If you’ve read a few of our reviews already, you might have noticed something: our ratings aren’t random, and they aren’t “marketing numbers.” They’re not inflated or sugar-coated. Every score you see on WorldSpinGuide comes from real testing, real experiences and a process we follow consistently.
We decided early on that if we were going to rate casinos, we had to do it properly — meaning we would only rate what we actually tested ourselves, and we would explain clearly how the numbers are earned. Nothing hidden. Nothing mysterious.
So this page is simply us — Hans and Sabine — opening the door and showing you exactly how we do our work.
Why We Use a Four-Part Rating System
Over the the years of analysing casinos, we realised German players care about four things above all else:
- Is the casino truly safe?
- Will I get my money when I withdraw?
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Are the bonuses actually fair?
What do real players say about their experience with casinos?
Everything else is extra. Game selection, design, VIP clubs — they matter, but they don’t decide whether a player feels safe or stressed.
So our review system is built around four core categories:
- Safety & Licensing – 30 percent of the final score
- Payments & Withdrawals – 30 percent
- Bonuses & Promotions – 25 percent
- User Reputation – 15 percent
We chose these percentages because this is the order of importance we’ve seen over and over again in real life. If a casino fails on safety or withdrawals, nothing else matters. If the bonuses are terrible, players simply lose interest. And player feedback gives us the outside truth that our personal tests might not catch.
Now let’s walk through how each of these categories earns its stars.
1. Safety & Licensing (30 percent)
“If the casino isn’t safe, the review ends right there.” – Hans
Safety is where Hans always starts, and he’s strict. He digs into licences, operator backgrounds, complaint histories, encryption standards, responsible gaming tools — all the unglamorous things players rarely see but absolutely depend on.
Here’s what the star ranges mean in real words:
0–4 stars – We do not recommend these casinos.
Something is seriously off. Weak licence, unresolved complaints, bad reputation, unclear ownership… this range usually means “avoid unless you like stress.”
5–6 stars – Technically acceptable, but not reassuring.
These casinos function legally, but something raises questions. They might be safe enough, but we would not trust them with large balances.
7–8 stars – A safe, reliable environment.
Good licence, clear rules, stable behaviour, proper responsible gaming tools, and no concerning patterns. Most German players will feel comfortable here.
9–10 stars – Excellent, transparent and trustworthy.
These are casinos that do almost everything right. Strong licence, clean history, fast responses and real respect for player protection.
Hans rarely gives 10s — the casino has to earn it.
2. Payments & Withdrawals (30 percent)
“This is where you see a casino’s real personality.” – Hans
Withdrawals are the moment of truth. Lots of casinos look great until you actually try to cash out.
We test deposits and withdrawals ourselves, with real money. We measure how long everything takes, how support responds and whether verification is handled responsibly.
The stars here reflect how reliable the payout experience is:
0–4 stars – A bad sign, plain and simple.
Slow payouts, confusing verification, repeated document requests, or reports of funds being frozen. Even if other parts look okay, this rating is suggesting you will face problems.
5–6 stars – Means you are likely going to get your cash, but be ready for it to take an time.
The cash will arrive one day but the operation could be not fast or constant. This level really means “it’s fine but nothing special.”
7–8 stars – Means mostly you can count on it and things will work decently.
Withdrawals follow a predictable pattern, verification is fair, and German-friendly payment methods are available. This is where good casinos usually land.
9–10 stars – Fast, clean and respectful payouts.
These casinos treat withdrawals as seriously as deposits. Payments often arrive within hours, and communication is excellent.
Sabine always says that a 9 in this section tells her more than a 9 in any other part of the review.
3. Bonuses & Promotions (25 percent)
“A good bonus should feel helpful, not like homework.” – Sabine
Bonuses can be fun, but only when the rules behind them are honest and realistic. Sabine reads bonus terms line by line — wagering, game restrictions, max bets, expiry times — because she knows most problems start in the fine print.
Here’s how we score bonuses naturally and honestly:
0–4 stars – Bonuses we simply don’t trust.
Hidden traps, confusing language, unrealistic wagering, or promotions designed to create problems. We warn players strongly at this level.
5–6 stars – Usable, but not player-friendly.
You can make use of these bonuses, but the value is questionable. Fair enough for some players, but not impressive.
7–8 stars – Good value without nonsense.
Making typical bets, having a rules that are clear, not changed bonuses and open terms are some features you get. Most players will be happy with bonuses in this range.
9–10 stars – Genuinely fair and rewarding.
Low wagering, clear language, generous long-term offers and no hidden conditions. These casinos stand out because they treat players like adults.
4. User Reputation (15 percent)
“We don’t rely only on our experience. We listen.” – Sabine
Even though we test everything ourselves, we know our experience is just one piece of the picture. Other players see things we might not encounter during a single test.
We read discussions in German gambling forums, Reddit threads, review platforms and complaint sites. We pay
attention to patterns — not one-off stories.
Here’s how we interpret those patterns:
0–4 stars – Too many serious issues being repeated.
Players complain about the same problems: slow payouts, blocked accounts, unhelpful support.
When a pattern is this strong, we listen.
5–6 stars – Some good and some bad experiences mixed together.
These online casinos are not consistent in their approach with their player base. Some players praise them, others warn against them. We label this as “be careful.”
7–8 stars – Mostly positive reputation.
There are occasional issues, but they are handled fairly. The overall tone from players is solid and encouraging.
9–10 stars – Consistently praised by real players.
Casinos in this range are respected across forums and communities. Issues are rare, and when they exist, they get resolved quickly.
How the Final Score Comes Together
Once we finish evaluating all four sections, we combine them according to the weight each category has:
- Safety & Licensing – 30 percent
- Payments & Withdrawals – 30 percent
- Bonuses & Promotions – 25 percent
- User Reputation – 15 percent
This means a casino cannot “hide” behind a good bonus if its withdrawals are slow. And it cannot earn a high overall rating if safety is questionable. The numbers reflect real experience, not marketing pressure.
Top-rated casinos according to our method
When a casino ends up with an 8.3 or a 7.1 or a 5.0, it’s because the individual sections pushed the final average in that direction. There is no shortcut and no “favouritism.” The rating mirrors what we observed — nothing more, nothing less.
Why We Are So Strict With These Guidelines
It would be easy to make reviews sound positive, hand out 9s and pretend every casino is perfect. But that’s not why we built this website.
We write these reviews because German players deserve honesty. We test casinos so you don’t have to learn the hard way. And we follow this structure so that every rating, every star and every recommendation means something real.
If a casino behaves well over time, its rating improves.
If it declines, we update that too.
We work for players — not casinos.
If You Ever See Something We Missed
Tell us.
We retest casinos constantly, but player experiences help us stay accurate. If your experience was better or worse than what we described, write to us at support@worldspinguide.com .
This review process is what makes our site valuable — and your feedback keeps it honest.