VanillaCrypto

Our Review Methodology

Last updated: June 2026. Verified by Joanna Laine, Chief Editor

Affiliate Disclosure

CryptoPokie earns affiliate commissions when you sign up through our links. Casinos may pay for placement consideration. Our editorial ratings are based solely on independent testing and are not for sale. Joanna Laine reviews and signs off on every rating before it publishes.

The 80-Point Framework

Every casino on CryptoPokie is scored across six categories totalling 80 points. Scores are converted to a 5-star rating for display.

Games

20 pts

20% of total score

Game variety, software providers, RTP transparency, and demo availability.

Bonuses

20 pts

20% of total score

Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms clarity, and ongoing promotions.

Payments

20 pts

20% of total score

Crypto deposit and withdrawal options, processing speed, and fee transparency.

Security

20 pts

20% of total score

Licensing authority, SSL, responsible gambling tools, and data protection.

Mobile

10 pts

10% of total score

Mobile browser and app experience, load speed, and game compatibility.

Support

10 pts

10% of total score

Live chat response time, availability, and quality of responses.

Rating Caps

  • !Bonus score is capped at 4.7 if wagering requirements exceed 35x.
  • !Security score is capped at 4.5 for casinos holding a Curaçao or Anjouan licence only (no MGA or UKGC).
  • !Security score is capped at 3.5 if the casino has a Trustpilot rating below 2.0 from 500+ reviews.
  • !Overall score cannot exceed 4.8 without an MGA or UKGC licence.
  • !Overall score cannot exceed 4.5 if the casino has a Trustpilot rating below 2.5.

Variance Rule

A minimum variance of 0.3 is required across all six category scores. This prevents casino ratings from looking identical and ensures each score reflects genuine testing differences.

8-Step Testing Process

Every casino review follows this sequence in order. No shortcuts.

1

Research and Background Check

Verify licensing against the issuing authority website, check ACMA block list status, scan complaint forums (AskGamblers, Casino Guru, Reddit), and review ownership history.

2

Account Creation and KYC Testing

Register using a real AU email address. Document the exact point at which KYC is triggered and test upload flow for identification documents.

3

Real Money Deposit

Deposit real crypto (BTC, ETH, or USDT). Test at least 2 different cryptocurrencies per casino. Record deposit confirmation time.

4

Gameplay Testing

Play a minimum of 50 rounds across 3 game categories during AU peak hours (7pm to 11pm AEST). Record load times, crashes, and RTP notices.

5

Customer Support Test

Initiate live chat with a standard question. Record first response time, agent quality, and whether the issue was resolved correctly.

6

Withdrawal Testing

Request a withdrawal in the same cryptocurrency deposited. Document exact time from request to wallet receipt, including any verification delays.

7

Licence Verification

Independently verify the casino licence by visiting the issuing authority website directly. Confirm the licence is active and matches the operating entity.

8

Score Calculation

Apply the 80-point framework. Check all rating caps and variance rules before finalising. Chief Editor Joanna Laine reviews the score before it publishes.

Joanna Laine

Every rating is verified by

Joanna Laine

Chief Editor

Helsinki, Finland. Reviewing crypto casinos since 2014

Want more detail?

This page covers the scoring framework and disclosures. For a full walkthrough of the testing process, visit our detailed review guide.

How we review crypto casinos →