The AllSlotSites Rating System – Transparency and Fairness

We have developed a rating system that we use to rank sites for both their overall quality and their quality in specific areas of the player experience like games or bonuses.

Here is how it works: 

• Each site is rated across six distinct categories: Sign Up Offer and Bonuses, Games and Software, Website and App, Banking, Customer Support, and Player Protection and Trust.
• Every category has its own attributes.
• A score is awarded for each attribute.
• The maximum scores for all attributes in a category when added together equal 100.
• Not all attributes are weighted equally, with some having a higher maximum score than others depending on their importance.
• Each category score is calculated by dividing the total scores for its attributes by 10.
• A site’s overall score is calculated as an average of its six category scores, divided by 2 to give a rating out of 5 stars.

These are the categories and their attributes:

List of Categories, Attributes and Weighting

Category	Attribute	Max Score
Sign Up Offer and Bonuses	Sign Up Offer	40
	Loyalty Program	30
	Other Rewards and Promos	30
		Total: /100
Games and Software	Slots	20
	Live Dealer	20
	Progressive Jackpots	15
	List of Game Providers	15
	Virtual Table Games	10
	Slots RTP Rates and Transparency	5
	Other Games	5
	Game Menu Design and Search Features	5
	Exclusive Games	5
		Total: /100
Website and App Experience	Brand, Theme and Design	25
	Site UX and Navigation	25
	Mobile Compatibility and Apps	25
	Finding Important Information	15
	Site Speed	10
		Total: /100
Banking	Payment Options	40
	Withdrawal Times	30
	KYC Checks	20
	Transaction Fees	10
		Total: /100
Customer Support	Contact Options	20
	Support Hours	20
	AI vs Human	20
	Response Times	20
	Complaints Procedure	10
	FAQs	10
		Total: /100
Safety, Security and Player Protection	UK Gambling Commission License	40
	Responsible Gambling Tools	30
	Insolvency Protection	10
	Site Security	10
	Privacy Policy	10
		Total: /100

Why Do We Rate Sites This Way?

Our aim to create a rating system that is both objective and transparent, and one that allows a reader to quickly understand the overall quality of a slot site from the star rating, but also achieve a more nuanced understanding of how a site performs in specific areas. We believe that this system achieves a good balance of simplicity and insightfulness, and when used together with our written slot site reviews it will help you to learn everything you need to know before deciding where to play.

More About The Rating Categories And Attributes

1. Sign Up Offer and Bonuses

Bonuses and promotions are an important part of the player experience at any casino. This category is about the full program of offers from sign up through to loyalty programs and all the seasonal promotions and prize draws too.

Sign Up Offer (out of 40)

A welcome bonus is usually made up of a deposit match bonus or free spins, or a combination of the two. The offer is designed to attract new players and give them a chance to enjoy some free play whilst they get to know the casino. The quality of the deal is not just about the size of the match bonus or the number of free spins, it’s also about the terms and conditions, and particularly the wagering requirements.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Deposit Match Bonus – the quality of a match bonus depends on the size of the percentage match (normally anywhere from 50% to 150%), the minimum deposit to qualify and the maximum bonus available. The average match is 100% up to £100 but there are plenty above and below those figures.
• Free Spins – Casinos will give away anything from 10 to 200 free spins with the first deposit. A higher number is better, but we also consider which games the spins are available for with a preference for new and interesting games over tired options like Starburst.
• Wagering Requirements – Bonus funds are normally held in a separate balance to your cash funds at a casino. Winnings from bonus funds are paid back onto the bonus balance. They are not released to the cash balance until their wagering requirements have been met. High wagering requirements make it harder for you to convert your bonus balance to cash. Low wagering requirements are therefore preferable. Some free spins winnings also come with wagering requirements which are also taken into account when scoring this attribute.
• Cashout Restrictions – Some casinos also place restrictions on how much you can cash out from your bonus. Any winnings over the threshold are voided before the bonus balance is converted to real cash. ‘Cashout restrictions’ can be anywhere from £10 to £500. Bonuses with a low cashout restriction or ‘No Max Cashout’ score higher.
• Clarity of the Offer We also take into consideration the clarity of the offer as advertised on the website. All licensed casinos in the UK are required to make their bonus offers fair, clear and transparent. Therefore, it is rare to find a deal that doesn’t have clear terms published in an accessible place on the site. But if we did, it may be marked down.

