How We Rate Sportsbooks & Casinos

We are dedicated to providing unbiased and trustworthy reviews of gambling sites in the US. We take pride in our user-focused approach to reviews and we aim to be completely transparent about our process. On this page, we will detail the precise steps that go into every online sportsbook and casino review we publish, and how we keep them updated.

How We Create Accurate Ratings

We Are Experts

Our team of reviewers have decades of combined experience and have reviewed hundreds of sportsbooks and casinos between them. This experience brings with it a deep understanding of the complex history of gambling in the USA, industry standards, and the technical aspects of sportsbook and casino platforms.

You can read more about our editorial team and their individual experience on our Meet The Team page.

We Follow Strict Guidelines

All of our reviewers follow the same guidelines and processes for every review - we call this the BetEdge Rating system. This ensures fairness and consistency across the board. We will detail the process and guidelines in full on this page for complete transparency.

We Test Everything Firsthand

Many online reviews are simply recycled content from other websites. This is not our way. We test every platform firsthand, and for an extended period of time. We sign up, make deposits, place bets and play the slot games, try different withdrawal methods, test the customer support options, claim the different promotions on offer, complete the KYC process and so on.

We spend a whole week with every operator we review (minimum of 12 hours) and leave no stone unturned. Our goal is to experience every platform just as a long-term user would, this ensures that our reviews are reflective of real-world players rather than simply a snapshot.

We Don’t Just Test Once

Our review process doesn’t end with publishing. Sportsbooks and casinos are continuously changing and innovating, therefore, we revisit our reviews monthly to make sure the information is still accurate and our ratings are reflective of the current product.

We have an entire process just for reviewing our ratings and updating our reviews. Each month, a minimum of two hours is spent on our platform reviews, and a further five hours on any ‘best of’ page to ensure our rankings are reflective of the current landscape.

Our Review Process

Our process for reviewing a new platform (or revisiting previously reviewed ones) is very similar to that of a typical user. 

We go through the registration process, apply any relevant bonus codes, make our first deposit, and start navigating the website/app. The first few hours are spent placing regular bets or playing games to get a feel for the platform and see how it handles the basics. We do this across three devices: mobile, tablet, and desktop.

We take notes, but this part of the process is quite informal, as the aim is to approach and use the platform as any other customer would.

After a few hours, we had a good understanding of how the platform functions. This is where the BetEdge Rating system comes into play.

About Our BetEdge Rating Methodology

The BetEdge Rating methodology was designed to ensure all of our reviews meet our high standards and are consistent across the board. One of our core values is integrity, and we believe having complete transparency of our review criteria is paramount.

The BetEdge Rating system covers five key areas that we deem integral to an online gaming experience. These factors differ slightly for sportsbooks, casinos, and sweepstakes casinos. Each factor is rigorously tested and given a score out of five.

The overall rating that each platform receives is calculated by averaging the five individual scores.

Here are the five BetEdge factors:

User Experience

Our focus is on the interface, design, and ease of navigation of the platform relevant to sportsbooks, traditional online casinos, and sweepstakes casinos. This includes evaluating the intuitiveness of the platform, mobile optimization, and overall user-friendliness. 

For sportsbooks, this might involve bet placement and market accessibility; for traditional and sweepstakes casinos, it would include the ease of game selection, playability, and access to social features.

Our reviewers spend a minimum of 12 hours, spread across a week, with each platform they review. This gives them plenty of time to get fully acquainted with the site and enables them to provide an accurate assessment of the user experience.

Features/Games

For sportsbooks, this category assesses the range of sports, betting markets, and types of bets. We deposit a minimum of $1,000 for each review (sometimes more if the welcome bonus requires a bigger deposit) which gives our reviewers plenty of cash to place wagers and test every betting feature thoroughly. We also conduct an empirical analysis of the sportsbook’s odds in comparison to other betting platforms.

For traditional online casinos, we evaluate the diversity and quality of games like slots, table games, and live dealer options. As with sportsbooks, we deposit a minimum of $1,000 with each operator, providing plenty of runway to test a variety of games.

