Rating Guidelines

At GambleOntario, we do our best to provide our readers with high-quality, factual information. To guarantee that we keep our word, we follow a set of rating guidelines that are critical to ensuring that our material meets our readers’ needs.

We strive to offer you reliable and unbiased information on all aspects of online gaming and make all of the best information available to you right here on this site.

We employ a thorough review process supported by statistical models for data analysis to guide our fact-checked ratings.

On this page, you will learn:

1. How we develop statistically proven rating guidelines
2. How we analyze data as part of our review process
3. How we simplify our ratings by giving scores
4. How we review: online casinos, sportsbooks, online slots, casino games, bingo sites, casino & betting apps, payment methods

Continue reading below or jump straight to the section of your interest by clicking on the headings on the top bar of this page.

How We Develop Our Rating Guidelines Using Statistical Methods

At GambleOntario, we take great pride in the accuracy and thoroughness of our content.

We understand how important it is for our readers to receive reliable and trustworthy information about the online casinos and sportsbooks they frequent.

That’s why we have developed a meticulous process for creating our statistically-backed rating guidelines.

✅ We Employ Industry Experts

Our team is composed of industry experts who have spent years engaging with Ontario’s online gaming platforms.

This first-hand involvement has given us a deep understanding of industry standards, emerging trends, and the complicated details of gaming platforms.

We invite you to learn more about each team member’s specific areas of expertise on our Meet our Authors page. Each member has been recruited to serve a different scope.

For example, you will see that we have an expert on Formula 1 topics, another expert for golf, another expert for online casino reviews, and so on.

Of course, this isn’t restrictive, as some of our writers have obtained experience working in diverse areas of online gambling and sports betting.

✅ We Collect and Analyze Data

When evaluating new casinos or sportsbooks, we collect fact-checked information and examine a detailed list of different features.

For sites that offer multiple types of gaming, such as live casino, sports betting, and poker, we clearly define our evaluation criteria for both online casinos and sportsbooks, ensuring our assessments are thorough and tailored to each gambling platform.

Our goal is to provide our readers with the most accurate and reliable information possible so they can make informed decisions about where to place their bets.

How We Analyze Data: The Science Behind Our Ratings

At GambleOntario, we go beyond the surface to bring you ratings you can count on using a blend of advanced statistical methodologies.

Behind every rating you see on our platform lies a foundation of advanced methodologies, each carefully selected to ensure we’re not just providing numbers but a trusted guide to your next gaming experience. We leverage:

• Wilson Score Interval: For accurate reflections of user satisfaction.
• Bayesian Averages: To balance ratings, especially useful for newer platforms.
• Item Response Theory (IRT): Evaluating the fairness and probability of winning.
• Cluster Analysis: Grouping similar gaming experiences to match your preferences.
• Predictive Modeling: Anticipating future trends to keep you ahead.

These sophisticated techniques distill complex data into clear, reliable ratings.

Whether deciding on your next online gambling or sports betting destination or looking for the most fair and engaging experience, our analyses provide the guidance you need to navigate confidently.

💡 Ensuring Accurate Ratings with the Wilson Score Interval Method

We use a statistical method called the Wilson Score Interval to ensure that the ratings you see truly reflect how much gamblers like an online casino or a sportsbook.

This isn’t just about counting good and bad reviews; it’s a bit more sophisticated.

Imagine you’re looking at casino ratings in Ontario to find out which one is the best. Some casinos might have a few hundred reviews, while others have thousands. Can you trust that a casino with a higher rating but fewer reviews is genuinely better? That’s where the Wilson Score Interval comes in handy.

Here’s what it does in simpler terms: This technique looks at the number of good and bad reviews but also considers the total number of reviews to calculate a more trustworthy score. This approach helps us be more confident that a high-rated casino is really appreciated by its players, regardless of how many reviews it has.

We take great care in selecting our data on online casino and betting site reviews in Ontario. Specifically, we choose information that is relevant only to the Ontario-licensed casinos and sportsbooks rather than relying on their general reputation in other countries. This approach allows us to provide a more precise evaluation of each brand, tailored to its unique features and offerings in Ontario.

So, when you see a rating based on the Wilson Score Interval, you can trust it’s giving you a clearer picture of what’s really well-liked. This ensures fairness and accuracy in ratings, even in cases where the number of reviews varies widely.

For more detailed information, you can visit Wikipedia’s explanation of the Wilson Score Interval.

💡 Enhancing Rating Accuracy with Bayesian Averages

Imagine you’re trying to choose a new casino or sportsbook, but you find that some have hundreds of reviews while others only have a few. It seems unfair to judge the newcomers harshly just because they haven’t had as many players leave feedback yet, right? That’s where Bayesian Averages come in.

