A ten-point check for any sportsbook review you read
Ten checks tell you in about ten minutes whether a sportsbook review deserves trust: its date, method, disclosure, registry check, province, age and help information, table order, brands outside registries, bonus text and links to primary sources. As of 2026-11-13, each check below has a fail sign, and any one fail is worth knowing.
Checked by the editorial team on
- 4 min read
- 8 sections
- 2 tables
- 5 FAQ
The ten checks
| No. | Check | Pass looks like | Fail looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Page date | A dated page and a date for the last brand check | No date, or a date with no later check |
| 2 | Method | A method page that names what was measured | "Tested" or "rated" with no method to open |
| 3 | Disclosure of pay | A plain statement near the top about how the site earns | No statement, or one only in the footer |
| 4 | Registry | Each listed brand is found in your province's registry on the day you check | A brand you cannot find in the registry |
| 5 | Province | The list says which province it is for | One list for all provinces |
| 6 | Age and help | Minimum age by province and a help line | No age or help information |
| 7 | Order | The order follows a stated rule, such as a score or the alphabet | The order is unexplained, or follows the offer |
| 8 | Brands outside registries | No such brand is recommended | Recommended brands that are not registered where you live |
| 9 | Bonus text (ON, AB) | No bonus offers aimed at Ontario or Alberta readers | Bonus amounts or promo codes for those readers |
| 10 | Primary sources | Links to the registry, regulator and operator terms | Only links to other review sites |
Short answer: run all ten, note which fail, and decide how much weight the list deserves.
Why these ten
Checks 1 and 2 make the claim traceable. A list without a date or a method cannot be matched against anything.
Checks 3, 7 and 10 show how the site is funded. The Competition Bureau Canada asks that material connections be disclosed.
A link to an affiliate page or a promo code is not enough on its own. How review sites earn from sportsbooks explains the models.
Checks 4, 5 and 8 use the law of your province. The registry is the gate: a brand that is not listed for you is not an option on this site.
Checks 6 and 9 concern readers directly. In Ontario (ON), AGCO Standard 2.05 limits public advertising of bonuses, and Standard 1.21 adds that affiliates should not promote unregistered sites. Read what Ontario's advertising standards change for readers of review sites.
Words that need a visible basis
Sections 52 and 74.01 of the Competition Act cover false or misleading claims. If a page says "tested", "independent" or "best", look for the basis next to the claim: who tested, how many products, on what dates.
We do not judge whether a page breaks the Act. We tell you what to look for. A claim without a visible basis is a fail on check 2.
Results from our matrix
We apply the ten checks to review pages in the reviewer matrix. As of 2026-11-13, we have not yet recorded results, so the table is empty.
| Check | Reviews that fail | Reviews read |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Page date | Not checked | Not checked |
| 3. Disclosure of pay | Not checked | Not checked |
| 4. Registry | Not checked | Not checked |
See the reviewer matrix for the dated entries when they are available.
How we checked
- We took the registry, AGCO and Competition Act references from our reference notes dated 2026-11-06.
- We turned each into a pass and a fail that you can see on the page.
- We have not yet applied the checks to any review page for this table.
Sources
- iGaming Ontario registry and Alberta AiGC list
- AGCO: Standards 1.21 and 2.05.
- Competition Bureau Canada guidance on material connections; Competition Act, sections 52 and 74.01.
What changed
- : page created; no review results recorded yet.
Before you bet
19+ in Ontario and British Columbia; 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. Gambling involves risk. Play responsibly. Need help? See help lines by province.
FAQ
How many of the ten checks must a review pass?
There is no pass mark. Each check has a fail sign, and any fail is useful to know. Checks 3, 4 and 9 are the ones that most often decide whether we would use a list at all.
Which check is quickest?
The page date. If a review shows no date, you cannot match its list against a registry, and you can stop there.
Why does bonus text matter for Ontario and Alberta readers?
AGCO Standard 2.05 limits public advertising of bonuses in Ontario, and the reference notes say the limit reaches affiliate links and descriptions. A review that promotes a bonus to Ontario readers may not follow it.
What does the Competition Act have to do with reviews?
Sections 52 and 74.01 cover false or misleading claims. Words such as tested, independent or best need a basis the reader can see. Whether a given page breaks them is a legal question, not one we decide.
Do you use these checks on your own pages?
Yes. Every table on this site carries a date and a source, and our own score comes from published weights. The checks apply to us in the same way.