The desk reads the platform as a public document, not as a recommendation. The six criteria the desk uses are the six criteria the desk reads in the platform's rules, the platform's KYC flow, and the platform's responsible-play controls. The desk does not rank operators. The desk does not recommend operators. The desk publishes the criteria and the desk's read of each criterion, and the reader is the one who decides.
What desk review actually covers
The desk's review covers six criteria. The six are the rules, the RNG, the KYC flow, the anti-collusion rules, the withdrawal controls, and the responsible-play controls. The six are the desk's read of the platform as a public document. The six are the criteria the desk uses to score a platform, and the desk scores each criterion as verified, partial, or unverified.
The desk does not score the platform on its marketing. The desk does not score the platform on its promotions. The desk does not score the platform on its bonus. The desk does not score the platform on its sign-up offer. The desk scores the platform on the six criteria, and the desk publishes the scores without ranking.
The desk's review is the desk's read of the platform. The reader's read is the reader's. The reader is the one who decides which platform to play on. The desk publishes the criteria and the desk's read so the reader can make the decision.
Reference set · The desk's review protocol uses a phone and a notebook. The phone is the platform's app; the notebook is the desk's ledger.
Criterion 01 · Rules and rule changes
The first criterion is the rules. The desk reads the platform's rules against the public rules documented on the Wikipedia entry on rummy and the All India Gaming Federation's rules summary. The desks reads the platform's rules on the platform's rules page, the platform's help center, and the platform's terms of service.
The desk scores the rules as verified when the platform's rules match the public rules. The desk scores the rules as partial when the platform's rules include one or two operator-specific additions the desk cannot verify against a public source. The desk scores the rules as unverified when the platform's rules differ materially from the public rules.
The platform-specific additions the desk reads most often are the table size, the stake limits, the drop penalties for leaving mid-hand, and the use of multiple wild jokers. The four additions are the four pieces of the platform's rules that the desk reads against the public rules. The four additions are the four pieces of the platform's rules that the desk reads as the operator's discretion.
Criterion 02 · RNG certification
The second criterion is the RNG. The desk reads the platform's RNG certification against the public certification bodies on the platform's rules page. The public certification bodies are iTech Labs, GLI, BMM Testlabs, and a small number of other bodies the desk reads in the platform's footer.
The desk scores the RNG as verified when the platform publishes a current certification report from a public certification body. The desk scores the RNG as partial when the platform publishes a certification report but the report is dated more than 12 months before the date of reading. The desk scores the RNG as unverified when the platform does not publish a certification report.
The RNG is the variable the player does not control. The RNG is the part of the format the desk reads most closely. The RNG is the part of the format the desk reads as the practical limit of the player's skill. The RNG is the variable the reader should verify.
Reference set · The desk's review session. The phone, notebook, and cup are the visible record of the desk's work.
Criterion 03 · KYC and verification
The third criterion is the KYC. The desk reads the platform's KYC flow against the public KYC requirements on the platform's rules page. The public KYC requirements are the player's identity, the player's address, and the player's bank account.
The desk scores the KYC as verified when the platform's KYC flow includes all three. The desk scores the KYC as partial when the platform's KYC flow includes two of the three. The desk scores the KYC as unverified when the platform's KYC flow includes one or none of the three.
The KYC is the platform's first user-side control. The KYC is the part of the platform the reader should verify before depositing. The KYC is the part of the platform the desk reads as the platform's first user-side risk.
Criterion 04 · Anti-collusion rules
The fourth criterion is the anti-collusion rules. The desk reads the platform's anti-collusion rules against the public rules on the platform's rules page. The public rules are the platform's IP-blocking rules, the platform's chipping-detection rules, and the platform's segregation-of-funds rules.
The desk scores the anti-collusion rules as verified when the platform publishes all three. The desk scores the anti-collusion rules as partial when the platform publishes two of the three. The desk scores the anti-collusion rules as unverified when the platform publishes one or none of the three.
The anti-collusion rules are the platform's enforcement of the game. The anti-collusion rules are the part of the platform the reader should verify before playing. The anti-collusion rules are the part of the platform the desk reads as the platform's public enforcement of the format.
Criterion 05 · Withdrawal controls
The fifth criterion is the withdrawal controls. The desk reads the platform's withdrawal controls against the public rules on the platform's rules page. The public rules are the platform's minimum withdrawal amount, the platform's withdrawal time, the platform's withdrawal fee, and the platform's withdrawal limits.
The desk scores the withdrawal controls as verified when the platform publishes all four. The desk scores the withdrawal controls as partial when the platform publishes three of the four. The desk scores the withdrawal controls as unverified when the platform publishes two or fewer of the four.
The withdrawal controls are the platform's payout rules. The withdrawal controls are the part of the platform the reader should verify before depositing. The withdrawal controls are the part of the platform the desk reads as the platform's public record of the payout.
Reference set · The desk's usability test. The hands and the phone are the visible record of the desk's read of the platform's interface.
Criterion 06 · Responsible-play controls
The sixth criterion is the responsible-play controls. The desk reads the platform's responsible-play controls against the public rules on the platform's rules page. The public rules are the platform's deposit limit, the platform's session timer, the platform's self-exclusion, and the platform's helpline.
The desk scores the responsible-play controls as verified when the platform publishes all four. The desk scores the responsible-play controls as partial when the platform publishes three of the four. The desk scores the responsible-play controls as unverified when the platform publishes two or fewer of the four.
The responsible-play controls are the platform's user-side rules. The responsible-play controls are the part of the platform the reader should verify before depositing. The responsible-play controls are the part of the platform the desk reads as the platform's public record of the user-side rules.
What the desk does not publish
The desk does not publish operator licence numbers. The desk does not publish current deposit bonus terms. The desk does not publish current withdrawal times. The desk does not publish current customer-care email or phone for any named platform. The desk does not publish guarantees of any kind.
The four exclusions are the desk's read of the public record's variability. Operator licence numbers change. Bonus terms change. Withdrawal times change. Customer-care contact details change. The desk publishes the criteria and the desk's read, and the desk reads the criteria as the public record the platform cannot hide.
The desk's read of the platform is the desk's read at the time of reading. The reader's read is the reader's read at the time of reading. The reader is the one who decides which platform to play on. The desk publishes the criteria and the desk's read so the reader can make the decision.
Frequently asked
Does the desk rank operators?
No. The desk publishes the six criteria and the desk's read of each criterion. The desk does not rank operators. The desk does not recommend operators. The reader is the one who decides.
How does the desk score a criterion?
The desk scores each criterion as verified, partial, or unverified. The score is the desk's read of the platform's public record. The score is not a guarantee of the platform's behavior.
Can the desk recommend a platform?
No. The desk does not endorse, recommend, or rank any real-money operator. The desk's role is to publish the criteria and the desk's read, not to recommend a platform.
Does the operator pay the desk for review coverage?
No. No operator pays the desk for review coverage. No editorial coverage is paid for by any operator. The desk's review is the desk's read of the platform's public record.
Criteria
6
the desk reads on every platform
Score levels
3
verified, partial, unverified
Platforms visited
4
desk-only visit log
The next page in this read is the one where the desk writes about the platform rules that decide payouts. The safety page is the page where the desk reads the platform as a piece of public infrastructure, not as a recommendation.