For sweepstakes casinos, we also consider any unique social interaction features that enhance the gaming experience.

Promotions and Bonuses

We review the range and appeal of bonuses and promotions across all platforms. This includes welcome bonuses, loyalty programs, referral bonuses, and ongoing promotions.

Our reviewers test every offer firsthand so that we’re able to give an honest and accurate evaluation of it. They will also spend time reading through any terms and conditions so that we can flag any potential pitfalls.

Banking Options

We examine the depth of payment methods and the speed of payouts, which is critical for sportsbooks and traditional online casinos. We test all of the major payment methods on each platform we review so that we can accurately report on payout times.

For sweepstakes casinos, this category focuses on the process of purchasing virtual currency and redeeming prizes, ensuring transparency and reliability in these transactions.

Customer Support

We evaluate the availability, responsiveness, and effectiveness of customer support across all types of platforms. This includes different support channels, the quality of assistance provided, and the presence of comprehensive FAQs or guides. 

Our reviewers personally test each channel to get a full picture of the responsiveness and quality of customer support.

What Do Our Scores Mean?

All of the above is distilled into a simple, understandable score out of five. This score is designed to provide a snapshot of our overall experience of the platform and simplify the decision-making process for users.

Here is a guide to what our scores mean.

Other Factors We Evaluate

While these factors do not contribute to our overall BetEdge Rating score, we do evaluate them and review them within the content of our reviews.

Security

Security is a paramount factor across all platforms. Our reviewers will assess how each operator protects users' personal and financial information. This includes checking the site's encryption standards, privacy policies, and regulatory compliance. The operator's track record regarding security breaches or issues will also be reviewed.

Responsible Gambling Practices

Across all platforms, we will assess the operator's commitment to responsible gaming. This includes the availability of tools and resources to promote safe gambling practices, such as self-exclusion options, deposit limits, and support for problem gambling.

Accessibility

Our reviewers evaluate the accessibility of the platform for users with different needs and backgrounds. We test sites against web accessibility best practices and guidelines to see how well they accommodate users with disabilities. 

Updating Our Reviews

Most sites will review an operator once and then never return; that’s not our style.

Every month, our team spends two hours revisiting each review to check they are still accurate and reflective of the overall experience. Twice a year, we will also do a big update where we effectively review the platform from scratch again to account for any new features (or lack thereof).

We keep our ears close to the ground when it comes to iGaming. If there are any changes in regards to a platform’s welcome offer, promo codes, major features, availability, etc., we will update our review and rating accordingly.

You can trust that our reviews are always accurate and up-to-date with the latest information.

User Reviews

In 2024, we launched our user ratings feature which allows users to share their opinion on any of the platforms we have reviewed on WSN. While we put a great deal of time and effort into our reviews, we believe it is valuable to share a range of opinions.

Users can visit any of our reviews and give a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ based on their experience with the site. The overall score is then displayed as a percentage to help other users make an informed decision.

We plan to launch more features in the near future that incorporate user feedback and a wider range of opinions.

Why Trust Us?

WSN is a leading authority in legal sports betting and has now expanded its expertise to include online casinos and sweepstakes. We have a reputation for providing independent, trusted information and data-driven insights. All operators featured on WSN must pass our rigorous BetEdge Rating process.

All authors on WSN follow our editorial principles to ensure quality and consistency across the site. You can find out more about the WSN team on our contributors page.

Our sportsbook, casino, and sweepstakes reviews are completely unbiased. We are 100% transparent about our process as well as any affiliate partnerships we have with operators, which we state at the top of every page.

All platforms listed on WSN must meet our high standards before they are featured on the site. Our BetEdge Rating system ensures that all operators are tested thoroughly, consistently, and fairly.

WSN’s parent company, Gentoo Media (formerly Gaming Innovation Group), is one of the world’s leading online gaming companies and a trusted name in the iGaming industry. Gentoo Media was ranked #3 in the EGR Power Affiliates Rankings in 2023, recognizing the business as one of the top three names within the gaming industry.

You can read more about WSN on our About Us page.