KingCasinoBonus.uk Methodology for Land Based Casino Reviews
Many of us these days take our online gameplay into the casinos in towns and cities across the country, one of the key reasons we also review and rate these too, with our founder and CEO, Ionut Catalin Marin, creating a comprehensive and transparent review system to help find the right casinos for you.
Why Do We Review Local UK Casinos?
To this day, land-based casinos are still incredibly popular, whether it be the purists who have always frequented them to the online enthusiasts who are keen to test their skills on the “real-life” tables.
To give you the most accurate impressions of brick-and-mortar casinos, we have a standardised review system to provide a clear picture that can aid you in making the right choices in finding the casino that suits your budgets and playing style.
Why Trust Our Offline Casino Reviews?
At KingCasinoBonus we have an experienced and passionate team, headed up by our CEO, Ionut. Our experts have over seven years of experience in analysing both online and offline casinos, with every review we produce having first-hand experiences integrated into them.
It’s important to note that while we have financial partnerships with the casino operators we feature on our pages, the monetary aspects don’t influence the transparency of our investigations and ratings. You will only find our experts’ personal experience and opinions regarding all the factors any British player may be interested in.
How We Review Local Casinos
- Before we decide when to visit the casino, we check the operator’s background to ensure their UK Gambling Commission license is valid and there are no fines or other penalties issued to the casino.
- Afterwards, we visit the venue anonymously for at least eight hours.
- We use a budget of at least £100 to test the games and other amenities available.
- Our experts go through our review checklist by analysing the slots, table games, staff and service, loyalty benefits, house rules, and player feedback.
- We examine our findings for over 12 hours and compile our reviews.
We visit each casino in person
Similar to our methodology for online casino reviews and bingo site reviews, we prioritise first-hand testing of local UK casinos.
Before each visit, we perform a background check on the owner and operating company to ensure the legitimacy and validity of the gambling license. We check the rules before physically going there, apply for memberships if needed, and set up a spending budget based on the prices we find online for the restaurant and other features.
We test by spending real money on the premises
To get a real perspective on the gaming options and how it actually is to play at a particular casino venue, we spend money on the games and around the facility, trying all its standout features. That’s how our KingCasinoBonus team provides a reliable review of your gaming and entertainment options.
We update our ratings every 6 months for every casino
All our offline casino reviews are kept fresh as we schedule a new visit every 6 months. Our ratings may change because a different KingCasinoBonus expert carries out each new examination.
What Do We Review?
- Slot Machines
- Casino Games
- Staff & Service
- Loyalty & Rewards
- Casino Atmosphere
- House Rules
- Player’s Feedback
- Operator
While other casino reviewers may limit themselves to gaming options, restaurants and membership, our team at KingCasinoBonus always wants to provide you with the most in-depth information that can inform you of the full experience at the venue.
We examine and rate local UK casinos based on the eight distinct criteria above to create the most accurate and reliable ratings.
Slot Machines
Since land-based operators can have up to 150 slot machines. We test at least 25 different machines of all different varieties and slot providers. We ensure the betting limits are sufficient for low and high-rollers by placing the minimum and maximum stakes each game allows, usually ranging from £0.10 to £5.
Regardless of size, most venues offer punters IGT and Novomatic machines, so a third game provider helps us differentiate between top UK casinos for slots. As for jackpots, we check the establishment to see whether there are both fixed and progressive game options.
Slot Machines factors we analyse
- Number of slot machines
- Suppliers
- Jackpots
Casino Games
Our analysis of casino games begins with the number of tables available to play. We then test each type of game, looking out for the following:
- Roulette: European and American
- Blackjack: Classic, 21+3
- Baccarat: Classic, Punto Banco
- Poker: Stud poker, Texas Hold’em, Three-card poker,
- Craps
Casinos that we rate highly welcome players of all budgets, so we check how adaptable the betting limits are, using bets ranging from £0.10 to £50 for each game.
Lastly, since a significant percentage of UK punters like to play in poker tournaments, we make sure to find all the relevant information about the competitions organised by the operator.
Casino games factors we analyse
- Game types
- Betting limits
- Poker tournaments/cash games
Staff & Service
Top-notch customer service is a must for a worthy gaming session. We rate everything from bouncers, pit bosses, dealers, managers, bartenders, waiters and more. Every member of staff needs to be friendly and respectful to patrons.
As for the services, we check the restaurants and bars separate from the gaming rooms, as well as exploring the options for hotel stays, alongside clean restrooms around the premises and free parking.
Your security must also be cared for properly with dedicated staff and surveillance cameras.
Staff & service factors we look into
- Staff
- Food and drinks
- Parking
- Accommodation
- Security
Loyalty & Rewards
We know that when an offline casino offers great games and services, British punters are likely to return for future gaming sessions. That’s why loyalty and reward schemes play a big part in our reviews. We seek out what they have to offer and exactly how they reward player loyalty.
Loyalty & rewards factors we analyse
- Ease of registration
- Discounts
- Free play
Casino Atmosphere
Evaluating the casino atmosphere consists of two key things. Firstly, there’s the look and feel of the venue, and then there’s the events that they also provide. We look for a warm and inviting atmosphere, with plenty going on for players on a regular basis.
Casino atmosphere factors we analyse
- Interior design experience
- Location and attractions
- On-site events
House Rules
Every casino has its own rules, terms and conditions. We explore and analyse each casino’s terms, from membership rules to dress codes, promotional policies and more, judging their fairness, strictness and essentially laying the information out to see if it suits your needs.