Loyalty Program (out of 30)

Some casinos run loyalty programs to reward players for continuing to spend at their site. Loyalty programs can be fun as well as rewarding, with interesting features like level-ups that trigger prize wheels when enough points have been accumulated, stores where you can exchange your points for a reward of your choice, or VIP levels with increased benefits like priority cash outs.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Rate At Which Points Are Earned – where possible we want to see how much a player needs to wager to earn points and what those points translate into. If possible we calculate how much you get back for your spend. Most loyalty programs translate to rewards of less than 1% of your deposits.
• How The Program Is Presented – the rate at which points are awarded should be clearly stated, as should the exchange rate of points for bonuses, and the amount required to reach each new level. A real time progress bar illustrating how much further a player must go to get to the next level is a useful feature here.
• Additional Features – the best programs may also include things like badges, shields or trophies unlocked at each level and displayed in the account, or a store where points can be exchanged for bonus, cash or non-cash rewards like tech gadgets.

Other Rewards and Promos (out of 30)

We also consider the daily, weekly and monthly promotions and prize draws that a site offers. These are usually open to all players. The higher scores are awarded to those sites with compelling, varied and frequent promotions.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Quality of the Offers – we look at what kind of promotions are running, how inclusive they are, and how generous the rewards are. The best sites in this area run bonus days, happy hours and free spins promotions that appeal to a broad audience and anyone can take part in. Reel Races with a small prize pool are good too, but they are likely to only reward the very top spenders which excludes those who spend less time online.
• Variety of Offers – a good variety of offers is important too because it means there is something for everyone. If you don’t like whats on this week, something next week may appeal.
• Frequency of Promotions – we also look at how busy the promotion calendar is. Bigger sites will offer more promotions, some even run a different offer every day.

2. Games and Software

Game lists are at the heart of any casino experience. They will vary in size from a few hundreds to 10,000 or more covering a range of slots, jackpots, live dealer, virtual table games and instant wins like scratchcards and arcade games. Scores in this area are not just looking at the volume of games but the quality too.

Games and Software – Attributes and Weighting

Slots (out of 20)

Slots form the biggest part of any casino game catalogue. They are the most popular game type with 10,000s on the market and 100s more released each year, with many different formats, themes and pay models to appeal to players with varying tastes.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Number of games – higher scores are awarded to those sites with a higher number of games in the list. The best sites will have 1,000s of games sourced from 100 or more providers.
• Range of formats – the best slots catalogues will cover the full range of game formats including traditional paylines, Megaways, cluster pays, scatter pays, 3 reels and Infinity Reels. We browse the catalogue to see if all these types are available. We also look for iconic classics, popular high RTP slots, high max win slots, high and low volatility slots. The best sites will have games in all these categories.

Live Dealer (out of 20)

After slots, live dealer is the next most important part of the games catalogue. This area has grown in popularity significantly in the last decade with many more formats of each game type now available.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Range of game types – the best sites will have all the main game types (blackjacks, roulettes, baccarats, pokers and gameshows) with plenty of interesting formats with side bets and bonus rounds.
• Number of tables – casino players like plenty of choice and higher scores are awarded to those sites that have a greater number of tables.
• Number of providers – Live dealer games are normally provided by one or two suppliers, typically Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play. However, bigger casinos may draw their selection from more to offer greater variety, earning them a higher score.

