How We Rate

Our Review Methodology at Makedomenders

At Makedomenders, every online poker site review published on makedomenders.co.uk is the result of a rigorous, hands-on evaluation process carried out personally by site owner and lead reviewer James Whitfield. This page explains exactly how we assess and score each platform, what criteria matter most to UK players, and how we ensure our recommendations remain independent and trustworthy.

We believe UK poker players deserve honest, detailed, and up-to-date information before they deposit a single penny. That is why we do not publish a review until James has opened a real account, made real deposits, played real games, and tested real withdrawals on every site we cover.

Step-by-Step: How James Whitfield Reviews a Poker Site

Step 1 – Initial Background Check

Before anything else, James researches the operator's history, ownership structure, and regulatory standing. A site with unresolved player complaints or a questionable track record will not progress any further in the review process, regardless of how attractive its bonus offer looks on the surface.

Step 2 – Account Registration

James creates a genuine player account using his own personal details. This allows us to assess how smooth the sign-up process is, how quickly identity verification is completed, and whether any friction points exist for new UK players.

Step 3 – Depositing Real Money

A real deposit is made using common UK payment methods, including debit cards and e-wallets. James records processing times, any fees applied, and how clearly the site communicates deposit limits to players.

Step 4 – Gameplay Testing

James spends a minimum of several sessions actively playing on the site, covering cash games, sit-and-go tournaments, and multi-table tournaments where available. This includes testing the poker client on both desktop and mobile devices.

Step 5 – Bonus Evaluation

Any welcome bonus or ongoing promotion is claimed and fully evaluated. James reads the terms and conditions in detail, assesses wagering requirements, and judges whether the offer represents genuine value for UK poker players.

Step 6 – Customer Support Testing

James contacts the support team through all available channels, including live chat and email, asking both simple and complex questions. Response times and the quality of answers are recorded.

Step 7 – Withdrawal Testing

A withdrawal is requested to measure processing speed, verify that documentation requirements are reasonable, and confirm that funds arrive promptly and without unnecessary complications.

Step 8 – Scoring and Writing

Once all testing is complete, James assigns scores across each category, calculates a final weighted rating, and writes the full review based solely on his own experience and findings.

Our Rating Criteria and Weightings

Each poker site is scored from 1 to 10 in six key categories. These scores are then combined using the weightings below to produce a single overall rating out of 10.

Category	Weighting	What We Assess
Licensing and Safety	25%	UK Gambling Commission licence status, responsible gambling tools, data security, and player fund protection
Bonuses and Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, fairness of terms, wagering requirements, ongoing loyalty rewards, and tournament guarantees
Game Selection	20%	Poker variants available, traffic levels, stake ranges, tournament schedules, and software quality
Payment Methods	15%	Available UK banking options, deposit and withdrawal speeds, transaction fees, and minimum and maximum limits
Customer Support	10%	Availability hours, response speed, quality and accuracy of answers, and number of contact channels
Mobile Experience	10%	Dedicated app quality, mobile browser performance, game availability on mobile, and ease of navigation

Understanding Our Rating Scale

All sites are scored on a scale of 1 to 10, with the final rating calculated from the weighted category scores described above. Here is what each range means in practice:

9.0 – 10.0 – Outstanding: Among the very best poker sites available to UK players. Excels across virtually every category with very few weaknesses.
7.5 – 8.9 – Excellent: A strong, well-rounded site that delivers a high-quality experience with only minor drawbacks.
6.0 – 7.4 – Good: A solid choice for most players, though notable limitations exist in one or more areas.
4.5 – 5.9 – Average: Meets basic expectations but falls short in several important areas. Suitable only for specific player types.
Below 4.5 – Poor: Significant issues identified. We do not recommend these sites to UK players.

How Makedomenders Stays Independent and Unbiased

Independence is the foundation of everything we do at Makedomenders. Here is how we protect the integrity of our reviews:

No operator influence: Poker sites cannot pay to improve their scores, alter the content of a review, or request that negative findings be removed. Our ratings reflect James Whitfield's genuine experience only.
Affiliate relationships are disclosed: Makedomenders may earn a commission when readers click through to a poker site and register. This commercial relationship is always disclosed clearly. It does not influence scores or review outcomes.
Reviews are updated regularly: The online poker landscape changes. Licences can lapse, software can deteriorate, and bonuses change their terms. James revisits published reviews to ensure ratings remain accurate for UK players in 2026.
Low-rated sites are still published: If a site performs poorly during testing, we publish the review anyway. UK players benefit from knowing which sites to avoid, not just which to choose.
No pay-to-play listings: A site's position in any ranking on makedomenders.co.uk is determined entirely by its score, not by any commercial arrangement with the operator.

About James Whitfield

James Whitfield has been playing and analysing online poker within the UK market for over a decade. His experience spans cash games, major tournament formats, and the full spectrum of poker software platforms used by UK-licensed operators. Every review published on makedomenders.co.uk carries his name because every review is genuinely his work. James holds no financial stake in any of the operators reviewed on this site.

If you have questions about our methodology or wish to suggest a site for review, you are welcome to get in touch through the contact page.

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