Last updated: May 2026 — James Whitfield, Falconfoodandspirits
At falconfoodandspirits.co.uk, every casino review you read has been personally researched, tested, and written by James Whitfield. This page explains exactly how we evaluate non-UK casinos, what criteria we use, how we weight each factor, and why British players can trust our scores to be honest, independent, and genuinely useful.
We believe you deserve to know the process behind every rating before you rely on it. Transparency is not optional here — it is the foundation of everything we publish.
James Whitfield is the sole author and owner of falconfoodandspirits.co.uk. With years of hands-on experience navigating the online gambling landscape as a British player, James brings practical knowledge and a consumer-first perspective to every review published in 2026.
James personally tests each site before any review is written. This means registering a real account, depositing real money, claiming bonuses, playing a cross-section of games, testing withdrawals, and contacting customer support directly. No review is written based on secondhand information, press materials, or operator-supplied descriptions alone.
Before registering, James investigates the casino's ownership, licensing jurisdiction, and any publicly available regulatory history. Sites with serious unresolved complaints or no verifiable licence are flagged immediately and will not receive a full review.
James creates a genuine player account using standard registration details applicable to a UK-based user. This tests how smooth, transparent, and compliant the sign-up process is, including ID verification requirements.
A real deposit is made to test available payment methods, processing times, and any associated fees. Bonus terms are read in full, not summarised from a landing page, so that wagering requirements, game restrictions, and withdrawal limits are accurately reported.
James browses and plays a sample of slots, table games, and live dealer options where available. Software providers are identified, loading speeds are noted, and game fairness credentials are checked.
A withdrawal request is submitted to verify realistic processing times, any friction in the process, and whether the stated timeframes match reality.
Support is contacted via all available channels — typically live chat and email — with genuine queries to assess response time, accuracy, and professionalism.
All findings are compiled, weighted according to the criteria below, and a final score is calculated. The written review reflects real experience, not marketing language.
Each casino is scored out of 10 in six categories. A weighted overall score is then calculated based on the importance of each category to the average British player choosing a non-UK casino.
| Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid licence from a recognised jurisdiction, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, data protection practices |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, game contributions, time limits, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number and variety of titles, quality of software providers, live casino availability, RTP transparency |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options relevant to UK players, processing times, fees, minimum and maximum limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response times, quality of answers, number of contact channels |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Browser-based performance, dedicated app availability, game availability on mobile, usability |
Final scores are presented on a scale of 1 to 10, calculated from the weighted category scores above. Here is how to interpret the overall ratings:
Independence is something we protect actively, not passively. Here is how we maintain editorial integrity:
If you have questions about how a specific casino was rated, or if you believe important information has been missed, you are welcome to get in touch directly through the contact page at falconfoodandspirits.co.uk. James reads and responds to reader feedback personally, and factual corrections are always taken seriously.