How We Test and Review Gambling Websites

Our Review Criteria

There are quite a few aspects that go into a top gambling site and we analyze all of them during our review. This way, you know everything in advance, which also makes it easy to compare sites across different categories that interest you the most.

Check out our review criteria that we apply for every casino, sportsbook, or poker room:

Security

The first and most important aspect that we check during a review is the online security. Each site that we feature has to pass multiple security checks, have valid licenses to operate in specific markets, and ensure that customer funds are always protected. We also make sure the operator is trustworthy by going through player reviews, verifying the payout policy, and checking the software providers.

Reliability & Trust

While it can be difficult to rate, our reviewing process covers reliability and trust as key topics. These evaluate how dependable an operator is and if players should trust it with their real money funds for online gambling. We use a mix of expert knowledge and research on the company’s history and policies to determine the rating for this category.

Banking & Payment Methods

Next, we open up the cashier to see what banking methods are available, what limits are imposed per transaction, and if there are any fees for processing. The number payment options and the level of diversity here is important for keeping all players happy. Furthermore, the withdrawal processing speed also plays a big role in customer satisfaction.

Bonuses & Promotions

Online gambling sites provide a real advantage to users when compared to their land-based counterparts in the form of bonuses and promotions. These can give you extra funds to bet on sports and play casino games, which can result in more winnings. For the whole picture, we make sure to check the rollover, expiration date, minimum deposit, and other key details.

Sports Event Coverage

All of the best sports betting sites should provide a wide range of markets for customers. During sportsbook reviews, we check how many sports are covered and how well. We look at the most popular options in the US, but also at international leagues. A good level of coverage should include secondary leagues for top sports, while offering more than 100 markets for big events.

Sports Betting Odds Quality

Another important factor that can differentiate the best online sport betting sites is the quality of the odds. Bookmakers with reduced vig can provide better prices, which means that players win more on the same bets. Comparing odds and finding the best prices is a recommended way to improve the profits from sports betting in the long term.

Casino Games Coverage

At online casinos, the collection of games has to include plenty of options across different categories. Online slots are often the most popular with some of the top sites offering more than 1,000 games for this single category. The collection also has to include table games, like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and casino poker, along with video poker and other games for a high rating in our review.

Customer Support

Although customer support is often overlooked by users, we thoroughly check it in advance. A good customer support service is a great indicator of a reliable and professional operator. It should have easy contact options, be available at all times, and also include a dedicated help section where players can find more useful information.

Mobile Compatibility

With more than half of bets now being placed from smartphones and tablets, mobile compatibility is a decisive factor during our expert reviews. We check the site on both iOS and Android platforms to test loading speed, features, and ease of use. Of course, we also check the apps, if available, and compare experiences across different platforms.

Accessibility

Given the fact that online gambling is expanding on a market-by-market basis, accessibility is an important detail to cover in a review. We test the registration process and if there are any additional verifications required before users can access the betting options. Some sites can also provide accessibility across multiple markets with just one account.

Website Design & Usability

The theme of the site and the layout can represent a make-or-break detail for some customers. The design should be easy to navigate, provide quick links to the main categories, and also be easy on the eyes. Brands often add their own styling, but this can sometimes result in a cluttered interface. The right balance between style and usability will result in a high rating for this review category.

Innovative Features

As our team of experts reviews countless sportsbooks, casinos, and poker rooms, there are some patterns that stand out. Most platforms will have quite a few similarities, but the ones that come up with innovative features are always quick to stand out from the crowd. These features can provide a better gambling experience or unique rewards.

Extra Features

In this category, we cover small elements that improve the overall gambling experience on the platform. These can include detailed live betting layouts, live streaming, game stats, and support for early cash out at sportsbooks. The casino online experience can be improved with exclusive games, large jackpots, and live dealer tables. For poker, recreational players enjoy anonymous tables and fast-fold games.

Responsible Gambling Measures

Trustworthy gambling operators should promote responsible betting and provide the tools to help players stay in control. These features can include the option to set limits on deposits, spending, and winnings. Additionally, having clear breakdowns of the time spent gambling, the money placed in the bets, and the results is very important. Other tools include timeouts, cooldown periods, and self-bans for selected periods of time.

What the Numbers Mean

For each review, we provide an overall score based on our findings. This is the average between the category ratings. The following table provides a quick explanation of what the final review rating means.

Who Are We and Why Trust Us?

We are a group of industry experts united by one goal – to provide the best site reviews, guides, and news. The Techopedia authors are experts across multiple topics, in charge of bringing readers the latest and most accurate information.

The entire site has been designed to be easy to browse and provide users quick access to the topics that interest them the most. You can learn more about our team of experts here:

1. We are experienced. Techopedia was founded in 2011 with the goal of educating and inspiring readers on various topics, including technology and gambling. Our team of writers and editors have decades of experience between them and provide even more expertise on the subject.
2. We are unbiased. We objectively review each site and present the facts clearly, without sugarcoating it. Brands or operators that don’t meet our high standards receive low ratings or don’t even make it to the list.
3. We are vigilant. With online gambling regulations across the globe always changing, we make sure to stay on top of the latest news and updates. The accuracy of our reviews is very important and that is why we are always connected to the industry.
4. We are players. We know what makes a good gambling site because we are players as well. As a result, we understand what to look for during reviews and how impactful even the smallest things can be for the overall experience.
5. We are here to stay. com is a long-term project that will continue to follow the online gambling situation in North America and beyond. You can rely on always finding the latest reviews and guides here.

All Our Reviews are Up-to-Date

We have more than 100 reviews on gambling sites available in various markets throughout the world and we update them constantly. Operators often change bonuses, add new features, improve issues, and increase their offerings of gambling options. As a result, it is very important that our reviews are always accurate. Moreover, we receive updates directly from operators so that our pages stay up to date and sometimes even include exclusive content.

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