Editorial Policy & Review Methodology | CASINOenquirer

Editorial Policy & Review Methodology

Our Standards
BL
Written by
Bojan Lipovic
JF
Fact Checked By
Jonathan Farrell
Updated —

CASINOenquirer exists to help Canadian players make informed, confident decisions. This page explains exactly how we research, test, score and maintain everything we publish, from full casino reviews and slot ratings to our library of player guides. It also sets out how we stay independent, how we handle the affiliate links that fund the site, and how to reach us if you think we have got something wrong.

Our promise to readers
No operator can buy a better score, a higher ranking or a more favourable review. Our rankings are determined by our testing and scoring framework alone. We only feature operators licensed by recognised regulators, and we tell you plainly when a link is an affiliate link.
Independent since 2019
Real-Money Tested
Two-Person Fact-Check
Licensed Operators Only
What We Stand For

Our Editorial Principles

Six principles govern everything published on CASINOenquirer. They apply equally to casino reviews, slot ratings and player guides.

Independence
Rankings and scores are decided by our framework, never by commercial deals.
  • No pay-for-placement or paid rankings
  • Commercial team has no say over scores
  • Operators are not shown reviews before publication
Accuracy & Verification
Every factual claim is checked against a primary source before it goes live.
  • Licence numbers checked on the regulator's register
  • RTP and terms verified against the provider or operator
  • A second editor fact-checks every page
Transparency
We are open about how we make money and how we reach our conclusions.
  • Affiliate links clearly disclosed
  • Scoring criteria published on this page
  • Update dates shown on every review
Player-First
Reader safety outweighs revenue in every editorial decision we make.
  • Unsafe or unlicensed operators are excluded, not rated
  • Responsible-gambling tools factor into scores
  • No "beat the house" or guaranteed-win claims
Always Current
Casino terms and laws change, so our content is reviewed on a schedule.
  • Reviews re-checked at least every quarter
  • Guides re-verified at least once a year
  • Re-checked immediately when rules change
Expertise
Our reviews come from people who actually play, deposit and withdraw.
  • Real-money accounts, not demo mode
  • Hands-on testing of deposits and payouts
  • Specialist knowledge of Canadian regulation
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Paid placements in our rankings
An operator cannot pay to rank higher. Commercial relationships may exist behind the scenes, but they have no influence on the order or scores you see. Where money does change hands, it is disclosed below.
How We Review Online Casinos

Our Casino Scoring Framework

Each casino is scored against six weighted categories. The weighted total produces an overall rating out of 5. The weightings reflect what matters most to Canadian players — safety and getting paid come first.

25%
Licensing & Player Safety
The single biggest factor. We confirm the operator's licence and how it protects player funds and data.
  • Active licence verified on the regulator's register
  • Fair-play / RNG audit standing (eCOGRA, GLI, BMM)
  • Data protection and complaints history
20%
Banking & Payout Speed
We deposit and withdraw real money to time payouts and check Canadian methods work.
  • Interac, card, e-wallet and crypto support
  • Withdrawal times measured firsthand in CAD
  • Fees, limits and verification friction noted
15%
Games & Software
Range, quality and the studios behind the lobby, including live dealer coverage.
  • Breadth of slots, tables and live games
  • Certified providers only
  • Average slot RTP across the lobby
15%
Bonuses & Fair Terms
Value matters less than fairness. We read the terms so you do not have to.
  • Wagering requirements and game weightings
  • Max-bet, expiry and max-cashout traps flagged
  • Clarity and fairness scored, not just size
10%
Mobile & User Experience
Most Canadians play on a phone, so we test the site and any app on real devices.
  • Load speed and stability on iOS and Android
  • Ease of sign-up, deposit and cashout
  • Navigation and search quality
15%
Support & Responsible Tools
Help when you need it, and the controls to keep play under control.
  • Live chat tested for speed and usefulness
  • Deposit, loss and time limits available
  • Self-exclusion and reality-check options
5.0
The scale we score against
Each category is scored, then weighted into one overall rating out of 5. Any operator that fails the licensing and safety check is excluded entirely — it is never simply given a low score and listed anyway.
4.5 – 5.0
Excellent
Top pick. Recommended without reservation.
4.0 – 4.4
Very good
Strong all-round, minor drawbacks only.
3.0 – 3.9
Solid
Decent, with one or two clear weak spots.
2.0 – 2.9
Below par
Usable but bettered by most rivals.
Below 2.0
Avoid
Significant issues; we steer players away.
How We Test Slots & Write Guides

Guides & Slot Reviews

Our player guides and slot reviews follow the same evidence-first approach as our casino reviews.

