Player safety is our number one priority. Trust is earned, and when players turn to us for recommendations on where to play, we want them to be confident in our ratings.
We never recommend places to play that jeopardize safety.
1. Terms and Conditions
Players need to be presented with clear terms and conditions upfront. It’s up to players to read and understand the T&C’s, but it’s also important for operators to use straightforward language and not use these to shield themselves from paying our players who win on their platforms.
We check:
- If terms and conditions are presented during signup.
- If terms and conditions are linked from the website’s footer.
- That state restrictions are disclosed before playing.
- If terms and conditions are available when logged into websites and/or apps.
- We use AI tools to check for red flags in T&Cs.
We assign a score of 0-1.25 to each of these areas, then sum them, and convert the result to a percentage for the 20% weight this category holds.
2. Responsible Gambling Tools
We want to reward operators who are committed to player safety and want to stop problem gambling. We review the following for each site:
- Responsible gambling policy: Is it well-linked and accessible throughout the site?
- Spend limits: Are there controls in place to set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits?
- Time Out: Can players set time-outs to limit access to playing?
- Time Limits: Can players set their own time limits for the total amount of time they can play in a session?
- Self-Exclusion: Does the site have a tool for players to self-exclude that does not involve contacting customer service?
We assign a score of 0-1 to each of these areas, then sum them, and convert the result to a percentage for the 25% weight this category holds.
3. Playthrough Requirements
Playthrough requirements are set by the operator and can greatly impact a player’s ability to redeem winnings. They should not be overly difficult to achieve.
Sweepstakes Coins: Is the rollover on free sweepstakes coins clear?
Bonus Rollover Requirements: We rate rollover based on the following categories: 1x, 2-5x, 5x and above. Lower rollover receives more points.
Redeemable Balances: Is the redeemable balance accessible and up to date? Players should always know their balances.
Game exclusions: What games are excluded from contributing to playthrough requirements?
We assign a score of 0-1.25 to each of these areas, then sum them, and convert the result to a percentage for the 20% weight this category holds.
4. KYC (Know Your Customer) Protocols
Operators need to know who’s playing on their platforms to prevent fraud and underage gambling. We check which KYC programs are in place and when they are activated.
We assign a score of 0-5 for this area, which is converted to a percentage for the 15% weight this category holds.
5. Site Security
- Standard Encryption: All website/play sessions should be encrypted.
- Data Protection: Operators are trusted with sensitive financial and personal data. Policies and practices need to be in place to ensure this information is not leaked.
- Geo-Location: Gambling is a highly regulated industry and is limited by geographic laws. Operators need to have geo-fence tools in place so they only accept players from areas where they can payout winnings. We place the onus on operators, not players.
- Age Verification: Operators need to have verification checks in place to keep underage players off their platforms.
We assign a score of 0-1.25 to each of these areas, then sum them, and convert the result to a percentage for the 20% weight this category holds.
Gambling can be addictive, which is why we are very careful when evaluating a site’s safety for players. As a responsible publisher, we also have a duty to promote responsible play. Gambling is entertainment and should be treated as such.