Methodology
Where our operator list comes from, how we verify licenses, test withdrawals, check terms, score operators and monitor their websites.
Where the operator list comes from
Our directory starts from PAGCOR’s own list of licensed online gaming websites (pagcorguarantee.ph). We read that list every day:
- A website that appears on the list is added automatically and shown as License checked, with PAGCOR’s list as the regulator record.
- A website that disappears from the list is hidden automatically. If it returns, it is restored.
- Safety rails: if the list suddenly looks broken (very few entries) we change nothing; if it shrinks sharply we stop automatic removals until a person checks.
Being on PAGCOR’s list means the site is licensed — not that we recommend it. Until our editors review a listed operator, its page says so, it has no editorial score, and payment or withdrawal details stay empty rather than guessed.
Source types
Every fact carries one of five labels so you can see where it came from:
- Regulator record — from the regulator’s own published record (for example PAGCOR’s list).
- Operator claim — what the operator says; not yet independently confirmed.
- Editorial finding — our reviewers’ own reading of terms, pages and support answers.
- Independent test — a controlled test we ran ourselves, such as a withdrawal.
- User report — a moderated report from a visitor.
License verification
A license logo in a website footer is never enough. A license counts only when it matches a regulator record and the check is dated. A check older than 180 days, or past the license expiry date, no longer counts, and the operator drops out of recommendations until it is checked again. Operators that come from PAGCOR’s list are re-checked every day.
Withdrawal tests
Testers deposit small amounts with their own verified accounts, request a withdrawal, and record the request time, completion time, payment rail, fees and any extra KYC requests. A second person reviews the evidence before anything is published. We show medians only together with the number of tests (n), and we never publish account details. Past results do not guarantee future processing times. Test conditions, KYC checks and payment rails can change.
Bonus and terms checks
We record a bonus only with its wagering requirement, wagering basis (bonus, or deposit + bonus), maximum bet, expiry and a link to the full terms, plus the date we checked them. Our bonus calculator shows how much you would have to wager — and the expected cost of doing so — before you can withdraw.
Platform matcher scoring
The matcher uses a fixed, published model. Operators without a current verified license, in the wrong category, without your payment method for deposits, or with a minimum deposit above your range are excluded. The rest are scored:
- Editorial score × 0.4 (up to 20 points)
- Category match: 15; your payment method for deposits and withdrawals: 15 (deposits only: 5)
- Fast tested withdrawals (median): 30 (≤ 6h), 18 (≤ 24h), 6 (≤ 72h)
- Low minimum deposit: 30 (≤ ₱100), 20 (≤ ₱200), 10 (≤ ₱500)
- Clear terms: 15 if checked in the last 90 days, plus 15 if a bonus states its max bet and expiry
- Bonus: 20 for a current offer, plus 10 if wagering is 20x or lower
Website and app monitoring
We check every approved website, mirror and app-store link daily. A link that keeps failing is removed from our pages automatically, and visitors are sent to a working official mirror if there is one. If a site starts redirecting to a new domain, a reviewer confirms the new address before we use it. When every known link for an operator is dead we flag it as possibly closed; an editor confirms before we mark it closed and remove it. Closed operators are re-checked weekly: if the site works again and is still on PAGCOR’s list, it is reopened automatically; otherwise an editor checks it first, because an expired domain may now belong to someone else. A site with an invalid security certificate, or without HTTPS, is not treated as closed — but we do not link to it until it is fixed.
Logos
Operator logos are copied from PAGCOR’s list (or uploaded by our editors), re-encoded and resized on our server. They identify the operator; they are not endorsements.
Scores and rankings
Editorial scores reflect licensing, payment coverage, tested withdrawals, terms clarity and support. Commercial relationships do not change scores or the order of our lists. We do not publish user star ratings.