Every game we cover is judged the same way. A video game, a slot and a casino site each get a score out of 10, built from criteria that are published below and applied by the same editorial team.
How we rate video games
Video game reviews are written after playing the game, on the platform named in the review. The score reflects:
- Gameplay: how it plays, how well its systems hold up over time, and whether it does what it sets out to do.
- Presentation: art, sound, performance and stability on the platform reviewed.
- Content and value: how much there is to do and whether the price is fair for it.
- Accessibility and options: difficulty settings, controls, and accessibility features.
How we rate slots and casino games
Every slot and table game is scored on six criteria. Scores combine the developer’s published maths (RTP, volatility, maximum win and hit frequency) with our assessment of each game’s mechanics, features and design. Measurable criteria use fixed scales, so a score means the same thing from game to game.
| Criterion | What we look at | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Return to player (RTP) | The published RTP, and whether lower-RTP versions of the game are in circulation | 20% |
| Maximum win and payout potential | The top win as a multiple of the stake, and how realistic big wins are | 15% |
| Gameplay and mechanics | Reels, paylines or pay-anywhere systems, cascades, and how the game feels over a session | 20% |
| Features | Free spins, multipliers, bonus games and bonus-buy options, and how often they trigger | 20% |
| Graphics and user experience | Design, sound, mobile play and how clear the paytable and rules are | 15% |
| Volatility fit | Whether the volatility matches how the game is presented and who it suits | 10% |
RTP is scored on a fixed scale: 97% and above scores 9 or more, 96.50% to 96.99% scores 8 to 8.9, 96.00% to 96.49% scores 7 to 7.9, 95.00% to 95.99% scores 5 to 6.9, and anything below 95% scores under 5. Maximum win works the same way: 25,000x or more scores 9 or more, 10,000x to 24,999x scores 8 to 8.9, 5,000x to 9,999x scores 7 to 7.9, 1,000x to 4,999x scores 5 to 6.9, and below 1,000x scores under 5.
Each review includes a game details table with the developer, release date, theme, RTP and its alternative versions, volatility, maximum win, reels and rows, paylines, hit frequency and bet range, taken from the developer’s published data.
How we rate online casinos
We open an account, deposit, play and withdraw at every casino we review. Each site is scored on these criteria:
| Criterion | What we look at | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and safety | Which regulator licenses the site, for which markets, and its record with players | 25% |
| Payouts | Withdrawal times we recorded, limits, fees and verification requirements | 20% |
| Bonuses and terms | Wagering requirements, maximum bets, game restrictions and expiry, not just the headline offer | 15% |
| Games | Size and quality of the library, providers, live dealer games and published RTPs | 15% |
| Banking | Deposit and withdrawal methods available to players in the market being reviewed | 10% |
| Support | Availability, channels and the quality of answers to the questions we asked | 10% |
| Responsible gambling tools | Deposit, loss and time limits, reality checks, cool-off and self-exclusion | 5% |
A casino that fails on licensing or does not pay out is not ranked, whatever its other scores. Our best online casinos in 2027 guide puts these criteria into practice.
How rankings are ordered
Our casino lists are ordered by overall score for the market the page covers. Some lists are filtered for a specific need, such as fastest payouts or the best mobile apps, and in that case the criterion named in the title carries extra weight. Commercial relationships do not change a score or a position, as explained in our Editorial Policy and Affiliate Disclosure.
Keeping scores current
Casino scores and bonus details are re-checked regularly and whenever a site changes its terms. Game scores are revisited when a developer releases a new version or changes the RTP. Every page shows when it was last updated.