James Hartwell is our lead writer and editor. He has spent over eight years covering the US online gambling industry, with a particular focus on helping players figure out which casinos are worth their time and which ones are best avoided.
James first got into online casinos as a player before becoming interested in the industry side of things such as how platforms operate, what separates a trustworthy operator from a dodgy one, and why bonus terms that look generous on the surface often tell a different story when you read the fine print. That curiosity eventually turned into a full-time writing career.
Before focusing on gambling content, James worked in digital marketing, which gave him a useful behind-the-scenes perspective on how online casino platforms attract and retain players. It is a background that helps him evaluate casinos not just from a player's point of view but with an understanding of the business practices behind them.
His main areas of focus include casino licensing and safety, bonus structures and their real-world value, payment methods and withdrawal processes, and the overall player experience at US-facing online casinos. Every review and guide on this site goes through James before it is published.
When he is not pulling apart welcome bonus terms or testing out new casino launches, James enjoys poker home games with friends and is a long-suffering New York Jets fan so is well accustomed to disappointment. This is arguably useful preparation for casino gaming.