Every review on MediaSoftware ends in a score out of 10, given to one decimal place. This page explains where that number comes from. Each section has its own grid, because the questions an operator asks about an API have little in common with the questions a player asks about a casino.
Rules that apply to every section
- One brand, one score. The score on a review is the score in every ranking and comparison on the site. A ranking such as “best aggregators for crypto operators” can put brands in a different order than their scores suggest, and it says why in a sentence next to each entry.
- Facts first. We score what can be checked: what a brand publishes on its own website, what its documentation or back office shows, and what we can test. When a fact cannot be confirmed, it is left out and the criterion is scored on what is known.
- Same grid for brands with a commercial link. SoftAggregator, Nocturn Play, Nocturn Sport and several online casinos have commercial relationships with MediaSoftware. They are scored on the grids below, like everyone else, and they do not top every ranking.
- Dated. Every review shows its last update. A change at the brand triggers a re-check of the criteria it touches.
How a score is calculated
Each section uses six criteria. Every criterion is marked out of 10, multiplied by its weight, and the weighted marks are added up. The total is rounded to one decimal place, with halves rounded up. The weights differ by section because they reflect what the reader of that section is deciding.
A fact the brand does not publish, and that we cannot observe ourselves, earns no credit. The criterion is then marked cautiously rather than guessed upwards. Where a brand gives pricing only on request, with no published detail, its cost criterion is marked 6 out of 10.
Software: aggregators, platforms and casino APIs
For operators choosing the technology behind a casino.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue reach | 20 % | Number of games and studios published by the provider itself, and whether the studios operators ask for are present. |
| Integration and onboarding | 20 % | Announced time from contract to production, self-service sign-up, access to API keys, and documentation that can be read before signing. |
| Commercial clarity and entry cost | 15 % | Published entry fees (setup, integration, monthly) and how clearly the provider says what is free and what is not. |
| Wallet, currencies and crypto | 15 % | Documented wallet model (seamless or transfer), and the currencies and cryptocurrencies listed. |
| Engagement tooling | 15 % | Published free rounds or bonus APIs, tournaments, jackpots and cross-studio promotion tools. |
| Platform scope | 15 % | What an operator can buy in the same place: white label, turnkey casino, player account management, sportsbook. |
Studios: game developers
For aggregators and operators deciding which games to add, and for readers following a studio’s releases.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue depth | 25 % | Size and variety of the live catalogue, and the number of verticals covered: slots, crash, arcade, live, bingo and others. |
| Mechanic originality | 20 % | Mechanics and formats the studio created, as opposed to reskins, and signature features operators recognise. |
| Distribution reach | 20 % | How easily an operator can get the games: direct API, aggregators and platforms. |
| Localisation and currencies | 15 % | Languages, and fiat and crypto currencies supported in-game. |
| Mobile and tech delivery | 10 % | Mobile-first layouts, loading behaviour, server-side outcomes, and provably fair verification where the format uses it. |
| Track record | 10 % | Years of releases, consistency, and titles operators know by name. |
Sportsbook: betting engines and odds feeds
For operators adding sport or esports to their product.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage and markets | 25 % | Sports, events and market depth, pre-match and in-play. |
| Integration and API | 20 % | Feed design, documentation, bet placement, wallet options and time to integrate. |
| Trading and risk tools | 15 % | Odds management, liability and limits, market suspension and settlement tools. |
| Esports depth | 15 % | Titles covered, map and round markets, and live esports betting. |
| Currencies and localisation | 15 % | Currencies including crypto, languages and front-end localisation. |
| Track record and scale | 10 % | Years in the market, size of the operator base and data partnerships. |
Casinos: online casinos for players
For players choosing where to play.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 25 % | Size and variety of the lobby, categories such as live, crash, fishing and bingo, studios present, demo play and how easy it is to find a game. |
| Payments and crypto | 20 % | Currencies, crypto options, ways to buy crypto, and how simple the cashier is to use. |
| Bonus | 15 % | Clarity of the welcome offer (code, percentage or no-deposit amount) and whether the terms can be read before depositing. An offer we cannot verify is not marked. |
| Mobile | 15 % | Availability of an iOS and Android app, however it is installed, and how the site behaves in portrait. |
| Withdrawals | 15 % | Methods available and how openly the operator states its processing times. |
| Support | 10 % | Visible channels, such as live chat and e-mail, and announced opening hours. |
What we publish and what we keep internal
Reviews show the final score, the verdict and the facts behind it. The criterion-by-criterion marks are kept on the editorial desk’s working sheet and are not published, because a single mark taken out of context says less than the review text that explains it. Any company can ask [email protected] which facts a criterion relied on.
What a score is not
A score is a summary of the criteria above at the date shown on the review. It does not measure how much any game pays back, and it is not a prediction of how a brand will perform next year. Questions about a score can be sent to [email protected].
MediaSoftware editorial desk
Frequently asked questions
Is a brand's score the same everywhere on MediaSoftware?
Yes. A brand has one score, shown on its review, in every ranking it appears in and in comparison tables. Rankings order brands for a specific need but never rewrite the score.
Are SoftAggregator, Nocturn Play, Nocturn Sport and the partner casinos scored differently?
No. They are scored on the same grid as every other brand in their section, and their reviews state the commercial relationship with the magazine.
Can a company pay for a higher score?
No. Scores are not for sale. A company can send corrected facts to [email protected]; the score moves only if the facts behind a criterion change.
How often are scores reviewed?
Each review shows the date it was last updated. A score is reconsidered when a brand changes something a criterion measures, such as its catalogue, payment methods or integration process.