The online gambling industry has changed.
The era of generic top-ten lists and faceless websites is over. In a landscape defined by strict stake limits, rising duties, and AI-generated noise, you don’t just need a guide—you need a Critical Friend.
We founded The Casino Count with a singular purpose: to replace the “marketing fluff” of the affiliate world with verifiable, data-backed truth. We are not here to sell you a casino; we are here to audit it.
Why We Started This Site
For years, players were forced to rely on “review sites” run by anonymous admins who had never deposited a real pound or faced a real KYC check.
As we moved towards 2026, the risks changed. The introduction of the 40% Remote Gaming Duty and rigorous financial vulnerability checks meant that playing online became more complex. Players weren’t just asking “Is this fun?”—they were asking “Is this safe?”, “Will I get paid?”, and “Why are the terms so strict?”
We saw a gap for a platform that respected the player’s intelligence. The Casino Count was born to bridge the gap between the dry, legalistic world of the UKGC and the reality of your bankroll. We check the licenses, we test the support, and we verify the corporate entities so you don’t have to.
Meet the Owners
Author bio: Michael Brown | Co-Owner & Technical Lead | Data Security & Compliance Specialist
Michael Brown is the technical architect behind The Casino Count, ensuring the platform serves as a “Critical Friend” to the modern UK gambler. With over two decades of experience in technology and data analysis, Michael leads the site’s “Verification First” strategy.
In an industry often clouded by superficial marketing, Michael’s role is to stress-test the infrastructure that supports the player experience. He specialises in:
- Algorithmic Fairness: Auditing RNG (Random Number Generator) certificates to ensure game outcomes are genuinely random.
- Cybersecurity: Verifying SSL handshakes and data encryption protocols to protect user anonymity.
- Regulatory Compliance: Analysing operator adherence to strict UKGC mandates, including the 2026 financial vulnerability checks and stake limits.
Michael believes that a casino is only as good as its code. If a platform fails his technical audit—whether through slow withdrawal processing or opaque terms—it does not make the list.
Author bio: Carmel Brown | Co-Owner & Value Analyst | Player Experience Advocate
Carmel Brown is the voice of the player at The Casino Count. As Co-Owner and Lead Product Analyst, she brings over 20 years of sector-specific writing and research experience to the forefront of the 2026 gambling landscape.
While the industry shifts toward automation, Carmel maintains a strictly human-first approach to reviewing. She acts as a “Critical Friend” to the consumer, focusing on the practical economics of gambling. Her specialized areas of analysis include:
- Bonus Auditing: Deconstructing complex wagering requirements to reveal the mathematical probability of cashing out.
- The “Bingo Renaissance”: Leading the site’s coverage of the bingo vertical following the 2026 duty repeals, identifying high-value community games.
- Operational Efficiency: Manually testing “frictionless” verification processes and customer support channels to rate operators on actual user experience, not just promises.
Carmel’s mission is simple: to ensure that every recommendation on The Casino Count respects the player’s time and wallet.
Our Transparency Promise
We operate under a strict “Trust Stack” policy. We are a real company with a physical office, and we are accountable for every word we publish.
- We are human: Every review is written and verified by Michael or Carmel.
- We are reachable: We guarantee a 24-hour response time to all reader enquiries.
- We are transparent: The Casino Count is a trading name of Best Intrists OOD (Reg No: 1471001007).
Have a question or a tip-off? Don’t guess. Ask us directly via our Contact Page.
