Better-Gambling’s Online Casino Scoring System
BetterGambling knows that every UK player deserves clear, trustworthy and complete information when choosing where to play.
Our casino reviewing process is designed to provide you with structured and transparent assessments of a casino’s key features. Based on this, we have developed a complex scoring system that analyses 6 core criteria to break down the overall player experience that each operator offers. This system allows you to easily compare your options and make informed decisions according to your preferences.
BetterGambling’s reviewing and scoring system does more than objectively assess certain elements – it provides a user-oriented evaluation by combining hands-on testing, in-depth analysis and the experts’ personal input. This player-centric approach aims to empower you to make confident decisions and find the casino that suits you best.
Our Online Casino Scoring System
To help you assess whether an online casino fits your preferences or not, BetterGambling has come up with a complex scoring system based on 6 key criteria. This is how it works:
- We begin by testing and evaluating a specific element of a casino.
- We give it a score from 1 to 5 based on our analysis.
- We assess and rate all the other elements.
- We calculate the overall rating of the casino based on the final score of all elements.
Individual Scoring Criteria
| Rating Criteria | What We Look For | Rating Example |
|---|---|---|
| Usability | To rate the casino’s usability, we usually assess elements like the website’s design, user-friendliness, layout, performance, loading speed, registration process, etc. | This is the only aspect that involves a certain level of subjectivity. For example, if the site has a well-organised layout, modern features and no bugs but a slow loading speed, we might rate it with 4.5/5. |
| Banking | We assess the banking section based on the available deposit and withdrawal methods, transactional limits and payout speed. | If a site has 10+ payment methods, standard deposit and withdrawal limits of £10 and a payout processing time of 1 day, we’ll give it a 5/5. |
| Slot Games | We usually look for the number of slot games, their betting limits and the providers that supply them. | Let’s say a casino offers 2000+ slots from more than 25 top providers like Netent, Playtech, Play’n Go and IGT. In that case, it receives a maximum score of 5/5. |
| Live Games | We evaluate the available live dealer game types, their betting limits and their providers. | If a site has multiple Blackjack and Roulette tables from providers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play, but no Baccarat games are available, we’ll give it a 4/5 score. |
| Customer Service | We assess the quality of customer service by the available contact options and the professionalism and response time of support agents. | Let’s say the site features 24/7 support via email and live chat, the agents respond within a few minutes, but there is no phone support option. In that case, we’ll rate this section with 4.5/5. |
| Security | We evaluate the casino’s licensing, security features and responsible gambling tools. | If a casino has a UKGC license, SSL encryption and 5+ responsible tools, it gets the highest score of 5/5. |
Usability Rating Criteria
To ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment of each casino’s usability, we break down this criterion into specific factors, each contributing a percentage toward the overall Usability score.
| Usability Factors | Weight (%) | Factors Description |
|---|---|---|
| Website Design & Visual Appeal | 20% | Assesses the aesthetic appeal and modernity of the site’s design. |
| Navigation & User-Friendliness | 30% | Measures ease of navigation and the intuitiveness of the site layout. |
| Performance & Loading Speed | 25% | Evaluates page loading times and overall site stability. |
| Registration Process | 15% | Assesses the clarity and efficiency of the account registration process. |
| Mobile Responsiveness | 10% | Measures compatibility and functionality on mobile devices, as well as whether there is a dedicated app. |
Banking Rating Criteria
Each factor contributes a specific percentage to the final Banking rating, reflecting its importance in the player’s overall experience. We calculate the final Banking score by multiplying each factor’s score by its weight, then summing the results for a balanced, accurate rating.
| Banking Factors | Weight (%) | Factor Description |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies Available | 10% | Evaluates the variety of accepted currencies, allowing players to deposit in their preferred currency. |
| Minimum Deposit | 25% | Assesses the minimum deposit requirement, impacting accessibility for players. |
| Minimum Withdrawal | 15% | Considers the minimum withdrawal limit, affecting how easily players can access their funds. |
| Maximum Cashout | 20% | Reviews the maximum cashout limit, indicating the withdrawal flexibility for players. |
| Payout Time | 30% | Measures the speed of payout processing, reflecting the efficiency of withdrawals. |
Slot Games Rating Criteria
Our Slots rating is built by evaluating key factors like game variety, providers, total slots, and betting limits. Each factor has a weighted impact on the final score, with greater emphasis on variety and quality. We calculate the Slots score by multiplying each factor’s score by its weight.
| Slots Factors | Weight (%) | Factor Description |
|---|---|---|
| Slot Types | 20% | Evaluates the variety of slot types available, such as classic, video, and progressive slots. |
| Slot Providers | 25% | Assesses the quality and reputation of slot providers, ensuring players access top-tier games. |
| Number of Slots | 30% | Reviews the total number of slot games available, offering players a wide selection to choose from. |
| Betting Limits | 25% | Considers the range of betting limits, accommodating both casual players and high rollers. |
Live Games Rating Criteria
The Live Casino rating is crafted by assessing critical factors like game variety, provider quality, betting limits, and the overall live dealer experience. Each factor is weighted according to its impact on the player’s enjoyment and immersion, with game variety and live experience carrying the most weight.
