Start Where You Are
I'm a Player
You spotted the Certificate of Trust badge on a casino’s website and want to know what it actually means and whether the badge you're looking at is genuine.
I Run a Casino
You want to know whether your casino qualifies, what we check and what you need to have in place before applying.
What Is the Certificate of Trust?
The AskGamblers Certificate of Trust is our highest stamp of approval for an online casino.
It means we've audited the operator against nine standards covering the things that matter the most when you're playing online: payout speed, complaint resolution, licensing, responsible gambling tools, AML transparency, security and fair operations.
And this isn't just a questionnaire. We check how the casino actually operates and how it treats players when something goes wrong.
The Certificate of Trust is not a gambling licence, a review score or a guarantee that you'll win. It's a pass/fail verdict based on our own checks and our public complaint service showing that the casino has met our standards for player treatment and service.
Fewer than 1 in 10 casinos that apply are approved. 40 casinos hold the certificate today, out of the hundreds of casinos we review.
- A pass or fail verdict — one unmet standard can be enough to decline certification
- Backed by AGCCS, our public complaint service, so we can see how a casino handles real player disputes
- Available only to casinos that have been listed on AskGamblers for at least six months
- Not for sale. Advertising spend doesn't earn, keep or restore it
- Not permanent. A casino can lose it if it no longer meets our standards
- Not a gambling licence. Regulation is a separate requirement we check
- Not a guarantee you'll win. It gives you an extra reason to feel confident about your choice
Independence matters. AskGamblers does not sell the Certificate of Trust. Commercial relationships, advertising spend or affiliate arrangements cannot earn, keep or restore the certificate. We do earn commission from some links elsewhere on the site, but certification decisions are kept separate from commercial arrangements.
Found the Badge on a Casino’s Website? Check It in 20 Seconds
A Certificate of Trust only means something if you know the badge you're looking at is genuine. Luckily, checking takes about 20 seconds.
Click It
A genuine Certificate of Trust badge always links to that casino's review page on AskGamblers.com. If it goes somewhere else, or doesn't go anywhere at all, the badge isn't genuine.
Check Our Review Page
Open the casino's AskGamblers review page. A certified casino will have the Certificate of Trust badge on its AskGamblers review page too. If the badge only appears on the casino's own website, that's a red flag.
Check the Certified List
Every certified casino appears in our Certified Casinos directory. If the casino isn't on the list, it isn't certified, even if it says it was certified in the past.
Have you spotted the AskGamblers Certificate of Trust badge on a casino? Check our Certified Casinos list to make sure it’s legitimate. If the casino isn’t listed, let us know.
How Certification Actually Works
Certification takes time and doesn't start with an application alone. Before a casino can apply, we already need to have at least six months of data on it. Then we put the operator through our full certification process.
-
Eligibility Check
First, we check two basic requirements: at least six months listed on AskGamblers, and a CasinoRank of 8.00 or higher. If a casino doesn't meet these two requirements, the certification process stops there.
-
Complaint Record Review
Next, our complaint team looks at the casino's full AskGamblers Complaint Service (AGCCS) history. We don't just look at the final percentage, we also look at response times, evidence, actual resolutions and whether the same problems keep coming back.
-
Documentation Audit
We check the paperwork behind the operation, including its licence, AML and funding policies, terms, withdrawal and dormancy rules, and responsible gambling tools. We also check that the operator’s actual setup matches its obligations, not just what’s written on a webpage.
-
Hands-on Testing
We test the casino as a player would, from registration and KYC to deposits, real bets and e-wallet withdrawals, including at weekends and during off-peak hours. We also check security, game-provider licensing and access to gaming and transaction history, timing each relevant step against our certification standards.
-
Experts’ Decision and Ongoing Monitoring
AskGamblers experts review the findings and decide whether the casino meets all certification requirements. If even one standard remains unresolved, the casino may not qualify for the Certificate of Trust. And approval isn’t the end of the process. Certified Casinos continue to be monitored to make sure they maintain the standards required to keep their Certificate of Trust.
The 9 Certificate of Trust Standards
Every standard is mandatory. Here's what we check, why it matters to you and how we verify it.
1 Minimum CasinoRank of 8.00 Threshold: ≥ 8.00
A CasinoRank of 8.00 or higher is required before a casino can qualify for the Certificate of Trust.
CasinoRank combines dozens of factors, including payout and KYC timeframes, payment options, support, game providers, licensing, site usability and complaint history.
2 Excellent AskGamblers Complaint Service Record Threshold: at least 85% resolution rate
This is one of the most important parts of the certification process because it's where we see what happens when a player has a problem.
