Best Betting Sites and Online Casinos: How to Compare Them Before You Deposit

•       Copy the casino's own marketing text.

When you read a review, scan it for the answers to three questions. How fast are withdrawals? What are the real bonus conditions? What do other players complain about? If a review doesn't answer those, look for another.

You can see how this works in practice in our reviews of Stake, PlayKasino and MogoBet, each of which lists strengths and drawbacks side by side.

Betting bonuses: what the headline doesn't tell you

Betting bonuses are the main reason people switch sites, and the main source of disappointment. A "100% bonus up to $200" sounds simple. The catch is in the wagering requirement, which is how much you must bet before you can withdraw bonus-related winnings.

A worked example: You deposit $200 and receive a $200 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement.

•       If wagering applies to the bonus only, you must bet 35 × $200 = $7,000.

•       If it applies to the deposit plus bonus, you must bet 35 × $400 = $14,000.

Same headline, double the work. That difference is why you should always check which one applies.

Other terms worth reading:

•       Time limit: Many bonuses expire in days, not weeks.

•       Maximum bet: Going over it can void your bonus.