The final Live Casino score is calculated by multiplying each factor’s score by its weight.
| Live Casino Factors | Weight (%) | Factor Description |
|---|---|---|
| Game Types (Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat) | 30% | Evaluates the variety and availability of popular live games, ensuring a diverse gaming experience. |
| Live Casino Providers | 25% | Assesses the quality of live game providers, focusing on reputable names for a high-quality experience. |
| Betting Limits | 20% | Considers the range of betting limits, accommodating different player budgets and preferences. |
| Overall Live Dealer Experience | 25% | Reviews factors like dealer professionalism, streaming quality, and table interaction for immersive play. |
Customer Service Rating Criteria
Our Customer Service rating is designed to reflect the quality and accessibility of support players can expect. Each factor is weighted by its importance, with the highest emphasis placed on response time and 24/7 live chat availability, as these directly impact how quickly players receive assistance.
To calculate the final Customer Service score, each factor’s score is multiplied by its weight, providing an accurate, balanced view of the support experience
| Customer Service Factors | Weighting (%) | Factor Description |
|---|---|---|
| Response Time | 40% | Measures how quickly support agents respond to inquiries, ensuring timely assistance for players. |
| Live Chat (24/7 Availability) | 35% | Assess if live chat support is available and whether it operates 24/7 for round-the-clock help. |
| Email Support Availability | 25% | Evaluates if email support is provided, adding an extra layer of support for more detailed queries. |
Security Rating Criteria
The Security rating is carefully structured to reflect a casino’s trustworthiness and regulatory compliance. Each factor, like company reputation, year of establishment, and licensing, is weighted by its importance in ensuring a safe player experience. The highest weights are given to company reputation and licensing, as these factors are critical in building trust.
The final Security score is calculated by multiplying each factor’s score by its weight.
| Security Factors | Weighting (%) | Factor Description |
|---|---|---|
| Company Reputation | 40% | Assesses the overall trustworthiness and reliability of the casino’s parent company. |
| Year of Establishment | 20% | Considers the length of time the casino has been operating, with longer histories adding trust. |
| License | 40% | Evaluates the type and validity of the casino’s license, ensuring compliance with the UK Gambling Commission. |
How the Final Online Casino Rating is Created
After evaluating each key element on its own, we calculate the casino’s overall rating. This represents the gambling operator’s quality and performance across all areas. The final score is a quick, yet comprehensive summary of the casino’s strengths and weaknesses, helping UK players make an informed decision about whether the site suits their preferences or not. Here’s a breakdown of each element’s percentage weight based on its importance for the overall player experience:
- Usability: 15%
- Banking: 20%
- Slot Games: 20%
- Live Games: 20%
- Customer Service: 15%
- Security: 10%
The reason why the security factor has the lowest contribution to the overall score is not because it is not important, but because we only list casinos that are licensed by the UKGC. This automatically makes all of them fair and secure.
The only aspect that influences our security score is the number of available responsible gambling tools.
Online Casino Scoring System Explained
| Rating | What It Means | Our Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 – 5.0 | Excellent | These are top-rated casinos with great games, fast payouts, and top-tier service. Fully recommended. |
| 4.1 – 4.5 | Very Good | Strong performance across key areas. A trustworthy and enjoyable choice. |
| 3.1 – 4.0 | Good | Decent platforms with solid basics. Minor flaws may affect the experience. |
| 2.1 – 3.0 | Mediocre | Usable, but often lacks in design, support, or speed. Choose carefully. |
| 1.0 – 2.0 | Poor | Outdated and unreliable. We advise avoiding these casinos. |
BetterGambling’s Methodology of Analysing Online Casinos
Step 1. Initial Research & Background Check
Before starting the actual reviewing process, our team performs a thorough background check of the casino to make sure it is safe and fair for UK players. These are the aspects we look into:
- Licensing and Regulatory Compliance: We make sure that all casinos we list on our site are licensed by the UKGC. This is the first step we take before considering a partnership. So, you can rest assured that you’ll always play on safe, regulated platforms.
- Ownership and Reputation: We also investigate the casino’s ownership, track record and previous performance. We look for the key company information, such as the registration number and headquarters, and we examine player reviews, complaints and more.
- Security Measures: Safety is at the top of our priority list. So, we carefully examine the casino’s security protocols, such as the SSL encryption, ADRs, data protection policies and other regulatory institutions, such as game testing companies.
Step 2. Hands-On Testing & Data Collection
After the initial verification, our team moves on to the actual testing part. During this stage, we create real accounts to make sure we get an accurate overview of the player experience. First, we go through the KYC process to asses its duration and efficiency.
After that, we deposit real funds and investigate all the platform’s features. These are the key actions we usually perform:
- We test the website’s loading speed and performance by accessing every page and testing the essential functionalities.
- We deposit real funds and claim bonuses to evaluate the claiming process and the fairness of the terms.
