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How We Test UK Casinos

Every casino on Brandwood Bites is tested with real money by our Birmingham-based team. No sponsored placements, no shortcuts.

Our 6-Step Testing Process

Each casino review follows the same rigorous process. We deposit real money, claim the bonus, play through it, request a withdrawal, and document everything. Here's exactly what we do:

  1. UKGC Licence Verification — We confirm the casino holds a valid UK Gambling Commission licence by checking the UKGC public register. No licence, no review. We also verify GamStop participation and responsible gambling tool availability.
  2. Real Money Deposit — We deposit £5-£10 using debit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. We time the deposit, check for fees, and note the minimum deposit amount. We test from a standard UK residential connection.
  3. Bonus Claim & Verification — We claim the welcome bonus exactly as a new player would. We verify the bonus terms match what's advertised — spin count, wagering requirements, win caps, and expiry periods. Any discrepancy is flagged.
  4. Game Library Assessment — We test the slot selection, table game variety, live dealer availability, and mobile performance. We check for major providers (Pragmatic Play, Blueprint, NetEnt) and verify games load correctly.
  5. Withdrawal Test — We request a real withdrawal and time the process from request to funds in our account. We note KYC verification requirements, processing delays, and any issues. This is the most important step — a casino that makes withdrawals difficult fails our test.
  6. Customer Support Evaluation — We contact support via live chat and email with genuine questions. We measure response time, helpfulness, and whether agents are UK-based. Poor support is a significant negative factor.

What We Evaluate

Licensing & Safety

Valid UKGC licence is mandatory. We verify licence numbers, check for regulatory actions, confirm GamStop participation, and review the casino's player fund protection status (segregated vs non-segregated).

Bonus Transparency

We read every word of the bonus terms. No wagering is our baseline — we prioritise casinos where winnings are immediately withdrawable. Where wagering exists, we calculate the true cost and realistic cashout potential.

Game Selection

We count total games, verify provider variety, check for popular titles (Big Bass series, Megaways), test live dealer availability, and assess the mobile game library separately from desktop.

Payment Speed

Real withdrawal tests with documented timestamps. We test PayPal, debit card, and bank transfer where available. Instant withdrawal casinos like Betwright earn top marks. Anything over 3 days is flagged.

Customer Support

Live chat response time, email turnaround, agent knowledge, and whether support is UK-based. We test with genuine queries — not scripted questions — to evaluate real-world helpfulness.

Responsible Gambling

Deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders, self-exclusion options, reality checks, and GamStop integration. Casinos that make responsible gambling tools hard to find or use are marked down.

Red Flags That Disqualify a Casino

We will never recommend a casino that exhibits any of the following:

Our Commitment to Independence

We earn revenue through affiliate commissions — when you sign up or deposit through our links, we may receive a payment from the casino. This is how we fund our testing and keep the site ad-free.

However, commission rates never influence our rankings. We rank casinos by bonus value, payout speed, and player experience. If a high-commission casino delivers a poor experience, it won't appear on our site. If a low-commission casino outperforms competitors, it will top the list.

Every casino review reflects our genuine testing experience. We document everything and stand behind our recommendations.

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