It’s crucial that casinos display a license from a legitimate licensing body on their site. Possession of a license means that a casino can operate legally. Examples of the trusted authorities we look out for include the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Kahnawake Gaming Commission, along with many others.

Casinos must also display evidence that they are regulated for security and fairness by a reputable independent authority, such as eCOGRA. If we can’t find this, we instead check that the games are fair by ourselves. To do this, we run the games thousands of times to make sure that the results really are random, and that a Random Number Generator (RNG) is in use.

When it comes to security, we always look for a valid SSL encryption certificate on the casino sites we review. Encryption ensures that any data being exchanged between the player and casino is not at risk of being stolen and means that a site is safe to use.

When it comes to the games, a great selection is key. We always look out for a good mix of slots, table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker, live dealer and bingo/keno games. We also like to see a wide range of variants of each game too. As we wouldn’t want to recommend something we haven’t tried for ourselves, our team also try out a few titles with real money.

Progressive jackpots are a must for serious slots fans. These thrilling games often pay out the greatest winnings of all online casino games and will be featured in all good game catalogues. We always check for the big names such as Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune and the Age of Gods series, and of course we like to see a substantial total jackpot.

The option to play free games is always high on our list. Free games give you the chance to test new games, practice their strategy and simply have fun with no risk! We always try out a few different free games ourselves to again ensure quality and variety.

Casinos are distinguished by the software they use, and the best will source their games from top software providers such as NetEnt, Playtech or Microgaming. The best software providers are known to offer seamless graphics, high-quality sound and exciting animations along with other impressive features.

As some players prefer to download casino software to their device, we also like to test this out for ourselves. This way we can be completely sure that the software is easy to install, won't be harmful to the device and will provide just as good an experience as the online version of the casino.

For those preferring to play via a web browser, high quality no-download software is essential, along with a quick and easy sign-up process. Again, we check that the website interface is easy to navigate and that everything runs smoothly. The best casinos will also have fully responsive mobile websites capable of playing most of, if not all, games in their collection, which is always something we consider.

An impressive welcome bonus is a must for all top casinos. We're always looking for the most generous casino bonuses online, and strongly suggest making the most of any sign-up bonuses when you register. Whether it’s a deposit match, free spins, cash-back or no-deposit offer, a good bonus can make all the difference to your game.

For a bonus to be truly beneficial, it's important that the terms and conditions aren't too complex, and that there are no extremely high wagering requirements. As such, we always read through the fine print and highlight any potential complications with claiming a bonus so you can make an informed decision.

Promotions shouldn’t just be for new joiners. We are constantly keeping an eye on how frequently each casino offers new bonuses, gifts and promotions to their existing members.

In addition to promotions, top casinos will offer a well-structured loyalty scheme. This allows you to earn additional benefits from each bet you make. VIP perks may also be awarded to high roller players who wager a lot of money with the casino. We take a look at what's offered with each tier of a casino’s loyalty program and assess whether the rewards really make it worth your while.

As part of our review process, we'll see how easy it is to sign up to the casinos ourselves and make a deposit. The things we look out for here include the number of payment methods available, the currencies accepted and whether there are any minimum or maximum limits.

All the best casinos make taking care of your money a top priority. We always check that all payments are made via trusted and secure means. This involves top tier encryption of your personal data, only requesting relevant details for the transaction to be successful, and partnering with reputable payment systems such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal.

We know how important fast withdrawal times are. That's why when we make a withdrawal, we not only check the range of banking options and currencies available, but how quick the process is in general.

In addition to smooth banking processes, we want to know that casinos themselves don't take too long in processing players' winnings for release. As such, when requesting a withdrawal, we like to see that they stay true to their word on processing times.

To be sure that a casino is offering its customers a decent payout rate, we check that the average return to player (RTP) is high, and also check those of the individual games. All good casinos will openly display this information on their site.

When disclosing personal information, you want reassurance that it will only be used for the purposes you intended. We only recommend casinos if we're confident that they won't pass on personal details to third parties without players' permission. To be sure of this, we always take a thorough look through their privacy policies and encourage all players to do the same.

Customer safety should be a high priority for any reputable casino. We thoroughly test and asses those offering any responsible gambling or general wellbeing features to ensure that they are offering genuine help and support. These options might include ways to monitor time/money spent gambling, self-exclusion options, helplines and more. If you do find yourself showing signs of problem gambling, it's important to get help immediately.

The best casinos offer customer support that's accessible 24/7 via a range of different options. When reviewing a casino, we are looking for telephone, email and live chat support, and an extensive FAQ section on the casino's website is always a big plus. Social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter can also be a great way to get in touch with casinos if you need support.

To establish the quality of the support offered by an online casino, we contact them via all possible means to see how well they respond to issues. Once approached, we're looking for a support team to resolve the problem quickly. They should also be able to communicate with players in their own language.

We test the quality of instant-play casino websites on a range of smartphones and tablets via different browsers. We’re looking to see that the site runs smoothly and offers just as good an experience as on desktop, with a similar number of games available. We also look out for any additional bonuses and promotions exclusively available to mobile gamblers.

Downloadable apps for mobile devices are also usually offered by top casinos, and we make sure to test every aspect of them just as thoroughly as we would on the casino's main website. We take particular interest in aspects such as their speed, layout, and game selection.

For the best user experience, top casinos will offer a tailored experience for customers wherever they are. This means providing a great experience for people in their own language and currency, with equivalent games and features if local regulations allow it. To get a true impression of how well each casino manages to do this, we've expanded our team over the years to cover a range of different countries and languages.