Last updated: June 2026 — Sophie Hargreaves, Baseline Promotions

```html

How We Rate

Our Review Methodology at Baseline Promotions

At Baseline Promotions, every review you read on baseline-promotions.co.uk is the result of a structured, hands-on evaluation process carried out by our lead reviewer, Sophie Hargreaves. This page explains exactly how we assess new bingo sites, what criteria we use, how much weight we give each factor, and why you can trust our conclusions to be independent and honest.

We believe UK players deserve clear, reliable information before depositing real money. That is why we have developed a repeatable methodology that removes guesswork and keeps personal bias out of the equation.

Step-by-Step: How Sophie Hargreaves Reviews a New Bingo Site

Step 1 — Initial Background Check

Before Sophie registers an account, she verifies the operator's licensing status directly on the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) public register. If a site does not hold a valid UKGC licence in 2026, the review process stops immediately and the site is not recommended to our readers. This non-negotiable first step protects the integrity of every recommendation on baseline-promotions.co.uk.

Step 2 — Account Registration and KYC Testing

Sophie personally creates a real player account using her own details. She documents how long the sign-up process takes, whether identity verification (KYC) is straightforward, and whether the site requests documents at a reasonable stage. A smooth, transparent onboarding process is a positive signal; hidden friction or unclear identity checks count against a site's overall score.

Step 3 — Bonus Claiming and Terms Analysis

Sophie claims any available welcome bonus or new-player promotion using her own funds where a deposit is required. She reads the full terms and conditions, checks wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum withdrawal caps. We do not take operator promotional materials at face value — we verify every claim ourselves.

Step 4 — Gameplay Testing Across Devices

Sophie plays bingo games, slots, and any other available content on both desktop and mobile browsers. She tests load times, game variety, software quality, and whether the experience degrades on smaller screens. She also checks whether a dedicated app is available and, if so, downloads and tests it personally.

Step 5 — Deposit and Withdrawal Testing

Where possible, Sophie makes real deposits and requests a withdrawal to assess processing times, available payment methods, and any fees or restrictions. She records how long withdrawals actually take, not just what the site claims in its FAQ.

Step 6 — Customer Support Evaluation

Sophie contacts the support team through each available channel — typically live chat, email, and sometimes telephone — and evaluates response speed, accuracy, and tone. She asks both simple and complex questions to gauge the quality of assistance a real player would receive.

Step 7 — Scoring and Writing

Once all testing is complete, Sophie applies our weighted scoring framework (detailed below) to produce a final score out of 10. She then writes the full review in her own words, based entirely on her personal experience.

Our Scoring Criteria and Weightings

Each site is scored across six core categories. The weighted average of these category scores produces the final rating out of 10 displayed at the top of every review.

Category Weighting What We Assess
Licensing & Safety 25% Valid UKGC licence, responsible gambling tools, SSL encryption, fair terms
Bonuses & Promotions 20% Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, fairness of terms, ongoing promotions
Game Selection 20% Number and variety of bingo rooms, slots, live games, and software providers
Payment Methods 15% Deposit and withdrawal options, processing speed, fees, minimum and maximum limits
Customer Support 10% Availability, response times, accuracy, and quality of support agents
Mobile Experience 10% Browser compatibility, app availability, performance, and usability on mobile

Understanding Our Rating Scale

All sites reviewed on baseline-promotions.co.uk receive a score between 1 and 10. Here is what each range means:

Sites that fail our initial licensing check are listed separately and are not rated — they receive an automatic warning instead.

How Baseline Promotions Stays Unbiased

We are committed to editorial independence. While baseline-promotions.co.uk may earn referral commissions if you click a link and sign up to a site, this never influences our scores or written opinions. Here is how we protect our independence:

If you have a question about our methodology or believe a review should be updated, you are welcome to contact Sophie Hargreaves directly through the contact page on baseline-promotions.co.uk. We take reader feedback seriously and act on it where the evidence supports a change.

```