How We Review Slots
Every slot on our network is reviewed by a named human who actually opened the game and played it. This page explains exactly what we do, how we verify data, and where our numbers come from, so you can judge the work rather than just trust the byline.
We are independent. We are not owned by, and we do not take placement payments from, the game studios or casinos we write about. SlotLab is run by Erik Lindholm, a former studio-side game mathematician: the methodology on this page is his, and every review is signed by the person who ran the session. The single-game review sites whose sessions feed our comparisons are part of the same network, and that connection is disclosed on the SlotLab page.
The short version
We test in demo mode
Every figure we publish comes from a free-play demo session run on the provider's own client. We don't post real-money results or "I deposited X and withdrew Y" stories, because those prove nothing about the game and everything about luck on the day.
Provider demos are built to run the same game rules and mechanics as the real-money version. Operators can still deploy different RTP configurations, and we cannot independently verify that every demo and live build is identical - which is one more reason we publish observed numbers instead of promises. The one number a demo can't fix for you is RTP, because the live RTP is set by each casino operator - many games ship in several RTP versions and the casino chooses which one to run. Always check it in the game's info screen before you bet real money.
Our process, step by step
- Read the game first. The in-game Help, rules and paytable screens are our primary source for mechanics, jackpot values and bet limits. We read every page before forming an opinion.
- Run a controlled session. At least 1,000 spins, and recent sessions run 1,600 to 3,000, at a fixed stake set before the first spin, on the official provider demo where possible, with balance checkpoints about every 100 spins. Any session that departs from the fixed stake is labelled as such in its report.
- Count by money, pool with care. Observed return is total returns divided by total stakes, so a mixed-stake session is measured by money and says so. Sessions are pooled only when every one of them provides complete wager and return totals; otherwise the review shows the portal session alone. Purchased features are counted separately from natural triggers.
- Log the session data. Spin count, balance checkpoints, base-game hit frequency, longest no-win run, and every bonus trigger with what it paid.
- Cross-check every spec. RTP, volatility and max win are verified against the provider page and independent databases, and we tell you when sources disagree and which value we used.
- Finish the session before publishing. No review goes live on a partial session, and no number is invented. If the data is too thin for a claim, we say so.
Where our numbers come from
When sources conflict, the one higher in this list wins, and we note the conflict in the review:
- Official provider game page - RTP, volatility, max win, release date.
- In-game paytable - all symbol rules and payout values.
- SlotCatalog / AskGamblers - when the provider doesn't publish a figure.
- LCB / Slotozilla - secondary cross-check when sources disagree.
- Session observation - behavioural notes that aren't in any spec sheet.
Our own session figures come from logged demo sessions with balance checkpoints, and one of them is published in full as a worked example - every checkpoint, every bonus round and the closing arithmetic: session report LAVB-20260730-01.
Our standards
What every review includes
- A full demo session of 1,000+ spins, recently 1,600 to 3,000, logged
- Every spec cross-checked against the provider and third-party databases
- Session data disclosed: spin count, balance checkpoints, bonus triggers
- All text written from hands-on play, never provider-supplied copy
- No paid reviews: nobody pays for a score or a logged number
What we never do
- Copy text from provider press releases or game descriptions
- Fabricate session data or spin counts
- Publish a review before the session is finished
- Accept payment from providers or casinos for review scores
- Guarantee wins or promote specific betting strategies
When we update a review
We revisit a published review when:
- the provider changes a mechanic (an RTP update or feature change);
- a factual error is found in the review;
- a follow-up session turns up new findings;
- a source is retracted or corrected.
We update the page's "last updated" date for substantive changes only - formatting tweaks don't trigger a date change.
Who writes these reviews
Reviews are written by named testers, each with a public profile and a stated specialism. Every tester plays in demo, logs their own session data, and publishes it alongside the review.
- Erik Lindholm - founder and editor; slot maths, paytable-derived RTP and multi-session samples.
- Mia Stone - Hold & Win and fixed-jackpot specialist.
- Alex Reeves - casino analyst; mechanics, RTP verification and bankroll maths.
A note on names. All bylines on this site are permanent editorial pseudonyms. We work in a legally and professionally sensitive industry, so our testers do not publish their legal names or personal social profiles. Each pseudonym is used consistently by the same real person, the sessions attributed to a byline are conducted by that person, and the biographical statements on the author pages describe real experience. Avatars are illustrations, not photographs. Full details are on each author's page.
Independence
Nobody pays for our review scores, our session data, or what we write: scores come from testing, not partnerships.
Responsible gambling
A review is information for a decision, not encouragement to play. Slots carry a built-in house edge and are designed to lose money over time. Set a budget you can afford to lose, treat it as already spent, never chase losses, and stop when it stops being fun. 18+ (19+ in some regions). Support: BeGambleAware, GamCare, Gambling Therapy.
Frequently asked questions
Do you test with real money?
No, and that's deliberate. We do gamble for real money in our own time - we're real players, not demo-only tourists - but we never build a published review on a real-money session. The moment your own money is on the line, the review stops being objective: a big win flatters a weak game, a cold run buries a good one, and one night's luck isn't representative of anything. So every published figure comes from a free demo session instead. The demo runs the rules the provider designed - paytable, features, volatility - so a long session still shows how the game behaves, and no single lucky or brutal night can tilt the verdict. We treat demo results as observed behaviour, not a promise: live RTP is an operator choice, so confirm it in the game's info screen at the casino where you actually play.
How many spins is a review based on?
At least 1,000 spins per title, and recent sessions run 1,600 to 3,000, played in demo at a fixed stake set before the session (any exception is labelled in the session report), with balance checkpoints about every 100 spins. We don't publish a review until the session is finished.