Every rating on Golden Reviews is the result of hands-on testing, not a press release. Here is exactly how a casino earns its score.
Step 1: The licence gate
Before anything else we verify the casino’s licence directly with the regulator. No valid licence, no review. We also check ownership, encryption and independent fairness certificates.
Step 2: Real-money testing
A reviewer opens a fresh account, completes verification, deposits at least €100, claims the welcome bonus and plays through it. Then we request a withdrawal and time it.
Step 3: Scoring
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Licensing & safety | 25% |
| Payments & payout speed | 20% |
| Bonuses & terms | 20% |
| Games & live casino | 15% |
| Customer support | 10% |
| Mobile & usability | 10% |
Category scores are combined into a final rating from 1.0 to 5.0. Anything above 4.5 is exceptional; below 3.0 we would not recommend playing there.
Step 4: Ongoing monitoring
Ratings are not set in stone. We retest each casino at least twice a year and react immediately to player complaints, changes to terms or slow payouts. Our toplist order is based solely on these scores.
Our independence
Golden Reviews may receive commissions from casinos, but commercial relationships never influence scores. Casinos cannot pay to be reviewed, to change a rating or to move up the list.