Editorial methodology
How We Calculate Trust Score
Trust Score is a weighted average of 15 independently-scored dimensions — not a self-reported rating, and not something an operator can pay to improve. This page explains exactly how it's built.
The 15 scoring dimensions
Each operator is scored 0–10 on 15 dimensions by our editorial team, based on documented sources — licensing registries, published fee schedules, terms and conditions, and direct testing where possible. Trust Score is the weighted average of whichever dimensions have been scored so far; it is recalculated automatically the moment any underlying score changes, never entered by hand.
Licensing carries the most weight because it's the single strongest predictor of whether a player has any real recourse if something goes wrong — an unlicensed operator can change its terms, delay withdrawals, or disappear entirely with no regulator to appeal to.
Not every license carries the same weight, though — a UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority license means real consumer-protection oversight; an offshore license (e.g. Curaçao) is real but much lighter-touch. We disclose which tier an operator's license falls into wherever we show it, rather than treating "licensed" as one undifferentiated stamp of approval.
Editorial independence
Some outbound links on AskBigBonus are affiliate links, and we may be compensated if you sign up with an operator through them. That commercial relationship never determines Trust Score, ranking position, or editorial verdict — the "Affiliate reputation" dimension above is scored on how an operator treats its affiliate partners and their users, not on how much it pays us. See our Privacy Policy and Terms for the full disclosure.
Who writes this
Reviews and editorial verdicts are credited to named authors with stated credentials and expertise — see our authors. Every operator page also shows a real "Update Center" changelog and, where available, links to the primary sources behind its facts, so you can verify anything yourself rather than take our word for it.
See the data yourself
Our Online Casino Transparency Report aggregates real findings across every operator we track — license tiers, crypto adoption, wagering requirement ranges, and how much of the industry actually publishes a withdrawal-time commitment.
Limitations
Not every operator has all 15 dimensions scored yet — Trust Score reflects whatever has been verified so far, and pages say so explicitly ("preliminary") when a full editorial review hasn't been completed. Regulations and operator terms change; always confirm current licensing and terms directly with the operator before depositing.