Is Casino Buddies Review Legit? Safety Check & Owner Reveal

Chapter 1: Who is Behind the Curtain?

When we began our forensic audit of Casino Buddies Review, the first red flag emerged immediately: the corporate ownership is completely undisclosed.

We conducted registry searches across multiple jurisdictions known for hosting gambling entities:

• Curacao eGaming Registry: No matching entity found
• Malta Gaming Authority Database: No registered operator under this brand
• UK Companies House: No corporate filing
• Gibraltar Licensing Authority: No records

According to investigative data from GPWA forums, Casino Buddies Review (CasinoBuddies.com) operates as a small rebranded affiliate site specializing in casino and pokies reviews. The rebrand appears to have occurred between late 2025 and early 2026, but no formal announcement or corporate disclosure accompanied this transition.

The Corporate Identity Problem

In the affiliate and review sector, opacity is not uncommon. However, it presents specific risks:

• No Accountability Chain: If the site promotes a predatory casino that confiscates your winnings, there is no identifiable corporate entity to hold responsible
• Revenue Model Conflicts: Undisclosed ownership often correlates with aggressive commission structures that incentivize promoting high-risk operators
• Regulatory Vacuum: Without a disclosed owner, there is no way to verify compliance with advertising standards in jurisdictions like the UK, where affiliate marketing is regulated under the CAP Code

We checked for name hijacking patterns (where scam sites mimic legitimate businesses to deceive Google and users). While we found no evidence that Casino Buddies Review is impersonating an existing UK or EU registered business, the lack of corporate transparency remains a Critical Red Flag.

Shell Company or Legitimate Operator?

This is not a casino operator. It is a review and affiliate site. However, the business model depends on directing traffic to third-party casinos. The forensic question becomes: Are they vetting the operators they promote, or are they funneling players toward high-risk entities for commission revenue?

Without ownership disclosure, we cannot assess the editorial independence or conflict-of-interest policies that would normally govern a legitimate review platform.

Chapter 2: The License Check

We conducted a standard license verification process. Here is what we found:

The Investigation Process

Step 1: We navigated to the Casino Buddies Review website footer, searching for a license seal or regulatory disclosure.
Step 2: Result: No license information displayed.

This finding is consistent with the site’s operational model. Casino Buddies Review is not a gambling operator and therefore does not require a gambling license. However, this creates a critical distinction that users must understand:

The Affiliate Accountability Gap

In jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, affiliate sites that promote gambling operators are subject to advertising standards enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and must comply with the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code. Key requirements include:

• Clear disclosure of affiliate relationships
• Prohibition of misleading claims about odds or payout rates
• Restriction of marketing to minors or vulnerable persons

We reviewed the Casino Buddies Review site for compliance indicators:

• Affiliate Disclosure: Not verified in audit data
• Responsible Gambling Resources: Not verified in audit data
• Age Verification Warnings: Not verified in audit data

The Curacao Problem (For Promoted Casinos)

Based on sector-wide data, many affiliate sites in this space promote Curacao-licensed casinos. If Casino Buddies Review follows this pattern, users should understand the limitations:

• No Ombudsman: Curacao licenses do not provide access to independent dispute resolution
• Static Validators: Many Curacao license seals link to static images rather than live regulatory databases, making verification impossible
• Weak Enforcement: Curacao sub-licensors (such as Antillephone N.V., Gaming Curacao, and Curacao eGaming) have poor track records for enforcing player protection standards

If you use Casino Buddies Review to find a casino, independently verify the casino’s license before depositing funds.

Chapter 3: What Real Players Say (Reputation Analysis)

We applied the Trustpilot Paradox protocol: ignore generic 5-star reviews and focus on detailed negative reports that describe specific harm.

Data Limitations

According to our audit data, limited reputation data exists for Casino Buddies Review itself. The site is a small, recently rebranded affiliate platform. We found no Trustpilot profile and no significant volume of user-generated reviews on third-party forums.

However, the GPWA forum entry requesting a review of CasinoBuddies.com provides context: the site specializes in casino and pokies reviews, which places it within a sector plagued by systemic issues.

Sector-Wide Red Flags

Our audit data references investigations into the broader online casino review and affiliate space. Two critical patterns emerged from cross-referenced sources:

Pattern 1: Fake Casino Networks

A Casinomeister forum thread documented hundreds of identical fake scam casinos operating under different brand names but sharing the same templates, terms, and payment processors. These networks often:

• Use white-label software to spin up dozens of fake brands
• Rely on affiliate sites to drive traffic
• Confiscate winnings using fabricated terms-of-service violations

The critical risk: If Casino Buddies Review promotes casinos within these networks, users are funneled directly into scam traps.

