This is how 24Spins rates online casinos. We score every casino against seven pillars, weight the pillars consistently, and re-test every casino in our index at least every 90 days. Methodology version 2.0 — published 28 May 2026, maintained by Stephen Harris, Editor-in-Chief.
The Seven Pillars (and Their Weights)
| Pillar | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Licensing & Trust | 25% | Tier-1 licence current? Regulatory action in last 24 months? Player-fund segregation? |
| 2. Payout Speed & Reliability | 20% | How long to verify KYC? How long to process withdrawal? Any complaints of slow/voided payments? |
| 3. Slot Library & Game Variety | 15% | Number of unique titles, provider diversity, RTP averages, live-dealer offering |
| 4. Bonus Value (after wagering) | 15% | Expected-value calculation: bonus amount × win rate − wagering loss. Max-win caps matter. |
| 5. Customer Support | 10% | Channels available (live chat, email, phone), hours, response time in Irish business hours |
| 6. Irish-Player Compatibility | 10% | EUR-native cashier? Revolut/Trustly/AIB/BoI accepted? Apple Pay? GRAI status? |
| 7. Game Fairness & RNG | 5% | eCOGRA / iTech Labs / GLI certification visible? RTPs match the slot provider’s published values? |
Each pillar is scored 0-10. The weighted average produces the overall rating, also 0-10. We round to one decimal place. A casino must score ≥7.0 to appear in our “Best Online Casinos” listings.
Pillar 1 — Licensing & Trust (25% weight)
We check the regulator’s public register for every casino, every quarter. The score breaks down as:
- 10/10: Multiple Tier-1 licences (e.g. MGA + UKGC + Gibraltar). No regulatory action in 24 months. Listed with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (when issuing begins 1 July 2026).
- 8-9/10: Single Tier-1 licence (MGA preferred for Irish players). Clean regulatory record.
- 5-7/10: Tier-1 licence with minor historical regulatory action (warning, small fine) resolved.
- Below 5: Curaçao or no licence (we don’t list these). Recent regulatory action without remediation.
We treat licence loss as cause for immediate delisting, regardless of other scores.
Pillar 2 — Payout Speed & Reliability (20% weight)
We deposit €20, play it through eligible games, then request a withdrawal. We time:
- KYC verification turnaround (documents submitted to KYC approved)
- Withdrawal processing time per payment method (Revolut, Trustly, debit card, bank transfer)
- Any voided withdrawal requests and the reason given
We also scan AskGamblers, the Casino.org complaint database, and r/onlinegambling for systematic withdrawal complaints. Multiple unresolved complaints reduce the score.
Pillar 3 — Slot Library & Game Variety (15% weight)
We count unique slot titles from regulated providers only — we do not count fan reskins, demo-only titles, or unlicensed providers. Providers we count:
NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, NoLimit City, Big Time Gaming, Yggdrasil, Hacksaw Gaming, Microgaming, Playtech, Push Gaming, Relax Gaming, ELK Studios, Quickspin, Red Tiger, Nolimit City, Thunderkick, Booming Games, Habanero, Wazdan, BGaming.
We also score live-dealer variety (Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Live, Playtech, Authentic Gaming, Ezugi) and table-game depth (number of blackjack/roulette/baccarat variants).
Pillar 4 — Bonus Value After Wagering (15% weight)
The headline bonus number is the worst metric to judge by. We compute expected value (EV) using the formula:
EV = Bonus amount − (Wagering required × House edge during wagering) capped at Max win cap
Example: A €100 bonus with 40x wagering on bonus only, played on 96% RTP slots, with a €500 max win:
- Wagering required: €100 × 40 = €4,000
- Expected loss while wagering: €4,000 × 4% = €160
- EV = €100 − €160 = −€60
Any bonus with negative EV gets at most 5/10 on this pillar. Bonuses with positive EV (cashback, low-wager free spins, VIP bonuses) score higher. See our wagering requirements guide for more worked examples.