This method does something really useful: it takes a bit of what we already know (like an overall average rating from many casinos or sportsbooks) and mixes it with the new reviews.

The purpose of this blend is to prevent newly licensed brands or brands with only a few reviews from being unfairly scored lower than they deserve, particularly if they are not yet popular among gamblers. It’s especially helpful for giving a fair shake to new casinos or sportsbooks that haven’t had time to gather a lot of reviews.

By using Bayesian Averages, we can get a more stable and accurate picture of a site’s quality right from the start. This means you get a clearer idea of where it might be good to play or bet, even if some options haven’t been around as long.

This approach helps everyone make better choices based on more reliable ratings, levelling the playing field for newer entrants and providing users with trustworthy insights into quality from the get-go.

If you want to dive deeper into the technical side, you can learn more about Bayesian averages on Wikipedia and understand its application in gambling through Pinnacle’s insightful guide.

💡 Personalizing Your Choices with Cluster Analysis

When you’re searching for the perfect casino or sportsbook, it can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. That’s why we’ve turned to a method called Cluster Analysis to make your search easier and more personal.

Cluster Analysis helps us sort through all the casinos and sportsbooks out there by grouping them based on what they have in common.

It’s like organizing books by genre so you can find your next read based on what you love. This technique digs deep to find patterns and similarities that might not be obvious at first glance but make a big difference in matching you with your ideal gaming platform.

By applying Cluster Analysis, we’re able to provide you with tailored listings that highlight platforms suiting your preferences. Whether you’re into live sports betting, slots with high jackpots, or casinos that offer the best card games, our use of this method means our recommendations are customized just for you.

This approach is part of our commitment to enhancing your experience, guiding you to your next favourite game or betting platform with ease. It’s how we ensure that when you’re browsing through our suggestions, you’re seeing options that truly align with what you’re looking for.

Are you interested in how we use Cluster Analysis to fine-tune your search for the best gaming experience? Read about how Cluster Analysis works and its benefits.

💡 Making Gaming Fair: Our Approach with Item Response Theory

We’re all about fairness in gaming, which is why we’ve adopted a smart approach called Item Response Theory (IRT). This method helps us make sure everyone has a fair shot at winning or losing, no matter how tough the game is.

IRT goes beyond just counting who wins or loses. It looks at the odds of winning or losing in each game, considering how difficult the game is supposed to be. So, if you manage to win a game that’s known for being super challenging, it shows you’ve really got some serious skills, more so than winning an easier game.

By using IRT, we make the gaming world a fairer place. It lets us adjust the ratings to reflect not just the outcome but also how fair the game was based on its difficulty. This means the ratings you see are more about the real chances of winning, tailored to how hard each challenge is.

This approach ensures that when we talk about how good a game is or how skilled a player is, we’re being as fair and accurate as possible. It’s part of our promise to keep gaming enjoyable and equitable, recognizing true skill and effort.

Anyone curious about how we use IRT to keep things fair and square in gaming can check out more details about the Item Response Theory.

💡 Shaping the Future of iGaming with Predictive Modeling

At GambleOntario, we harness the power of Predictive Modeling to peek into the future of online gambling and sports betting.

By analyzing the vast amount of historical data from our extensive portfolio of iGaming brands, we unlock predictions on trends like rising stars in the casino world and shifts in customer satisfaction. This innovative approach enables us to fine-tune our ratings, offering you a glimpse into the future quality of your gaming experience.

What does this mean for you? Our predictive insights allow us to refine our ratings, ensuring they reflect not just where things stand today but where they’re headed. This forward-looking perspective keeps you in the loop with the best online gambling experiences available, tailored to meet evolving preferences and expectations.

Behind the scenes, Predictive Modeling gives us a deep understanding of player behaviour and satisfaction trends, guiding us in curating our selection to better align with what gamblers seek.

While the analytics might sound complex, we simplify this wealth of information into straightforward scores for you. This means you benefit from our comprehensive analysis in an easy-to-understand format, making your choice simpler and more informed.

Through our strategic use of Predictive Modeling, we’re not just analyzing past trends; we’re using them to illuminate the path ahead. GambleOntario is dedicated to being your trusted guide through the ever-changing landscape of online gaming.

If you’re curious about how AI and predictive analytics are revolutionizing player experience, further reading is available on Wikipedia and MobileAppDaily, offering insights into these cutting-edge technologies.

How We Simplify Our Ratings: We Give Scores

Navigating the world of online casinos and sportsbooks can get overwhelming with all the technical jargon and complex analyses out there.

