Last updated: May 2026 — James Wilson, Simonnormandart
At Simonnormandart, every casino review you read has been researched, tested, and written by James Wilson — independently, thoroughly, and without any influence from the operators we cover. This page explains exactly how we arrive at our scores, what we look for, and why you can trust the ratings published on simonnormandart.com.
Our goal is simple: to give UK players honest, detailed, and up-to-date assessments of online casinos so that you can make informed decisions about where to play safely in 2026.
James Wilson is the sole author and owner of Simonnormandart. James has spent years analysing the UK online gambling market, studying licensing frameworks, bonus structures, and player protection policies. Before any review is published on this site, James personally registers a real account at the casino, makes a deposit using his own money, plays a selection of games, tests the customer support team, and — where possible — processes a withdrawal. No review is based on operator-provided information alone.
This hands-on, first-person testing approach is the foundation of everything we publish. If James has not tested a casino directly, it does not receive a full review on this site.
Before visiting a casino, James researches its ownership, licensing history, and any regulatory actions taken against it by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Casinos with serious unresolved complaints or revoked licences are flagged immediately.
James creates a genuine player account using standard UK identification. This tests how smooth the sign-up process is, how quickly verification is completed, and whether the casino requests documentation in a fair and timely manner.
A real deposit is made to evaluate the available payment options, processing speeds, and any bonus offers. Bonus terms and conditions are read in full — including wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum withdrawal caps.
James plays a range of games across categories including slots, live casino, table games, and any speciality titles. He checks for game variety, software provider quality, loading speeds, and fairness indicators such as published RTP figures.
Support agents are contacted via live chat, email, and where available, telephone. Response times, quality of answers, and overall helpfulness are recorded and factored into the final score.
The casino is accessed on a mobile device — both through a browser and any dedicated app — to assess layout, game availability, speed, and ease of navigation on smaller screens.
Where possible, James requests a withdrawal to evaluate processing times, any identity verification steps, and whether the stated withdrawal speeds match reality.
Only after completing all of the above steps does James write the review and assign a final score.
Each casino is scored out of 10. The final score is a weighted average calculated across six core categories:
| Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | UKGC licence status, responsible gambling tools, data security, and complaint history |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, fairness of terms, wagering requirements, and ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Variety of titles, software providers, live casino options, and RTP transparency |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, and fee transparency |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response time, and quality of assistance |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | App or mobile browser quality, game availability on mobile, and usability |
Independence is non-negotiable at Simonnormandart. While this site may earn revenue through affiliate partnerships, commercial relationships never influence our scores or written assessments. A casino that pays a higher commission rate does not receive a higher rating. Every score is determined solely by the criteria and weightings outlined above.
James Wilson does not accept free credits, paid placements, or sponsored reviews. Casinos are reviewed on the same objective basis regardless of whether an affiliate agreement exists. If a previously recommended casino changes its terms, reduces its standards, or receives regulatory action, its review and score are updated promptly to reflect the current reality.
Our readers come first. That commitment is the reason Simonnormandart exists.