How We Test Casinos and Verify Promo Codes

This page documents the actual process we follow before a casino or code goes on this site. The process is designed to surface problems that affiliate-only review sites cannot see — withdrawal delays, KYC triggers, expired codes, and bonus terms that diverge from what the press kit says.

Step 1 — Open an account

A clean Chrome profile with no extensions other than Bitwarden. New email per casino (alias via Fastmail). Account creation timed from URL load to first login. Any forced KYC or geographic blocks at signup are noted.

Step 2 — Apply the promo code

Every code is applied to the live account, not just visually verified on a marketing page. We track whether the code applies at signup or requires post-verification activation (a common gotcha). If the code fails to apply, that is the first thing we report.

Step 3 — Deposit

Minimum or near-minimum deposit, in BTC or USDT (TRC20 where supported). Deposit confirmation timed against the relevant block explorer:

• Bitcoin: Mempool.space
• TRON / USDT TRC20: tronscan.org
• EOS: bloks.io
• Ethereum: Etherscan

Step 4 — Play

Enough volume to either trigger or partially clear the bonus. Game choice depends on the offer — slot bonuses get tested on the bonus-eligible slot, rakeback gets tested on a mix of originals and slots to model real-world rakeback yield. We do not run bots; every spin is manual.

Step 5 — Withdraw

Triggered the moment wagering completes (or earlier if the offer permits). Time to confirmation logged from withdrawal click to wallet receipt (1 confirmation). KYC interventions noted with timestamps. Failed or delayed withdrawals are reported in the relevant casino review with full context.

Reference data we cross-check against

• Wizard of Odds for slot RTP and house edge
• AskGamblers for community player ratings and complaint resolution data
• r/onlinegambling for live operator chatter
• UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority for regulatory comparisons
• Curaçao eGaming license register for the casinos in this guide's lineup

Re-verification cadence

Codes are re-verified at the start of each month. Codes under 12 months old get an additional mid-month check. If a code is found dead, the page is marked "Currently inactive" within 24 hours and the editorial team investigates whether a replacement code is available.

What disqualifies a casino from being covered

• Refused or delayed our test withdrawal beyond 72 hours without communicated reason.
• Applied retroactive bonus terms not disclosed at signup.
• Listed a license that does not appear on the regulator's public register.
• Operated a confirmed history of unresolved player complaints in 2025-2026 per AskGamblers complaint logs.

Conflicts of interest, restated

We earn affiliate commission on signups via tracked links. We do not earn more or less based on our review score. We disclose this on every page that contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here.

Last updated April 30, 2026 by the CodeCasinos editorial team.