Last updated: April 2026 — James Hargreaves, Linksproject
```htmlAt Linksproject, every review you read on linksproject.co.uk is the result of a thorough, hands-on evaluation process carried out by site owner and lead reviewer James Hargreaves. This page explains exactly how we assess online poker sites for UK players, what criteria we use, how we weight each factor, and how we ensure our recommendations remain completely independent from the operators we cover.
We believe UK poker players deserve honest, detailed, and up-to-date information before they deposit a single penny. That is why we have built a structured methodology that removes guesswork and personal bias, replacing it with a consistent, repeatable process grounded in real-world testing.
James Hargreaves personally tests every online poker site before a review is published on Linksproject. James has spent years playing poker online across dozens of platforms, giving him a level of practical knowledge that goes far beyond reading terms and conditions. He creates real player accounts, makes genuine deposits using his own funds, plays cash games and tournaments, contacts customer support teams, and requests withdrawals — all before writing a single word of a review.
No review on this site is written from a press release, a promotional brief, or secondhand information. If James has not tested it himself, it does not get reviewed. This commitment to first-hand experience is central to everything Linksproject publishes.
Each poker site review follows the same structured process to ensure consistency and fairness across all ratings.
Every poker site is scored out of 10 in six key categories. Each category carries a specific weighting that reflects its importance to the overall player experience. The final score is a weighted average of all six categories.
| Rating Category | Weighting | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing & Safety | 25% | UK Gambling Commission licence, responsible gambling tools, data protection, fair play certification, and operator reputation. |
| Bonuses & Promotions | 20% | Welcome offer value, wagering requirements, time limits, ongoing promotions, and loyalty programmes for poker players. |
| Game Selection | 20% | Poker variants available, traffic levels at cash game tables, tournament schedule depth, and availability of features like fast-fold poker. |
| Payment Methods | 15% | Range of UK-friendly deposit and withdrawal options, processing times, minimum and maximum limits, and any associated fees. |
| Customer Support | 10% | Availability of live chat and email support, quality and accuracy of responses, and average response times as measured during testing. |
| Mobile Experience | 10% | Quality of the dedicated mobile app or mobile browser site, game availability on mobile, and ease of navigation on smaller screens. |
All sites are awarded an overall score out of 10 based on the weighted calculations above. Here is how to interpret those scores:
Independence is not just a claim we make — it is built into how Linksproject operates. James Hargreaves funds all testing personally and is not paid by any poker site to write a positive review. Where affiliate relationships exist, these are clearly disclosed in line with UK advertising regulations and ASA guidelines. Affiliate income never influences the scores or the written content of a review.
Sites are not given the opportunity to review or amend their ratings before publication. If a site performs poorly during testing, that poor performance is reflected in the final score regardless of any commercial relationship. Equally, a site with no affiliate agreement can still receive a top score if it earns one through our testing process.
Reviews are revisited and updated on a regular basis throughout 2026 to account for changes to a site's software, terms, licensing status, or customer service quality. A score awarded six months ago may be revised upward or downward based on current conditions.
If you have any questions about how a specific site was rated or want to understand more about our review process, you are welcome to get in touch with James directly through the contact page at linksproject.co.uk. We are committed to transparency and will always explain the reasoning behind any score we publish.
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