How We Review Casinos

CasinoAlpha Reviews

CasinoAlpha Ireland released its first online casino review in 2022. Today, we collect & analyze data from over 200 sites and review at 15 online casinos monthly. Our average results each month are as follows:

• 20 research entries
• 30 tested offers
• 35 data points & industry statistics every month
• 10-15 online casino reviews monthly

The CasinoAlpha 2024 gambling reports are evaluated at an average 5.3% annual error rate.

Our research strategies are designed to reduce the annual error rate by at least 0.6% every 6 months.

We review and update the data we process monthly to achieve higher accuracy levels.

CasinoAlpha Ireland online casino reviews are based on in-depth industry knowledge, such as:

• Hard data entries on casino software development, including encryption types and Random Number Generators;
• Legal structures for every Irish province around gambling, taxes, and licensing;
• News about the gambling industry trends like popular games, payment services, average betting limits, etc.;
• Updates on casino-owning companies;
• Technical knowledge of game rules, types, and strategies;
• Live dealer conduct and casino support standards.

We compare 100% of our reviewed operators with their competitors and our industry information.

The casinoalpha.ie 2024 database includes over +200 customer reports and reviews that we add to our online casino review results.

Data-driven Leadership & Research Management

Tudor Turiceanu is the Chief Editor and Data Management Leader at CasinoAlpha.

Tudor, with over 17 years of experience, is a prominent figure in the gambling industry. He utilizes his expertise to analyze the complexities of the Irish gambling market and oversees the testing and data research procedures at CasinoAlpha. Additionally, he is responsible for determining the final ratings for each online casino review on CasinoAlpha.

CasinoAlpha Workflow

Eight CasinoAlpha Ireland experts create between 10 and 15 online casino reviews each month.

Four people research a casino’s reputation, security, software, licenses, certifications, and owning company.

A CasinoAlpha author creates the review, and two senior editors check the accuracy and relevance of the online casino review. Our main editor checks and approves it before it is published on casinoalpha.ie.

We invest every month an average of:

• 100 hours of research
• 200 hours of website testing and casino data collection;
• 60 hours of expert data analysis and online casino review development;
• 72 hours of online casino review updates;
• 60 hours of collecting and processing customer online casino reviews;
• €1200 in casino deposits and wagering.

CasinoAlpha also invests €8000 annually in trending devices in Ireland to gather accurate and relevant details.

Casino Testing Methodology

The full casino testing process at CasinoAlpha Ireland includes 3 key stages:

• Extensive research;
• Data collection;
• Expert analysis.

Research Stages

• Check legitimacy & casino license in the casino terms;
• Collect the casino license number from the licensing authority’s official database;
• Check if it has an Irish Betting License issued by Revenue Commissioners;
• Find official certifications from independent site testers like eCOGRA;
• Verify the website’s security specifications, like encryption type;
• Check the site’s launch year and experience;
• Get information about the company owning the casino;
• Find the casino’s sister sites;
• Collect online casino reviews from Irish users.

Data Collection Process

To collect information that impacts Irish users, CasinoAlpha’s experts:

• Test how long the registration process takes;
• Verify the account and note the KYC documents and process;
• Test navigation on desktop and mobile;
• Examine the casino apps available and downloading process;
• Test the casino’s most popular games and record the number of games and categories;
• Play with the minimum and maximum bets for each game category;
• Check the providers available on the website and how their games perform;
• Test available deposit methods, limits, time and fees;
• Cash-out and note withdrawal limits, policies, and processing times;
• Examine the quality and availability of casino customer support.

Objective Analysis and Review

CasinoAlpha Ireland’s analysis system compares a casino’s data with its competitors to determine which one stands out.

Every CasinoAlpha online casino review shows how a casino performs based on industry information, users’ experiences, and our quality criteria.

Anonymous tests with live accounts

CasinoAlpha chooses to create live accounts anonymously to preserve the authentic and unbiased character of any online casino review.

The expert online casino review team creates each review based on their hands-on experience with a particular casino. To stay as close to reality as possible, they register live accounts following the same steps you would as a casino player. They even go through the KYC check to confirm their accounts.

Usability

At CasinoAlpha Ireland, our online casino review experts test the usability of an online casino, taking into account 3 major aspects:

Desktop

Our team browse through each casino website to see if the overall interface is player-oriented and easy to use. They enter each category and note how well it’s organized if players can find any information quickly, and if there are any glitches.

They also take into account the graphics and positioning of each element on each casino page.

Mobile

Since many Irish gamblers use their phones to access online casinos, these sites must be mobile-friendly.

So, our online casino review experts scroll through each site on mobile, take a closer look at how each element appears and if the overall interface looks crowded or tiring to Irish players.

The CasinoAlpha Ireland team also checks if there are any differences between the Desktop and the mobile versions.

Apps

A casino app provides easiness and could even offer special casino features. Therefore, our experts research if a casino has an iOS and Android app and download them to see how well they work.

Slot games

The experts at CasinoAlpha review the performance of a casino’s slot games by testing a wide variety of top slots, such as 5-reel slots, progressives, classic slots, and jackpots. They assess the number of slot games and the providers to determine if the casino offers a diverse selection. The experts place a minimum first bet ranging from €0.10 to €0.50 and try out different slot games. To ensure the legitimacy of the casino games, they verify the payout rate, either in the terms and conditions or through specialized testing agencies like eCOGRA, if available.

