Last updated: June 2026 — Alpin Montgomery, Hollydesigns
```htmlAt Hollydesigns, every review you read has been personally researched, tested, and written by Alpin Montgomery. This page explains exactly how we evaluate eSports betting sites so you know precisely what goes into every score and recommendation published on hollydesigns.co.uk. We believe transparency about our process is just as important as the reviews themselves.
Alpin Montgomery is the founder and sole reviewer at Hollydesigns. With years of hands-on experience in the UK eSports betting scene, Alpin brings a deep understanding of competitive gaming markets, tournament structures, and the specific features that matter most to bettors wagering on titles like CS2, League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, and beyond. Every site featured on hollydesigns.co.uk has been personally opened, funded, and tested by Alpin before a single word of the review is written. No review is based on press releases, operator briefings, or secondhand information.
Each eSports betting site goes through a structured evaluation process before it is rated or recommended to UK bettors. Here is how that process works from start to finish.
Before anything else, Alpin verifies that the operator holds a valid licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Sites without a current, active UKGC licence are not reviewed or recommended to visitors from Great Britain under any circumstances. Basic responsible gambling tools and data protection compliance are also checked at this stage.
Alpin creates a real account using standard GB registration details, completes the identity verification process, and makes a real-money deposit. This ensures we experience the exact process a new UK customer would go through, including any friction points, delays, or unexpected requirements.
Real bets are placed across a range of eSports markets. Alpin evaluates the depth of coverage across multiple game titles, the variety of bet types available, the quality of live betting, the accuracy of odds, and how quickly markets are settled after events conclude.
Where a welcome offer or ongoing promotion is available, Alpin reads the full terms and conditions and, where practical, claims and tests the offer directly. Wagering requirements, time limits, game restrictions, and maximum withdrawal caps are all documented.
At least one withdrawal is requested and tracked during the review period to measure real-world processing times. Available deposit and withdrawal methods, transaction limits, and any fees applied are recorded.
Alpin contacts customer support through the available channels, which may include live chat, email, and telephone. Response times, accuracy of answers, and overall helpfulness are noted.
The site is tested on a mobile browser and, where available, a dedicated app. Navigation, load speed, betting functionality, and the overall experience on a smaller screen are assessed independently from the desktop experience.
After completing all testing steps, each site receives a final score out of 10. This score is built from six weighted criteria, each reflecting what matters most to UK eSports bettors in 2026.
| Rating Criteria | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Licensing and Safety | 25% |
| Bonuses and Promotions | 20% |
| eSports Game Selection | 20% |
| Payment Methods | 15% |
| Customer Support | 10% |
| Mobile Experience | 10% |
Hollydesigns may earn affiliate commissions when visitors sign up to a site through links on hollydesigns.co.uk. This is how the site is funded. However, commercial relationships never influence ratings or recommendations. Sites are scored entirely on the criteria above, and operators cannot pay for higher scores, improved rankings, or the removal of negative findings. If a site performs poorly during testing, that is reflected in the published review regardless of any affiliate arrangement. Alpin Montgomery retains full editorial control over all content published on hollydesigns.co.uk, and no operator has editorial input into any review.
The UK eSports betting market moves quickly. Licences change, bonuses are updated, and new game titles enter the mainstream. Alpin revisits published reviews on a regular basis throughout 2026 to ensure that scores and details remain accurate. Where a significant change is identified, the review is updated and the date of the most recent check is noted clearly on the review page.
If you have a question about our review methodology or want to suggest a site for review, you are welcome to get in touch through the contact details provided on hollydesigns.co.uk.
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