Progressive Jackpots (out of 15)

Progressive jackpot slots give players the chance to win life-changing prizes worth £1,000,000s. Not all casinos feature these games. Some have just a few whilst others have 100s.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Number of games – We look at how many progressive jackpot games are available and from how many networks. Most sites feature games from at least one big network like Mega Moolah, Jackpot King or Dream Drop.

List of Game Providers (out of 15)

There are 100s of providers producing games for online casinos. Many have their own area of specialism and distinct style. Who your casino partners up with will define the quality of their game catalogue.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Number of game providers – Casinos in our list partner with anywhere from 20 to 150 providers. More is better, offering more choice for the players.
• Popular providers – More partners means better choice for the player, but a small site with just 20 providers can still have a lot of quality if they pick the best providers. We always look for the big names as a minimum like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Play n Go, Big Time Gaming, Nolimit City and Games Global.
• Niche providers – there are some very exciting niche providers out there with thrilling game catalogues featuring innovative features and design styles. Their games can add value to any casino, big of small.

Tables Games (out of 10)

Most casinos run virtual table games too. Virtual tables are less popular than live dealer but they are still important for those who want to play fast and without the distractions that come with the live experience.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Range of game types – most casinos will offer blackjack and roulette in virtual format but the best will have a wider choice including the less popular baccarats, craps and pokers.
• Variety of formats – there are many different versions of virtual table games, from traditional formats like classic roulette or classic blackjack, to alternatives like Immortal Romance Roulette or Grid Iron Roulette. We award higher score for a broader range of formats.

Other Games (out of 5)

Some casinos also feature arcade and instant win games like scratchcards, plinkos, video poker, dice games, virtual racing and hi los. Whilst these are far less popular than the slots and live dealer selections they are still of interest to some players.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Quantity of games – the best sites in this category have over 100 instant win, arcade and casual games spanning all types.
• Range of game types – there are many weird and wonderful game types in this category. The basics are scratchcards and video poker but there are many more unique ones like Chicken Runs (betting on whether a chicken makes it across the road), Crash Games (betting on when a car will crash), and Diamond Traders (betting on the final price of a diamond that rises and falls in value). More choice scores better for this attribute.

Slots RTP and Transparency (out of 5)

Many slot providers now produce games with multiple RTP settings. They put power in the hands of the casino operator to choose which RTP rate to run the game at.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• What RTP rates are slots set to? RTP rates on a single game can range from 88% up to 96%. A slot set to 96% is paying out significantly more in prizes than one set to 88%. We spot-check games we know to have an RTP range to see which rates the operator has chosen. Typically, Pragmatic Play, Play n Go, Nolimit City and Hacksaw Gaming all offer games with up to 5 RTP settings. Casinos with games from these providers set to high RTP rates score better than those with games from these providers set to low rates.
• Transparency – Every game will display its RTP rate on an information page accessible from the main game screen, but some casinos go further and publish the RTP rates for all their games on a single page on their website. This provides maximum transparency and those sites are rewarded extra points for their work.

Game Menu Design and Search Features (out of 5)

A sophisticated and powerful game menu with search and filter options is an important feature of any casino. It allows a player to explore the list in more depth and easily find new games that they might not have tried before.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Filter Options – The best casinos have lots of strong filters to help search by categories like game format, volatility level, game providers or max win range.
• Favourites Options – A nice feature is a ‘Favourites’ option that players can use to save games they like to a list that is easy to come back to whenever they are logged in.
• Ratings Options – Another good feature is a ‘Ratings’ Option that allows players to score a game out of 5 or 10 so others can see what people thing about it. Average player scores for each game are usually displayed on the game logo in the list.
• Trending Category – this is another useful filter that shows which games are currently popular in the casino. It’s another recommendation feature that can help a player find new games to try, but this time by popular vote rather than by the casino team.
• ‘Hot’ and ‘Cold’ Categories – a few casinos show which games are currently paying out significantly above or below their average RTP rates.

