Our Methodology
How we rate sportsbooks
Every sportsbook earns a single 0–10 Trust Index, built from the same safety-first framework we apply to casinos and adapted for betting. The methodology is published in full, applied identically to every book, and it is never for sale.
Commercial relationships never change the order. We may earn a commission when you sign up through a link, but that has no bearing on a book's score or where it ranks — see how the same standard drives every casino review.
What we weigh
The six things we rate
Licensing & safety
We start with the licence. A book has to be regulated by a recognised authority, with details verifiable on the regulator’s own public register — not just claimed in a footer. We check ownership, terms and any history of regulatory action first, because a sharp price means nothing if your funds aren’t protected.
Odds value & margins
A sportsbook earns its money on the margin baked into its odds, so we compare prices across headline markets to see how competitive a book really is. Consistently short prices and a high built-in margin count against a book; fair, sharp pricing counts in its favour. We describe value in general terms and never present odds as a way to guarantee a profit.
Market depth & live/in-play betting
We look at how many sports and competitions a book covers, how far its markets go beyond the match winner, and whether live (in-play) betting is genuinely usable — fast, stable and well-priced. Depth matters most to regular bettors, so a book that only prices the obvious lines scores below one with real breadth.
Payout speed & reliability
Getting paid is the whole point, so we weigh how quickly a book processes withdrawals and how reliably it settles bets. We factor in verification (KYC) requirements, published payout windows and any pattern of stalled or disputed withdrawals. A book that pays winners promptly and without friction scores well here.
Bonuses & fair terms
A welcome offer is only worth taking if its terms are fair, so we read the fine print — wagering requirements, minimum odds, maximum stakes and time limits — rather than the headline number. We reward clear, achievable terms and mark down offers that look generous but are hard to clear. A bonus never lifts a book’s core score.
Responsible-gambling tools & complaint handling
Every book we rate is expected to offer deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion and easy access to support. We also look at how an operator handles complaints and disputes, because how a book behaves when something goes wrong tells you more than any marketing ever will.
The line we won't cross
The Trust Index is never for sale
No operator can pay to raise its score, move up the rankings, or remove a warning. The ranking order on every sportsbook page follows the Trust Index and nothing else. When we earn a commission from a link, we say so — but the score is set before any commercial conversation and is never revisited because of one.
Who stands behind these scores
Reviewed and signed off
Alex Korsager, Chief Gaming Officer, personally signs off on every Trust Index score before it is published, keeping player safety ahead of any commercial relationship.
Jonas Berg, Data & Trust Index Methodologist, designs and maintains the data model behind the Trust Index and runs the periodic re-scoring that keeps every rating current and resistant to manipulation.
18+ only. Betting outcomes are never guaranteed. We may earn a commission from some links, but our Trust Index is never for sale — please gamble responsibly.