How We Rate Crypto Casinos: Open Methodology
Most casino review sites won't tell you how they actually score sites - or they hide behind vague language like "expert opinion." We publish the entire scoring rubric here, with category weights, sample scorecards for top casinos, the math formula, and the editorial independence policy that prevents money from skewing rankings. You can replicate our scoring yourself. Ranking by this methodology - top crypto casinos 2026.
Author: 
Reviewed by: 
Three pillars of editorial independence
Before discussing the rubric, here's what backs up the scores. Without independence, even the most detailed methodology is meaningless.
Pillar 1: We test with our own money
Every casino we rate is tested with the author's personal funds - real deposits, real games, real withdrawals. We do not accept "review accounts" or sponsored funds from operators. If we wouldn't deposit our own savings, we don't recommend it.
Pillar 2: Affiliate commissions cannot buy rankings
We earn affiliate revenue from players who sign up through our links. But we refuse any deal that conditions payment on ranking position. Several operators have offered "premium placement" payments - we've declined every time. Rankings reflect quality, not payout rate.
Pillar 3: Monthly re-evaluation
Casino quality changes: bonuses get worse, licenses expire, payouts slow down. Our scores are reviewed every 30 days. If a previously top-rated casino degrades, it drops in our rankings - regardless of commercial relationship.
Six categories and their weights
Our score has six weighted categories. Weights are chosen based on what most affects a player's actual experience, not what's easiest to measure.
Why licensing leads at 25%: a casino without proper licensing has nothing - no recourse, no auditor oversight, no payout guarantees. Without this foundation, everything else is meaningless.
Why bonuses are only 15%: bonuses look enticing but rarely deliver real value due to wagering requirements. We don't want players choosing casinos based on welcome offers - the rest matters more.
What we measure within each category: 5-7 specific factors with documented evidence (license registry lookup, payout time logs, support response transcripts, etc.). Total: 30+ measurable factors.
The scoring formula
Each category is scored 0-10 based on the deduction rubric (full casino starts at 10/10, points are subtracted for problems). Final score is a weighted average:
Below 7.0 we don't include in rankings. Below 5.0 in any single category triggers automatic disqualification, regardless of other scores.
Sample scorecard: Stake.com
Here's exactly how we evaluated Stake.com in May 2026. You can apply the same rubric and arrive at the same numbers.
Stake.com
Reading this scorecard: Stake scores very high on operational factors (licensing, payouts, games) but loses points on bonuses due to wagering requirements above x35. The final 9.36 rounds to 9.4 (Excellent tier).
Sample scorecard: BC.Game
For comparison, here's BC.Game scored the same way in May 2026.
BC.Game
BC.Game scores marginally lower than Stake due to slightly weaker licensing transparency (despite valid Curaçao license, less detailed public reporting). Compensates with broader game catalog, more crypto support (including Monero).
Score tier interpretation
Final score (0-10) is mapped to readable tier labels:
The 6-step evaluation process
Before we score, every casino goes through 6 stages of real testing. Takes 7-14 days per casino.
License verification
Look up license number in regulator's public registry (Curaçao GCB, Anjouan GCB, MGA). No valid license = disqualified.
Account registration
Create account from a regular email. Measure: signup speed, whether KYC is required upfront, Connect Wallet option availability.
Test deposit
Fund account with USDT TRC-20 + BTC. Document exact confirmation time and any deposit limits.
Game testing
Play 50-100 rounds across multiple slot providers. Verify Provably Fair functionality. Test Live casino, crash games, and platform Originals.
Test withdrawal
Request withdrawal of deposit back to wallet. Log: processing time, KYC requirements triggered, any disputes or friction.
Support evaluation
Contact support via live chat and email with diverse questions. Score response speed, answer quality, language coverage.
How to reproduce our scoring
Our scoring is reproducible. Anyone can take the rubric and arrive at similar scores given identical evidence. Here's how:
Step 1. Pick a casino. Verify its license in the regulator's public database.
Step 2. Score each of the 6 categories from 0-10 using the rubric above. Start each at 10, deduct for documented problems.
Step 3. Apply the formula: License×0.25 + Payouts×0.20 + Games×0.20 + Bonuses×0.15 + KYC×0.10 + UX×0.10.
Step 4. Round to one decimal place. Map to tier label.
If our score differs significantly from yours, the disagreement should be locatable to a specific category and factor - not a vague "feeling." This is the test of methodology rigor. If you find a discrepancy with our published scores, contact us via the contact form and we'll review.
Who writes the rankings
The team behind this site:
Artem Kovalenko - author and tester. 5+ years in iGaming. Tests every casino with his own funds, plays across all game types, logs precise payout times.
Olexandr Tkachenko - editor and fact-checker. Verifies every review for factual accuracy, license currency, and bonus terms. Tracks regulatory changes affecting players.
Team contacts on the About page or via the Contact form.