The iBet Network Criteria
At iBet Network we have over 25 years of combined experience in the online gambling world. The entire team not only works in the online gambling industry but we also like to play online casinos and bet on sports. We would not recommend an online casino or sports betting site that we would not use ourselves. We will lay out our review process and criteria so you can understand how we do things here at iBet Network and why we are a trusted source for unbiased casino and sports betting reviews.
All of us here at iBet Network are passionate about online casinos and online sportsbooks. These sites have given us countless hours of entertainment (and frustration) over the years. So we have a good idea of what makes a gambling site good. At the end of the day, you are going to have to put your hard-earned cash into a gambling site. So we want to make sure that you are putting it in the right place. All the online casino sites and sports betting sites that we recommend have been vetted. However our team and we will only ever recommend sites that we would play at ourselves.
The iBet Network Criteria: Review Process
We have created a step-by-step process that allows us to review each online casino based on several different factors. Our iBet Network criteria and review process are extensive and exhaustive. As we have mentioned before, Canadian players need to take into consideration a few factors when choosing new casinos to play at. We use almost the same criteria when we review an online casino. But we do take a much deeper look than a casual player.
Here is a detailed breakdown of our review process. When we take a look at any online casino or sports betting site we closely look at these factors.
Independent Site vs Network Brand
The first thing we will look at is whether the online casino is an independent new casino or part of an established casino network. Many casino providers run multiple online casino sites to attract different player profiles. Established casino networks can call on years of experience and usually have access to resources that a new independent site may not have. However, an independent site will usually have better bonuses than their bigger counterparts as they want to start gaining market share and signing up new players.
Country and Owners
The second criteria we will look at is where the company is based and, if we can find it, who the owners are. The country where the online casino is based will influence how trustworthy it is as each country has different compliance requirements. Casino sites that are set up in more lax countries are usually a red flag, although there can be some exceptions to this.
Licensing
The third item, and probably one of the most important, is to see whether the online casino site holds a valid online casino license. Any casino site that has a valid license must display this on each and every page of their site. All online casinos must also include links to their listing on the relevant licensing authority website.
While all casino licenses hold online casino sites up to certain requirements and player protections, not all licenses are created equally. Some gambling commissions are much stricter than others. The strongest license currently available is probably the UKGC license. The MGA license is also quite strong and they are also much more strict on new online casino sites. The Curacao e-gaming license is also a very popular license, but perhaps not as stringent as the other two licenses. There are many other licenses out there as well, but they are far less common.
Bonuses
The next step in our review process is to look at the different online casino and sports betting bonus promotions that the site offers. Do they compete with other online gambling sites? Are there daily, weekly, or monthly promotions? Is there a loyalty programme? Are all the terms and conditions easily understandable? It is not enough to have large welcome offers and other online bonus offers, but all promotions need to be clear and also they should not be very restrictive either when it comes to wagering requirements. We break down each bonus into the following areas:
- Type of bonus – is it free spins, a deposit match, cashback, boosted odds?
- Amount of bonus money on offer – how much will a player get
- Wagering requirements – are the rollover requirements achievable or too strict?
- Game accessibility – how many online slots, table games, or sports betting markets apply to this bonus?
- Bonus Restrictions – are there any other restrictions like time limits that players need to be aware of?
Game Providers and Betting Markets
After we have looked at the bonuses we take a look at the games and betting markets that are available on the site. The best online casino sites must include the best online casino slots and live casino games so you expect to see providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n Go, and Playtech available. If they are not available and instead there are some game providers that we have never heard of, that will set alarm bells ringing.
Likewise, with a sports betting site, we expect the site to provide betting markets for the most popular sports like American Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer. If the site offers these sports they also need to offer the most popular leagues, like NFL, NBA, NHL, and the English Premiere League. We also check to see if they offer the less common leagues, as inclusivity is always a good sign.
User Experience
The next step would be to go through the online casino and understand the user experience. Does each page load easily? Is there any lag? Do all the games work? How easy is it to deposit? Once we go through the site from top to bottom we will note down any potential pros and cons.
Mobile Version
Nowadays it is very important to many online casino players and sports bettors that they are able to access their accounts while on the move. In order to make sure that this is possible the gambling site will either create a fully responsive site that is mobile and tablet friendly or they will create a dedicated app that can be used on mobile devices. We will always check to see which has been provided and note it down in our reviews and also in the product listings on site.
VIP Program
The next step is to look at whether the site has a VIP program or a loyalty program. These programs are a great way to reward players for their continued activity on the site. Everyone like to get casino rewards especially after they have deposited real money.
Banking Options
This ties in with safety and security but players must be able to deposit and withdraw their funds easily and securely. Luckily, Canadian players usually have a number of banking options available to them both digital and analogue. By far the most popular payment method in Canada is Interac.
Responsible Gaming
The penultimate step is to check whether the gambling site offers responsible gambling information and resources. At iBet Network we strongly believe that online gambling is a form of entertainment and that all online gaming must be done in a socially responsible manner. Therefore all casinos and sports betting sites need to provide responsible gambling resources for all their customers. This should include different tools that can be used to limit any potentially harmful gambling habits. They should also provide contact information for all relevant problem gambling support groups.
Customer Support
The final step of our review process will look at what customer support options are available to players and how easy it is to get in touch with the site. Most sites offer a 24/7 Live Chat option in multiple languages including English and French. However, we also look at whether there are any other contact methods available such as email address, telephone, or an online contact form.
Once we have gone through all of the above iBet Network criteria, we will include all of this in our review and publish it on iBet Network. You can read all our online casino reviews to get a betting understanding. You will know which casinos we rate highly and which others still have some way to go.
It is our goal to provide all our visitors with only the best online casino and sportsbook recommendations.
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