How We Review Casinos
The Maple Standard — our 8-point methodology for honest, independent casino reviews.
Every casino on Maple Casino Guide has been tested by a member of our Canadian team using a real account, a real deposit, and a real withdrawal. No casino is reviewed from a computer screen alone. Here are the eight criteria we evaluate:
Licensing & Regulation
We only review casinos with active licenses recognized in Canada: iGaming Ontario (iGO), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), or Kahnawake Gaming Commission. We verify license validity before every review and penalize casinos with a history of regulatory violations.
Affects: overall trust & safety rating
Deposit & Withdrawal Speed
We test actual Interac e-Transfer deposits and withdrawals personally. We measure exact processing times and penalize casinos that delay payouts without cause, impose undisclosed withdrawal limits, or require excessive documentation for routine cashouts.
Affects: Payouts sub-score
Bonus Terms & Fairness
We read every word of every bonus term. Wagering requirements, game restrictions, maximum cashout limits, time limits, and bonus abuse clauses are all factored into our bonus score. A bonus with a 70x wagering requirement will score lower than a smaller bonus at 25x.
Affects: Bonuses sub-score
Game Library Quality
We evaluate the number of titles, provider diversity (Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution, Pragmatic), RTP transparency, and whether games are available in demo mode. Slots, live dealer, and table games are assessed separately.
Affects: Games sub-score
Mobile Experience
We test every casino on iOS and Android — both app and browser. Load times, touch navigation, game compatibility, and account management are all scored. A casino with a great desktop experience but a broken mobile app is penalized accordingly.
Affects: Mobile sub-score
Customer Support
We initiate live chat, email, and phone contact with each casino as ordinary players with real questions. Response time, accuracy, and helpfulness are scored. We test at both peak and off-peak hours.
Affects: overall support rating
Responsible Gambling Tools
We check for deposit limits, self-exclusion, session timers, reality checks, and links to Canadian resources (ConnexOntario, CAMH). Casinos without these tools are not recommended, regardless of their scores in other areas.
Affects: overall trust & safety rating
Overall Canadian Value
CAD currency support, Canadian-focused promotions, local payment methods (Interac, iDebit), and French language support (for Quebec players) are all part of our final value score.
Affects: overall rating
Sub-Score Breakdown
Each casino receives four sub-scores out of 5, which roll up into the overall score out of 10. You'll see these displayed on every casino card and review page.
Review Update Policy
- → Full re-reviews are conducted every 6 months for featured casinos
- → Bonus details are verified monthly (offers change frequently)
- → License status is checked quarterly via the issuing authority's public database
- → Every review page shows a "Last Updated" date so you know how current the information is
- → Reader complaints that identify inaccuracies are investigated within 48 hours
Editorial Independence
Maple Casino Guide earns revenue through affiliate commissions. This does not influence our scores, rankings, or written assessments. Casinos that have affiliate agreements are reviewed with the same criteria as casinos that do not.
For full details on how we separate editorial from commercial interests, see our Editorial Policy.