How We Rate Online Casinos
At Maple Casino, some of the links on our site are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a deposit, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We ensure all recommendations go through our Ranking System to maintain accuracy and quality. You can learn more about this on our Content Transparency Guidelines and How We Rate Gambling Operators.
At Maple Casino, we take casino reviews seriously. Every casino on our site goes through a rigorous testing process before we recommend it to Canadian players. Our team creates real accounts, makes real deposits, and plays real games to give you honest, firsthand insights.
Our Approach
We believe in transparency. Unlike some review sites that accept payment for positive reviews, our ratings are based entirely on our testing experience. While we do earn affiliate commissions when you sign up through our links, this never influences our ratings or recommendations.
Real Testing
We create accounts, deposit real money, and test every feature ourselves.
Unbiased Ratings
Affiliate relationships never influence our scores or recommendations.
Regular Updates
We re-test casinos quarterly to ensure our information stays current.
Rating Criteria
Each casino is evaluated across five key categories. Here is what we look for and how much weight each category carries in our final score.
Safety & Security
25%Valid gambling license, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, and fair gaming certification.
Bonus Value
20%Welcome bonus amount, wagering requirements, time limits, and overall fairness of terms.
Game Selection
20%Variety of slots, table games, live dealer options, and quality of game providers.
Payment Options
20%Deposit and withdrawal methods, processing times, fees, and Canadian-friendly options.
User Experience
15%Site design, mobile compatibility, navigation, and account management features.
Our Testing Process
Every casino review follows a standardized 7-step process that takes approximately 2-3 weeks to complete. This ensures consistency and thoroughness across all our reviews.
License Verification
We verify the casino holds a valid license from a reputable jurisdiction (MGA, UKGC, Kahnawake, Curacao).
Account Registration
We sign up as a regular player to test the registration process, KYC requirements, and welcome bonus claims.
Deposit Testing
We make real deposits using multiple payment methods (Interac, credit cards, crypto) to test speed and reliability.
Gameplay Testing
We play slots, table games, and live dealer games across desktop and mobile to assess quality and performance.
Withdrawal Testing
We request withdrawals to verify processing times, any hidden fees, and the overall cashout experience.
Customer Support
We contact support via live chat, email, and phone (where available) with test questions to evaluate response quality.
Final Review
We compile all findings, calculate the final score, and have a second team member verify the review before publishing.
Real Money Testing
We deposit a minimum of $200 CAD at each casino we review. This allows us to properly test bonus wagering, game variety, and most importantly, the withdrawal process.
Our Scoring System
We use a 5-star rating system where each star represents a specific quality level. Here is what each rating means:
| Rating | Meaning | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | Exceptional in all areas | Highly Recommended |
| 4.5 - 4.9 | Excellent with minor drawbacks | Recommended |
| 4.0 - 4.4 | Good overall experience | Worth Considering |
| 3.0 - 3.9 | Average with notable issues | Proceed with Caution |
| Below 3.0 | Significant problems found | Not Recommended |
Ongoing Updates
The online casino industry changes rapidly. New games launch, bonuses change, and casinos update their policies. That is why we do not just publish and forget - we maintain our reviews with regular updates.
- Quarterly re-testing of all featured casinos
- Immediate updates when significant changes occur
- User feedback monitoring to catch issues we might miss
- Last updated date displayed on every review
Pro Tip
Notice something wrong with one of our reviews? We welcome feedback from our readers. Contact us with your concerns and we will investigate promptly.
Lead Casino Reviewer
Mark leads our casino review team with over 5 years of experience in the Canadian iGaming industry. Based in Calgary, he has personally tested over 150 online casinos and developed our rigorous rating methodology. Mark specializes in live dealer games and bonus evaluation, and is passionate about helping Canadian players find safe, fair casinos with the best value.