Behind Our Ratings

Readers sometimes ask where our star ratings are. The short answer is that there are none. We do not give casinos, slots or betting sites a score out of ten, a percentage or a row of stars. This page explains why, and what we do instead when an entry discusses a game or a platform.

Why we do not score with numbers

A single number looks precise, but in gambling it tends to hide more than it shows.

• Fit depends on the reader. A fast, busy slot might suit one person's evening and frustrate another's. A score cannot capture that.
• Conditions change. Bonus terms, payment options and even game settings can change after a page is written. A number left in place would quietly go stale.
• Legality varies. A platform that is licensed in one country may be unavailable or illegal in another. A high score could mislead someone in the wrong place.
• Scores invite comparison shopping for wins. We do not want any reader picking a game because it looks like a better bet. No game is a good way to make money.

How we describe a game instead

When an entry looks at a slot or a game type, we describe it in plain words under a few repeating headings:

1. How it plays. The reel layout, how wins are formed and what the features do, such as multipliers or free spins.
2. How it tends to feel. Whether wins come often and small or rarely and large, using the game's own published description of its volatility where one exists. Our entry on hit frequency explains the idea.
3. What the game says about itself. If the developer publishes a return-to-player figure, we may mention that it exists and where to find it, and we explain what such a figure can and cannot tell you.
4. What to check before playing. The help screen, the stake range and whether a demo mode is available.

How we describe a platform

When a platform comes up, we stick to things a reader can verify independently: whether it states a licence and from which authority, which responsible-play tools it lists, how deposits and withdrawals are described in its terms, and whether those terms are easy to find. We do not rank platforms against each other, and a mention is never a recommendation to sign up.

What you will not see

• Stars, scores, grades or "best of" leaderboards.
• Claims that a game is "hot", "loose" or about to pay.
• Invented payout figures or win rates.
• Pressure to sign up quickly or claim an offer before it ends.

Your own judgement comes first

The aim of every description is to help you decide for yourself, with the facts in front of you. If anything we wrote about a game or platform turns out to be out of date, tell us through Send Us a Note. And whatever you decide, play only if you are 18 or over, only where it is legal, and only within the limits set out in Play Within Limits.