Fairness
We verify that games behave as advertised: independent RNG certification, honest odds disclosure and results that can be audited after the fact.
Independent oversight · Established 2016
Players deserve a fair game and a straight answer.
FairPlayWatch is a non-commercial monitoring body. We assess how online gaming and gambling platforms treat the people who use them — from payout integrity and account security to how quickly a complaint reaches a human being.
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- Cases reviewed
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- Platforms assessed
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- Disputes resolved
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- Jurisdictions covered
Figures cover the period from January 2016 to the most recent quarterly review. Every operator on our register is reassessed each quarter, and immediately on a material event.
Our work
Four areas of protection
Every assessment we publish is built on the same four pillars. An operator that fails in one area does not pass on the strength of the others.
Payments
Deposits are instant everywhere. We measure the other direction — how long a withdrawal actually takes, and what conditions quietly block it.
Privacy
Identity documents, payment history and behavioural data are sensitive. We check retention periods, third-party sharing and breach disclosure practice.
Duty of care
Working limits, one-click self-exclusion, credible age verification and no marketing aimed at people who have asked to be left alone.
Independence. We accept no advertising, no affiliate commission and no payment
from any platform we assess. A platform that scores zero on a single pillar cannot receive an
overall pass, however strong the other three are.
How a case works
From your report to a published outcome
We are not a court and we hold no enforcement powers. What we have is a documented, repeatable process and the ability to publish what we find.
Before you file: contact the operator first and keep the reference number.
Most regulators require evidence of a direct attempt at resolution, and so do we.
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Intake and triage
Your report is logged and checked for jurisdiction, scope and completeness. You receive a reference number the same day.
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Evidence review
We assemble transaction logs, terms as published on the date of the incident, and correspondence from both sides.
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Operator response
The platform receives a written summary and fourteen days to answer. Silence is recorded as a refusal to engage.
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Assessment
Two reviewers reach an independent conclusion against our published criteria. Disagreement escalates to a third.
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Outcome and referral
You receive the reasoning in writing. Where a licence condition appears breached, we refer the file to the competent regulator.
Know the signals
Warning signs on an untrustworthy platform
None of these is proof of wrongdoing on its own. Two or more together justify caution.
On the operator's side
- No licence number, or one that does not resolve in the regulator's register
- Terms that can be changed retroactively without notice
- Withdrawal limits far below deposit limits
- Support reachable only through a chatbot
In the offer
- Bonus wagering requirements above 45× without prominent disclosure
- "Guaranteed" returns or risk-free promises of any kind
- Pressure timers on deposits and time-limited "VIP" upgrades
- Unsolicited contact after you asked to stop
In your own behaviour
- Depositing to recover a previous loss
- Playing longer than intended, repeatedly
- Concealing the amount or duration of play
- Using credit or borrowed money to fund an account
Player tool
Two-minute self-check
Six statements about the last twelve months. Answer honestly — the result is calculated in your browser and never leaves this device.
I have gambled with more money than I could comfortably afford to lose.
I have needed to bet larger amounts to get the same level of excitement.
I have returned another day to try to win back money I lost.
I have borrowed money or sold something to fund gambling.
People close to me have criticised my gambling, or I have hidden it from them.
Gambling has caused me stress, anxiety or difficulty meeting a financial commitment.
Answer every statement, then select Evaluate. Nothing is transmitted or stored.
This screening aid is adapted from widely used public-health questionnaires. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. If you are in crisis, contact your local emergency services.
Questions
Frequently asked
If your question is not answered here, write to us — plain questions get plain answers.
No. Submitting a report, receiving an assessment and being referred onward to a regulator are free of charge for players, without exception. We never ask a player for payment, deposit or account credentials.
No. We have no statutory powers and cannot compel payment, reverse a decision or impose a penalty. Our influence is reputational and procedural: a documented, published finding, and a referral to the licensing authority that does hold those powers.
In practice, roughly three quarters of the cases we take on are settled once the operator receives a formal written summary.
No. We accept no advertising, no affiliate commission and no payment from any platform that appears in our assessments. Funding comes from institutional research grants and public-interest foundations, and our sources are published annually.
The platform name and your account identifier, the dates and amounts involved, the operator's own reference number if you have one, and a short factual sequence of events. Attach screenshots of the terms as they appeared at the time. Never send us passwords, full card numbers or one-time codes.
Acknowledgement is same-day. A first substantive response follows within five working days. The operator then has fourteen days to reply, so a complete case typically closes in four to six weeks. Complex multi-jurisdiction files take longer, and we tell you when that happens.
Only what is strictly necessary for the platform to locate your account, and only with your explicit consent given at submission. Published assessments are always aggregated and anonymised. See the Privacy Policy for the full detail.
Case intake
Report an operator
Free for players, always. Your report is read by a reviewer, acknowledged the same working day, and answered substantively within five.
Demonstration build. This form validates and confirms locally in your
browser. It is not connected to a server and does not transmit anything. Connect it to
your intake endpoint before going live.
Before you submit
- Contact the operator first and note their reference number
- Have dates, amounts and the platform name to hand
- Screenshot the terms as they appear today
- Never send passwords, PINs or full card numbers
Out of scope
- Matters already before a court or another ombudsman
- Requests to recover losses from fair play
- Disputes arising from unlicensed peer-to-peer betting
- Anything requiring legal, tax or medical advice
What happens next
Same day
Automatic acknowledgement with your reference number.
Within 5 working days
A reviewer confirms scope and requests any further evidence.
Day 5 to 19
The operator receives a written summary and has fourteen days to respond.
Week 4 to 6
You receive the reasoned outcome and details of any referral made.
Worried about your own play instead?
Confidential support is free and available around the clock in most countries. Start with the self-check, then talk to someone.