How We Rate Online Casinos
At BestCasinoSites.net, we focus on providing clear, reliable reviews of online casinos. Every site we list has been checked against a consistent set of criteria, starting with safety. Only casinos that hold valid licences and demonstrate a commitment to player protection are considered. Beyond licensing, we look at areas that matter to players including game variety, payment options, bonus terms, and customer support. Our goal is to highlight casinos that offer not just a legal option, but a fair and usable experience. Here’s how we do it.
1. Safety & Licensing
We never recommend an online casino unless it meets strict safety standards. For Spanish players, this begins with DGOJ licensing. A valid licence from the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego confirms that an operator is legally authorised to offer gambling services in Spain.
We also verify additional trust indicators including independent game testing, SSL encryption implementation, and clear privacy policies. If a casino fails to meet fundamental safety requirements, it is excluded from our comparison of the best Spanish casino sites.
1.1 DGOJ Licence Verification
In Spain, all legal online gambling operators must hold a licence from the DGOJ. This licence ensures compliance with strict standards covering player protection, game fairness, responsible gambling measures, and financial transparency.
Our review process for the Spanish market exclusively features DGOJ-licensed operators. We verify each casino’s licence status through the official DGOJ register and confirm the presence of the Juego Seguro certification mark. Unlicensed operators are never included in our recommendations.
1.2 Independent Fairness Testing
DGOJ-licensed casinos must demonstrate that their games produce fair outcomes. Independent testing agencies such as eCOGRA, GLI, and iTech Labs audit games to verify that random number generators operate correctly and cannot be manipulated.
These agencies also review published RTP (Return to Player) percentages, ensuring they match actual game performance. Fairness certification provides Spanish players with confidence that game outcomes are genuinely random.
1.3 Technical Security Standards
Any operator handling real money transactions and personal data must implement robust security measures. We confirm that every casino in our listings uses industry-standard SSL encryption to protect player information during account access, deposits, and withdrawals.
Our verification process includes checking security certificate validity and reviewing data protection policies. Operators failing security assessments are excluded from our recommendations regardless of other qualities.
2. Games & Software Quality
Game selection quality significantly influences our casino ratings. We assess variety across categories including slots, table games, and live dealer offerings, evaluating both quantity and quality. Software performance is equally important, ensuring games load quickly and function consistently across desktop and mobile devices.
2.1 Game Library Assessment
We evaluate each casino’s game library for breadth and depth of offerings. Strong operators provide diverse selections covering slots, table games, live dealer options, and specialty games. Spanish-licensed casinos may offer different game catalogues compared to international versions due to regulatory requirements.
We note the range of themes, features, and betting limits available. Casinos partnering with multiple licensed software providers typically deliver better variety and consistent quality across their platforms.
2.2 Software Provider Quality
We assess which software developers supply games to each casino, as this directly affects quality, fairness, and selection. Established providers like Playtech, NetEnt, Microgaming, and Evolution Gaming are known for producing reliable games with strong visuals and consistent performance.
Casinos working with multiple developers typically offer broader selections covering different gameplay styles and preferences. We favour operators providing games from providers licensed to operate in Spain.
2.3 Mobile Gaming Experience
Mobile access is essential for modern casino players. We test each casino’s performance on smartphones and tablets, evaluating both dedicated applications and browser-based platforms. The best operators maintain excellent performance across all device types.
Loading times, interface usability, and feature availability factor into our mobile assessments. Spanish players increasingly prefer mobile gaming, making this a crucial evaluation category.
3. Promotions and Player Rewards
Spanish gambling regulations prohibit welcome bonuses for new players under Royal Decree 958/2020. However, licensed operators may offer promotions to verified existing customers. We evaluate the fairness and value of available loyalty programmes, cashback schemes, and ongoing promotional offers.
3.1 Loyalty Programme Assessment
Since welcome bonuses are prohibited, loyalty programmes become the primary promotional vehicle for Spanish casinos. We evaluate how operators reward regular players through points systems, tiered benefits, and exclusive offers.
Strong loyalty programmes provide genuine value through cashback, free play credits, and enhanced services. We assess programme transparency, achievability of rewards, and overall player value.
3.2 Ongoing Promotional Offers
Licensed Spanish casinos may provide promotions to existing verified players. These might include periodic reload offers, tournament entries, or cashback programmes. We evaluate frequency, value, and terms of available promotions.
Clear, achievable promotional terms indicate operator quality. Casinos consistently providing value to existing players receive higher ratings in this category.
3.3 Terms and Conditions Clarity
Every promotional offer includes terms governing its use. We review wagering requirements, time limitations, game restrictions, and withdrawal conditions. Clear, reasonable terms are essential for player value.
Spanish regulations require transparent promotional communication. We verify that operators clearly present all relevant conditions and avoid misleading marketing practices.
5. Customer Support Quality
Customer support accessibility and effectiveness significantly influence player experience. We evaluate available support channels, response times, and resolution quality. Spanish-language support is expected from all DGOJ-licensed operators.
5.1 Support Channel Assessment
We test support channels including live chat, email, and telephone where available. Response times, agent knowledge, and problem resolution effectiveness all factor into our ratings.
Live chat availability is expected as standard, with quality operators providing 24-hour access. Spanish-language support is mandatory for our recommendations. Clear, helpful responses indicate well-trained support teams.
6. Responsible Gambling
DGOJ licensing requires comprehensive responsible gambling measures. We verify that operators provide required tools including deposit limits, session time alerts, self-exclusion options, and RGIAJ integration. Operators exceeding minimum requirements receive higher ratings.
6.1 Player Protection Tools
Spanish regulations mandate specific responsible gambling tools at all licensed casinos. These include deposit limits, loss limits, session duration alerts, and cooling-off periods. We verify implementation and accessibility of these features.
Quality operators make these tools prominent and easy to use rather than hiding them in account settings. Clear information about responsible gambling resources contributes to positive ratings.
6.2 RGIAJ Integration
All DGOJ-licensed operators must integrate with the RGIAJ (Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego), Spain’s national self-exclusion register. Players registered with RGIAJ cannot access any licensed Spanish gambling site.
We verify that operators properly implement RGIAJ checks during registration and maintain compliance with self-exclusion requirements throughout player relationships.
7. Request a Casino Review
We regularly evaluate DGOJ-licensed casinos for potential inclusion in our Spanish market recommendations. Operators meeting the standards outlined above may request consideration for review.
Each submission undergoes thorough assessment covering licensing, security, game quality, payment processing, support, and responsible gambling compliance. Visit our submission page for details on the review process.
Casinos We Would Not Recommend
Not every casino we evaluate meets our standards for recommendation. Operators failing fundamental requirements around licensing, security, or player treatment are excluded from our listings. Serious violations result in permanent exclusion.
Reasons for exclusion from our Spanish casino recommendations include:
- ⚠️ Lack of Valid DGOJ Licence
- ⚠️ Security Certificate Issues
- ⚠️ Unreliable Payment Processing
- ⚠️ Poor Customer Support Quality
- ⚠️ Inadequate Responsible Gambling Tools
- ⚠️ Misleading Promotional Practices
- ⚠️ Failure to Honour Legitimate Withdrawals
- ⚠️ Non-Compliance with RGIAJ Requirements