Pattern 2: Verification Loops and Payment Delays

Sector-wide complaints documented in our sources include:

• Verification Loop: Casino requests document after document (ID, utility bill, bank statement, selfie with ID, notarized affidavit), then rejects submissions for arbitrary reasons
• Bonus Term Traps: Players win, request withdrawal, then are told they violated a buried wagering rule (e.g., “You bet more than €5 on a single spin while bonus was active”)
• Account Closure Without Explanation: Winnings confiscated, account closed, no appeal process

The Trust Question

Because Casino Buddies Review does not operate casinos, it cannot directly confiscate your funds. However, its value depends entirely on the quality of casinos it promotes. If it funnels traffic to predatory operators, it becomes complicit in the scam infrastructure.

Without editorial transparency, ownership disclosure, or verifiable vetting standards, we cannot confirm that Casino Buddies Review applies rigorous safety criteria when selecting which casinos to feature.

Chapter 4: The Withdrawal Matrix

Because Casino Buddies Review is not a casino operator, it does not process withdrawals. However, understanding withdrawal realities at the casinos it may promote is critical for your financial safety.

The Verification Trap

Based on sector-wide patterns, first-time withdrawals at casinos promoted by affiliate sites often trigger:

• Document Requests: Government-issued ID, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement dated within 90 days), payment method verification (photos of cards used for deposit)
• Secondary Requests: Selfie holding ID next to your face, notarized statements, source-of-funds documentation
• Arbitrary Rejections: “Your utility bill is not acceptable” (no reason given), “We need additional verification” (no timeline provided)

These delays are often intentional, designed to frustrate players into canceling withdrawals and gambling their winnings back to zero.

Risk Mitigation

If you use Casino Buddies Review to find a casino:

• Independently verify the casino’s license through the regulator’s official database
• Search for withdrawal complaints on forums like AskGamblers, Casinomeister, and LCB
• Start with a small deposit to test withdrawal processing before committing larger amounts

Chapter 5: Critical Risks & Final Verdict

Regional Risks

Our audit data indicates no evidence that Casino Buddies Review itself targets self-excluded players or bypasses national protection schemes. However, the casinos it promotes may pose specific regional risks:

United Kingdom

If Casino Buddies Review promotes casinos without UK Gambling Commission licenses, those casinos:

• Are illegal to advertise to UK residents
• Do not integrate with GamStop (the UK self-exclusion scheme)
• Offer no access to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) for dispute resolution

Warning: Using unlicensed casinos in the UK may result in winnings being unenforceable under UK law.

Netherlands

As of October 2021, online gambling in the Netherlands is regulated by the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA). Only KSA-licensed operators may legally serve Dutch residents. Unlicensed casinos:

• Do not integrate with Cruks (the Dutch self-exclusion register)
• Operate in violation of Dutch law
• Provide no legal recourse for confiscated winnings

Germany

Germany’s State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) restricts online gambling. Licensed operators must enforce:

• €1,000 monthly deposit limit across all licensed sites
• OASIS self-exclusion integration
• Slot spin speed restrictions

Casinos promoted by affiliate sites often bypass these protections, exposing German players to unregulated risk.

The Systemic Problem

Casino Buddies Review operates in a sector characterized by:

• Undisclosed Revenue Incentives: Affiliate sites earn commission on player losses, creating structural conflicts of interest
• Fake Casino Proliferation: Documented networks of hundreds of scam casinos using identical infrastructure
• Regulatory Arbitrage: Operators and affiliates exploit jurisdictional gaps to avoid accountability

Final Verdict

Our Conclusion

Casino Buddies Review is not a scam in the traditional sense—it does not operate casinos or directly confiscate player funds. However, it operates with zero corporate transparency in a sector rife with predatory operators and fake casino networks.

The core risk is informational: If you rely on Casino Buddies Review to select a casino, you are trusting an entity with:

• No disclosed ownership
• No verifiable editorial standards
• No demonstrated commitment to player protection

We recommend:

• Independent Verification: Before depositing at any casino, verify its license directly through the regulator’s official website
• Cross-Reference Reviews: Check multiple sources, including player forums with established reputations (AskGamblers, Casinomeister, LCB)
• Small Test Deposits: Never commit large sums until you have successfully tested a withdrawal
• Regional Compliance: Ensure any casino you use holds a valid license in your jurisdiction (UKGC for UK, KSA for Netherlands, etc.)

Until Casino Buddies Review discloses its ownership, publishes editorial vetting standards, and demonstrates a track record of promoting only licensed, reputable operators, we classify it as High Risk for Informational Integrity.

Player Discretion Advised.