The AGCCS excellence formula works like this:
- If a casino has 6 published complaints or fewer, it cannot have more than 1 unresolved complaint.
- If a casino has more than 6 published complaints, it needs at least an 85% resolution rate, regardless of complaint volume.
3 Fast Payouts Threshold: 0-24 hours, weekends included
Getting paid shouldn't turn into a waiting game. A certified casino must meet all three of these requirements:
- The withdrawal pending period must fit within 0-24 hours.
- E-wallet withdrawals must be processed within 0-24 hours.
- The operator must process withdrawals over weekends.
Credit/debit card, cheque and bank-transfer timeframes aren't included in this particular standard.
4 Genuine Responsible Gambling Commitment Threshold: self-serve limits + self-exclusion
Responsible gambling shouldn't be something you have to hunt for. Certified Casinos must provide:
- Clear, understandable responsible gambling information.
- Self-exclusion and cooling-off through support and self-serve account tools.
- Deposit, wager and loss limits available by day, week and month.
- Those limits must also be available as self-serve account features.
5 Transparent Funding and AML Policies Threshold: fully documented procedures
Casinos operating across borders need to follow the laws and regulations that apply to preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. Certified Casinos must provide detailed information about the procedures and policies they have in place.
6 Fair, Secure and Transparent Operations Threshold: all five requirements
A certified casino must demonstrate that its operations are fair, secure and compliant with its licence. We check that:
- The website uses SSL encryption.
- Games come from fully licensed and regulated software providers.
- Payments and withdrawals must only be processed once the player has successfully completed KYC and their account has been verified.
- 24/7 live chat is available.
- Players can access their complete gaming and transaction history.
7 Regulated by an Official Licensing Authority Threshold: accepted regulator
A Certificate of Trust doesn't replace a gambling licence. Certified Casinos must hold a licence from a reputable, accepted regulatory authority. Currently accepted regulators include:
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Government of Gibraltar
- Curaçao Gaming Control Board
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Tobique Gambling License
- Anjouan Gambling License
8 Six Months on AskGamblers and a Clean Reputation Cross-Check Threshold: ≥6 months, no open issues
A new casino simply doesn't have enough history for us to make a verdict this strong. That's why every casino must be listed on AskGamblers for at least six months. We also check for past and ongoing issues affecting its reputation and operations, both on AskGamblers and across major industry and player-review websites.
9 AGCCS and AskGamblers Integration on the Casino's Website Threshold: Complaint page + footer integration
Certified Casinos must make it easy for players to find their way to AskGamblers. They must:
- Create a dedicated Complaint page linking to the AskGamblers Complaint Service submission page.
- Add the AskGamblers logo to their website footer, linking to their casino review page on AskGamblers.
Operators with a CasinoRank above 9.5 may be exempt from these two requirements.
The Numbers Behind Certification
Two numbers are especially important when a casino applies: CasinoRank and its AGCCS resolution record.
CasinoRank ≥ 8.00 - What goes into it?
- 50%
Casino Details Withdrawal and pending timeframes, payment methods, withdrawal limits, support channels and availability, software providers
- 25%
AGCCS History The casino's track record on the AskGamblers Complaint Service
- 15%
Player Reviews Written reviews and 1–10 scores submitted by the AskGamblers community
- 10%
Design Details Responsiveness, user-friendliness and ease of navigation
| Published Complaints | Requirement | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 6 or fewer | No more than 1 unresolved | 5 of 6 resolved = 83.33% - acceptable |
| More than 6 | At least 85% resolved | 51 of 60 resolved = 85% - acceptable |
And these aren't just application-stage numbers. If a certified casino drops below either gate, it enters the remediation process.
Staying Certified - And Losing The Certificate
Getting the badge isn't a one-and-done deal. Certified Casinos are monitored continuously and fully re-audited. Every certified casino sits in one of three states.
Monitored
We regularly monitor the casino against all nine standards after certification. We also review new complaints filed against the casino as they arrive.
Under Remediation
If a casino falls short of a standard, we notify the operator and give it a fixed window to put things right. The badge remains visible during this remediation period.
Suspended or Removed
If the issue isn't fixed, we can suspend or remove the Certificate of Trust. The badge is then removed from the casino's AskGamblers review page and its own website.
Who Decides and Why You Can Hold Us to It
Certification is reviewed and approved by an internal team of AskGamblers experts, based on the published Certificate of Trust standards.
Since 2006, we have reviewed hundreds of casinos, resolved 30,895 complaints and returned $93,131,637 to players. That record, not a questionnaire, is what these standards are built on.
