Here at Magazine Poker we take the reviewing of poker sites very seriously – which is why we employ our multi-step process to ensure our readers get the best value for their money while playing – never mind spending their money – at our recommended best poker sites.

The 5 Star Rating – What Does it Mean?

Magazine Poker rates poker sites out of 5 stars, with 1 star being the worst possible rating (avoid this one!) and 5 stars the best (play here!). Getting 5 stars requires a poker site to go the extra mile, be it through game selection, superb customer support, excellent security and appropriate responsible gaming tools.

The Games and Software

A poker site is nothing without the tables and tournaments it offers. This is why we go through its game offering and check:

1. What’s the gameplay like?
2. Is it easy to use?
3. Can you play for Free?
4. Can you play on mobile?
5. How is the In-Browser Experience

Bonuses and Promotions

This part is perhaps self-explanatory: what bonuses does the poker site offer? These are rated by following these guidelines:

1. Welcome Bonus
2. Terms & Conditions?
3. Any Bonuses for Returning Players?
4. What About VIP and Loyalty Programmes?

Safety and Security

Players need to feel sure that they are in safe hands before they can start having fun at a poker site. How does one check this? We follow this straightforward 5-step process: 

1. Licence from a Legitimate Regulator – does the licence come from the likes of the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority?
2. Independent Regulation – the site needs to be regulated by a reputable independent authority such as eCOGRA in order to ensure the games are fair.
3. Site Encryption – does the site possess a valid SSL certificate?
4. Responsible Gaming (RG) Tools – does the site offer RG tools to help players safeguard their play through reality checks, spending limits and gambling activity history?
5. Know Your Customer (KYC) Checks – does the site help create an honest gaming environment by checking all customers are legitimate?

Deposits and Withdrawals

How easy is it for players to both deposit money and withdraw their winnings?  Are these processes properly encrypted? 

The Mobile Experience

More players are gambling exclusively on their smartphones, so we need to check how their sites run on a smaller screen and, if available, the app experience. 

Customer Support

Does the poker site offer easy access for customer support? Are the answers the support agents offer up to scratch? In addition, we also check whether the poker site offers appropriate data protection by going through its privacy policy.