Methodology
How We Rate
Our research process for evaluating UK casino operators and tracing sister site connections
01 · Licence Verification
Every operator is checked against the Gambling Commission public register. We confirm licence type, active status, the legal entity that holds it, and whether any conditions or enforcement actions are attached.
02 · Ownership Tracing
We trace corporate ownership through Companies House filings, cross-referencing directors, shareholders, registered addresses, and parent or subsidiary structures across multiple jurisdictions.
03 · Payment Infrastructure
We monitor payment entities, bank statement descriptors, and transaction processing trails to identify shared financial infrastructure between brands that appear independent.
04 · Compliance Record
Gambling Commission enforcement actions, ASA advertising rulings, ADR dispute records, and responsible gambling assessments are reviewed across the full operator group, not just individual brands.
What we check and why
A casino review usually starts with the bonus, the game library, or the app design. We start somewhere different. We start with the operator, the company whose name appears on the licence, processes payments, holds player funds, and decides what happens when something goes wrong. The brand is the shopfront. The operator is the business behind the counter. Every page on this site works backwards from a brand name to its operating company, then evaluates that company across the four steps above.
How sister site connections are verified
We treat a sister site connection as verified only when it meets at least two of the following criteria: shared licence holder on the Gambling Commission register, shared corporate parent confirmed through Companies House or equivalent registry filings, shared payment processing entity visible in transaction records or published terms, or explicit disclosure in official company materials. A similar design, a shared game supplier, or the same welcome bonus structure are not sufficient evidence. When we cannot verify a connection through independent sources, we say so directly.
How ratings are assigned
Ratings reflect the overall operator profile, not just one brand. We evaluate five dimensions: licence standing, operator transparency, payout reliability, player protection, and compliance history. A casino belonging to an operator group with a clean record will rate higher than a brand with a flashy homepage but an opaque ownership trail or a history of regulatory penalties. Ratings are not permanent and are reviewed when new enforcement data or corporate developments change the picture.
Sources we use
Our primary sources are the Gambling Commission public register, Companies House corporate filings, equivalent registries in Malta, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man, published ADR decisions from IBAS and eCOGRA, ASA advertising rulings, and corporate disclosures in annual reports from publicly listed operator groups. When a source is cited on any page, it refers to a verifiable public record.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Casino placement on this site is based on editorial research, not commercial agreements. Operators cannot pay for inclusion, ranking position, or favourable ratings.
Ratings are reviewed when new enforcement data, corporate filings, or significant market developments change an operator's profile. Every rated page shows the date of its most recent review.
A verified sister site shares confirmed corporate ownership, licensing, or payment infrastructure with another brand. An comparison option is a comparable casino that is not owned by the same company. We label each clearly so players know whether a connection is proven or simply a comparison.
The operator holds the licence, processes payments, manages player funds, and determines compliance standards. Two brands can look completely different and still be run by the same company. Understanding the operator tells you more about the safety of your account than the brand name alone.
Primary sources include the Gambling Commission public register, Companies House corporate filings, equivalent registries in other jurisdictions, published ADR decisions, ASA advertising rulings, and corporate disclosures from publicly listed operator groups.