Exclusive Games (out of 5)

Exclusive games are branded slots or live dealer tables only found at one casino. They may offer the same format and features as other games, but the graphics and croupier uniform follows the branding of the casino in which they are placed.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Number and quality of games – we reserve up to 5 points for the ‘Exclusive Games’ attribute. If there are some available, we score based on how many there are and their quality. A branded Megaways game packed with features scores higher than a basic 3 reel slot with no features at all.

3. Website and App

The casino experience starts with the website or app in which the games and cashier are housed. It’s about both functionality and aesthetics. Here are the attributes we look at when assigning a score.

Website and App Experience – Attributes and Weighting

Brand, Theme and Design (out of 25)

Brand, theme and design refers to the aesthetic quality of the website and app.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Brand identity – in this we are looking at the uniqueness and distinction of the brand. Casinos range from cookie cutter white labels that all look very similar to unique and immersive styles that stand out a mile like Casumo or Play OJO. A strong brand identity is synonymous with trust.
• Quality of the design – we also take into consideration the overall aesthetic quality of the design including the use of images, colors, fonts and layout.
• Presentation of important information – we also take into account how clearly important information is displayed across the site. This includes everything from promotional terms to account pages like transaction history. For gambling sites, all this should be very easily accessible and easy to read.

Bigger independent casinos with big budgets inevitably score higher on this attribute. But white labels can still score high if they are original and eye catching. A good example would be Temple Nile from White Hat Gaming with its distinctive Egyptian theme.

Site UX and Navigation (out of 25)

A site’s usability refers to the ease with which we can move around, sign up and use account functions, and find information we are looking for.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Site Navigation – on a basic level it must be easy to find what we are looking for using the main and sub-navigation areas. It’s surprising how many sites fall short in this basic area.
• Key Functions – during the course of our research we use all basic functions including sign up, deposit, withdrawal, gameplay and responsible gambling tools. We score this attribute according to how easy it was to do all that.

Mobile Compatibility and Apps (out of 25)

A high proportion of casino play is now done over mobile phones and all sites should be optimised to work on handsets too.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Website compatibility – the website and games should fit perfectly to all screen sizes and navigation should work as intuitively as it does on the desktop.
• Loading speed – we also look at load times specifically on a mobile device as some sites underperform in this area. Tests are done by browsing around the site and loading up and playing games.
• Mobile app – a mobile app isn’t essential but it can improve the overall experience of a casino for some players. If a site has a mobile app option it should be quick and easy to download and offer a similar or better experience to the website.

Finding important information (out of 15)

We have a check list of the most basic and important information that must be easy to locate on the site.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

Most of the following information is accessible from the footer of a casino site as standard. If it can’t easily be located, we mark the site down.

• License and company information
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Promotional terms and conditions
• Responsible gambling tools
• Complaints procedure
• Support page

Loading Times (out of 10)

Slow load times can negatively affect your enjoyment of a casino, and surprisingly a few do fall short in this area.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Page Speed – we browse through the website during our research and assess the loading times of the casino site pages, checking basic informational pages and game list pages which are heavier.
• Game Speed – we also check the speed of games and look for any lag time which happens occasionally. We may find reports of game lagging on player forums and consumer sites too in which case we note this and adjust the scores accordingly.

4. Banking

Next to bonuses and games, banking is of high importance to most casino players. They want to know that their preferred payment options are available with fast transactions at no cost. This category is about all interactions with the cashier as well as verification checks that can cause delays.

Banking – Attributes and Weighting

Payment Options (out of 40)

There are now more ways than ever to transfer money in and out of your casino account including fast-growing ones like Apple Pay alongside traditional debit cards and eWallets. Depth of choice as well as quality of service is important for this attribute.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• List of payment options – all sites should offer the most popular payment services as a base line. Those are debit cards, one or two eWallets like Paypal and Skrill, bank transfers and a pre-paid card option like Paysafe. Higher scores are awarded for sites that also accept payments on more niche options like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Revolut.
• Minimum transaction thresholds – the score for this attribute also takes into account minimum transaction thresholds. All sites now accept minimum deposits of £20 or less. Some drop to £10 and a very few will take a deposit of as little as £5. We prefer a lower minimum deposit threshold as it makes a site more accessible to those with smaller budgets.

