Sportsbook Ranking Methodology
Our mission is to rank online sportsbooks in a way that is transparent, evidence-based, and repeatable. We combine hands-on testing with a structured audit so that scores are comparable across regions and legal entities. Safety, Trust & Regulation are the primary factors in our framework and carry the highest weight.
1) Scope & Eligibility
- Licensed sportsbooks accepting real-money wagers on sports and esports.
- Clear disclosure of legal entities, licensing numbers, and restricted countries.
- Operational cashier (deposits/withdrawals), KYC/AML workflow available for testing.
- No unresolved regulatory bans, insolvency, or verified non-payment cases.
2) Scoring Pillars & Weights (100 points total)
| Pillar | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Safety, Trust & Regulation | 40 | Licence quality & jurisdiction fit, compliance history, ownership transparency, responsible gambling tooling, settlement & voiding integrity, data security. |
| Payouts & Banking | 15 | Withdrawal success rate, median payout time, limits & fees, payment coverage, chargeback/dispute handling. |
| Pricing & Limits | 15 | Odds margins across core markets (1X2, spreads, totals), bet acceptance speed, fairness of limits, availability of cash-out / early payout. |
| Product & Markets | 10 | Pre-match & in-play depth, bet builder/SSG, niche sports/esports coverage, live streaming and data quality. |
| User Experience & Apps | 5 | Stability, latency, navigation, responsible gambling surfacing, accessibility, localisation. |
| Customer Support | 5 | Availability (24/7), channels, first-contact resolution, escalation and ADR guidance. |
| Bonuses & Terms | 5 | Transparency & fairness of T&Cs (min odds, wagering, market restrictions), promo consistency and real-world value. |
| Reputation & Complaints | 3 | Rate of substantiated player issues, pattern of complaints, ADR/mediator outcomes. |
| Data Transparency | 2 | Public licence numbers, policy pages, audit trails, status pages, change logs. |
3) Safety, Trust & Regulation (40 pts)
- Licence tier & coverage (15 pts): We verify the operating entity, licensing authority, and whether the licence allows activity in the target market(s). Multi-entity brands are scored per entity.
- Compliance & sanctions (10 pts): We check regulatory actions, fines, or directives. Unresolved sanctions materially reduce the score; operating without appropriate authorisation is disqualifying.
- Transparency & security (5 pts): Ownership, physical address, terms versioning, SSL/TLS and data practices.
- Responsible gambling (5 pts): Self-exclusion, reality checks, deposit/loss limits, time-outs; visibility and ease of use.
- Settlement & voiding integrity (5 pts): Clear, fair rules for bet acceptance, settlement sources, palpable error handling, and void policies.
4) Payouts & Banking (15 pts)
We open accounts, complete KYC, deposit, place real bets, then withdraw. We record median e-wallet/bank payout times, success rates, fees, and any manual friction. Limits (min/max) and consistency across methods are scored.
5) Pricing & Limits (15 pts)
We collect and compare odds margins on a fixed basket of events across football, basketball, tennis, and a rotating fourth sport. We measure average overround, in-play acceptance speed, frequency of “trader review”, availability and fairness of cash-out, and presence of early-payout features. Excessive early limiting or market-wide restrictions lowers the score.
6) Product & Markets (10 pts)
Depth of pre-match and live markets, bet builder quality, player props, same-game parlays, streaming, official data partnerships, and reliability of live scoreboards. Esports coverage is included where licensed.
7) User Experience & Apps (5 pts)
We test iOS, Android, and web for stability, latency from search to bet slip, clear surfacing of RG tools, and accessible design. App store availability and version parity are considered.
8) Customer Support (5 pts)
Channels (live chat, email, phone), 24/7 availability, median first-reply time, quality of answers, and the presence of documented escalation/ADR paths.
9) Bonuses & Terms (5 pts)
We score clarity and fairness: wagering multiples, qualifying odds/markets, expiry, caps, payment-method exclusions, and realisable EV for typical bettors. Hidden or predatory clauses (e.g., confiscatory KYC timing, ambiguous “irregular play”) trigger deductions.
10) Reputation, Complaints & Dispute Handling (3 pts)
We maintain a log of substantiated, evidence-backed complaints and track outcomes. Repeated, corroborated issues reduce this score and can trigger an out-of-cycle review.
11) Data Transparency (2 pts)
Public licence numbers and entity details, dated policy pages, product status pages, and a visible change log improve this score.
12) Our Testing Method
- Hands-on accounts: We test with real balances in applicable jurisdictions and legal entities.
- Structured 25-step audit: A checklist covers licensing, cashier, pricing, product depth, RG, support, and T&Cs. Each step stores timed evidence (screenshots, statements, chat transcripts) in our audit vault.
- Entity-level scoring: Brands operating multiple licences are scored per entity (e.g., UK vs. EU vs. ROW), then surfaced per visitor location.
- Peer benchmarking: Odds margins and payout timings are compared against a rolling benchmark of market leaders.
13) Instant Downgrades & Red Flags
- Zero-tolerance (blacklist): Unlicensed operation in target market; verified non-payment or confiscation without regulatory basis; deliberate KYC obstruction to avoid payout; unresolved regulator ban.
- Severe deductions: Repeated settlement irregularities, retroactive term changes, undisclosed fees, excessive or opaque limiting, persistent cashier outages.
14) User Feedback & Complaints
You can submit feedback with evidence (screenshots, statements) at contact@sportingpedia.com. We also monitor reputable public review sources (e.g., Trustpilot and Google Reviews) to detect patterns; only verifiable, material issues affect scores. Submissions can trigger out-of-cycle reviews and, where appropriate, re-tests of specific steps.
15) Quality Control & Independence
- Two-reviewer rule: At least two specialists independently complete the audit before a score is published.
- Commercial firewall: Commercial arrangements never influence scores or safety decisions. If we receive compensation, we disclose it and keep ratings separate from monetisation.
- Re-tests: High-traffic brands are re-audited at least twice per year, or immediately after major changes (licence move, platform migration, ToS revisions).
16) Localisation & Tie-Breakers
Rankings shown to you prioritise the entity licensed for your jurisdiction. If two sportsbooks are within 1 point, tie-breakers prefer stronger local licensing, faster verified payouts to your payment method, and lower margins on locally popular leagues.
17) Publication, Updates & Change Log
- Versioning: Each review carries a version ID and “last updated” date reflecting the latest full or partial audit.
- Evidence: Where possible, we link to public evidence (e.g., regulator registers, status pages) and store private evidence for audit trails.
18) Score Math (Overview)
- Each sub-check maps to a 0–100 subscore; pillar scores are weighted by the table above.
- Red-flag rules can cap or zero specific pillars (e.g., unlicensed in market ⇒ Safety = 0 ⇒ overall “Not Recommended”).
- Entity scores roll up to brand-level views with jurisdiction filters.