Ever since BettingTop10 started, writing betting site reviews that actually provide value to readers has been at the forefront of what we do. Over the years, we’ve developed a rigorous review process that helps us to do exactly that; a process which has been developed by seasoned experts who know what is important in a bookmaker. Our review process covers a huge range of different elements (30 of them, to be exact), ensuring that all the varying needs of different bettors is taken into consideration. Along with providing quality content, transparency is also at the heart of what we do, and it’s for that reason that we want you to know and understand how we score betting sites by revealing each and every one of those 30 steps.
How BettingTop10 Evaluates Bookmakers: Our 30-Step Review Process
Licensing and Legal Status
The very first thing that we do before ranking bookmakers is ensure that it is properly licensed with the relevant authorities. There is not a single bookmaker that you’ll find reviewed on bettingtop10.com that is not properly licensed and regulated, so before we do anything else we will always ensure that this is the case, or we won’t bother with a review.
Ownership Transparency
Ownership transparency is an important way for betting sites to develop trust in their users. When reviewing bookmakers, we will always research whether information is publicly available about which company or individuals own the site.
Regulatory Compliance Record
Licensed betting sites have a legal obligation to exhibit certain behaviours, and when we’re reviewing them, we always make sure to check their regulatory compliance record – that is, whether they have any black marks against their name for failures to comply with the rules and regulations set out for them.
Site Security Standards
Anywhere you’re depositing your hard-earned money, you want to be certain that there are strong security measures in place to protect you and your money. Generally, this information is available on betting sites, and this is one of the factors we consider when conducting our betting site reviews.
Fair Terms and User Protections
There are various terms and conditions attached to every betting site – as there are with most businesses – but realistically, most users won’t be bothered reading them. That’s why we do the hard work, ensuring that there are no unreasonable terms and conditions in place and that you, as a user, are protected when using the bookmaker.
Odds Competitiveness
It’s no secret that odds are a pretty important part of any betting site. There may not be a massive difference in the same market across different bookmakers, but however subtle, that difference can add up if you’re consistently getting inferior odds. That’s why we compare odds on all kinds of markets for every betting site that we review.
Payout Margin Analysis
Every bookmaker has a ‘margin’ attached to each market, which is essentially the difference between what the odds would be if they were entirely fair (e.g. the bookmaker didn’t make any money) and what they actually are. We analyse this as part of our overall odds analysis to help you understand where you can get the best odds.
Sports Coverage Depth
While some bettors stick to the most basic markets, many want to have the option to bet on less popular sports and leagues. Having a broad range of sports available is really important for many bettors, and is one of the most important factors we consider when rating bookmakers.
Market Variety
Even within the sports that are offered by a betting site, there can be a lot of variation in terms of market variety. Some might stick to the absolute basics, while others will have a huge range of player props and other less common markets. This won’t matter to some bettors, for example those who bet only on moneylines, but if you’re a prop bettor or like to find value in less common places, this will be key to you.
In-Play Betting Quality
In-play betting is increasingly common, giving betters the opportunity to bet on an event after it has started. This is not universally available, however, and even when it is the quality of the odds and range of markets can vary, so this is something we always explore in depth at BettingTop10.
Mobile App Performance
Mobile apps have become increasingly popular to the point that, for many bettors, they are the preferred choice of platform for betting. While a few years ago these were a novelty, they’re now a necessity for bookmakers. But beyond just having one available, these mobile apps need to actual be functional, fast and easy to use, and our experts dedicate a period of time to actually testing them out themselves for every review on bettingtop10.com.
Desktop User Experience
Of course, while mobile apps are the platform of choice for many bettors, others still prefer the more traditional desktop method. It’s pivotal that betting sites have a good desktop site for users who opt for that route.
Live Streaming Availability
Live streaming is a feature which a growing number of betting sites offer and which can really add to the overall quality of the site. Many will only offer it on racing, others have the rights for smaller sports or leagues, while the really big bookmakers can often afford to live stream major sporting events – a massive bonus for bettors using those sites.
Cash-Out Functionality
Cash-out is a feature which enables you to opt out of a bet and take a portion of your potential winnings based on how the bet is travelling. If, for example, you put $10 on a $2 market and halfway through your bet is looking really strong (and is paying, for example, $1.45 in live betting), some betting sites will allow you to cash out for $15.