Slots are played, not skimmed
Each slot we review is played in a real-money session, not assessed from a fact sheet.
  • Published RTP cross-referenced with the developer's certificate
  • Volatility judged from observed session variance
  • Bonus features triggered and documented
Guides are written from experience
Strategy and how-to content reflects real play at Canadian casinos, with realistic expectations set throughout.
  • Odds and house-edge figures verified
  • Tactics framed honestly, never as guaranteed wins
  • Currency and examples shown in CAD
Two sets of eyes
Nothing is published on one person's say-so.
  • Written and maintained by one expert
  • Independently fact-checked by another
  • Figures traced back to their source
Kept up to date
Content carries a visible update date and is revisited on a schedule.
  • Reviewed at least annually
  • Updated when laws, terms or operators change
  • Outdated content is corrected or retired
Independence & Affiliate Disclosure

How We Make Money — and Why It Does Not Change Our Verdicts

CASINOenquirer is free to read. We fund the site through affiliate partnerships: when you follow some of our links to an operator and sign up, we may earn a referral fee. This never costs you anything, and it does not affect your bonuses, balance or experience at the casino.

Crucially, an affiliate relationship does not buy a better review or a higher ranking. Our scores and the order of our lists are set by the scoring framework above and nothing else. We also review and reference operators we have no commercial relationship with, and we will rate a partner operator poorly — or exclude it — if our testing warrants it.

CASINOenquirer is owned and operated by Maverick Buckland Ltd, an iGaming media company registered in Gibraltar (Reg. No. 119811). We do not operate any gambling platform; all links direct to independently licensed operators. You should always confirm that online gambling is legal and regulated in your own province before playing.

Corrections & Updates

Spotted Something Wrong? Tell Us

We work hard to be accurate, but no publisher is perfect. If you believe a fact, figure, licence detail or bonus term on our site is out of date or incorrect, we want to know. Email us at our contact page with the page and the detail in question, and our editorial team will review it. Verified errors are corrected promptly, and material corrections are reflected in the page's update date.

Responsible gambling comes first. Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. Set deposit and loss limits, and if it stops being fun, take our self-assessment or contact the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-230-3505, BeGambleAware or GamCare. 18+ only.
Frequently Asked Questions

About Our Reviews & Methodology

No. Rankings and scores are set entirely by our scoring framework. Affiliate partnerships fund the site, but they have no influence on the order of our lists or the scores we give — and we will rate or exclude a partner unfavourably if our testing warrants it.
It is a tracked link that may earn us a referral fee if you sign up with an operator after clicking it. It costs you nothing extra and does not change your bonuses or balance. It is simply how a free, independent review site pays its way.
We score six weighted categories — licensing and safety (25%), banking and payouts (20%), games and software (15%), bonuses and fair terms (15%), support and responsible-play tools (15%) and mobile experience (10%) — into one rating out of 5. Any operator that fails the safety check is excluded rather than listed with a low score.
Yes. We open real-money accounts, deposit, play and withdraw so we can time payouts, test Canadian banking methods and verify that bonuses and terms work as advertised. Slot RTP and volatility are assessed from real sessions, not demo mode.
Casino reviews are re-checked at least quarterly and guides at least annually, with both updated sooner whenever laws, licences, terms or operators change. Every page shows a visible "Updated" date so you can see when it was last verified.
Use our contact page and tell us the page and the detail you think is wrong. Our editorial team reviews every report, corrects verified errors promptly, and reflects material changes in the page's update date.