Fat Santa

Editor-in-Chief & iGaming Expert (Since 2004)

Mission Statement: "I am the founder of Casino545. With over two decades of experience in the iGaming industry, my mission is to bring absolute transparency and data-driven analysis to players. I built this site to be the most trusted resource in gaming, where every review is based on first-hand experience."

My Industry Experience
My career in the iGaming sector began in 2004, during the initial online gaming boom. I started on the operational side, working in high-level player support and VIP management for a major European operator. This 'front-line' experience gave me direct insight into player challenges, payment processing bottlenecks, and security protocols.
Over the past 20 years, I transitioned into roles focused on game analysis and affiliate operations management. This background allows me to understand operators from the inside out—I know how to dissect unfair Terms and Conditions, verify licensing claims, and identify the technical red flags that other reviewers might miss.

Our Review Methodology
At Casino545, I personally oversee our 9-point review process. This means my team and I:

Deposit Real Money: We test the deposit process at every casino.
Test Payout Speeds: This is our most critical metric. We time how long it takes from a withdrawal request until the money is in our account.
Analyze "Terms & Conditions": We expose unfair wagering requirements or predatory clauses.
Contact Support: We test the speed and competence of the customer support teams.


Commitment to Responsible Gambling
I am a firm advocate for responsible gambling. We actively promote self-exclusion tools, deposit limits, and provide direct resources to organizations like GamCare and Gambling Therapy.

Verify My Expertise (E-E-A-T)
I believe in total transparency. You can connect with me and verify my professional background on my public profiles:

LinkedIn: My LinkedIn Profile
Instagram: My Instagram Profile
Professional Email: carloscostasilva@gmail.com