This article explains, in plain English, how Ansvya tests the platforms we cover. A longer technical version is available on our Review Methodology page, which spells out the scoring criteria, weights, and the disqualification thresholds. This is the reader-friendly summary.

The core principle

Every platform we review is tested by a member of our editorial team using a real account funded with real money. There is no other way to find out what a platform is actually like. Operator-provided demo accounts, marketing materials, and customer testimonials are not substitutes for the experience of being a paying customer.

What we do, step by step

Create the account. We register from a state where the platform operates. We complete identity verification where required.

Make at least one purchase. We buy a Gold Coin pack at a price point a typical user would. This tests the payment flow and reveals the actual Sweeps Coin bundle structure.

Play across the library. We play at least one title from each major provider stocked on the platform. We use both Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. We track game performance, app stability, and the actual feel of play.

Claim promotions for 14 consecutive days. Daily logins, mail-in offers where applicable, social-media promotions, tournaments. This shows us what the ongoing value of the platform looks like, not just the welcome offer.

Run a redemption. We redeem Sweeps Coins, ideally to completion. We document timelines, documentation requested, and the actual outcome.

Test customer support. We contact support on at least one channel offered, with a real question we genuinely need answered. We record response time and quality.

Read the terms. We read the platform's terms of service in full and compare them against observed behavior.

What we score

Six criteria, each weighted. The criteria and weights are on our Review Methodology page; the headline picture is that operator credibility, terms transparency, and redemption practice are our largest categories. Game library is important but not the largest factor. Customer support and responsible-gaming tools have weight but are smaller categories. We do not adjust weights to favor any platform.

What disqualifies a platform

Some findings keep a platform off our recommended list regardless of how it scores elsewhere. The list is on our Methodology page; the most consequential are refusal to honor a legitimately-earned redemption, material misrepresentation of terms or state availability, and unresolved regulatory action.

How often we update

Reviews are refreshed at minimum every 90 days and immediately on material change to an operator's terms, ownership, state availability, or promotional structure. Every review and state guide carries a visible "Last updated" date. We do not silently update reviews; substantive changes are noted at the bottom of the page.

Who pays for the testing

We do. The Gold Coin purchases we make during testing come out of our editorial budget. We earn commissions from operator partnerships, disclosed on our Advertising Disclosure page, but those commissions do not subsidize testing — they fund the editorial operation as a whole. We have run tests, found a platform wanting, and published a low review even where doing so cost us a commercial relationship. The full picture is in our Editorial Policy.