House rules factors we analyse
- Membership
- Schedule
- Dress code
- T&Cs
Player’s Feedback
We extract the data from Google reviews and Tripadvisor for our rating of the player feedback. This rating helps us determine the most common issues players have faced before.
When we cannot find reliable reviews, we check with the players at the venue and ask for their feedback on the establishment.
What we research
- Data from Google reviews
- Data from Tripadvisor reviews
- On-site feedback
Operator
Besides the mandatory UK Gambling Commission licence, we check to see if the casino operator has a clean reputation and numerous venues throughout the UK.
The lack of a UKGC licence translates to zero points and brings the review to an end. These will not feature on the KingCasinoBonus website.
Factors we analyse
- Licensing
- Company reputation
- Casinos operated
How We Rate Local UK Casinos
A casino’s final score is the average of all the main rating factors. However, some of our criteria, like the casino atmosphere, are subjective, based on the expert reviewer’s own experience, which may change with each visit we make.
We start each category with five points, and adjust those scores accordingly based upon our findings.
Slot machines factors rating factors
For a maximum score in this category, our experts must find at least 25 different slot machines supplied by a minimum of two top providers (IGT and Novomatic), with each additional supplier making up for any other shortcomings we discover within this category.
While the UKGC doesn’t allow all types of venues to have unlimited stakes, if the casino fits the regulatory criteria, we expect to see at least one machine with no betting limits. Furthermore, an operator must provide five or more jackpots with fixed and progressive options for a maximum score.
Casino games rating factors
To achieve a top score among casino table games, there must be at least 10 tables for all the main game types (roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat and craps). They must also cater to all budgets, with tables ideally starting at £0.10 per bet.
In the case of larger scale establishments, we also consider it mandatory to have VIP rooms with higher stake limits for loyal customers and experienced players.
We do not lower the score if a casino hosts no poker tournaments but has a poker room or tables where you can play cash games. We will, though, highlight venues where tournaments are offered.
Staff & service rating factors
The most important factor our experts look at is the politeness of the staff. We want players to have the best experience, so we look out for good service across every employee, from the security staff to dealers and restaurant staff.
Other criteria we rate are the quality and prices of the food and drinks, the availability of security personnel and cameras throughout the premises, and parking spots.
Outside of the above, we also explore any accommodation the operator offers. Our team doesn’t believe this is absolutely necessary, but having it will make up for shortcomings in other aspects.
For instance, a venue may not provide free parking to all customers but to members only, or it could have a top-end restaurant, but prices are too high, or the menu lacks vegan food. Scoring in these situations remains at the expert’s discretion.
Loyalty & rewards rating factors
VIP programmes are measured on several factors. We expect players to be automatically enrolled into them upon first visit, with higher scores given to venues that provide free play bonuses and discounts for the bars and restaurants.
It should be made clear on how you earn rewards and reach new levels, while the usability of the loyalty scheme as a whole is also taken into account.
Casino atmosphere rating factors
This is of course subjective. However, we do consider key factors when it comes to a casino’s atmosphere. We look to understand how welcoming a venue is, how elegant and glamorous the feel of the space is, as well as the various events on offer and how regular they are for players.
House rules rating factors
Our KingCasinoBonus team looks at various aspects of the house rules to determine the overall house rules score. We demand total transparency and fairness when it comes to house rules. This should be everything, from becoming a member to any promotional terms and conditions.
We believe strict dress codes should be mandatory only for special events, and more relaxed attire should be permitted for usual sessions. Furthermore, we give higher ratings to operators who allow free access to the venues.
Player feedback rating factors
Our team highly values your experience with the casinos, so we check the best sources of user feedback. This largely revolves around Google and Tripadvisor.
When we don’t find enough information to present you with a sufficient outcome, we ask players on the premises for further details about their experience with the establishment. The final score is usually a combination of user ratings given online, but we also take into account the live player feedback.
Operator rating factors
Finally, and most importantly, prior to even entering a venue, we complete a thorough background check of the operator, beginning with the validity of the UKGC license. We check and inform you of any penalties or suspensions the operator has received as breaches of the UKGC regulations.
Other factors we consider for this category are the reputation of the managing company and the number of venues across the country. We believe that a track record of successful land-based casinos is an important factor to look at before you decide to visit.
Our Land-Based Casino Ratings Explained
Our ratings are very strict when it comes to giving out maximum scores. We want our readers to be sure of the highest quality when they see a rating of 4.5+. Our team takes ratings seriously, so you know that any highly scored site is well worth playing at.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of our rankings and what they mean to you:
4.5 to 5 stars – Top Casino
Whenever we award an operator a rating over 4.5, you can rest assured that all categories are close to the maximum rating and don’t have any major downsides.
4 to 4.5 stars – Superior Casino
When you have a rating between 4 and 4.5, one or two categories might have minor shortcomings but nothing that will impact your experience significantly.
3 to 4 stars – Average Casino
Whenever a venue falls into the 3 to 4 score category, you might find some of the sections we rate entirely missing. For example, you will not find a restaurant, bar, parking or other important facilities.
Less than 3 stars – Poor Casino
When we give a casino a rating of 3 or less, we are unsatisfied with our experience or find many of the major rating criteria missing and generally don’t recommend the venue. These typically will not appear on the KingCasinoBonus website.