Withdrawal Times (out of 30)

All betting sites process payments internally before transactions are approved and the funds are sent on to the payment provider. Processing times can vary significantly from one casino to the next.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Payment processing times – the best casinos, and those that score highest, process withdrawals in anywhere form a few minutes to a few hours but the average time is around 24 to 48 hours. In some cases, withdrawals are not processed outside of office hours at all, including weekends and bank holidays. Sites with these restrictions will score less well.
• On-site information – as well as assessing withdrawal times we are also looking at what information about cashouts is published on the website. Withdrawal information pages and well-written FAQs that explain the cashout process help to increase a site’s score.
• Real-world testing and player reviews – we assess withdrawal times by making cashouts ourselves, viewing information on the website and researching first-hand player experiences described on sites like TrustPilot, Casinomeister and AskGamblers.

KYC Checks (out of 20)

Know Your Customer Checks (KYC) are a part of all licensed betting sites’ commitment to anti-money laundering and social responsibility. Checks are carried out to verify every player’s age, ID, address and source of gambling funds. Automatic checks are done using 3rd party verification tools on registration. For players who go on to deposit and withdraw significant amounts, further checks require the customer so submit documents like a passport, driver license, utility bill or bank statement.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Speed of service – we test KYC check times where possible to see how fast our documents are processed and approved.
• Upload tools – most sites now provide a secure link within the account area through which a player can upload scans or photos of their documents. We consider this to be a better service than sending on email which may feel insecure and uncomfortable to a customer.
• On-site information – KYC checks are an unpopular part of the gambling experience. They can feel intrusive and they can delay withdrawals whilst an account is verified. Casinos should be transparent about how and why checks take place, in their terms and conditions and FAQs, and how long a player should expect to wait whilst their documents are checked.
• Real-world testing and player reviews – scores for this attribute take into account our own experiences using the website as well as those described by real life players on forums and consumer review sites.

Transaction Fees (out of 10)

Whilst most casinos make all transactions free now, a small number of sites still charge for withdrawals on some payment methods.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Where fees are applied – often fees are only applied to selected payment services. Some sites may charge a 2.5% for all Paypal payments, for example. Others may charge a £2 fee for withdrawals under £10 across all payment services. Fewer fees is better, of course.
• Size of fees – we also consider the size of the fee being applied, either as a percentage of the total transaction, often capped, or a set fee. Lower fees are better too.

5. Customer Support

Customer support is critical to the player experience at any casino. Standards vary within the industry with different contact hours, methods of contact and response times. And big brands don’t always score as high as you might expect them to.

Customer Support – Attributes and Weighting

Contact Options and Support Hours (out of 30)

The availability of customer support at casinos varies significantly from one operator to the next.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• What options are available to contact support – there should be a minimum of live support and email. The best sites in this category also offer phone support which is a more trusted and personable choice. Some sites now even offer a WhatsApp contact option.
• At what times is support available – customer support is best when it is available 24/7 but some sites don’t provide this level of service. They may only be open during the daytime and evenings until midnight. These sites are assigned lower scores.
• Closure over weekends and holidays – lower scores are also awarded for sites whose support service is closed at weekends and over holiday seasons. This is not acceptable considering the nature of gambling as a past time and when people are likely to bet.

Real People vs AI (out of 20)

Betting sites increasingly use AI bots as the first line of contact in live chat. Quality varies in this area and its not always a good thing from a customer’s point of view.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• When and how AI is used – we test the live chat service at all casinos we review to see what response we get. If AI is used we then ask questions to see the quality of the responses we get. We also ask to be put through to an agent to see how receptive the AI is to that and how quickly they bring a real agent in.