What Certification Looks Like in Practice
Certified Casinos are held to a required complaint resolution standard, and their cases are published through AGCCS. Here are some examples of issues resolved through our complaint service:
Hello AskGamblers Team,
I am writing to seek your help regarding an issue with my casino account. I have successfully deposited money on this platform more than five times without any issues. However, today, when I attempted to make a withdrawal first time, I was unable to receive the required SMS verification code on my registered mobile number.
Amount held 3790inr
Please note that my phone number is active and fully functional for incoming messages. Additionally, I noticed that my personal profile section on the website has changed; it now only displays my Email ID and Gaming ID, while other details like my registered phone number—which were previously visible—are no longer shown.
I have already contacted customer chat support, but they failed to provide a satisfactory response or solution. This situation is causing me a lot of stress, and I request your intervention to help resolve this issue so I can proceed with my withdrawal.
upon contacting customer care chat they are saying that email code will be provided but when applying for withdrawal it still ask for code sent to phone number which nevers comes
Account Details:
Gaming ID: [1559360697]
Registered Email: [ removed and sent to the casino]
Registered Phone Number: [removed]
Thank you for your assistance.
Resolved
I have written boho casino many many emails to support and vip to close my account due to a serious gambling problem! I have asked chat, who told me to write a email, which I did many times before, I requested call backs from the vip manager on their site, NO reply from any emails or vip manager!
I have lost a total of 8995.0 CAD since requesting my acct be closed due to serious gambling problem! In the emails I begged them to close my account!
My account is till fully active! I want my acct closed for good and my money refunded back to me ! Please help me
Resolved
I am submitting this as a formal complaint regarding the handling of my repeated requests to permanently close and self-exclude my gambling account.
I have explicitly informed your customer support that I have a gambling addiction and that I want my account permanently closed/self-excluded.
Despite making this clear and contacting you repeatedly, my request has not been dealt with appropriately. Instead of simply permanently closing my account, I have experienced delays and further communication regarding alternatives.
I want there to be absolutely no ambiguity: I am requesting permanent self-exclusion because of gambling addiction.
I do not want a temporary break, cooling-off period, deposit limit, retention offer, bonus, or any other alternative. I do not want to be persuaded to continue gambling.
Transaction evidence
I have preserved screenshots of the transaction history available through my Boho Casino account.
From the screenshots currently in my possession, I can document at least NOK 127,820 in accepted deposits between 26 June 2026 and 15 September 2026.
This is a conservative figure. I have only included transactions where the date and amount are clearly visible, and I have removed transactions appearing more than once across overlapping screenshots.
There is also an additional NOK 1,700 deposit visible in the evidence where the date is not visible. I have therefore excluded that transaction from the NOK 127,820 documented total.
The screenshots demonstrate repeated and concentrated deposits, including:
* 6 July 2026 – NOK 15,000
* 18 August 2026 – NOK 15,000
* 2 September 2026 – NOK 10,500 within approximately 40 minutes
* 11 September 2026 – NOK 15,650
* 14–15 September 2026 – NOK 21,200 between approximately 23:10 and 01:02
These examples are not estimates of gambling losses. They are accepted deposits visible in the transaction history I have preserved.
My self-exclusion request
The central issue in this complaint is straightforward.
I have told you that I suffer from gambling addiction and have repeatedly requested that you permanently close/self-exclude my account.
Once I explicitly disclosed my gambling addiction and requested permanent self-exclusion, I expected that request to be treated as a serious responsible-gambling matter and acted upon without unnecessary delay. Instead, I have had to repeatedly contact you regarding something I have already made completely clear.
For someone who has specifically disclosed a gambling problem, leaving continued access to a gambling account while discussing alternatives to permanent closure creates an obvious risk.
I therefore formally request:
1. Immediate and permanent self-exclusion/closure of my account.
2. Written confirmation that the account has been permanently self-excluded and cannot simply be reopened upon request.
3. Confirmation of the exact date and time when you first received notice that I had a gambling problem and/or requested self-exclusion.
4. A complete record of my deposits, withdrawals, and gambling transactions for the relevant period.
5. Copies or records of the communications concerning my requests for account closure/self-exclusion.
6. An explanation of why my permanent self-exclusion request was not actioned immediately after I disclosed my gambling addiction and requested closure.
7. Confirmation of what responsible-gambling actions, restrictions, or account reviews were applied to my account, and when.
Please preserve all records relevant to this complaint, including account activity, transaction records, responsible-gambling records, internal account notes, and my communications with customer support.
