About Candyland
Last updated: 24 June 2026
Candyland is an independent review site that tests online casinos so UK players don’t have to gamble blind. We sign up, deposit our own money, play, claim bonuses and request withdrawals — then write up exactly what happened. This page explains who we are, how we started, the people behind the reviews and the standards we hold ourselves to.
Our mission
The online casino market grows every year, and so does the number of operators cutting corners. For a UK player it is genuinely hard to tell a trustworthy site from one that will stall a withdrawal or bury a punishing wagering term in the small print. Candyland exists to close that gap. We test casinos in person, read the full terms, and publish honest, plain-English verdicts. Since 2021 we have tested more than 200 casinos, analysed thousands of bonus offers and timed dozens of payout methods. The point is simple: save you hours of research and help protect your money. Candyland itself is an offshore operator licensed in Curaçao, not by the UK Gambling Commission, and it is not signed up to GamStop — we say that plainly rather than imply a UK licence it does not hold, and we flag what that means for your protection.
Our story
Candyland began in 2021 when Oliver Bennett grew frustrated that most casino “reviews” online were thinly rewritten ad copy, written by people who had never deposited a cent. What started as a blog with a handful of hands-on reviews became a full resource with its own testing process and scoring system. In 2022 we formalised the rating method that still underpins our work today — a weighted score across the criteria that actually matter to players, from payout reliability to bonus fairness. You can see exactly how it works in How We Rate.
Our team
Oliver Bennett — Lead Casino Reviewer
Nine years in iGaming, based in Manchester. Oliver personally tests every casino we recommend, with a focus on licensing, bonus terms, payout speed and player safety. Read his full profile and testing approach on the author page.
Alongside Oliver, our editorial process draws on specialist freelancers for specific areas — payments, mobile play and live dealer games — so each review reflects real expertise rather than guesswork.
Our values
Honesty. We do not hide a casino’s flaws to protect a commission. If a site scores poorly, we publish that. If a bonus carries an unfriendly wagering requirement, we say so in plain words.
Transparency. We disclose how we make money in our Affiliate Disclosure, we name the author of every review, and we date every publication and update.
Independence. No casino can buy a positive review. Commercial relationships are kept strictly separate from editorial decisions, as set out in our Editorial Policy.
Responsibility. We back responsible gambling and actively signpost help, and we favour licensed operators that give players real self-control tools. See Responsible Gambling.
How we work
Every review follows the same path: research the licence, owner and complaint history; test the casino with a real account and real money; score it against our published criteria; write it up from first-hand experience; fact-check the details against the operator and regulator; then publish with a date and revisit every 3–6 months. The full method is documented in How We Test and our scoring system.
Get in touch
We welcome questions, suggestions and error reports. Email [email protected] or use our Contact page — and if gambling is causing you harm, please reach the National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) on 0808 8020 133, free and 24/7.