Methodology

How we rate

We sign up, deposit, play and withdraw at every casino before we score it. Six categories, weighted by how much they affect you, behind one safety gate no casino can buy its way past.
Example scorecardNorthstar Casino
8.7out of 10
Payouts & withdrawals
9.2
Safety & licensing
9.0
Bonuses & fairness
8.0
Games & software
8.5
Banking & payments
8.8
Support & experience
8.0
Passed safety gate · Withdrawal timed at 38 min
JPMethod owner Jason Parker•Reviewed by Rachel Dunn
Step zero

The safety gate

Before any scoring, a casino has to pass all four checks. Fail one and it isn't listed on SilverGames, whatever its bonus looks like.

CHECK 1 Valid licence A current licence from a recognised regulator, verified on its register.
CHECK 2 Fair-game audit Independent testing of game fairness and RTP.
CHECK 3 Real withdrawal We completed a real cash-out before listing it.
CHECK 4 RG tools Deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion available.
Weighting

How the 10-point score is weighted

Each of the six categories is scored 1 to 10, then weighted into a single score out of 10. Tap a category to open it.
Category 1 of 6

Payouts & withdrawals

How fast and how reliably you get your own money back — the part we test with a real withdrawal.

25%weight
What we check
We request a real withdrawal and time it to the wallet
Stated cash-out time versus what actually happens
Withdrawal caps, pending periods and weekend holds
Fees on deposits and cash-outs
When KYC is asked for, and what triggers a document request
What a 10 looks likeSame-day crypto and 1–3 day bank payouts, no surprise caps, and KYC asked for up front.
What costs pointsVague timelines, low weekly caps, or documents demanded only at cash-out.
Our benchmarkA tested median under 24 hours for standard methods.
Category 2 of 6

Safety & licensing

Whether the operator is licensed, audited and safe to hand your money and ID to.

20%weight
What we check
Licence checked on the regulator's own register
Owner and operator transparency
Independent game-fairness auditing (eCOGRA, iTech Labs)
Data handling and connection security
Complaint and dispute history
What a 10 looks likeA current licence you can verify, audited games, and a clean complaint record.
What costs pointsUnverifiable licences, hidden ownership, or a pattern of unresolved complaints.
Our benchmarkLicence confirmed on the issuing regulator's register, not the operator's word.
Category 3 of 6

Bonuses & fairness

The real cost of a bonus — the play you need to unlock it, not the headline number.

15%weight
What we check
Wagering requirement and what counts toward it
Max bet and max cash-out while wagering
Game weighting and excluded titles
Expiry windows
Whether the terms match the marketing
What a 10 looks likeLow, clearly-stated wagering, fair game weighting and no hidden max-cashout.
What costs pointsHigh rollover, a 'risk-free' label on a bet-credit offer, or terms that differ from the ad.
Our benchmarkWagering at or below the market median, with every condition stated up front.
Category 4 of 6

Games & software

The size and quality of the library, and the studios behind it.

15%weight
What we check
Range across slots, table games and live dealer
Named studios (Pragmatic Play, Evolution, and the like)
Published RTPs where available
Demo or free play availability
Mobile performance
What a 10 looks likeA broad, named library with live dealer and published RTPs.
What costs pointsClone games, no named studios, or RTPs hidden entirely.
Our benchmarkA library from recognised, audited studios, tested on desktop and phone.
Category 5 of 6

Banking & payments

The deposit and withdrawal methods that actually work for players in the market.

15%weight
What we check
Local methods that work in-market (PayID, Neosurf, cards, crypto)
Minimum and maximum limits
Processing times per method
Currency and conversion handling
Any method-specific restrictions
What a 10 looks likeFast local methods with low minimums and no method-locked withdrawals.
What costs pointsDeposit methods you can't withdraw back to, or high minimums.
Our benchmarkAt least one tested instant deposit and one sub-24-hour withdrawal method.
Category 6 of 6

Support & experience

How easy the site is to use, and whether support answers a straight question.

10%weight
What we check
Live chat availability and response time
Whether support answers a specific question about fees
Site speed and navigation
Account and verification flow
Responsible-gambling tools
What a 10 looks like24/7 live chat that answers specifics, a fast site, and visible RG tools.
What costs pointsBots that dodge questions, slow pages, or buried limit and self-exclusion tools.
Our benchmarkA real question about withdrawal fees answered correctly in live chat.
Score calculator

Check our maths

Drag the sliders. It's the exact formula our reviewers use.
Payouts & withdrawals ×25% 8.0
Safety & licensing ×20% 8.0
Bonuses & fairness ×15% 8.0
Games & software ×15% 8.0
Banking & payments ×15% 8.0
Support & experience ×10% 8.0
Final score 8.0 Recommended This is the exact weighted formula our reviewers use.
Score bands

What the number means

9.0–10 Top rated Among the best we've tested: fast payouts, clean licensing, fair bonuses.
7.5–8.9 Recommended A strong, safe choice with only minor trade-offs.
6.0–7.4 Fair, with caveats Listed, but with clear caveats worth reading first.
Below 6.0 Not listed Fails our bar or the safety gate, so we don't list it.

How we test: 5 levels per casino

1 Level 1 Sign up & deposit Create a real account and make a real deposit with a local method.
2 Level 2 Play the library Slots, table games and live dealer, on desktop and phone.
3 Level 3 Clear a bonus Read the terms, meet the wagering, and note what counts.
4 Level 4 Withdraw Cash out and time it from request to wallet, logging any KYC.
5 Level 5 Score & sign off Score each category, apply the gate, and a second reviewer checks it.
Bonus maths

Why the bigger bonus often scores lower

We score the play you need to unlock a bonus, not the headline. Same $100 deposit, two offers:

Offer A — 100% up to $100 20× wagering
$2,000to wager
Offer B — 200% up to $200 40× wagering
$8,000to wager
Verdict: Offer B looks twice as big but needs four times the play. Offer A scores higher.

Red flags that cut a score

Withdrawal caps under $5,000/weekDocuments demanded only at cash-out'Risk-free' on a bet-credit offerWagering above 45×Max cash-out hidden in bonus termsNo named game studiosA licence that can't be verifiedSupport that dodges fee questions

What money can't buy here

Some links on SilverGames earn us a commission, and that pays for real-money testing. It never buys a score, a ranking position or a skipped safety check, and the commercial team doesn't see reviews before they're published. Read our editorial guidelines

The people applying this method

All authors
JP Jason ParkerSenior Casino Reviewer
Funds and tests US real-money casinos, and owns the payout and bonus scoring.
GH Greg HamiltonSenior Casino Reviewer
Tests offshore casinos Australians can access, timing every withdrawal.
RD Rachel DunnCompliance Reviewer
Checks every licence and bonus-term claim before a score is published.

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