Important clarification
My immediate priority is not reimbursement. My priority is making sure that I cannot continue gambling through this account. I am asking for permanent self-exclusion regardless of whether any money is ultimately refunded.
I am preserving screenshots of my transaction history and copies of my communications as evidence.
Please treat this message as a formal complaint and permanent self-exclusion request and provide written confirmation that my account has been permanently self-excluded.
If this matter is not resolved appropriately, I will preserve the complete correspondence and submit the matter, together with my transaction evidence and self-exclusion communications, to the relevant licensing/regulatory and dispute-resolution channels applicable to the operator.
I expect written confirmation of the permanent self-exclusion and a formal response to this complaint.
Kind regards,
<full name removed>
Resolved
Across all casinos, AGCCS has processed 39,496 complaints and returned $93,131,637 to players. Browse all complaints →
For operators
Applying for the Certificate of Trust
What Certification Gives You
- The Certificate of Trust badge on your AskGamblers review page
- A place in our Certified Casinos directory
- Documented proof of trustworthiness you can display on your own website
- The credibility of a certification earned by fewer than 10% of applicants
What You Must Put in Place
- A dedicated Complaint page linking to the AskGamblers Complaint Service submission form
- The AskGamblers logo in your website footer, linked to your AskGamblers review page
- Both placements checked
- Operators above 9.5 CasinoRank may be exempt from both requirements
Check Before You Apply
- ≥ 6 months listed on AskGamblers
- CasinoRank ≥ 8.00
- Required AGCCS resolution rate
- Pending and e-wallet withdrawals completed within 24 hours, including weekends
- Self-serve responsible-gambling limits and self-exclusion
- Documented AML and funding policies
- Accepted gambling licence
- Fair, secure and transparent operations
The certificate is not for sale. Advertising spend, affiliate terms and commercial relationships have no bearing on the certification outcome.
Casinos That Hold the Certificate of Trust Today
Here you can see all the casinos that currently hold the Certificate of Trust. If a casino is not on this list, it is not certified.
FAQ
Can a casino buy the Certificate of Trust?
No.
AskGamblers does not sell the Certificate of Trust. We grant it only to casinos that meet our certification standards, and commercial relationships have no bearing on the decision.
How do I know a Certificate of Trust badge is genuine?
There are three quick checks. One, the badge should link to the casino's AskGamblers review page. Two, the badge should also appear on that review page. Three, the casino should appear in our Certified Casinos directory. If any of these checks fail, treat the badge as suspicious and report it to us.
Does the Certificate of Trust mean I will get paid?
It means the casino has met our payout standard, achieved the required complaint resolution rate and provided a route for players to escalate complaints through AskGamblers.
But it's not a guarantee.
If something does go wrong, you can submit a complaint through AGCCS.
How is this different from a gambling licence?
A gambling licence is permission to operate from a state or regulatory authority.
The Certificate of Trust is different. It's our independent audit of how a casino actually treats players, including payout speed, complaint resolution and responsible-gambling tools.
A certified casino must also hold an accepted gambling licence. The Certificate of Trust doesn't replace regulation; it adds another layer of scrutiny.
What are the certification criteria?
A casino must meet all nine standards, including a CasinoRank of at least 8.00, the required AGCCS resolution rate, fast payouts and genuine responsible-gambling tools.
It must also have documented AML and funding policies, fair, secure and transparent operations, an accepted gambling licence, at least six months on AskGamblers with a clean reputation cross-check, and the required AGCCS and AskGamblers website integration.
Why have fewer than 50 casinos earned the certificate?
Because the vetting is genuinely rigorous. Out of the hundreds of casinos we've reviewed and considered for certification, fewer than 10% have been approved.
Can the certificate expire?
It doesn't have a fixed expiry date. But that doesn't mean it lasts forever. Certified casinos are continuously monitored. If a casino no longer meets the standards, it can lose the certificate.
Can a casino lose the Certificate of Trust?
Yes. If a casino no longer meets one of the certification standards, we notify it and give it a fixed period to resolve the issue.
If the issue isn't fixed, the certificate can be suspended or removed.
What happens if a certified casino treats me badly?
Tell us. You can file a complaint through the AskGamblers Complaint Service. Certified casinos are held to a higher complaint-resolution standard, so failing to resolve player issues can directly affect their certification.
Why isn't a newly opened casino certified?
Because there's no meaningful track record yet. We require a casino to have been listed on AskGamblers for at least six months before it can apply. That gives us time to see how it actually operates and treats players.
When were these standards last updated?
Standards v3.1 were published in August 2026. We publish a changelog whenever a certification standard or threshold changes.