Bet Settlement Speed
Many bookmakers make a point of paying out winnings virtually immediately, while some can lag a little bit. Speed of settlement might not be as pivotal as some of the other things we consider, but as we’ve mentioned, this is a rigorous review process!
Reliability During High-Traffic Events
If you’re betting on major events, the last thing you need is a betting app or desktop site struggling to deal with the heightened traffic it invariably gets. We test all betting sites we review at BettingTop10 during these high-profile events so we can let you know which of them you’re likely to encounter issues with during peak traffic.
Deposit Methods
One of the primary payment-related things we look at when reviewing a betting site is the range of deposit methods available. While some bookmakers might have every imaginable payment method under the sun available to you, others only have very limited options, which while potentially not an issue for many bettors, could be a deal-breaker for others.
Withdrawal Speed Testing
Withdrawals always take a little longer than deposits, with the betting site needing to process the transaction and the same generally needing to occur at the facility receiving payment too. How long these take, however, can vary greatly from one bookmaker to another, so as part of the BettingTop10 review process we test out the various withdrawal methods at each betting site and relay that info to you.
Minimum Deposit/Withdrawal Requirements
Most betting sites have minimum requirements for both deposits and withdrawals. These will typically vary depending on the payment type you’re using, but most bookmakers still have some consistency in this space, boasting either typically low or typically high (or right in the middle) minimums for deposits and withdrawals.
Fees and Hidden Charges
Generally betting site payment methods are reasonably transparent, but on occasion you might come across fees or hidden charges associated with depositing or withdrawing using certain methods with specific bookies. We keep an eye out for this so you don’t have to.
Welcome Offer Value
A welcome offer is one of the most common types of bonuses that you’ll find on betting sites, with most of them offering one in one form or another. The quality of these can vary dramatically though, with some offering great value and others being little more than a token gesture.
Ongoing Promotions
Every bookmaker has promos of some kind, but while some offer plenty of quality ones, other betting sites aren’t so generous. The range of promos are always changing, but most betting sites have a few ongoing bonuses, and the quality of these makes up one part of our 30-step review process.
Wagering Requirements and Restrictions
When it comes to bonuses, there are usually quite a few specific requirements that many bettors are not aware of. For example, if you win money using bonus cash, you’ll generally have to ‘turn it over’ – that is, to bet with it – in order to be able to actually withdraw it. The specifics surrounding this – for example, the minimum odds allowed for it to be counted as having been turned over – can vary quite a lot, with some bookies fairly stingy and others a lot more generous.
Bonus Fairness and Transparency
When it comes to bonuses, it’s easy and not all that uncommon for betting sites to act a little deviously, adding in certain terms that may not be immediately clear and which might make a particular promo substantially worse than what it appears.
Live Chat Response Quality
Live chat is one of those things that you never want to use, but if you do run into a problem, it’s very handy to know it’s there. This is generally the easiest way to get into contact with a bookmaker, enabling you to chat to someone immediately without having to call up. However, it’s not available with every betting site, nor is it always as efficient as it could be, so the quality of this component of a bookmaker’s customer support platform is something we always consider.
Email and Ticket Support Efficiency
Email is another common way to get in touch with a bookmaker, and there aren’t many of them that don’t have this available. When analysing a betting site, we always test out this part of the support platform to check out how quickly they reply, and how helpful they are.
Help Centre Knowledge Base
It’s great for betting sites to have numerous methods of contact, but it’s no use if the agents you get into contact with aren’t much help. At BettingTop10, when our experts review a betting site they always actually test out the customer support platform by calling and messaging with realistic problems to test out the agents.
Responsible Betting Standards
30 steps later, here we are at the final one. Responsible gambling has come increasingly into the spotlight in recent years, with virtually all legitimate betting sites now having a raft of responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, self-exclusion and links to gambling helplines. At BettingTop10, we’re strong advocates for responsible gambling, and will always ensure the bookies that we are reviewing have a robust range of tools in place for those who need them.
Payout Reliability History
Fortunately, virtually every betting site we review passes this test with flying colours, but we still always make sure that the bookmakers we are reviewing are reliable in terms of paying out on winning bets.
Player Complaint Analysis
Nobody knows a betting site better than the players themselves, which is why we always make sure to check any complaints that bettors have made about them. One person making a particular complaint might be a coincidence, but if the same issues arise with many users then it’s likely to be a legitimate concern, and one we’ll relay to you.
