Editorial
How We Rate Canadian Casinos and Sportsbooks
Detailed methodology: security, payout speed, game library, customer support, bonus value, and mobile UX. Each criterion's weight is published.
Our complete methodology for rating Canadian online casinos and sportsbooks. The criteria below sum to 100% and apply identically to every operator we score. Licensing is a binary gate before scoring begins.
The Full Rubric
| Criterion | Weight | What we measure | How it maps to stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payout speed (tested) | 30% | Median Interac and crypto withdrawal times over 30 days, multi-test average | ≤14 hrs = 5★, ≤22 hrs = 4★, ≤30 hrs = 3★, ≤48 hrs = 2★, >48 hrs = 1★ |
| Game library + RTP | 20% | Total title count + average published RTP weighted by popularity | 3000+ titles, 96.5%+ avg RTP = 5★; 1500+ titles, 96%+ avg = 4★; 1000+ titles = 3★ |
| Bonus quality + terms | 20% | Bonus EV after wagering math (see our WR guide) | Positive EV bonuses = 5★; 30x WR or lower at 96.5% RTP = 4★; 35x = 3★; 40x+ = 2★ |
| Customer support quality | 15% | 3 test inquiries: response time + accuracy + escalation pathway clarity | <5 min response, all answers accurate = 5★; <30 min, mostly accurate = 4★; 1-4 hrs = 3★ |
| Mobile UX | 15% | Browser parity with desktop, biometric login, mobile-specific bonuses, latency on key transitions | Full browser parity + biometric + mobile-specific offers = 5★; full parity, missing one feature = 4★ |
Licensing Gate
Before scoring begins, operators must have verifiable licensure from one of:
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) + iGaming Ontario (iGO) — Ontario-regulated only
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) — offshore, strongest player protection
- Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) — offshore, most common
- Anjouan eGaming Authority — offshore, newer entrant
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) — Mohawk territory
- Provincial-lottery-corporation operators (BCLC PlayNow, Loto-Québec, etc.) — onshore
Operators without verifiable licensing — license number must validate at the issuing authority's website — are excluded from our ranking entirely.
Why These Weights
Payout speed at 30%: withdrawals are the operator's single most visible commitment to players. An operator that holds your money is failing the most basic test.
Game library + RTP at 20%: the core product. Per-title RTP matters as much as total title count.
Bonus terms at 20%: bonus value minus expected clearance cost determines whether an offer is real value or marketing.
Customer support at 15%: the test of whether real-money operations actually function under stress.
Mobile UX at 15%: majority of Canadian online casino sessions are mobile.
How Rankings Change
We refresh test cycles every 90 days. Major changes (license suspensions, sustained payout delays beyond 5 business days, retroactive bonus-term changes, mid-withdrawal account closures) trigger immediate updates. All changes are logged in our public changelog with date + brand + before/after rank + reason.
Editorial Independence
Operators do not pay for placement. Affiliate revenue does not influence rank position. Our rubric weights are published — they don't change operator-by-operator. See content transparency for our full editorial-independence statement.