That’s why, at GambleOntario, we’ve taken a different approach. We break down all that intricate data and expert evaluations into straightforward scores. Whether it’s a perfect “5 out of 5” or a scale up to “5” stars, these scores make it easy for you to understand the quality and reliability of each platform at a glance, simplifying your decision-making process.

This approach ensures that you can quickly gauge a casino’s or sportsbook’s standing and make informed choices without having to wade through complex details.

How We Review Online Casinos

As avid gamblers, various things influence whether we choose to play at an online casino or not.

We’re all unique, and we recognize that not all top casinos are for everyone. We at Gamble Ontario aim to make sure that our casino evaluations are straightforward and truthful. Each web element is broken down and given our experienced attention.

✅ Valid Gambling Licence

The gaming licence of an online casino is one of the first things we look at. We verify that this comes from a reliable source and that the licence is still current. You can trust us never to suggest a site that fails to fulfil this particular requirement.

✅ Casino Games Selection

Players are understandably disappointed when they sign up at a casino only to find a limited variety of games. We don’t want you to be met with a lobby of casino games filled with thousands of titles that provide no enjoyment. We examine the game choices in depth to ensure that there is something to satisfy all sorts of gamers. It’s also critical to test games for defects and see if they’re mobile-friendly.

✅ Reputable Game Providers

For us to suggest an online casino, it must provide games from reputable software developers. We find out whether games from reputable providers like NetEnt, Play’n Go, Yggdrasil are available. We also check the overall selection of providers to ensure that diverse game categories are stocked with great titles.

✅ Positive User Reviews

We look for feedback from current users to get a true sense of what a platform is like. We consider both good and negative feedback. Each of our casino evaluations has a section dedicated to issues and honest comments for each site.

✅ Terms and Conditions Transparency

Our specialists regularly double-check each online casino’s terms and conditions. These are typically a good indicator of whether or not a platform is worth your time. We want to see terminology that is easy to understand and jargon-free. We examine if they are reasonable and provide a decent deal for all gamblers.

✅ Cashing Out

It is critical to receive your rewards on schedule. This is why we are very open about the cashout processing time in our ratings. These intervals should not be excessively long, and cashouts should be fully secured to protect personal information, transaction data, and funds.

✅ Future Changes

A large part of our assessment process is examining each online casino’s progress since its introduction. We also take into account each site’s future plans and what they have planned for players, including things like the introduction of Live Games, new languages for support, and more.

✅ Customer Service Quality

Offering expert customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is great, but is this help provided by certified professionals? This is why we put every online casino’s customer service to the test. Our assessments are based on reaction times and agent expertise. We also want to see players have access to help through more than one method – preferably via email, live chat, and phone.

✅ Account Registration

Real player profiles are used to evaluate each online casino. This is the only way we can provide you with the most accurate picture. We use the accounts to check out the casinos and describe everything they have, showing how simple the procedure is and how long it takes. When critiques are called for, we provide those too.

✅ Interface

The appearance and feel of an online casino have a significant impact. We mention it in our casino reviews to ensure you know what to expect even before you see it. Nobody wants to waste time trying to figure out how to make a withdrawal. We look at how easy it will be for you to navigate the site to make sure that a seasoned player or a novice can find their way around.

How We Review Online Sportsbooks

At GambleOntario, our approach to reviewing online sportsbooks is thorough and detail-oriented. We delve into every aspect of a sportsbook to ensure our ratings are comprehensive and reliable. Here’s how we do it:

✅ Industry Expertise

Our team comprises expert sports betting professionals and journalists who bring their extensive knowledge to each review. We work with distinct specialists, each of whom has expertise in certain sports, such as Formula 1, golf, tennis, and more. This approach enables us to feel confident about the accuracy of the content we publish. However, we understand there is always room for error, so we are open to your feedback and corrections.

✅ Bettor’s Experience

We assess the ease of use, interface design, and overall user satisfaction to ensure a seamless betting experience.

As bettors ourselves, we understand that when signing up for a new sportsbook, regardless of your preferred sports, the first thing you do is test the platform’s layout, website speed, and overall feeling. This is why user experience holds great significance when rating a betting site in Ontario’s online sports betting sites.

✅ Sports Market Variety and Betting Options

A wide range of sports, events, and betting types is essential. We evaluate the diversity and quality of betting options available to users.

Although odds change in real-time, we assess the overall odds offered by sportsbooks for each sport, particularly those popular among Ontario bettors.

This allows us to provide a fair rating for sportsbooks in terms of market variety, bet types, and odds in the long run.