Response Times (out of 20)

The quality of the customer support service is also determined by the speed of responses to questions on email, live chat and phone (when available).

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• How fast an agent comes online – we look for a response time of 1 to 2 minutes on live chat, and not more than 5 minutes at busy times. We also test the response time when sending an email to the support team.
• How much lag time there is between questions – some support agents clearly speak to more than one customer at a time which can cause frustrating lags between responses. This would cause us to score down for this attribute.

Complaints procedure (out of 20)

As a condition of their license all casinos are required to provide a clear path for customers to make a complaint, first to the support team, then the management. If necessary, they can escalate to an alternative dispute resolution service (ADR) which should be nominated by the operator.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Clear presentation of Complaint Procedure – the path for escalation, including the ADR details and commitment to deadlines to resolve disputes, should be published clearly on the website. Some sites include it in their terms and conditions, but the best publish it on a Complaints Procedure page.

FAQs (out of 10)

A good FAQs page is an important supplement to customer support and provides an additional resource for players looking for helpful information. It can be useful outside of office hours or when response times to live chat are slower during busier periods.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Presentation of FAQs – we check to see if an FAQs of Help Center exists and how well it is advertised on the site. Most are sign-posted via a link in their footer.
• Organisation of information – a good FAQs will be divided helpfully into sections like ‘bonuses’ or ‘withdrawals’ to make it easy to find what you are looking for.
• Quality and accuracy of information – some FAQs are not well written whilst the best are clear and easy to understand.

6. Safety, Security and Player Protection

Player protection is enshrined in the licensing framework for gambling in the UK and there are standard features that all casinos are required to have to ensure safety, fairness and security. This category is about how those features are implemented.

UK License (out of 40)

The most important feature of any betting site in the UK is a license issued by the Gambling Commission. The Commission upholds high standards and audits all its licensees to ensure they are being maintained.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• License and company information clearly displayed – the gambling license number and operator name and address should be clearly displayed in the footer of the website or app. It should be linked to the operator account on the Gambling Commission website.
• License History – regulatory actions against an operator are listed on their account page on the UK Gambling Commission website. This tells you if they have been received penalties in the past for failing to comply with any of the conditions of their license. A number of big operators have been fined for failings relating to anti-money laundering and social responsibility commitments. Sites with historical regulatory actions are marked down for this attribute.

Responsible Gambling Tools (out of 30)

All licensed sites are required to provide responsible gambling tools to their players to help self-regulate their play.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• The tools available – the minimum requirements are deposit limits, time outs and self-exclusion options. However, some sites are now more expansive in this area, giving players the option to set supplementary wager and loss limits, limit their gambling time around pay days each week or month, and block access to specific games.
• Accessibility – we also assess this attribute on the accessibility of the tools. At the least they should be available via links in the account page, but preferably via the footer and home page as well.

Insolvency Protection (out of 10)

All operators are required to hold player balances in a separate bank account to their main business funds to protect them in case of insolvency.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Level of protection – the UK Gambling Commission defines 3 levels in this area – high protection, medium protection and ‘not protected’. In the event of insolvency, the chances of a player getting their money back are better at a site with a ‘high protection’ level. The level of protection should be published in the terms and conditions.

Site Security (out of 10)

It is standard for all websites to use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TSL) protocols for transferring personal and financial data. This means that the data is encrypted and protected as it is sent over the internet to prevent interception and use by 3rd parties.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Level of security – in reality we wouldn’t list a site that didn’t have SSL or TSL protection. We do carry out checks to ensure that it is there by viewing the security certificate during testing.

Privacy Policy (out of 10)

All casinos are handling personal customer data and must do so in line with UK law. Their staff must be trained on how to handle data too.

Scores for this attribute take the following points into consideration:

• Publication of a Privacy Policy – we check to see that a privacy and cookie policy is published and linked from all pages on the website or app.