How We Rate Online Casinos in the Philippines: Our 5-Pillar Method
Every score on this site comes from the same five weighted criteria. Here is what each one covers, what lowers a score, and what we deliberately leave out.
The five pillars at a glance
| Criterion | Share of score | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Licence & transparency | 30% | Whether the brand and domain appear on PAGCOR’s accredited list, who the operator is, and whether 21+ and eKYC rules are stated clearly |
| 2. Deposits & cash-outs | 25% | GCash, Maya and bank options, stated minimums and limits, published processing windows, and how plainly withdrawal rules are written |
| 3. Bonus fairness | 20% | Size of the headline offer against its turnover, game contribution, expiry and maximum-cashout rules |
| 4. Mobile experience | 15% | How the site or app runs on an ordinary Android phone over mobile data: loading, cashier flow and readable terms |
| 5. Support & safer play | 10% | Live chat availability, help pages, self-exclusion and deposit-limit tools, and links to PAGCOR resources |
Pillar by pillar
1. Licence and transparency (30%)
This carries the most weight because everything else depends on it. We check the brand and its domain against the PAGCOR’s list of accredited Gaming System Administrators and note the company named there. A brand we cannot find on that list scores low here, however good its games look. Licensing does not make any site risk-free; it means there is a regulator you can complain to.
2. Deposits and cash-outs (25%)
Filipino players mostly pay with e-wallets, so we look for GCash and Maya in the cashier, realistic minimums, and withdrawal rules that are spelled out before you deposit. Hidden fees, vague “processing” language or verification steps that only appear at cash-out all cost points. Any processing time we mention is the operator’s typical figure, not a guarantee.
3. Bonus fairness (20%)
A big number does not win this pillar. We divide the headline offer by its betting requirement, then check expiry, game weighting and caps on bonus winnings. Offers with plain, short terms beat larger ones buried under conditions. Our turnover calculator uses the same arithmetic.
4. Mobile experience (15%)
Most of our readers play on phones. We judge whether the lobby, cashier and promo terms are easy to use on a mid-range Android screen, whether pages stay usable on slower mobile data, and whether app downloads come from the operator’s own domain rather than third-party file sites.
5. Support and safer play (10%)
We look for live chat that answers in English or Filipino, a searchable help centre, and tools such as deposit limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion. Linking to PAGCOR’s responsible gaming resources counts in a brand’s favour.
What we do not score
- Whether you will win. Games are random; each title’s Published RTP (as published by the provider) describes millions of rounds, not your next session.
- Commission size. Partners and non-partners go through the same five pillars.
- Social-media hype, influencer “winning” clips or unverified screenshots.
Scores change
We revisit each review when an operator changes its offer, cashier or licence details, and at least every few months. If you think a score is out of date, tell us on the contact page.
Do partner casinos get higher scores?
No. The weights above apply to every brand. A partner with weak cash-out rules loses the same points as anyone else.
Why is licensing worth 30%?
Without a licence there is no regulator to escalate to if a withdrawal is refused, so it outweighs bonuses or game choice.
Do you guarantee the casinos you rate?
No. Ratings describe what we found on public pages at the time of review. Always read current terms and play within your limits.