How We Rate Casinos, Slots and Sportsbooks
Every OddsVANTA rating comes from the same published scorecard, so a sponsor and a non-sponsor are judged identically. Here is exactly how it works.
On this page
How we rate, in short
We don’t use affiliate links, so we earn nothing when you sign up anywhere. Every review uses the same published scorecard, and sponsors are scored exactly like everyone else.
- Each criterion is scored from 0 to 10 and weighted to give a rating out of 10, such as 8.4.
- For casinos, safety and payments matter most. For slots, RTP matters most. For sportsbooks, odds value matters most.
- We only rate licensed operators in legal markets.
- Reviews marked “Tested by OddsVANTA” involved real deposits and withdrawals; “Research-based” reviews use official sources.
- We re-check casino and sportsbook ratings every 90 days and fix errors openly.
How scores work
Each criterion gets a score from 0 to 10, which is multiplied by its weight. The weights in every scorecard add up to 100%, and the result is a rating out of 10 with one decimal.
Rating = sum of (criterion score × weight)
For example, a casino scoring 9 on safety (20%), 8 on payments (20%), 8 on bonus fairness (15%), 8 on games (15%), 9 on responsible gambling tools (10%), 7 on support (10%) and 8 on usability (10%) gets a rating of 8.2.
- 9.0–10Excellent. Among the best available in its market
- 8.0–8.9Very good. Strong choice with minor weaknesses
- 7.0–7.9Good. Solid, with clear trade-offs
- 5.0–6.9Fair. Usable, but better options exist
- Below 5.0Poor. Not recommended
Rules that apply to every review
These rules sit above the scorecards. They can block or cap a rating, whatever the weighted total says.
- Licence gate: a casino or sportsbook without a valid licence for the reader’s market is not rated or listed. In the US, only operators licensed in legal states qualify.
- Score caps: a repeated pattern of unpaid or delayed withdrawals caps the rating at 5.0. Bonus terms that are hidden, misleading or changed without notice cap it at 6.0. No responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits and self-exclusion, caps it at 6.0.
- Sponsor rule: sponsors get the same scorecard, cannot see or edit reviews before publishing, and are labeled as sponsors on their review.
- Re-checks: casino and sportsbook ratings are reviewed every 90 days, and whenever licences, owners or terms change. The last-checked date is shown on every review.
- Corrections: factual errors are fixed openly, with a dated note at the end of the review.
Tested vs research-based reviews
Every review tells you how we did our research, with one of two badges.
| Badge | What it means | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Tested by OddsVANTA | We deposited, played and withdrew real money. The review lists what we did and when, including deposit and withdrawal times and support responses. | None |
| Research-based | Built from official sources only, such as regulator records, licence details, terms and published game data. | Cannot score above 9.0, because withdrawal speed and support quality were not checked first-hand |
Casino scorecard
Payments and safety carry the most weight, because getting paid fairly matters more to players than game count or design.
| Criterion | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and licensing | 20% | Regulator and licence number, owner track record, fines, data security, independent game testing |
| Payments and withdrawals | 20% | Payment methods, fees, minimums, verification steps, real withdrawal times |
| Bonus fairness | 15% | Wagering requirement, max bet and cash-out limits, game weighting, clarity of terms |
| Games and fairness | 15% | Game range, providers, published RTPs, live dealer quality |
| Responsible gambling tools | 10% | Deposit, loss and time limits, reality checks, self-exclusion, links to help |
| Customer support | 10% | Channels, hours, response time, quality of answers |
| Usability and mobile | 10% | Site speed, navigation, app or mobile site, sign-up flow |
How we score bonus wagering
The wagering requirement sets the starting range for bonus fairness. Other terms, such as max bet rules, cash-out caps and game weighting, then move the score up or down within that range.
| Wagering requirement | Score range |
|---|---|
| 10x or less | 9 to 10 |
| 11x to 25x | 7 to 8 |
| 26x to 35x | 5 to 6 |
| 36x to 50x | 3 to 4 |
| Above 50x | 0 to 2 |
Slot scorecard
RTP gets the largest single weight because it is the clearest measure of value, and many sites hide it. Read our guide to what RTP means for the maths.
| Criterion | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| RTP | 25% | Default RTP, scored with the bands below |
| RTP transparency | 15% | Whether lower RTP versions exist and whether casinos disclose which one they run |
| Features and mechanics | 20% | Bonus rounds, free spins, multipliers, how often features trigger |
| Volatility and max win | 15% | Volatility clearly stated, max win realistic and verified |
| Design and audio | 15% | Theme, graphics, sound, how well it plays over a session |
| Mobile play | 10% | Layout, speed and controls on phones |
| RTP | Score |
|---|---|
| 97% and above | 10 |
| 96.0% to 96.9% | 8 |
| 95.0% to 95.9% | 6 |
| 94.0% to 94.9% | 4 |
| Below 94% | 2 |
When a slot ships in several RTP versions, we score the lowest version commonly offered and say so in the review.
Game provider scorecard
Providers are judged on the quality and honesty of their whole catalog, not on one hit game.
| Criterion | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio quality | 25% | Average scores of their reviewed slots, range of game types |
| Licensing and certification | 20% | Regulators they hold licences with, independent testing labs used |
| RTP transparency | 20% | Published RTPs, how many RTP versions they offer, clear game info sheets |
| Innovation | 15% | Original mechanics and features, not copies of others |
| Release consistency | 10% | How often they release and whether quality holds |
| Mobile and performance | 10% | How their games run on phones and slower connections |
Sportsbook scorecard
Odds value carries the most weight, measured by the bookmaker’s margin: the lower the margin, the more a bettor keeps.
| Criterion | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Odds value | 25% | Average margin on a fixed sample of popular markets, scored with the bands below |
| Safety and licensing | 20% | State or national licence, owner track record, fines |
| Payments and withdrawals | 15% | Methods, fees, real payout times |
| Markets and coverage | 15% | Sports, leagues, bet types, depth of props |
| Betting features | 10% | Live betting, streaming, cash out, bet builder |
| Responsible gambling tools | 10% | Limits, cool-off periods, self-exclusion |
| Usability and support | 5% | App quality, bet slip speed, support response |
| Average margin | Score |
|---|---|
| Below 4% | 10 |
| 4.0% to 4.9% | 8 |
| 5.0% to 5.9% | 6 |
| 6.0% to 6.9% | 4 |
| 7% and above | 2 |
The margin sample uses the same markets for every sportsbook, such as main lines on NFL, NBA and Premier League games, so results are comparable.
How our “Best” lists are ranked
Every ranking in our Best Picks section comes from these scorecards, not from payment. A sponsor cannot buy a place on a list or a higher position.
Gambling should be entertainment, never a way to make money. A high rating means a site treats players fairly. It does not mean you will win there. 18+ only, and 21+ where required. See our responsible gambling page for tools and free help.
Spot an error or out-of-date fact? Tell our editors.