Mithrillium Media’s honest approach to online casino rankings
Sebastian Jarosch is the founder and CEO of Mithrillium Media Ltd. He used his extensive knowledge of the online gambling industry to create a company whose goal is to deliver high-quality traffic to its clients. We sat down with Sebastian Jarosch to discuss how Mithrillium Media focuses on facts and real experiences to build trust with its audience.
During his time in the industry, working with numerous companies, Jarosch’s work was recognised with numerous awards. Among them are:
- EGR award – Best Affiliate Programme in 2020
- Askgamblers award – Best Partner in 2021
- SBC award – Affiliate Programme of the Year in 2022
He’s also appeared as a judge on panels by Sigma, SBC, and IGB.
Q: What’s the core philosophy behind how Mithrillium Media Ltd ranks online casinos?
Sebastian Jarosch: At Mithrillium Media Ltd, our philosophy is to always put the player first when selecting partners and writing reviews. We focus on facts and real experiences from industry experts to build trust with our audience. Our aim is to empower visitors to make informed decisions based on our casino reviews. By being honest and trustworthy, we create long-term relationships with our players.
Q: In a crowded affiliate space, what makes your ranking algorithm stand out from others?
SJ: Most iGaming affiliate sites determine their casino rankings through commercial agreements or bonus offers. In contrast, rankings on sites like Casino Groups are based on real user feedback and in-house expert testing to create a multi-layered score. Categories such as withdrawal speed, localisation, fairness of T&Cs, mobile friendliness, responsible gambling features, and customer support responsiveness are all factored in. This creates a dynamic, transparent, and player-first ranking system that is not based on flat fees or commissions.
Q: What are the top 3 criteria you believe players should consider when choosing an online casino?
SJ: When we review casinos, we examine the licensing and reputation of the operator first to make sure they are reliable and sufficiently cover important areas like responsible gaming. Next, we focus on deposits and withdrawals by deep-diving into the payment methods, withdrawal limits, and payout speeds. Last but not least, we dissect the bonus offers to ensure that the bonus terms are fair and that players clearly understand the bonus mechanics.
Q: How do you strike the balance between commercial partnerships and unbiased reviews?
SJ: It is critical to separate commercial interests from editorial integrity. At Mithrillium Media, we believe that writing honest reviews will enhance our credibility, which will lead to returning customers. Reviews and rankings are never directly influenced by commissions or deals. We clearly disclose affiliate relationships, but the final ratings are based purely on facts. Long-term trust always outweighs short-term financial incentives.
Q: How has the way affiliates rank and promote casinos changed in the time that you have been in the industry?
SJ: The biggest change is that players are much better informed today. In the past, affiliate reviews often resembled sales pitches to convert players. Now, players are more informed and they research licensing, reputation, payout speeds, and experiences from other players. As a result, affiliate sites have had to shift from sales-driven messaging to true, value-driven content. The sites that fail to adapt to this player-centric approach are losing credibility fast.
Q: How important is localisation in your rankings, especially in regions like DACH?
SJ: Localisation in the DACH region is absolutely essential. Operators require specific payment methods like Sofort, Paysafecard and Giropay, native language customer support, website translations, and regional game providers like Gamomat, Novomatic and Merkur for example. Online Casinos that are not properly localised will not convert well.
Q: Can you tell us how you evaluate a new casino site for inclusion on your platform?
SJ: We start with licensing and ownership background checks. We check if the casino has a good standing on watchdog sites and research player feedback. Then we thoroughly test the registration process, first deposit bonuses, RTPs, payment methods, withdrawal speeds, CS responsiveness, and game portfolio. We also check terms and conditions for fairness and transparency. Only casinos that meet our baseline standards for safety, fairness, and user experience are listed.
Q: With the rise of gamification, crypto casinos, and evolving tech, how do you adapt your ranking model to keep pace?
SJ: If we notice an innovation that adds real value for our players, we integrate it into our review framework. Initially, we did not include crypto casinos in our rankings at all, for example, but with the rise in demand, we began adding cryptocurrencies into our system and started writing reviews about crypto casinos. Staying ahead means being flexible but still holding new trends to the same high standards of fairness and user protection.
Q: You have served as a judge at industry award shows—how does that influence your approach to evaluating online casinos?
SJ: As a judge, I am mostly in charge of evaluating affiliate programmes and affiliate platforms. However, judging an affiliate programme is very similar to reviewing an online casino. I have a very methodical approach, with a checklist of criteria that I focus on during the review process. The evaluation is based on my personal research, my own experience, and the submissions provided by the nominees. Reviewing hundreds of submissions has improved my ability to identify the key factors that make an operator successful.
Q: Looking ahead, what role do you see Mithrillium Media Ltd playing in shaping the future of iGaming affiliate standards?
SJ: We believe affiliates must be part of the movement toward higher transparency, responsible gaming, and player advocacy. At Mithrillium Media, we aim to lead by example by publishing player-centric reviews that guide players toward informed decisions. Our vision is to help build a more sustainable, and trustworthy iGaming ecosystem.
