only a few licences are considered strict enough to be respected.

A regulator’s main role is to ensure that players are protected from unfair terms and any other malpractices that may leave them vulnerable when gambling online. Gamblers can generally trust that they are in safe hands at casinos licensed by the UK’s Gambling Commission, and the Malta Gaming Authority.

Security and fairness

Beyond the licensing, we look at the specific ways each online casino ensures security and fairness. The most up-to-date SSL encryption and strong firewalls are essential to protect player data and transactions.

We make sure that online casinos are committed to fair play policies. We expect a high-rated casino to employ random number generators, RTP control, and play and cash check features. The best online casinos should be regularly audited by third-party companies such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs to ensure they remain accountable. You can generally find the logos for these external auditors in the footers of sites or check the auditors’ websites directly.

Responsible gambling tools

We look at a wide variety of criteria when reviewing casinos. One of the factors we assess is the casino’s approach to responsible gambling. We will never promote an online casino that doesn’t provide adequate responsible gambling tools to its players.

Cooling-off periods and self-exclusion are a given, but we look for other tools within player accounts to help prevent bad habits. Ideally, we’ll see deposit, loss, and wager limits that are easy to set and can’t be revised upwards on a whim. Players should have full access to their own account history. A reality check tool should remind players to take a break.

Game variety and trusted software providers

Players looking to branch out to other online casinos will still want to play all their favourite games. We analyse the game selection at each casino, keeping an eye out for reputable software providers, like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play’n GO, Yggdrasil, etc. We like to see a wide selection of games, not just slots but table and live dealer games, to ensure the casino offers something for all players.

Payment methods

Quick access to winnings with no unnecessary hurdles is justifiably a key concern for customers, and it’s something we take seriously when reviewing online casinos. We test each casino’s deposit and withdrawal processes first-hand to make sure we are giving you an accurate overview of ease and speed – as well as any hiccups we encounter along the way.

We look at the range of payment methods to ensure that – no matter your preference, whether that’s bank transfers, e-wallets or crypto – the experience is smooth and efficient. We examine verification procedures and security measures in relation to payments. Your money should be safe while it's in the casino's hands, and there should be no unfair barriers to accessing it.

Customer support

The top online casinos provide 24/7 customer support through multiple channels to ensure that player issues and queries are resolved quickly and effectively.

We contact the customer support team at each casino we review, testing out different channels to determine the quality of help. We look for red flags, such as taking a long time to answer easy questions or blunt, unfriendly agents. We want to make sure that new and returning users feel sufficiently supported.

Promotions and unique features

Alongside the more technical aspects, we like to look for anything that can make an online casino stand out against its competitors: exciting promotions or unique features to attract new players.

We play through welcome bonuses to form an honest opinion on whether they’re worth your time. We wade through the terms and conditions to highlight the most important things to be aware of and give you some expert tips to make the most of the offer.

Mobile and user experience

A generous VIP programme and fast withdrawals can’t make up for a site that lags or glitches, which is why we assess the UI/UX of each site. We run speed tests, download mobile apps and test out the mobile browser experience to give players an overview of what to expect.

User reviews

Finally, we search reputable review sites to find other users’ opinions. Where we may have had a smooth experience, others may have encountered issues. We examine the good and the bad of player reviews and provide a rundown to help you make up your own mind.

How to spot red flags in casino reviews

If you’re unsure how to tell the difference between a balanced and sincere review and one that may be biased, here are a few things to look out for:

• Too-good-to-be-true bonuses: Unrealistic offers with vague terms often signal trouble. A trustworthy review should tell you everything you need to know about the bonuses, from wagering requirements and required deposit to maximum win and expiry time.

• Unclear or missing licensing information: Always look for clear details on regulatory bodies. A good review should highlight the regulatory body that licenses the casino.

• Missing or generic complaint handling: A solid review should be upfront about how the casino resolves player issues.

• No mention of payout speed: If a review avoids talking about withdrawals, it’s a bad sign.

• Overly positive tone with no cons: It’s highly unlikely that an online casino is perfect, an honest review should mention downsides too.

Remember to stay alert and trust reviews that are transparent, detailed, and balanced.

Casinos you should avoid

We don’t just look at the good; we test the bad too and provide details of why we don’t recommend certain casinos. We believe it’s important to be upfront about the risks players can encounter when gambling online.

Here are some examples of casinos we do not recommend:

Responsible gambling

It’s essential for online casinos to have substantial responsible gambling tools in place to support players who may be at risk of problem gambling. Player safety is a key consideration for us, so we only recommend casinos with adequate responsible gambling pages.

Set your own limits

The best online casinos allow players to set financial limits within their accounts. Players should be able to decide the maximum amount they can deposit, wager, or lose within a certain timeframe. Having these limits in place can help you keep track of how much money you’re spending at a casino. 

Pause or self-exclude

Sometimes these limits aren’t enough, and you may find you need to take a break from gambling. To make it easier to step away, responsible casinos let players initiate a short-term cooling-off period during which they will be unable to deposit any funds or play any games, but still be able to withdraw outstanding winnings. For more serious restrictions, players should be able to request a definite or indefinite self-exclusion period, which will restrict all access to the site. There are national self-exclusion registers, like GAMSTOP in the UK, so users only have to complete the procedure once, and it will be applied to all UKGC-regulated casinos.

Gambling helplines by region

• United Kingdom: GamCare - 0808 8020 133

• Ireland: GamblingCare - 1800 936 725

• Netherlands: Loket Kansspel - 0800 2400 022

• Germany: Gambling Addiction Hotline - 0800 1 37 27 00

• Sweden: Stödlinjen - 020 81 91 00

• Finland: Peluuri's Helplline -  0800 100 101

• Denmark: StopSpillet - 70 22 28 25

• United States & Canada: National Council on Problem Gambling - 1-800-522-4700

• Ontario: ConnexOntario - 1-866-531-2600

Final considerations

Our website has been created to share the best online casino reviews. We look at every detail, including bonuses, slot game selection, and general gameplay experience. We don’t hide anything, and we’ll talk about the issues we encounter when gambling online.

We can’t say that every casino is honest and all pay out winnings on time because that’s not true. That’s why we are so committed to our work.