How Ratings Work

When an article on the hub weighs up a slot feature, a bet type or the way a platform presents itself, it does so against a fixed set of questions. This page sets them out. It is not a league table, and you will not find a list of real operators ranked from best to worst anywhere on the site. The aim is to give you the same yardstick we use, so you can apply it yourself.

Why we do not rank operators

Whether a gambling site is even an option depends on where you live, what your local law allows and which licences are valid there. A ranking that ignores all of that would be misleading, and one that tried to account for it would go out of date almost immediately. We also want to avoid any suggestion that we are steering readers towards a particular company. So we explain criteria, and leave the checking to you.

The criteria

1. Transparency of cost

Can a player see what the product costs them? For a slot, that means a clearly published return-to-player figure and an honest description of volatility. For a betting market, it means prices shown in a format the player can understand, with the margin not hidden behind confusing presentation.

2. Fairness of the rules

Are the rules complete and easy to find? We look at how ties, voids, cancelled events and disconnections are handled, and whether the terms are written for a reader or for a lawyer.

3. Bonus terms

Where offers exist, are wagering requirements, time limits and game restrictions stated up front and in plain words? An offer whose real cost only becomes clear after signing up scores poorly by default.

4. Player protection tools

Can a player set deposit and loss limits, take a time-out or self-exclude, and are those tools easy to reach? Are age checks in place? We treat this as a core measure rather than a bonus feature.

5. Licensing information

Is the licence clearly displayed, and does it point to a regulator a reader can check independently? We do not take a logo on a footer as proof; readers should confirm the details with the regulator.

6. Clarity and design

Is the interface built to inform or to hurry? We note features that encourage longer or faster play, such as autoplay with no limits, or celebrations for results that are really losses.

How the criteria are used

In an article, these points appear as plain observations rather than a score out of ten. A game with a clearly published return figure and a readable paytable will be described as transparent; a bonus with buried terms will be described as costly. None of this says a product is worth playing. Every gambling product has a cost, and a well-presented cost is still a cost.

What we never do

• Present an operator as safe, recommended or a "top pick".
• Suggest any game or market offers a way to win reliably.

Questions or disagreements

If you think we have applied these criteria unevenly, tell us through Reach Us. Corrections are handled as described on How We Fix Mistakes. And whatever any assessment says, only adults should gamble, only where it is lawful, and only with money set aside for fun.