How we test slots
Our methodology, in full transparency: official data, real testing and what remains subjective.
We're often asked how we arrive at our scores and analyses. This page explains our method honestly: what comes from official data, what comes from our own testing, and what remains subjective.
What comes from official data
For every slot, we start with the information published by the developer (Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City...):
- RTP (Return to Player) — the official theoretical payout rate
- Volatility — the developer's official rating (1 to 5)
- Max Win — the announced theoretical maximum win
- Bonus Buy availability and its tiers
- Minimum and maximum bet
These numbers are never altered or approximated — we use them exactly as officially published.
What comes from our own testing
Beyond the official numbers, every slot is played manually, for a minimum of 1,000 spins, split into sessions of 200 spins. Each session is tracked using a dedicated tracking app, which records:
- The real free spins trigger frequency observed across our sessions
- The actual in-game feel of variance (dry spells, swing size)
- Bonus Buy behaviour when we test it (when our testing budget allows)
- Interface smoothness, visual and audio quality
💡 1,000 spins remains a statistically limited sample — it doesn't replace the official RTP calculated over millions of simulations. It's a real-play impression that complements official data, not a mathematical counter-verification.
How our score is calculated
The score out of 20 combines:
- The official RTP (the higher, the better rated)
- Consistency between announced volatility and the actual feel during test sessions
- The bonus frequency observed in our sessions, compared to the theoretical frequency
- Win potential (Max Win) weighed against how realistically achievable it is
- Our overall editorial impression (theme, interface, gameplay experience)
What remains subjective
Some elements of our reviews are explicitly our personal opinion, not a measurement: the "Coach's take" comment, our appreciation of the graphics and sound theme, and player-profile recommendations. We always try to flag this clearly rather than present it as fact.
Update frequency
Our slot database is updated weekly, with a goal of publishing 20 to 40 new reviews every month. If a developer officially changes a slot's RTP or parameters, we update the relevant review as soon as we're aware of it.
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