Author: Jonathan Wilson
Last Updated: May 3, 2024

How We Review Online Casinos

Online casino reviews in the UK aim to provide players with transparent and unbiased information to help them choose safe gambling sites. With hundreds of casinos available, it can be challenging for British players to know which ones to trust.

That’s where impartial review sites like independent-casinos.co.uk come in. We focus on supplying UK players with detailed, data-driven casino reviews they can rely on.

The independent-casinos.co.uk Review Process

Our team of industry experts follows a rigorous process when assessing UK online casinos. We invest considerable time and effort into testing sites hands-on before publishing reviews.

Here’s an overview of how we work:

Research Phase

Before even visiting a casino site, our reviewers gather background information to establish context. This initial research includes:

  • Verifying UK Gambling Commission licensing
  • Checking ownership and company history
  • Identifying any sister sites or white label partnerships
  • Reviewing terms and conditions for players
  • Collecting player complaints or feedback

These checks help identify any red flags early on. We immediately rule out unlicensed, disreputable, or potentially unsafe sites.

Testing Phase

Next, our experts create anonymous accounts to test casinos first-hand. They evaluate crucial areas like:

  • Registration process – Testing ease of signup and account verification
  • Site navigation – Assessing layout, speed, and mobile optimization
  • Game libraries – Auditing game variety, providers, RTPs
  • Banking – Depositing, withdrawing, limits, fees, speed
  • Customer support – Contacting agents via chat, email, phone

Testing on both desktop and mobile provides insights into the player experience. We deposit real money to judge cashier performance. Support contacts assess agent helpfulness.

Analysis Phase

With research and test data gathered, our analysts compile their findings into actionable casino reviews. They carefully score each area of a site using predefined criteria.

Reviews highlight a casino’s strengths and weaknesses. Our writers contextualise scores to explain how a site performs versus competitors.

Our Rating System

We apply the following casino ratings indicating if we:

  • Highly recommend – Exceptional casino that excels across the board
  • Recommend – Solid overall casino with some minor drawbacks
  • Barely recommend – Subpar casino with multiple flaws
  • Not recommended – Serious issues make the casino high risk
  • Blacklisted – Unsafe, fraudulent, or banned in the UK

Scores stem from weighted performance in 10 categories:

  • Licensing & Security – 25%
  • Game Variety – 20%
  • Software Providers – 10%
  • Bonuses & Promotions – 10%
  • Banking Options – 10%
  • Payments Speed – 5%
  • Mobile Experience – 5%
  • Customer Support – 5%
  • Company Transparency – 5%
  • User Feedback – 5%

So licensing and security hold the most weight in our conclusions. But all areas contribute to the overall rating.

The independent-casinos.co.uk Team

Our reviews come from a team of seasoned iGaming experts including:

  • Researchers – Gather background intel and data
  • Testers – Create accounts, play games, test support
  • Analysts – Compile findings and finalise scores
  • Writers – Draft reviews for publication
  • Editors – Fact check articles before release

Combined, the team has 50+ years of industry experience. Our Head Analyst Alton brings 12 years of gaming sector expertise. He pioneered our scoring system and training processes.

We invest around £8500 monthly as a team testing casinos. Each reviewer joins us with proven gambling experience. Before publishing under independent-casinos.co.uk, new hires undergo three months of supervised training.

Our Editorial Integrity

We take pains to ensure our reviews remain impartial. independent-casinos.co.uk:

  • Declines incentives or commissions from reviewed sites
  • Prohibits advertorials or paid placements
  • Disallows external influence over scores
  • Relies solely on UK player deposits

While we earn commissions if readers sign up after clicking our links, it does not sway our findings. Our priority remains objective, honest reviews.

To uphold transparency, we clearly label promotional articles. We also link to gambling behaviour and self-exclusion tools. Player safety matters more than profits.

By maintaining editorial integrity, independent-casinos.co.uk aims to remain UK players’ trusted source for casino reviews. We adhere to strict fairness standards and industry best practices in all we publish.

The Bottom Line

Searching for a reputable casino but unsure where to turn? independent-casinos.co.uk provides unbiased reviews based on expert evaluation. We cut through the noise to recommend only trustworthy, secure UK betting sites proven to treat players fairly.

With our rigorous vetting process, scoring system, and experienced review team, independent-casinos.co.uk gives you the information needed to gamble confidently. Don’t risk your money and safety on the wrong casino – let our reviews guide you to the best UK options.