Review Methodology

When we write about a game, a feature or an offer, we follow the same routine. This page sets it out so you can judge our work, and so you can use the same checks yourself.

One thing first: we review how things work, not which operator to pick. We do not publish casino rankings or "best site" lists.

Step 1: start from the source

We begin with the document that actually governs the thing we are writing about:

• For a slot: its paytable, help screen and stated return to player.
• For a table or live game: the rules card and payout table.
• For a promotion: the full terms and conditions, not the banner.
• For a betting market: the settlement rules for that market.

Where versions differ between operators, we say so instead of picking one and calling it the rule.

Step 2: do the sums

If a number matters, we work it out. That means converting odds into implied probability, turning a cashback rate and cap into the loss at which the cap applies, or turning a wagering multiple into the total stake needed. If we use an example, we label it as an example. We do not invent averages, surveys or studies.

Step 3: find the catch

Every review answers the same questions:

1. What does this cost the player over time?
2. What condition is most likely to be missed?
3. Does it push the player to play longer, faster or bigger?
4. Is there anything misleading in how it is presented?

If we cannot answer one of these, the article is not ready.

Step 4: a second reader

Another member of the team reads the draft cold. Their job is to cut hype, flag anything that sounds like a promise of winning and check that the sums add up. A draft goes back as often as needed.

Step 5: the safety check

Before publishing, we check that the article mentions that gambling is for adults, that results are never guaranteed and that readers should check the rules where they live. We link to Setting Limits where it fits.

What we do not do

• Score games out of ten or pick winners.
• Claim to have tested a game over a meaningful sample.
• Describe any bonus as "free money".
• Say a site is safe or legal in your country.

Keeping reviews current

Games get updated and terms change. When a reader tells us something has moved, we recheck it. The process is on Fixing Our Mistakes.

A typical example of this method in action is our guide to how casino cashback is calculated, which takes one common offer apart term by term.