Live games

In point of live dealer games, our online casino review experts start with the betting limits. They enter lobbies from multiple games and make bets according to the established rules of each game. Then, they look for the available top providers as well as game variety, namely: Live Roulette, Live Blackjack and Live Baccarat.

They also take into account the subtypes for each live dealer game to test the variety.

Deposits & Withdrawals

Our online casino review team chooses multiple payment methods on each casino site and tests them. They invest the minimum deposit sum and input their details to make a first deposit. Then, they make a withdrawal to find out the payout processing time. The team also looks for the maximum cashout sum in the Terms and Conditions to make sure they don’t withdraw more than it is allowed.

Customer Support

Customer support is crucial when you encounter a problem! Our experts search for the available support methods, namely 24/7 Live Chat and e-mail assistance. They also get in contact with them to see if they are reliable.

Apart from these 2 options, our experts look for pre-registration support options or a VIP assistance to offer additional help to Irish players.

Legitimacy & Fairness

All Irish online casinos listed on the CasinoAlpha Ireland website are licensed by at least a gambling regulatory body, like the Malta Gaming Authority or the Irish Betting License issued by Revenue Commissioners if the site offers sports betting.

The CasinoAlpha team looks for evidence of a valid Irish gambling license in the site’s T&Cs or footer.

Another aspect they constantly check is a gaming license provided by an independent auditor, like eCOGRA or iTechLabs. They take this step to make sure the payout rate and other gaming variables are fair towards any Irish player.

Reputation

The casino company’s reputation plays a big role in the casinoalpha.ie testing process. First, 2 CasinoAlpha Ireland experts read the Terms and Conditions from start to finish and highlight the most important details. They also detect any misleading information.

The CasinoAlpha experts take into account the overall activity of a casino brand, from products, to markets and active years. They note all this information in every online casino review, while looking for any lack of company transparency.

Testing Devices

To see how well a site performs, online casino review experts conduct tests on both mobile devices and laptops. They use the iPhone 12 Pro and MacBook Air as testing devices to look for any glitches or system errors of a gambling platform. Making tests on multiple devices is also a way to spot significant differences within the interface and to figure out if the casino is user-friendly.

CasinoAlpha Rating System

• Blacklisted
• Not recommended
• Barely recommended
• Recommended
• Highly recommended
• Excellent

The CasinoAlpha 2022 casino ratings are based on how we rate each relevant aspect of the gambling website.

We show our scores in every section of our online casino review, and use objective methods to calculate them.

Unbiased Rating System Methodology

CasinoAlpha Ireland uses objective methods to rate every part of users’ online casino experience:

Usability

To calculate our usability rating, CasinoAlpha experts check if a casino is mobile-friendly and has iOS and Android mobile apps. Our team also considers whether registration and KYC are quick and easy and whether the desktop version loads fast and can be used without issues.

Deposits & Withdrawals

The CasinoAlpha 2024 rating system for deposits & withdrawals considers the number of popular payment providers available, how long it takes the site to process a payout request, and the minimum payment and maximum cash-out limits.

Slots

CasinoAlpha rates a casino’s slots according to the number of Slots providers popular in Ireland, the number and variety of Slots, betting range, and average slot payout rate.

Live Dealer

Live dealer games ratings are calculated based on a casino’s number of Live tables and Live game providers, the number of game variations available, and their minimum and maximum wagers.

Customer Support

To rate a casino’s customer service, we consider the number of assistance methods and 24/7 help-desk availability. We also check if players can contact help-desk officers before making an account and if VIP gamers get additional support.

Reputation

At CasinoAlpha, we rate a casino’s reputation according to the clarity and fairness of its terms and conditions and years of industry experience. The CasinoAlpha Ireland team also looks at how many products it offers and if they are available in different countries.

Legitimacy & Fairness

Our legality and fairness score considers the online casino’s licence, payout rate, and any certifications from independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. CasinoAlpha Ireland checks for internationally renowned licensors like the UKGC, MGA or the Irish Betting License issued by Revenue Commissioners.

FAQ

How long does each online casino review take?

It takes between 6-8 hours to research and create a full online casino review and another 2 hours to check it from start to finish. CasinoAlpha’s experts know exactly what details to look for and where to find them, to save you valuable time.

How many CasinoAlpha experts create an online casino review?

A team of 8 CasinoAlpha Ireland experts create an online casino review. Some of the people involved in casino testing are part-time members, but every data entry is reviewed by a full-time professional. CasinoAlpha reviews are exclusively created by our authors, based on the data entries, and a team of 3 different editors check it before publication.

How often does CasinoAlpha update online casino reviews?

CasinoAlpha Ireland updates each online casino review several times during the year. The review team informs itself on each change in the gambling industry, from legislation to new and innovative casino features. CasinoAlpha also take part in iGaming conferences throughout the world to keep up with the latest trends on each market. This constant research process helps them to adapt every online casino review to the current changes quickly.

Do paid partnerships influence the CasinoAlpha review process?

CasinoAlpha Ireland reviews are not influenced by paid partnerships. About 30% the casino brands we list do not pay us and we don’t necessarily recommend to our readers the casinos that have monetary agreements with us. We focus on Irish players and give them professional and objective online casino reviews.