Last updated: June 2026 — Marcus Tremblay, Somethingnewfilms
At Somethingnewfilms, every casino review you read on somethingnewfilms.com is built on a structured, transparent, and independently verified process. Our lead reviewer, Marcus Tremblay, personally tests each platform before a single word is written. No shortcuts. No assumptions. No operator influence. This page explains exactly how we evaluate new online casinos for Canadian players in 2026, so you always know what our scores mean and how we arrived at them.
Marcus Tremblay is the author and owner of Somethingnewfilms. With years of hands-on experience navigating the Canadian online gambling market, Marcus brings both technical knowledge and a player-first perspective to every review. He creates real accounts using his own details, deposits real money, plays a representative selection of games, tests withdrawal processes, and contacts customer support teams directly. Every rating reflects lived experience, not secondhand information or operator-supplied materials.
Somethingnewfilms operates independently. We are not owned by any casino group, we do not accept payment in exchange for higher ratings, and we do not allow operators to approve or edit our reviews before publication.
Before investing testing time, Marcus verifies that a casino holds a valid licence recognised in Canada. Any platform that cannot demonstrate legitimate regulatory oversight is disqualified immediately and will not receive a full review on this site.
Marcus registers a new account using standard Canadian player credentials, completes the KYC verification process, and makes a real-money deposit. This reveals how smooth the onboarding experience actually is, including any hidden friction that would not appear in a simple walkthrough.
Where a welcome bonus is available, Marcus claims it and works through the wagering requirements. Terms are read carefully and cross-referenced against what is advertised. This is where many casinos either demonstrate genuine value or expose misleading marketing.
Marcus plays a cross-section of slots, table games, and live dealer titles where available. Software providers are noted, game load times are measured, and the quality of the random number generation certification is verified.
A withdrawal request is submitted, and the time taken to process it is recorded. Accepted payment methods are catalogued, including any fees, minimum and maximum limits, and compatibility with popular Canadian banking options.
Support channels are contacted via live chat, email, or telephone, with response times and quality of answers logged at different times of day.
The casino is accessed on a mobile device to evaluate layout, responsiveness, game availability, and how well account management features function on smaller screens.
All findings are compiled, scored against our weighted criteria, and written up in plain language that Canadian players can act on.
Each casino is scored out of 10. The overall score is a weighted average calculated across six core categories. Here is how the weighting breaks down:
| Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Regulatory authority, data encryption, responsible gambling tools, and player fund protection |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, bonus terms clarity, and ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Volume and variety of titles, software provider quality, RTP transparency, and live casino offering |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees, and CAD compatibility |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability hours, response speed, accuracy of answers, and channel variety |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | App or browser performance, design quality, feature parity with desktop, and loading speed |
Independence is not just a policy at Somethingnewfilms — it is a practice built into every stage of our work. Marcus Tremblay funds all testing personally and retains full editorial control over every score and recommendation published on this site. Affiliate relationships may exist with some of the casinos we review, meaning we may earn a commission if you sign up through our links. However, these commercial relationships have no influence on scores or rankings. Casinos cannot pay for better ratings, request changes to published reviews, or see content before it goes live.
If a casino that earns us a commission scores poorly, that poor score is published without adjustment. If a casino we have no commercial relationship with scores highly, that high score is published without hesitation. Our obligation is to Canadian players, not to operators.
We also review our published scores periodically. If a casino changes its terms, withdraws a licence, or receives credible player complaints, Marcus revisits the review and updates the rating to reflect the current situation. Last-reviewed dates are displayed on every review page so you always know how current our information is.