Pillar 5 — Customer Support (10% weight)
We contact live chat from a fresh account at 11:00 Irish time on a weekday with a specific verification question. We measure:
- Time to first human response (we exclude bot greetings)
- Did the agent answer the question correctly
- Did the agent push promotional content unsolicited
- Channels available (live chat, email, phone, WhatsApp)
- Hours covered relative to Irish player base
Pillar 6 — Irish-Player Compatibility (10% weight)
Specific to Irish residents. We test:
- Euro-native cashier — deposits in € without FX conversion to GBP/USD
- Revolut acceptance — both deposit and withdrawal
- Trustly — major Irish payment method, growing
- Apple Pay / Google Pay — increasingly expected on mobile
- AIB and Bank of Ireland debit cards — factoring in their gambling-block opt-in
- Irish T&Cs availability — region-specific terms where applicable
- GRAI status — has the operator applied for an Irish licence?
Pillar 7 — Game Fairness & RNG (5% weight)
We verify the casino’s certification by checking:
- eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI certification logo (and confirming the certificate is current on the auditor’s site)
- That the slot RTPs displayed match the slot provider’s published values (some casinos run lower-RTP variants — we flag this)
- That the slot library is using the provider’s official version, not third-party reskins
Our Testing Process
- Registration — fresh account from an Irish IP, real personal details (we use a dedicated test address). We time the email confirmation.
- KYC verification — passport + utility bill submitted on day 1. We track the verification timeline.
- Deposit — €20 via the casino’s primary recommended method, then a second €20 via Revolut or Trustly.
- Gameplay — we play through both deposits on eligible slots, capturing actual RTP behaviour against published values.
- Bonus claim — we claim and attempt to clear the welcome bonus where possible.
- Withdrawal request — we request a withdrawal of available cash. We time the casino’s response and the funds arrival.
- Support contact — we contact live chat with a real query during the gameplay phase.
- Documentation — full notes, screenshots, and timestamps stored internally for every test. Available on request for editorial integrity disputes.
Re-Review Cadence
Every casino in our index is fully re-tested every 90 days. Between full re-tests, we monitor:
- Licence status (monthly check of regulator register)
- Bonus terms (monthly check of the casino’s promotions page)
- Complaint trends (continuous monitoring of AskGamblers, dispute services)
- Provider catalog changes (slot additions/removals)
A material change (licence loss, ownership transfer, payment-method removal) triggers an immediate review and may result in immediate delisting.
Methodology History
| Version | Date | Major Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 28 May 2026 | Refocused for Irish market: added GRAI tracking, Irish-player-compatibility pillar (10% weight), EUR-native scoring |
| 1.0 | August 2024 | Initial methodology: 6 pillars, UK-focused |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you score a casino?
Each casino is scored on seven pillars (licensing, payouts, games, bonus value, support, Irish compatibility, fairness) with weights of 25%, 20%, 15%, 15%, 10%, 10%, and 5% respectively. Each pillar scores 0-10. The weighted average is the overall rating.
Do you actually deposit at the casinos you review?
Yes. Our editorial team deposits €20 (sometimes more) at every casino we rate, plays through the deposits, and requests withdrawals. We do not rely solely on operator-supplied data.
How often do you re-test casinos?
Every casino in our index gets a full re-test at least every 90 days. Bonus terms are checked monthly. Licence status is checked monthly. Material changes trigger immediate re-testing.
What’s the minimum score for a casino to appear on 24Spins?
A casino must score at least 7.0/10 to appear in our “Best Online Casinos” listings. Lower-scoring casinos may have individual review pages with explicit warnings about their weak areas.
How is the bonus value scored?
We compute expected value: bonus amount minus expected loss while clearing the wagering. A €100 bonus with 40x wagering on 96% RTP slots has an expected loss of €160, giving negative EV. Bonuses with negative EV score at most 5/10 on this pillar.
Why does Irish-player compatibility get its own pillar?
Many casino review sites are UK-first and translate for Ireland. We’re Ireland-first. Factors like euro-native cashier, Revolut acceptance, GRAI status, and Irish payment-method coverage materially affect the Irish player experience — so they deserve a dedicated 10% weight in our scoring.
Can I see the raw test data?
We don’t publish raw test data publicly (it includes test-account credentials and timestamps). However, if you dispute a specific rating or claim, we will share the relevant test notes via our contact page.
