James Benson

James leapt into the iGaming industry in March 2021 to help upgrade players' online experiences. He's written, edited, and reviewed more than 150 pages, from casino bonus guides to deep dives into provincial gambling scenes.

As a Content Editor for the Canadian market, James now applies his experience to bring you rundowns of the best sites and apps in Ontario and beyond. He ensures online casinos are safe, fair, and secure. He also confirms they uphold the standards Casino Guru expects and offer a top all-around experience. If James won't play at a casino himself, he won't recommend it.

Author credentials

With over four years' experience in gambling, James has seen the best and worst of the industry across Canada and the USA. His background in journalism means James specializes in securing the information that matters to players. He checks everything from a casino's license and safety tools to its software, bonuses, and withdrawals.

Education

Lancaster University, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) [History] - October 2011 - July 2014

University of Sheffield, Master of Arts [Print Journalism] - September 2014 - September 2015

How I rate casinos

Checking licenses with bodies like iGaming Ontario (iGO) is my first step. Licensing is a key sign casinos commit to meeting legal standards and keeping players safe. I'll then take in the site, noting how easy it is to sign up, deposit, set limits, and get bonuses. Just like Casino Guru's Safety Index, I value fair, simple terms and conditions for bonuses. Any casino trying to trick players gets marked down.

Gameplay is a huge factor, especially for live casino games. Crystal-clear, stable streams with crisp audio are essential. Once I've played through my bankroll and met bonus terms, I make withdrawals. I'll do this using a few different methods to ensure payments are smooth and test payout speeds.

Colleague endorsement

“James takes the time to understand every part of a casino before writing a review. He is not afraid to speak up when a casino doesn't meet Casino Guru's high standards. With years of experience in the Canadian market, James is one of the most trusted reviewers in the industry.” – Andy Jessop, Content Manager