I’ve deposited at 23 different online casinos over four years. Three of them never paid out my winnings. One disappeared entirely with my balance still inside.
Those expensive lessons taught me that five minutes of research before depositing beats weeks of fighting support afterward. Here’s the exact checklist I now use every single time.
Starting with low-stakes testing helps verify withdrawal processes work correctly. You can play online slots with €10 minimum deposits across 5,000+ games from providers like Play’n GO, Gamomat, and Merkur—small enough to confirm the casino actually pays before risking larger amounts.
Check the License First
Casino licenses aren’t decorations—they’re legal requirements that determine whether you have any recourse if things go wrong. I look for three specific jurisdictions: Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, or Curacao (though Curacao licenses vary significantly in quality).
The license number should be visible in the footer. I copy that number and verify it directly on the regulator’s website. Fake license claims are surprisingly common.
One casino claimed an MGA license but listed a number that didn’t exist in the MGA database. I caught this in 90 seconds of checking. That casino later got exposed for non-payment issues.
Red flag: If the license information is vague (“Licensed in Europe”) or missing entirely, walk away immediately.
Test Withdrawal Limits Before Depositing
Withdrawal limits tell you how casinos actually treat winners. I check three specific numbers:
- Minimum withdrawal amount
- Maximum withdrawal per transaction
- Maximum withdrawal per month
I once deposited €500 at a casino with a €5,000 monthly withdrawal cap. Seemed reasonable until I won €8,000 and realized I’d need two months to access my money. Meanwhile, wagering requirements on bonuses reset monthly.
Compare withdrawal speeds too. Some casinos advertise “instant withdrawals” but actually mean “instant processing” followed by 3-5 day bank transfers.
Read Bonus Terms Completely
I stopped taking welcome bonuses at about half the casinos I join. Why? Because the terms often make them unprofitable.
Specifically, I check:
- Wagering requirements (anything over 40x is usually unbeatable)
- Game contribution percentages (slots typically 100%, table games 10-20%)
- Maximum bet while bonus is active (usually €5, sometimes €2)
- Time limit to complete wagering
I deposited €100 with a 200% bonus once, giving me €300 total. The 50x wagering requirement meant I needed to wager €15,000 before withdrawing. I bet carefully for three weeks, finally cleared the requirement, and cashed out €180. Net profit: €80 for three weeks of restricted play.
Without the bonus, I could’ve played freely and withdrawn whenever I wanted.
Reality check: Sometimes the best bonus is no bonus at all.
Verify Payment Method Availability
This seems obvious but catches people constantly. A casino might accept deposits via your preferred method but not allow withdrawals the same way.
I deposited via Paysafecard at one casino—simple, anonymous, convenient. When I tried withdrawing, they only offered bank transfer. This required full identity verification I hadn’t planned on providing. My funds sat locked for three weeks during the verification process.
Check both deposit AND withdrawal options before committing money. Make sure you’re comfortable with the withdrawal methods, not just the deposit ones.
Test Customer Support Response Time
I message support with a simple question before depositing: “What documents do you require for withdrawal verification?”
This tells me three things:
- How fast they respond
- Whether they give clear, complete answers
- If support is available in my language
One casino took 18 hours to respond to this basic question. I didn’t deposit. Another answered within 2 minutes with a detailed list. I became a regular there.
If support is slow or unhelpful BEFORE you have problems, imagine how they’ll be when you’re trying to withdraw €2,000.
Check Review Sites for Recent Complaints
I scan three sources:
- Trustpilot (sort by most recent, read the 1-star reviews)
- AskGamblers dispute section
- Casino-specific forums on Reddit
I’m not looking for zero complaints—every casino gets some. I’m checking for patterns: “delayed withdrawals,” “closed my account after I won,” “impossible wagering requirements.”
Recent complaints matter more than old ones. A casino might have been great two years ago but changed ownership and gone downhill.
Understanding game mechanics helps evaluate casino legitimacy. Tools like aviator signal bot live claim to predict crash game outcomes, but legitimate platforms use provably fair algorithms that can be verified independently—unlike suspicious casinos where multiple players report identical manipulation patterns across different games.
Verify Game Providers
Legitimate casinos work with established software providers: NetEnt, Microgaming, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming. These providers won’t partner with sketchy operations.
If I see games from unknown providers or proprietary games I’ve never heard of, I investigate further. Some casinos use fake slots that look professional but have manipulated RTPs.
I check the provider logos in the footer and spot-check by opening a popular game to see if it loads from the official provider. If Book of Dead loads but doesn’t show the Play’n GO splash screen, something’s wrong.
What Changed for Me
Following this checklist takes 10-15 minutes per casino. In four years, it’s saved me from depositing at seven casinos that later got exposed for scams or payment issues.
I’ve also stopped chasing every new casino bonus. I have four trusted sites where I know exactly how withdrawals work, support responds fast, and games are legitimate. Sometimes fewer options means better outcomes.
The goal isn’t finding the perfect casino—it’s avoiding the ones that will cause problems. This checklist does exactly that.