Last updated: April 2026 — James Whitfield, Doctorsoodspractice
```htmlAt Doctorsoodspractice.co.uk, every online poker site recommendation you read is backed by a structured, transparent, and independent review process. This page explains exactly how James Whitfield evaluates each platform before it appears on our site, so you know precisely what our scores mean and how we arrive at them.
We believe UK poker players deserve honest, detailed, and genuinely useful guidance. That is why we never publish a review based on marketing materials, press releases, or second-hand information. Every score is earned through real, hands-on testing.
James Whitfield is the author and owner of Doctorsoodspractice.co.uk. James has spent over a decade playing online poker across dozens of platforms available to UK players. He brings direct experience of cash games, tournaments, Sit-and-Go formats, and multi-table play to every review he writes.
James personally registers an account, deposits real money, plays real games, tests withdrawal processes, contacts customer support, and evaluates the mobile experience on each site before writing a single word of a review. No site is rated from behind a desk without going through this complete testing cycle.
Before any detailed testing begins, James confirms that a site holds a valid licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Any platform without a current, active UKGC licence is immediately excluded from consideration. Player safety is non-negotiable.
James creates a genuine player account using standard UK registration details. He documents how straightforward the sign-up process is, how long identity verification takes, and whether the KYC process is clear and reasonable.
James deposits real money using commonly available UK payment methods. He plays across multiple poker formats over a minimum testing period to get a genuine feel for the software, traffic levels, game variety, and overall player experience.
Any welcome bonus or ongoing promotion is read carefully in full, including the terms and conditions. James assesses wagering requirements, time limits, eligible games, and how clearly the operator communicates restrictions to players.
James contacts customer support through live chat, email, and where available, telephone. He records response times, the quality of answers given, and how helpful agents are when dealing with genuine player queries.
James submits a withdrawal request to test processing times, any fees applied, and whether the experience matches what the site advertises. Slow or problematic withdrawals are reflected clearly in the final score.
The site is tested on both iOS and Android devices, covering the dedicated app where one exists and the browser-based mobile version. James evaluates loading speed, game availability, and ease of navigation on smaller screens.
After completing all testing stages, James assigns scores across six weighted criteria and writes the final review based entirely on his own findings.
Every poker site reviewed on Doctorsoodspractice.co.uk receives a final score out of 10. This overall score is calculated from six individual criteria, each carrying a specific weighting that reflects how much it matters to the average UK poker player.
| Rating Criteria | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% | UKGC licence status, responsible gambling tools, data security, and fair play certifications |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, ongoing promotions, wagering requirements, and transparency of terms |
| Game Selection | 20% | Poker variants available, tournament schedule, cash game traffic, and software quality |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, fees, and minimum or maximum limits |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability, response speed, quality of help, and number of contact channels |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | App quality, browser compatibility, game range on mobile, and overall usability |
Independence is the foundation of everything we do. Doctorsoodspractice.co.uk may earn commission through affiliate relationships with some of the operators we review. This is standard practice for review sites in the UK gambling space and allows us to keep our content free to access. However, our commercial relationships never influence our scores or written assessments.
Here is how we protect the integrity of our reviews:
If you have questions about our methodology or want to suggest a site for review, you are welcome to contact James Whitfield directly through the contact page on Doctorsoodspractice.co.uk. We are always open about how we work.
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