- We play at least 10 games from each category (slots, live dealer games, etc.).
- We go through the withdrawal process to assess its speed and find any possible issues that players may encounter during this stage.
- We get in touch with the support team via the available channels to determine the response time and the agents’ professionalism.
While going through these, we collect all the necessary information about the platform and store it in our internal database. The collected data helps us further investigate and analyse the site’s most important feature and also get a clear overview of the changes that might take place until the next update.
Step 3. Expert Analysis & Rating
This part is performed by our experienced casino analysts, who perform an in-depth evaluation and rate the site’s key features: usability, banking, slot games, live games, customer service and security. This helps players understand what the casino’s assets and liabilities are and what they should be aware of before registering.
After completing the written analysis, each element is rated on a 1 to 5 scale, according to our scoring system. The rating is also further explained within the content to leave no place for misinterpretation. This structured approach helps us create a clear image for all platforms and further compare them to create categorised tops and rankings.
Step 4. Final Evaluation & Tips
In the final stage, our analysts integrate their personal input into the reviews and share unique insights and recommendations that go beyond objective data. We offer practical tips based on firsthand experience and guide players through the possible issues and unexpected situations they may encounter.
Moreover, we make recommendations based on players’ preferences and identify certain elements that may align with specific gaming styles. This helps you make more informed decisions as they get to see another player’s perspective and know exactly what to expect when joining and playing on a certain platform.
Our Key To Transparency: The Casino Reviewer’s Personal Input
At BetterGambling, our reviews go beyond surface level, due to our authors’ firsthand expertise and personal input. We don’t just present objective data, but we perform in-depth research and thorough evaluations to offer you the most accurate overview of the real player experience.
Moreover, impartiality is a core principle of our reviewing process. This means that our paid partnerships do not impact our assessments in any way. The BetterGambling platform is committed to putting players first, ensuring that every review is created on an honest and transparent basis.
This unbiased approach allows us to deliver valuable insights and useful recommendations for British players. By prioritising this, BetterGambling ensures that each review reflects the true nature and quality of a casino.
How We Compare Casinos | A Side-by-Side Analysis
Besides creating in-depth reviews of each individual casino, we also compare the platforms to offer punters better alternatives for their playing styles and ease their decision-making process. These comparisons help us create personalised tops & rankings based on the following categories:
- Types of games
- Game providers
- Payment methods
- Sister sites
- Bonus types
Our side-by-side comparisons are designed to provide transparent insights into each casino’s strengths and weaknesses in a certain area. Here’s how the comparison process goes:
- Identifying key criteria: We start by selecting essential elements for comparison, including usability, game variety, payment methods and customer service quality.
- Gathering scores from reviews: Using the ratings from each casino’s review, we compare the scores of each category. This gives us a numerical basis for comparison, making it easy to see where each site excels or falls short.
- Highlighting unique features: We pinpoint any standout features unique to each operator. This helps players see if a casino offers something that aligns with their individual preferences. For instance, a casino with a 5/5 rating in slots might imply that the site has a large collection of titles and many top providers. Still, another provider that you might particularly want to explore might be absent. That is why we do not only rely on the scoring system while comparing two or more sites.
- Creating a side-by-side table: The rating scores and special features are displayed in a clear, side-by-side table format, allowing you to quickly compare multiple platforms.
- Providing summary recommendations: Based on the overall comparison, we provide personalised tips and recommendations for all types of players and preferences.
What Makes Our Casino Reviews Stand Out?
Transparency, accuracy and expertise are the fundamentals of BetterGambling’s reviewing and rating system. We aim to provide British players with all the necessary information that they need to make confident and informed decisions that align with their interests.
But how are our reviews different from others on the market? Here are the key principles that guide all of our assessments:
| Differentiating Factor | Our Approach |
|---|---|
| Hands-on testing | Each review starts with extensive hands-on testing, where our team creates accounts and plays on each site exactly as a user would. |
| Multiple contributors | Each member has a well-defined role within the team and brings a unique perspective to the evaluation process. |
| Transparent scoring system | We use a structured scoring system based on predefined criteria, and we explain the reasoning behind each rating in our detailed analysis. |
| The author’s personal input | We don’t only rely on objective assessments. Our experts always give their personal tips & recommendations based on their actual experience with each platform. |
| Frequent updates | We regularly revisit and update our reviews to reflect any changes that took place in the meantime and to recalculate the overall rating. |
Our Commitment To You
At BetterGambling, our commitment to transparency, accuracy, integrity and player-first values is the driving force behind our content. We understand that a strong relationship with our readers is built on a foundation of trust. Therefore, we never let anything alter our impartial assessment and impact our experts’ judgement, let alone our paid partnerships.
So, no matter how harsh or unexpected the truth may be, we’ll always present the facts just as they are. We strive to embody our expertise, authority and trustworthiness in every review that we create, offering you only the most honest and reliable recommendations. BetterGambling is here to be your trusted gambling companion, the one that you can always rely on to guide you through every step of the way!