How PHCROWN Reviews: Definitions, Criteria and Limits
A guide built on explaining vocabulary should define its own. This page states what PHCROWN means by the words it uses about operators and how it reaches them. PHCROWN is an independent guide, not a casino. It takes no deposits, runs no games and is addressed to adults aged 21 and over.
Words we use, and what we mean
- 'Licensed' means a named company appears on the list of licensees PAGCOR publishes, with the domain in question. It does not mean 'displays a seal'.
- 'Published' means stated on the operator's own pages where any visitor can read it.
- 'Unverified' means we could not confirm it from public sources. It is not an accusation.
- 'Review' means a structured description of published material. It does not mean a test with money.
The criteria
| Criterion | Definition as used here | Typical finding |
|---|---|---|
| Licence disclosure | A company name that can be matched to the regulator's list | Named and matched; named but not found; or not named |
| Payment rails | The transfer routes offered for deposit and withdrawal | Listed specifically, or described vaguely |
| Terms clarity | Whether rules on wagering, limits and refusals are written plainly | Clear, partial or absent |
| KYC rules | The identity checks required and their timing | Stated up front, or left until withdrawal |
| Complaint route | The path a dispute follows after first-line support | Documented, or not documented |
| Responsible-gaming tools | Player-set limits, time-outs and exclusion | Available in account, on request, or not mentioned |
| Support channels | Ways to reach staff from inside the site | Present with hours, present without, or social media only |
| App distribution | How an app is supplied and what it asks of the device | No app, web shortcut, or sideloaded installer |
Findings are written out in sentences on the relevant page. They are not converted into numbers, and operators are not ordered by them.
Fact and claim
We treat two kinds of statement differently. A fact is something checkable in a public source: a name on a list, a sentence in a terms document, the way a public payment rail operates. InstaPay being real-time with a per-transaction cap, and PESONet settling in batches on banking days, are facts of that kind.
A claim is something an operator says about its own performance: fast payouts, instant approval, low fees. We cannot verify claims and do not repeat them as fact. Payout times, fees, minimums and bonus amounts are set by the operator; check its cashier page.
What we do not do
- Hold accounts in order to report results.
- Publish scores, stars or rankings.
- Quote operator-specific timings or amounts as established.
- Attribute pages to named experts.
Money
Some links may be partner links through which PHCROWN can earn a commission. No payment changes wording. Operators cannot buy a different finding, a softer definition or a place in an order that does not exist.
Keeping definitions honest
Pages carry a modified date and are revised when published material changes. If you find this site using one of the words above in a looser sense than defined here, that is an error we want reported. Where an operator's documents and our description part ways, the documents prevail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PHCROWN mean by 'review'?
A structured description of what an operator publishes, measured against fixed criteria. It is not a paid test and carries no score.
What does 'unverified' mean on this site?
That we could not confirm something from public sources. It signals a gap for you to check, not a judgement.
Does PHCROWN confirm payout times?
No. Those are operator claims. They are set by the operator and shown on its cashier page.
Is PHCROWN paid by casinos?
It may earn commission through partner links. Payment never alters wording. PHCROWN is not a casino and is for readers 21+.