How We Rate Casinos

At maritrehavi.com, every online casino we review is put through a rigorous, hands-on evaluation process before it earns a place on our site. Our team of betting experts tests each operator with real money, real accounts, and real withdrawals — because we believe Canadian players deserve honest, experience-based recommendations, not recycled marketing copy. Below, we break down the eight criteria we use in 2026 to score every casino, listed in order of importance.

1. Licensing & Regulation

Licensing is the foundation of trust, and it carries the most weight in our scoring. We verify that every casino holds a valid licence from a recognised regulatory authority, such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), or a reputable Curaçao eGaming licence. For the Canadian market, we also check whether an operator holds a local licence or is registered with provincial regulators (for example, iGaming Ontario / AGCO), and we confirm the licence number directly on the regulator's public register. Casinos with revoked, suspended, or unverifiable licences are excluded from our recommendations entirely — no exceptions.

2. Game Selection & Software Providers

A great casino needs depth and quality in its lobby. We assess:

• Slots: the number of titles, jackpot availability (including progressive jackpots), and RTP transparency.
• Live casino: live dealer blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and game shows, plus streaming quality and table limits.
• Table games & specialty titles: RNG-based poker, craps, crash games, and instant-win options.
• Providers: we favour casinos partnering with tier-one studios such as Evolution, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play'n GO, and Microgaming, alongside innovative smaller developers.

3. Bonus Terms & Wagering Requirements

A headline bonus means nothing if the fine print makes it impossible to withdraw. We read the full terms and conditions of every welcome offer and promotion, examining:

• Wagering (rollover) requirements — we flag anything above 40x as unfavourable;
• Game contribution rates — how much slots, table games, and live casino bets count toward rollover;
• Maximum cashout limits and bonus-to-real-money conversion caps;
• Time limits, restricted games, and max bet rules while a bonus is active.

Casinos with fair, clearly written T&Cs score higher than those hiding predatory clauses in small print.

4. Payment Methods & Withdrawal Speed

Canadian players need banking options that are fast, secure, and CAD-friendly. Our reviewers deposit and withdraw at every casino to measure real processing times. We evaluate:

• Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT) — availability, fees, and confirmation speed;
• E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, Interac e-Transfer) — limits and payout times;
• Bank transfers and cards (Visa, Mastercard, wire transfers) — typically slower, so we time them precisely.

Same-day or under-24-hour withdrawals earn top marks; casinos with unexplained delays, excessive KYC friction after the win, or hidden fees are penalised heavily.

5. Customer Support

When money is on the line, support quality matters. We test every contact channel at multiple times of day and night, scoring casinos on:

• 24/7 live chat availability and genuine first-response times;
• Email support — accuracy and turnaround of replies;
• Overall responsiveness and competence — can agents actually resolve withdrawal, bonus, and verification issues, or do they read from scripts?

Support in English (and ideally French for Canadian players) is also factored in.

6. Mobile Experience

Most players in 2026 gamble on their phones, so we test every casino on iOS and Android devices. We assess responsive design — whether the browser-based site adapts smoothly to smaller screens — and whether the operator offers dedicated apps. Load speed, touch navigation, full game availability on mobile, and the stability of live dealer streams all contribute to this score.

7. Responsible Gaming Tools

We believe a trustworthy casino actively protects its players. We verify that each operator provides accessible responsible gaming tools, including:

• Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly);
• Self-exclusion options, both temporary and permanent;
• Cooling-off periods and session/time reminders;
• Links to support organisations such as ConnexOntario, GamTalk, and other Canadian problem-gambling resources.

Casinos that bury these tools or make self-exclusion difficult lose significant points.

8. Our Rating Scale (1–10)

Each of the criteria above is scored individually, then combined into a single weighted rating from 1 to 10, with licensing and withdrawal reliability carrying the greatest weight:

• 9.0 – 10.0: Exceptional. Fully licensed, fast payouts, fair bonuses, and elite game selection. Our highest recommendation.
• 7.5 – 8.9: Very good. Reliable casinos with minor shortcomings in one or two areas.
• 6.0 – 7.4: Acceptable. Playable, but with notable weaknesses — read the full review carefully before depositing.
• 4.0 – 5.9: Below average. We advise caution; better alternatives exist for Canadian players.
• 1.0 – 3.9: Not recommended. Serious concerns around licensing, payments, or fairness.

Our reviews are updated regularly to reflect licence changes, new payment policies, and player feedback, so the score you see on maritrehavi.com always reflects the casino as it operates today — not as it was at launch.