How we rate operators

1. Trust and licensing (30 %)

This is the most heavily weighted criterion. We identify the company that runs each site, the group behind it and every licence we can confirm in a public regulator register. We also look at the operator's track record: regulatory sanctions, court cases and well-documented controversies reported by reliable outlets.

• 9.0 to 9.6: licensed by strict regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, Germany's GGL, iGaming Ontario, Spelinspektionen or Spain's DGOJ, with a long public track record, often as part of a listed or large group.
• 7.5 to 8.9: a solid regulated operator with some limitations, or a single strict licence.
• 6.0 to 7.4: mainly an offshore licence (for example Curaçao) or a notable regulatory history.
• Below 6: serious red flags.

2. Betting markets or games range (25 %)

For sportsbooks we look at the number of sports and competitions, the depth of markets per event, live betting and features such as bet builders or cash-out. For casinos we look at the size and variety of the game library, the studios behind it, live dealer tables and any other products such as poker or bingo. For operators that do both, we consider both sides.

3. Website and apps (15 %)

We assess how the site is organised, how easy it is to find markets and games, which features are available on mobile, and how the apps are distributed: through official app stores, or as a download from the operator's site. Where app store listings carry meaningful ratings, we take them into account.

4. Payments (15 %)

We look at the range of deposit and withdrawal methods, whether limits, fees and processing times are published clearly, how verification works and whether withdrawal problems are a recurring theme in public complaints. Payment options differ by country, so we describe them in general terms and point you to the operator's cashier for the current list.

5. Support and safer gambling (15 %)

We check the available contact channels and hours, the quality of the help centre, and the tools that help customers stay in control: deposit and loss limits, reality checks, time-outs, self-exclusion and links to independent help. Operators that only offer self-exclusion on request score lower than those with a full set of self-service tools.

What the scores mean

Outside the trust anchors above, we use one scale for every criterion: 9 and above is class-leading, 8 to 8.9 is strong, 7 to 7.9 is decent and below 7 is weak. We try to be discriminating: not every operator gets a 9, and a large brand does not get a high score just for being large.

The words next to an overall score follow the same bands: Excellent (9+), Very good (8 to 8.9), Good (7 to 7.9), Fair (6 to 6.9) and Weak (below 6).

How the overall score is calculated

Overall = trust × 30 % + range × 25 % + website and apps × 15 % + payments × 15 % + support and safer gambling × 15 %, rounded to one decimal. The ranking tables sort operators by this number.

Example, bet365: 9.3 × 30 % + 9.5 × 25 % + 9.1 × 15 % + 8.6 × 15 % + 8.5 × 15 % = 9.095, rounded to 9.1. See the bet365 review.

Where our information comes from

We rely on public sources: regulator registers, the operator's terms and conditions, help centres and footer disclosures, app store listings, annual reports of listed groups and reputable press coverage. Many operator sites block automated access from some regions, so we also use archived copies of public pages where necessary. Every review lists its sources.

What we do not do

• We do not open accounts or play with real money, and we never describe tests we have not carried out.
• We do not sell rankings or scores, and operators cannot review or approve our text before publication.
• We do not quote welcome offer amounts, because they vary by country and change often.
• We do not recommend gambling as a way to make money.

Updates

Each review shows the date its facts were last checked. Licences, ownership and products change, so we revisit reviews and adjust scores when the facts behind them change. If a score moves, the reason is reflected in the review text.