Last updated: June 2026 — Brigitte Savard, Followingoaks
```htmlAt Followingoaks, every casino review you read is the result of a rigorous, hands-on evaluation process. Founded and run by Brigitte Savard, this site was built on a single promise: to give Canadian players honest, accurate, and deeply researched information before they deposit a single dollar. This page explains exactly how we assess online casinos, what criteria we use, how we weight them, and why you can trust what you read here.
Brigitte Savard personally tests every online casino reviewed on followingoaks.com before a single word is written. That means creating a real player account, making actual deposits using Canadian payment methods, claiming bonuses, playing games, contacting customer support, and attempting withdrawals. No review is published based on press materials, operator-supplied information, or second-hand accounts. If Brigitte has not logged in and played, the casino does not get reviewed.
This commitment to real, personal testing is the foundation of everything you will find on this site. It means our reviews reflect the actual player experience in Canada in 2026, not a theoretical checklist completed from a distance.
Before investing time in a full review, Brigitte checks whether a casino holds a valid licence recognised in Canada. Any platform operating without proper authorisation is immediately disqualified. This step filters out untrustworthy operators before any deeper evaluation begins.
Brigitte registers a new account under standard Canadian player conditions. This tests how smooth the sign-up process is, how quickly identity verification is handled, and whether any region-based restrictions apply to Canadian residents.
A real deposit is made using payment methods commonly available to Canadian players, including credit cards, e-wallets, and Interac where available. Processing speeds, fees, and minimum deposit thresholds are all recorded.
Welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions are claimed and played through. Wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum withdrawal caps are all evaluated against current industry standards.
Brigitte browses and plays titles across multiple categories including slots, table games, and live dealer. Software providers are noted, load times are tested, and the overall quality of the gaming experience is assessed.
Support is contacted through live chat, email, or both. Response times are measured, the quality and accuracy of answers are judged, and the availability of support in English and French for Canadian players is noted.
A withdrawal is requested to verify processing speed, any added documentation requirements, and whether the experience matches the casino's stated terms.
The casino is accessed on a mobile device to assess the quality of the browser-based or app experience, including navigation, game availability, and performance on smaller screens.
Each casino receives a final score out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria. Here is how those criteria break down:
| Criteria | Weighting | What We Evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Regulatory authority, SSL encryption, responsible gambling tools, fair play certification |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms fairness, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Number and variety of titles, software providers, live casino quality, RTP transparency |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, CAD support, transaction limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response speed, answer quality, language options for Canadian players |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Design quality, game availability on mobile, speed, usability on iOS and Android |
Independence is not just a word we use for marketing purposes. It is a structural commitment built into how Followingoaks operates. Here is what that means in practice:
The Canadian online gambling market has evolved significantly, and Brigitte Savard built Followingoaks specifically to serve players across Canada with reviews that are locally relevant. That means evaluating CAD banking options, assessing French-language availability where applicable, and ensuring that any casino we recommend accepts and respects Canadian players without unfair regional restrictions.
Every review on this site is written with one goal in mind: to give you the clearest possible picture of what it is actually like to play at a given casino, so you can make an informed, confident decision.
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