My name is Ethan Cole, and I’m the founder and lead gambling analyst at HzO.me. I’ve worked in the iGaming industry for more than fifteen years. During this time, I’ve moved through risk management, product development, bonus modelling, and hands-on casino testing. I built this project because players deserve clear guidance and honest reviews based on real experience, not recycled marketing.
Early Career
I started in 2010 as a junior risk analyst at Northline Gaming Group, a mid-size European operator focused on sportsbook and RNG products. On paper my job looked simple: analyse betting patterns, detect bonus abuse, and track how payout systems behaved under pressure. In reality it was intense, fast-paced work that forced me to learn quickly.
Those four years gave me my first real look at volatility, RTP behaviour, and the gap between what casinos promise and what actually happens on the player side. I learned to read data instead of slogans, to question assumptions, and to see how even small rule changes can shift outcomes. That period shaped my approach to gambling analytics — practical, grounded, and always data-first.
Product & Game Testing
In 2014, I moved to BrightPath Interactive, a company that worked closely with several well-known slot providers. I joined the product QA and game integrity team. We tested new slot releases, checked bonus mechanics, and worked with developers on RTP accuracy and internal fairness checks.
Over the years there, I personally tested more than 600 games. That included early Megaways titles, cluster-pays, jackpots, and crypto-friendly crash games. I saw how studios design volatility curves, multipliers, and triggers, and how casinos use those tools to build a certain type of player experience. It was a technical job, but it made me much better at explaining games in simple terms
Bonus Modelling & Compliance
From 2017 to 2021, I worked as a senior analyst at AtlasPlay Partners, a B2B provider of turnkey casino solutions. My focus shifted toward bonus systems, wagering rules, KYC processes, and withdrawal logic. I helped design automated payout scoring, fraud-prevention workflows, and basic VIP segmentation models.
These years gave me a deep understanding of what players usually never see:
- how wagering requirements affect real expected value
- why some casinos delay withdrawals and others don’t
- what compliance teams actually check during KYC
- how crypto changed the payout pipeline end to end
- which bonus structures are fair, and which exist mainly to drain balances
This experience sits behind every review I write today.
Why I Launched HzO.me
After more than a decade inside the industry, I noticed something simple and frustrating: players had plenty of information, but very little of it was honest or practical.
Most casino reviews online came from people who never tested the platforms themselves. The same promotional lines appeared everywhere. Important details about bonuses, limits, and withdrawals were either hidden or skipped.
I launched HzO.me to change that. My goal was to build a review site that starts with real testing, not with a marketing brief. Every casino we cover is played by hand. I deposit real money, activate the bonuses, try different games, check withdrawal times, and write down every friction point.
If a casino advertises instant payouts but actually pays in six hours, I say six hours. If a bonus turns out to be playable and fair, I explain why in clear language.
What HzO.me Stands For
HzO.me started as a one-person project, but it didn’t stay that way. As the site grew, I brought in a small team of people who understand the industry just as deeply: testers, data analysts, writers, and compliance specialists.
We share the same standard of work. Every casino is checked by hand. Bonuses are actually claimed and played through. Withdrawal times are measured in real conditions, not taken from terms and conditions. Any issues we find are discussed internally before a review goes live. No article is published without proper feedback and alignment inside the team.
Because of that, every review on HzO.me reflects combined expertise, not just a single opinion.
Our Principles
Everything I publish at HzO.me follows a few simple rules:
- Test everything personally — deposits, bonuses, withdrawals, game performance.
- Explain real implications, not just definitions or buzzwords.
- Focus on what is good for players, not what looks good for operators.
- Be open about risks such as volatility, KYC checks, and payout delays.
- Respect the reader’s time with clear language and practical advice.
I believe players make better decisions when they understand how gambling platforms actually operate behind the scenes. That belief drives the whole project.
HzO.me exists to make the online casino space easier to navigate and more honest. We don’t chase hype. We don’t push “miracle bonuses”. We don’t hide important details behind vague language or fine print. The site stays independent, practical, and firmly player-focused.
We update our content whenever we see real changes — a new payout method, a bonus restructure, a new red flag, or a clear improvement. The aim is simple: insights grounded in real testing and real play, so you can decide where your money and time are actually worth it.
If you want to get in touch, you can reach me at [email protected].