✅ Security and Fairness

The safety and integrity of a sportsbook are non-negotiable. We examine licensing, regulation, and the fairness of betting odds. If a sportsbook does not display the iGaming Ontario logo on its website, we know it is not a sportsbook we can recommend to our readers. Security also pertains to your personal details, banking information, and the overall fairness of cashing out your winnings.

✅ Payment Methods and Payout Speed

We assess the availability of multiple secure payment options and the efficiency of the withdrawal process. We always strive to be up-to-date and recommend sportsbooks that offer the latest, fastest, and most secure payment methods. We test them ourselves, and based on their effectiveness, we either recommend them or inform you of their drawbacks by comparing the payment methods and the payout frame each sportsbook puts in place.

✅ Customer Support

Accessible, responsive, and helpful customer service is key to a positive betting experience. We test support channels to rate their effectiveness. For bettors, we understand the importance of receiving an answer on the spot, as most bets need to be settled promptly.

How We Review Online Slots

Gamble Ontario frequently reviews new online casino slots. We believe it is critical that we evaluate them based on these crucial characteristics, which we will explain below. We play each of these games for real money in order to provide you with an authentic assessment. In our archive, you’ll also discover evaluations of the most popular slots featured in online casinos.

✅ The Game’s Mechanics

We’ll tell you the minimum and maximum bets you may place, as well as the number of bet levels, paylines, and reels available. We’ll also tell you which combos to pay attention to in order to get as many wins as you can squeeze out of the house.

✅ Soundtrack and Theme

Both of these crucial slot game elements are taken into consideration. Because an irritating and repetitive soundtrack may make or break your session, we’ll always give you our honest opinion. The richness of the symbols and general aesthetics, as well as the sort of slot theme, are all discussed.

✅ Volatility and RTP

You can count on us to provide you with precise information. We also put each of our suggested online slots to the test to see how quickly they process wagers and give a possible win ratio. All that is in addition to disclosing to you the house edge (calculated by our specialists) and how often you can anticipate winning.

✅ Maximum Victory

All our slot evaluations specify the maximum payout and the wager amount and symbol combination that must be used to accomplish it. This saves you time from having to go through in-game material and figuring out difficult pay tables on your own. We’ll also provide our professional opinions on the maximum win and our opinions on whether it’s a good deal.

How We Review Casino Games

When reviewing casino games, we focus on the most significant aspects. We examine a variety of casino games, including baccarat, roulette, blackjack, poker, and craps. The possibilities are unlimited, and we want to make sure you have all of the requisite knowledge before you start playing.

Household Advantage

One of the most crucial elements to consider while selecting a new casino game to play is the house edge. This is why we make this figure explicit in each of our reviews. This provides you with a decent indication of the odds you’ll have to contend with when placing your wagers. We’ll also discuss the house advantage and whether or not the game has a good payout percentage.

✅ Learning Curve

The ease of play is one of the criteria we use to evaluate casino games. We look at it from the standpoint of both seasoned gamers and those hoping to learn something new. We check if games include accompanying manuals for the playing process and rank them on their user experience and interface.

✅ Online Availability

We thoroughly evaluate each of the casino games we review for mobile compatibility, taking into account flaws and convenience of use. We also assess a game’s accessibility and whether it will be easy to find at the most popular online casinos. We can recommend a game to you, but what good is it if you can’t play it if you want to?

✅ Winning Chances

We examine the house edge, RTP, volatility, and variability of casino games to determine their winning potential. We take care of the calculations, so you don’t have to. This provides you with a clear and accurate picture of how well a game could perform. In addition to that, we also include expert opinions on whether it is worth checking out or not.

How We Review Bingo Sites

Bingo has been popular for decades, and owing to online bingo gaming, this fun and simple game is attracting more participants than ever before.

GambleOntario has all you need to know about the game, including how-to instructions for getting the most out of your experiences. We also keep you up to date on all of the secure and reputable bingo sites.

For the time being, players in Ontario can only play bingo online at Delta Bingo.

✅ Number Of Players

When we look at the bingo games offered, we always look at the maximum player numbers allowed in each room. Most bingo players consider this a decisive factor, with some choosing smaller games and others opting for the larger games.

✅ The Value of Tier 1 Prizes

We consider the variety of prizes available in each of our bingo site evaluations. The number of rewards, their worth, and whether or not they are available to all players determine our ranking. We also look at the number of participants in Tier-1 games to see if you’ll be able to grab a fair share of the prize pool if your card is filled up.

✅ The Website’s Reputation

We are aware that there are several rogue bingo sites, and you can be assured that we will never promote any of them. When we assess a site, we look at its reputation among other industry suppliers and the player community.

