Choosing a casino is mostly about avoiding bad ones. The differences between good casinos are matters of taste; the differences between good and bad ones are matters of money. Here is the checklist we use, in the order we use it.
1. Confirm it's available where you live
Every casino publishes a list of restricted countries in its terms. If yours is on it, stop — even if you can technically load the site, you may be unable to withdraw once the casino verifies your identity. Our directory filters by country using each casino's stated restrictions, but always confirm on the operator's own site.
2. Check the licence
Look for the licensing authority and licence number in the site footer, then confirm it on the regulator's website where possible. A licence is not a guarantee of good behaviour, but its absence is a serious warning. Regulators differ in how much protection they offer: European licences generally impose stricter rules than Curaçao or Panama, which is where most international crypto casinos are licensed.
3. Read the withdrawal terms before you deposit
This is where most disputes happen. Find the answers to these questions in the terms:
- What is the minimum withdrawal, and are there fees?
- Is there a daily, weekly or monthly withdrawal cap?
- Will you need to verify your identity, and what documents are required?
- Are there any rules about withdrawing without wagering your deposit a certain number of times?
If the answers are hard to find, that itself is information.
4. Do the bonus maths
A bonus with 35x wagering on a $100 bonus requires $3,500 in bets before you can withdraw. At a 4% average house edge, the expected cost of that wagering is $140 — more than the bonus itself. Bonuses are not free money; they are a trade of playing time for restrictions. Our bonus guide shows how to compare them.
5. Look at the game library through your own lens
A casino with 5,000 games is not better than one with 500 if the 500 include everything you play. Check for the studios you like, whether live tables are available at your stakes, and whether games publish their RTP.
6. Test support before you need it
Open the live chat and ask a real question — about withdrawal limits, say. Speed and quality of the answer tell you what to expect when something goes wrong.
7. Search for the reputation
Search the casino's name alongside words like "withdrawal", "complaint" and "verification". Every casino has unhappy customers; look for patterns rather than individual stories, and note how the casino responds.
Then use the tools
Our Casino Finder turns your priorities into a shortlist, the directory lets you filter on every attribute above, and each review scores casinos on the same methodology, so you can compare like for like.
Frequently asked questions
About this byline
Lead Casino Analyst
Alex leads casino testing at CasinoFinder: opening accounts, running deposits and withdrawals, and benchmarking game libraries and support. Alex maintains the scoring methodology and signs off on every rating change.
- Casino testing
- Withdrawal benchmarking
- Sportsbooks
Placeholder bylineThis byline is a placeholder profile, not a member of editorial staff. Real authors will be named before launch.
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