Rating and Ranking Gambling Sites

Author: Isaac Payne | Last Updated: November 2023

If you’ve read one of our online casino reviews, you might have wondered what our process is for analyzing every part of a gambling site. Our meticulous review system covers everything from bonus terms and conditions to the fine print in a site’s privacy policy. Our team leaves no stone unturned so you’re not surprised by anything when you sign up for a casino, sportsbook, or poker site.

On this page, we’ll outline each criterion we grade gambling sites on, down to the finest details.

What Kinds of Gambling Sites Do We Review?

At GamblingSites.org, we conduct reviews on some of the most popular online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms out there. Many of the sites we review are known as offshore gambling sites, which means they operate outside of the United States. Despite having addresses in foreign locales, offshore sites are available for players across the US. These gambling sites often have better gaming libraries and offer more generous bonuses than sites operated within the US.

Not all of the sites we review receive a favorable rating. Sometimes, we come across a casino or sportsbook we simply cannot recommend. Perhaps the site has pirated software, or maybe it has a history of not paying out winnings to players. No matter the reason, if we find issues with a gambling site that impact player safety and fair-gaming practices, the site will end up on our blacklist.

Our Metrics for Reviewing Gambling Sites

In the early days of GamblingSites.org, all of our reviews were dictated by a weighted star-rating system. Sites that attained a 5-star rating were some of the best, even if they had a few flaws.

However, the star-rating alone wasn’t enough to really convey all the features of a gambling site. So, while the star-rating remains, it’s a quick indicator of quality, not so much a hard-and-fast ranking.

Instead, our team evaluates each site using the following metrics:

Site Security and Trust Factors

To kick off our review, we read a site’s terms and conditions, as well as their privacy policy. This gives us a good grasp of the site’s safety features, such as TLS encryption, anti-money laundering compliance, Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, and 2-Factor Authentication requirements.

After that, we verify a site’s license. Most offshore gambling sites are licensed through one of four gambling agencies in Curaçao, or a similar operation in Panama or Malta. Sites display this accreditation in the footer of their website, but sometimes we have to do a bit of digging to find accurate data. In the event a casino or sportsbook doesn’t have a license, we weigh their other safety metrics to determine if the site is still worth playing at. Some unlicensed sites still have high standards for safety, but we make sure to look at unlicensed sites with a bit more scrutiny.

Game safety is also key. Digital online games often run on Random Number Generators (RNGs), and to certify fairness, casinos will have their systems tested by third-party firms such as Technical Systems Testing. Live dealer games should be from a reputable provider such as FreshDeck or ViG, who have rigorous anti-cheat standards in place.

Game & Software Variety

We spent the most time analyzing the gaming libraries, sports betting lines, and poker tables of the sites we review. Our first step is to identify how many games the site has as well as who the software providers are. Usually, we can discern quality fairly quickly, as most reputable sites partner with similar developers like BetSoft, RTG, Rival Gaming, or Genesis Gaming.

But, that’s not all we evaluate. Delving further, we look into how many of each type of game the casino offers, breaking down the variants for games like blackjack, roulette, poker, and progressive slots. For sportsbooks, we look at how many unique betting options are available for popular and niche sports. And for poker rooms, we look at the volume of players, types of tables, and opportunities for tournament play.

Our team also gives recommendations on their favorite games or wagers from each site we review, so you can try out something new, or reengage with an old favorite.

Mobile Compatibility

More people than ever are gambling on their mobile devices, so an important part of our review process is accessing the mobile compatibility of each site.

We access each site with both iOS and Android devices to check compatibility. Plus, we try to find any minimum system requirement data that the site lays out so you can have a better gauge of what devices will work.

Part of the mobile compatibility criteria is the game optimization. Some gambling sites only offer select games on mobile, while others have optimized their whole gaming library. We will test slots, table games, and live dealer games on mobile to find which games run the best.

For sportsbooks, we examine how well the betting lines appear on mobile, as well as the speed/functionality of their live betting options. Poker rooms frequently have mobile-specific apps, so we analyze the system requirements and test the games in a variety of scenarios (WiFi, LTE Data, etc.).

Generous (and Fair) Bonuses & Promotions

Every online gambling site offers a bonus or promotion of some sort, and we take great care to read through all of the fine print for each one. Players are often caught off-guard by unexpected wagering requirements after claiming a bonus, so we try to make the information as transparent as possible.

This includes checking the bonus’ rollover amount, which games contribute to the bonus, timeframes for completion, as well as the minimum/maximum deposits allowed by the bonus. For sportsbooks, we examine the minimum/maximum betting requirements and the rules around free wagers. Poker bonuses are a bit more complex, so we like to examine how bonus funds are unlocked and how they contribute to rake.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom (and math), we also find unique promotions like the Hot Drop Jackpots games or no-deposit bonuses that have a good balance of value for players.

Banking Options and Payout Processes

One of the most important factors of an online gambling site is their cashier. The best sites offer a plethora of banking options, including debit/credit cards, cryptocurrency, eWallets, and vouchers. We like to compare the minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal limits to other gambling sites. Usually, minimum deposits are around $25, while maximums vary greatly depending on the banking method.

A few other facts we like to check include:

• Does the site impose fees for deposits and/or withdrawals?
• What is the fastest withdrawal method? Will you have to wait a few days, or can you get an instant payout with crypto or an eWallet?
• Are the banking methods protected by TLS encryption? Does the site have any safety certifications, like Verified by Visa?

Customer Service

Nothing is more frustrating than unresponsive or unhelpful customer service. When we evaluate an online gambling site, we test out their customer service options by interacting on live chat, sending emails to the helpline, or calling the phone number. We look for timely responses (usually within minutes for live chat, less than 24 hours for email), as well as a clear answer to your questions.

Easy Site Navigation

A high-quality gambling site should have an accessible website, with an intuitive layout and simple menu design. More than that, though, the site should make it easy for users to find the kinds of games, poker tables, or betting lines they’re looking for. Features that stand out are search bars, preset jump-links to popular titles or sports, and the ability to filter results by software providers, game type, and volatility.

Part of A+ website design is the sign-up process. Our team creates accounts at each site we review, documenting the sign-up process with screenshots. By running through the process, we can accurately tell you what info you need and how long signing up will take. The best sign-up systems have one or two pop-out boxes and take less than a few minutes.

Why You Can Trust Our Reviews

The team at GamblingSites.org has been reviewing casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites for well over ten years. Our cumulative experience has made us a leading authority in the online gambling scene. Much of our content is reviewed or fact-checked by experts in the field, including cryptocurrency specialists, gambling law experts, and seasoned gambling pros.

• 200+ Reviews
• 16.6M Visitors
• 1,000+ Published Articles
• Online since 2007
• Featured in Bloomberg TV, Forbes, Inc., Medium

Responsible Gambling

Online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms make gambling more accessible to the public. While we promote healthy gambling habits, such as setting budgets and using self-exclusion tools, we know that gambling can become an addiction. Chasing your losses or moving around your personal finances to accommodate gambling are signs of a gambling problem.

If you think yourself or a loved one is struggling with gambling addiction, there is help available:

• Gambler’s Anonymous
• National Problem Gambling Helpline
• 1-800-GAMBLER