How We Rate

Our Review Methodology at Wheretovegan.co.uk

Every poker site review published on Wheretovegan.co.uk is the result of a structured, hands-on evaluation process carried out personally by site owner and lead reviewer James Whitfield. This page explains exactly how we assess each platform, what criteria matter most to UK players, and why you can trust our ratings to be honest, independent, and genuinely useful.

Who Reviews the Sites

James Whitfield is the sole author and operator of Wheretovegan.co.uk. James has spent years playing and analysing online poker platforms in the UK market. Before any site receives a rating or recommendation on this website, James personally registers an account using his own money, deposits funds, plays real-money poker, tests the withdrawal process, and contacts customer support. There are no shortcuts, no ratings based on press releases, and no copy-pasted information from operator websites. Every score reflects direct, first-hand experience gathered in 2026.

Our Step-by-Step Review Process

Each review follows the same consistent process to ensure fairness and comparability across all sites evaluated.

Step 1 – Registration: James creates a new player account and records the sign-up experience, including identity verification requirements and how long approval takes.
Step 2 – Deposit: A real-money deposit is made using at least two different payment methods to assess speed, fees, and available options for UK players.
Step 3 – Gameplay Testing: James plays across multiple poker variants and stakes levels, evaluating table availability, software performance, and overall experience.
Step 4 – Bonus Claiming: Any welcome bonus or promotion is claimed, and the terms and conditions are read in full to assess fairness and wagering requirements.
Step 5 – Customer Support: The support team is contacted via live chat and email with a genuine query to measure response time and quality.
Step 6 – Withdrawal: A cash-out is requested to verify processing times and whether the stated timelines match reality.
Step 7 – Mobile Testing: The site or app is tested on a mobile device to evaluate usability, loading speed, and feature availability on the go.
Step 8 – Scoring and Writing: James assigns scores based on the criteria below, writes the review from his own notes, and publishes the final rating.

Rating Criteria and Weightings

Each site is scored out of 10 in six 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, SSL encryption, fair play certifications, and data protection practices.
Bonuses and Promotions	20%	Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, time limits, bonus clarity, and ongoing promotions for existing players.
Game Selection	20%	Poker variants available, cash game and tournament options, traffic levels, and software quality.
Payment Methods	15%	Deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees, and support for UK-preferred methods including debit cards and e-wallets.
Customer Support	10%	Availability of live chat, email, and phone support, response speed, and the quality of answers provided.
Mobile Experience	10%	Dedicated app availability, browser compatibility, ease of navigation, and feature parity with the desktop version.

Understanding Our Rating Scale

All sites are scored on a scale of 1 to 10. Here is how to interpret those scores:

9.0 – 10: Outstanding. An excellent choice for UK poker players with very few drawbacks.
7.5 – 8.9: Very Good. A strong site with minor areas for improvement.
6.0 – 7.4: Good. A decent option that suits some players but has notable limitations.
4.0 – 5.9: Average. Below expectations in several important areas.
Below 4.0: Poor. Not recommended for UK players.

Sites We Do Not Recommend

If a site fails to hold a valid UK Gambling Commission licence, it will not receive a review or recommendation on this website under any circumstances, regardless of its scores in other categories. Player safety is always the highest priority.

How Wheretovegan.co.uk Stays Unbiased

Independence is fundamental to what we do. Wheretovegan.co.uk earns revenue through affiliate commissions when readers sign up to recommended sites. However, this commercial relationship never influences our scores or editorial opinions. James Whitfield determines every rating based solely on the testing process described above.

Operators cannot pay for higher ratings, request changes to reviews, or receive preferential treatment in exchange for advertising. Sites are reviewed on the same criteria regardless of whether an affiliate agreement is in place. If a site that pays a commission scores poorly, that score is published honestly. Readers will always find our conclusions based on real testing, not on financial incentives.

Reviews are updated when significant changes occur, such as a licence update, new software launch, or changes to bonus terms. The date of the most recent update is clearly displayed on every review page so you always know how current the information is.

Questions About Our Process

If you have any questions about how a specific site was rated, or if you believe information in a review is out of date, you are welcome to get in touch. Contact details are available on the Contact page. We take feedback seriously and are committed to keeping every review accurate and genuinely helpful for UK poker players in 2026.

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