Review Methodology - How We Rate Poker Rooms

Our Review Process

Every poker room on Crypto Poker DB goes through a hands-on review process. We create real accounts, make crypto deposits, play at various stake levels, test withdrawal speeds, and evaluate the overall poker experience. Our ratings reflect actual gameplay, not advertising deals.

We update reviews as rooms change their rakeback structures, add new games, or receive community feedback. Ratings are recalculated quarterly to reflect the current state of each room.

Rating Criteria

Each poker room receives a score from 1 to 10 based on five weighted categories. The overall rating is a weighted average of these sub-scores.

Trust & Safety

25%

We evaluate licensing, fund security, complaint history, ownership transparency, and responsible gaming features.

Valid gaming license from reputable jurisdiction
Player fund segregation and protection
Complaint resolution track record
Ownership and operational transparency
Responsible gaming tools and self-exclusion options

Games & Traffic

20%

We assess game variety, player traffic at different stakes, and the quality of poker formats offered.

Game variety (NLHE, PLO, Short Deck, mixed games)
Format variety (Cash, MTT, SNG, Spin & Go, Fast-fold)
Player traffic and table availability
Stake level range (micro through high stakes)
Tournament schedule quality and guarantees

Rakeback & Bonuses

20%

We analyze rakeback percentage, deal structure, welcome bonus value, and VIP program benefits.

Rakeback percentage and structure type
Welcome bonus size and clearing requirements
VIP/loyalty program tiers and rewards
Reload bonuses and ongoing promotions
Freeroll availability and tournament tickets

Crypto Payments

20%

We test deposit and withdrawal speeds across cryptocurrencies, fee structures, and minimum limits.

Number of cryptocurrencies accepted
Deposit and withdrawal processing speed
Fee structure and network fee handling
Minimum deposit and withdrawal limits
KYC requirements and anonymity level

Software & Tools

15%

We evaluate the poker client quality, HUD compatibility, multi-tabling support, and mobile experience.

Client stability and performance
HUD support and hand history export
Multi-tabling capabilities
Mobile app quality and features
Table customization and user interface

How We Evaluate Rakeback

Rakeback is the most important financial consideration for regular poker players. We evaluate both the headline rakeback percentage and the actual structure to determine real-world value.

We calculate effective rakeback at different volume levels, account for VIP tier progression, and note whether the deal is a flat percentage, tiered system, or points-based program. Our rakeback calculator tool lets you estimate your personal returns at each room.

Affiliate Disclosure

Crypto Poker DB earns commissions when players sign up at poker rooms through our affiliate links. This is how we fund the site and keep reviews free. However, affiliate relationships never influence our ratings. We rate rooms based on their merits using the methodology described above. Rooms that pay us more do not receive higher scores.