✅ Variations on Bingo Balls

For some of you, a variation in the number of balls makes all the difference in this spectacular game. Whether you enjoy 5-line games or 90-ball games, we have them all. This information can be seen plainly in any of our reviews, and it plays a significant role in our ultimate rating choice.

How We Review Casino and Betting Apps

In online casinos and sports betting sites, mobile gambling is the most popular option for players to enjoy their favourite games and place sports bets. This is why we test betting apps and mobile casinos on various devices. Our app reviews are based on the following rating criteria:

✅ iOS and Android Compatibility

We constantly make sure that a gaming site is compatible with the two most common mobile operating systems. Our examination checks the app stores for each device and the desktop sites one might use on iOS and Android.

✅ Bugs and Errors Check

Our professionals put the applications through trials to check for errors and bugs. We accomplish this using multiple devices to see how the apps perform across platforms and devices. We also make sure to employ a variety of operating systems and carefully examine player feedback online.

We test different types of games, such as slots and live casino games, and we place live sports bets to determine how well they run and report any bugs in our evaluations.

✅ Excellent User Experience

We share our impressions of the entire experience in our reports and consider what other players say. This gives us a more comprehensive picture of an app to deliver accurate assessments to our readers so they can make informed decisions.

✅ Desktop Options

When we evaluate game software or fill in our bet slip on a mobile-compatible betting platform, we also look at how well it works on a desktop. Apps must provide gamers with a variety of capabilities and alternatives. Many applications adapt seamlessly to the desktop without sacrificing quality.

We go through this in-depth in our evaluations and tell you how well they function.

How We Review Payment Methods

If you’re looking for a new payment method or have recently acquired a new eWallet, you’ll find all you need to know right here at GambleOntario.

We have evaluations for all of the most popular payment options, and we’ll even help you locate a pay-by-mobile casino if that’s something you’re interested in. We go through each payment method in detail so you can make an informed decision.

✅ Online Casino Availability

You’ll discover a thorough list of all the finest gambling sites that accept a certain payment method in each of our evaluations. This saves you a lot of time, and you can be certain that the online casino you choose has been properly examined and approved by our specialists.

✅ Usefulness

It’s great to have a full-fledged payment system that promises to make our lives easier, but what good is it if it’s difficult to use? This is why we thoroughly evaluate each payment option, learning all of its ins and outs before reporting back to you. With all the pertinent information, you can decide which one to use.

✅ Limits on Deposits and Withdrawals

Our payment assessments include both the speed with which transactions can be performed and the deposit or payout limitations. For instance, high rollers may be interested in knowing which casinos accept large withdrawals and deposits.

How We Review Software Providers

On GambleOntario, you’ll discover comprehensive assessments of the most well-known software developers, such as NetEnt and Play’n Go.

We also examine the newest suppliers, providing you with pertinent information and history on each. We look at gambling licences, the legitimacy, and the quality of the games on offer.

✅ Reputation

You’re certainly aware of the reputations of the most well-known software companies, but what about upstart studios? We give this essential component an overall grade and consult with other industry experts to get a clearer picture of a provider’s reputation.

✅ Games Variety

The number of games available is clearly displayed at the top of each of our provider reviews. We also specify which countries these games are available in and whether or not they are limited in any way. You can test many games for free by clicking the play button at the top of our slot game reviews.

✅ RTP Average and Volatility

We start by looking at a provider’s most popular games. Then, we go further by looking at the RTPs and volatility. We’ve included a chart with all of this information so you can pick a game that matches your playing style.

Why Trust Our Ratings?

At GambleOntario, our commitment to providing you with reliable and straightforward ratings is unparalleled.

Our unique blend of expert analysis, comprehensive data collection, and sophisticated statistical methodologies sets us apart.

We delve deep into various aspects of online casinos and sportsbooks, from user experience to game fairness, ensuring our evaluations are both thorough and accurate.

Then, we distill this wealth of information into simple scores, making it easy for you to understand and trust our recommendations.

Since launching in 2022, we’ve dedicated ourselves to becoming the most trusted source for online gaming in the Ontario market. Our approach combines the best of expert insight and analytical precision, all aimed at simplifying your decision-making process.

Learn more about our dedication to establishing trust and why our ratings are the gold standard for online gaming.

Contact Us

We are always happy to get in touch with our readers. Your opinion and comments are very important to us.

Do you have any questions about our reviewing process and our rating methods?

Are you a casino/sportsbook brand that would like to get listed on our website?

Message us via our Contact Page, and we will reply within 48 hours.