Last updated: July 2026 — James Whitfield, Faesupport
At Faesupport, every review you read has been personally researched, tested, and written by James Whitfield. This page explains exactly how we evaluate non Gamstop betting sites for UK players, what criteria we use, how we weight each factor, and why you can trust our scores to be honest, independent, and grounded in real experience.
We believe that a review methodology should be fully transparent. You deserve to know what goes into a rating before you rely on it to make a decision about where to place your money.
Before signing up, James conducts background research on the operator. This includes identifying which licensing authority regulates the site, checking the operator's ownership history, reading public regulatory records, and scanning for any documented complaints from UK players. Sites with a history of serious unresolved disputes are flagged immediately.
James personally creates a real player account on every site reviewed. He goes through the full registration process, testing how straightforward it is, how long identity verification takes, and whether the process presents any unnecessary friction or red flags.
A real deposit is made using payment methods commonly used by UK players. James tests processing times, checks for hidden fees, and later requests a withdrawal to verify how quickly funds are returned and whether the process matches what the site advertises.
Where a welcome bonus or promotion is available, James claims it directly and reads the full terms and conditions. Wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum win caps are all recorded and assessed for fairness.
James browses the full library of games and betting markets, noting the software providers used, the range of sports and events available, the quality of odds, and the overall depth of the offering for UK players.
Support is tested directly by contacting the team via live chat and email. James records response times, the quality of answers provided, and how staff handle specific queries about account issues and bonus terms.
The site is accessed on mobile devices to evaluate responsiveness, loading speed, navigation, and whether the full range of features is available on smaller screens without degradation in quality.
After completing all testing stages, James assigns scores across each category and compiles a final weighted rating. The review is written entirely from his findings, with no input from the operator being reviewed.
Every site is scored out of 10 in six categories. The final overall score is calculated using the weightings shown below.
| Rating Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | Regulatory licence held, responsible gambling tools, SSL encryption, data protection standards |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, fairness of terms, ongoing promotions |
| Game Selection | 20% | Range of sports markets or casino games, software providers, odds quality, live betting options |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, transaction fees, minimum and maximum limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability of live chat and email, response speed, quality of assistance provided |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Mobile site or app usability, feature availability, loading performance on mobile devices |
All sites are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with the final score representing the weighted average across all six categories. Here is how to interpret each score range:
Independence is non-negotiable at Faesupport. James Whitfield is not employed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by any of the betting operators reviewed on this site. Our revenue comes from affiliate commissions, which are standard practice in the industry, but our editorial decisions are made entirely independently of commercial relationships.
If a site performs poorly during testing, it receives a low score regardless of any commercial arrangement. Sites are never paid to receive higher ratings. Negative findings identified during James's personal testing are always included in the published review. We do not accept payment in exchange for positive coverage, and operators have no opportunity to review or influence our content before it is published.
Our commitment is to UK players. Every review published on faesupport.co.uk in 2026 is written with one goal: giving you accurate, honest information to help you make safer and better-informed decisions about where to bet online.