Last updated: May 2026 — Ruan van der Merwe, Mystoreonline
```htmlAt Mystoreonline (mystoreonline.co.za), every casino review you read has been personally researched, tested, and written by Ruan van der Merwe. This page explains exactly how we evaluate online casinos for South African players, what criteria we use, and why you can trust our ratings to be honest, independent, and thorough.
Our goal is simple: to give South African players the information they need to make safe, informed decisions when choosing an online casino in 2026. We do not accept payment from operators in exchange for positive reviews. Every score you see on this site reflects genuine, first-hand testing and analysis.
Before any casino earns a rating on Mystoreonline, it goes through a structured, multi-stage review process carried out personally by Ruan van der Merwe. Here is exactly how that process works:
The first thing we do is verify whether the casino holds a valid licence from a recognised regulatory authority. We check the licence number directly on the regulator's official website to confirm it is active and legitimate. Any casino that cannot pass this first step is not reviewed on Mystoreonline.
Ruan van der Merwe personally creates a real player account at the casino using his own details. This allows us to experience the sign-up process exactly as a South African player would, including identity verification steps and any welcome bonus claims.
We make real deposits using payment methods commonly available to South African players, including options that support ZAR transactions. We also process at least one withdrawal to measure payout speed, any fees applied, and how smooth the process actually is.
We browse the full game library and play a selection of slots, table games, and live dealer games. We assess game variety, software quality, loading speeds, and whether the titles are appropriate for the South African market.
We read the full terms and conditions of all bonuses, including the fine print. We pay close attention to wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum withdrawal caps, so our readers know exactly what they are signing up for.
We contact customer support through all available channels, including live chat, email, and where available, telephone. We record response times and assess the quality and accuracy of the answers received.
We access the casino on a mobile device to evaluate the quality of the mobile browser experience or dedicated app, checking navigation, game availability, and overall usability on smaller screens.
Each casino is scored across six key categories. The final overall rating is a weighted score out of 10, calculated using the percentages shown below.
| Rating Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Valid licence, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair play certification |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, ongoing promotions, bonus fairness |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number of games, software providers, slots, table games, live casino quality |
| Payment Methods | 15% | ZAR support, deposit and withdrawal options, payout speed, transaction fees |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response time, quality of assistance, communication channels |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site quality, app availability, game performance on mobile devices |
All casinos on Mystoreonline are scored on a scale of 1 to 10. Here is what each score range means:
Independence is at the core of everything we publish on Mystoreonline. Here is how we protect the integrity of our reviews:
Ruan van der Merwe is the founder and lead reviewer at Mystoreonline. With years of experience analysing online casinos specifically for the South African market, Ruan brings first-hand knowledge of what local players need, from ZAR-friendly banking to games that are accessible and fair. Every review on this site carries his personal stamp of approval and reflects direct, hands-on testing rather than information sourced from casino marketing materials.
If you have questions about our methodology or want to suggest a casino for review, you are welcome to get in touch through the contact page at mystoreonline.co.za.
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