GoSloPlay is committed to providing honest, accurate, and unbiased information about online casinos, sportsbooks, and gambling services available to Canadian players. This Objectivity Disclosure explains our review methodology, potential conflicts of interest, and the measures we take to maintain editorial independence.
Our Review Philosophy
GoSloPlay operates as an affiliate marketing website, meaning we earn commissions when readers click links to gambling operators and complete qualifying actions. While this business model creates potential conflicts of interest, we have implemented strict editorial policies to ensure our reviews remain objective and serve the interests of Canadian players first.
We believe transparency about our business relationships and review processes is essential to maintaining reader trust.
How We Select Casinos for Review
Initial Selection Criteria
Casinos are selected for review based on the following factors:
- Licensing and Regulation: Only casinos holding valid licenses from recognized regulatory authorities are considered. We prioritize licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and provincial Canadian regulators.
- Canadian Market Focus: Casinos must accept Canadian players, support CAD currency, and offer payment methods commonly used in Canada (particularly Interac e-Transfer).
- Market Presence: We review established operators with track records as well as new entrants showing promise in the Canadian market.
- Reader Requests: User inquiries and comments influence which casinos we prioritize for review.
- Industry Developments: New operators, ownership changes, or significant regulatory developments prompt review consideration.
What We DO NOT Consider in Selection
The following factors do NOT influence whether we review a casino:
- Commission rates offered by the operator
- Marketing budgets or advertising spend
- Personal relationships with casino executives or affiliate managers
- Requests from casino operators to review their sites
- Payment offers for positive coverage
Review Methodology
Testing Process
Each casino undergoes comprehensive testing before publication of a review:
Account Registration: Team members create real accounts using valid Canadian identification and address information.
Identity Verification: We complete KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures as required by the operator, documenting the process and timeframes.
Real Money Deposits: Multiple deposits are made using different payment methods common in Canada (credit cards, Interac, e-wallets, cryptocurrency where applicable).
Gameplay Testing: Team members play various game types including slots, table games, and live dealer games to assess game selection, software quality, and user experience.
Bonus Claiming and Wagering: Where applicable, we claim welcome bonuses and test wagering requirements, maximum bet restrictions, and game contribution rates.
Customer Support Evaluation: Support channels (live chat, email, phone) are tested multiple times at different hours to assess response times and quality of assistance.
Withdrawal Processing: Real money withdrawals are initiated using multiple methods to test processing times, verification requirements, and any withdrawal issues.
Mobile Experience: Casino mobile websites and native apps are tested on iOS and Android devices.
Documentation: All testing stages are documented with screenshots, timestamps, and detailed notes.
Evaluation Criteria
Casinos are rated according to standardized criteria applied consistently across all reviews:
| Category | Weight | Evaluation Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Game Selection | 20% | Number of games, software providers, game variety, exclusive titles |
| Bonuses & Promotions | 15% | Welcome bonus value, wagering requirements, ongoing promotions, VIP programs |
| Payment Methods | 20% | Canadian payment options, deposit/withdrawal limits, processing times, fees |
| Customer Support | 15% | Availability, response times, language support, problem resolution |
| Licensing & Security | 15% | Valid licensing, SSL encryption, fair gaming certification, privacy policies |
| User Experience | 10% | Website design, navigation, mobile compatibility, loading speeds |
| Responsible Gambling | 5% | Self-exclusion tools, deposit limits, reality checks, problem gambling resources |
Final ratings are calculated mathematically based on category scores and are not subject to editorial adjustment based on business considerations.
Editorial Independence Standards
Review Integrity Protocols
Multiple Reviewers: Each casino is tested independently by at least two team members. Discrepancies are resolved through additional testing and documentation review.
Separation of Business and Editorial Functions: Team members responsible for affiliate negotiations and business development do not participate in casino testing or review writing.
Quarterly Re-evaluation: Published reviews are re-assessed quarterly. Casinos demonstrating quality decline are downgraded regardless of affiliate performance.
Public Corrections: Errors identified in published reviews are corrected promptly with notation of the correction date and nature of the change.
Blacklist Maintenance: Casinos exhibiting predatory practices, non-payment of winnings, or regulatory violations are added to our blacklist and removed from promotional content, even if existing affiliate agreements are in place.
What We Will Not Do
GoSloPlay maintains the following ethical boundaries:
- We will not accept payment to alter review scores or rankings
- We will not suppress negative information about casino operators
- We will not recommend casinos we have not personally tested
- We will not promote casinos known to engage in unfair practices toward players
- We will not allow advertising clients to influence editorial content
- We will not misrepresent affiliate relationships as independent recommendations
Potential Conflicts of Interest
Affiliate Commission Structure
The amount of commission we earn varies significantly by operator. Some casinos offer substantially higher commission rates than others. This creates a potential incentive to preferentially recommend higher-paying casinos.
Our Mitigation: Review scores are calculated according to standardized criteria before any affiliate agreements are negotiated. Commission rates do not factor into review methodology or rankings.
Long-Term Affiliate Relationships
GoSloPlay maintains ongoing business relationships with numerous casino operators, some spanning multiple years. These relationships may create reluctance to publish negative information about long-standing partners.
Our Mitigation: All casinos are subject to the same evaluation standards regardless of relationship duration. We have downgraded and removed recommendations for long-term partners when quality declined.
Consulting and Partnership Arrangements
GoSloPlay occasionally provides consulting services to casino operators and affiliate networks such as Better Collective. These arrangements may create conflicts when reviewing companies with which we have business relationships.
Our Mitigation: Casinos with which we have consulting relationships are either not reviewed, or the relationship is explicitly disclosed within the review. Team members involved in consulting work are excluded from reviewing those specific operators.
Industry Relationships
Members of the GoSloPlay team maintain professional relationships with casino executives, software providers, and industry organizations developed through attendance at conferences like ICE London and Canadian Gaming Summit.
Our Mitigation: Personal relationships do not influence review outcomes. All casinos are tested according to identical standards regardless of personal connections.
Reader Trust and Feedback
Complaint Resolution
GoSloPlay maintains partnerships with player advocacy organizations including Casinomeister and AskGamblers to assist readers experiencing disputes with casino operators. When readers report problems with casinos we have recommended, we:
- Document the complaint and contact the casino operator
- Update reviews to reflect systemic issues when patterns emerge
- Remove recommendations when operators demonstrate consistent poor treatment of players
- Assist players in escalating complaints to appropriate regulatory authorities
User Feedback Integration
Reader comments, emails, and reviews influence our ongoing evaluation of casino operators. We actively solicit feedback from users and incorporate their experiences into review updates.