The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Awesome Online Casino Review
A well-written online casino review not only gives an operator high exposure but also informs players of an online casino’s features. That’s why online casino reviews should be central to an online casino marketing strategy.
And yes, if you’re wondering, this also applies to sportsbook reviews and sports betting marketing strategies.
Hosted on affiliate sites, online casino reviews range from the could-have-been-a-gambling-Shakespeare to did-you-pay-attention-when-they-were-teaching-the-alphabet kind. So, how do you bullseye the former and stay well clear of the latter?
Well, if you’re in doubt you’re in the right place. This really, really is the ultimate guide on how to write online casino reviews.
Structure Is Key
An online casino review is only as good as the brief that precedes it. A content brief is what dictates exactly what needs to be covered in a review, including the structure, and is sent to the content writing agency of choice to direct them towards what the client – usually an iGaming affiliate or operator – wants.
Briefs can range from an absolute nightmare long-as-your-arm list of requirements (we’ve seen 20 pages long content briefs for 300-word casino and sportsbook reviews) to a few points and resources that might be useful.
Here are a few areas to most definitely include in your online casino review. And remember – it’s all about structure.
1. A Short Introduction
The history of the site, where it’s based, its reputation within the industry, and any other USPs that mark it out from its competitors are all good fodder for an online casino review.
It’s also worth including a linked table of contents so that players can skip straight to the information they need.
2. Design, Navigation, and Site User Experience
The aesthetics and usability of the site are usually included in the first half of the review as this will influence the overall playing experience.
Whether you’re an expert on these three interrelated elements or not, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the basics as these are by many accounts the most important aspects of an online casino.
3. Legislative Information
Which licenses the operator holds from Alderney, UKGC, MGA to Curaçao to Cyprus and including these seals is one of the best content marketing tips for online casinos and sportsbooks.
Players need to know that their gaming is facilitated in a safe environment and these seals provide assurance of the casino’s legitimacy.
Here, it’s worth cross-referencing any legislative seals with the gambling authority website, just on the off chance that the operator is pulling a fast one.
Luckily this is a rare occurrence and you can usually spot an untrustworthy website miles away, ensuring you’re providing your readers with the information they can rely on.
4. Game Collection
These can range from the ridiculously big to the slightly diminutive. Also, be aware that accessing the site from different locations (out-of-country) will influence what games are available for you to play.
Due to location-specific legislation, some games are available in certain locations and not in others.
Most casinos these days offer live casino, keno, bingo, poker, slots, and table games.
5. Promotions and Bonuses
Welcome bonuses, how regular promotions are, average wagering requirements, cash out, and time limits are all pieces of information that your online casino review should include.
Which payment options are viable should also be included as eWallets Neteller and Skrill are exempt from promotions due to potential fraud.
6. Banking
An important feature – this should detail not only which banking methods the casinos accept but also withdrawal times.
As many casinos have differing withdrawal times, it’s worth pinpointing exactly how long withdrawals take, for each payment method.
7. Customer service
Whether this is serviced by chatbots, live chat (with a humanoid) is available, email options and a local number helps, so readers don’t have to deal with an excruciatingly expensive phone bill at the end of the month.
The quality of the customer service should also be included, but always remember to query more than just one customer service representative as everyone has a bad day from time to time.
8. Optimization for Mobile
With around 37% of players choosing to play on smartphones, how an online casino renders on these devices, including tablets, is incredibly important to include in your casino review. If possible, try the site across as many devices as possible, including the advantages and disadvantages of each.
While having a well-organized structure is the foundation when you write online casino reviews, don’t forget that someone is actually reading this, or at least skimming for gist. Try for originality and add a touch of flair to your review to keep your audience interested.
You can also follow this link if you want to have an even deeper dive into how to write a good content brief for the iGaming industry.