Gamblers Connect launches Proof of Play for transparent operator reviews

Gamblers Connect has introduced Proof of Play, a verification method intended to add documented transaction evidence to its operator review process. The B2B iGaming media platform says the method is based on real-money testing by its newsroom and is designed to show what occurs during a deposit, gaming session and withdrawal rather than relying only on general descriptions of payment procedures.

The initiative places particular attention on identity verification because the requirements applied during a withdrawal can differ from those encountered when an account is funded. Gamblers Connect says Proof of Play records the practical sequence experienced during its own test and publishes the result on the relevant operator page.

The company describes the system as a verification record rather than a recommendation. Its published methodology states that the results relate to a particular test conducted at a particular point in time and should not be treated as a general representation of every transaction or customer experience.

Luka Dimitrijevic, Partnerships & Operations Lead at Gamblers Connect, is identified by the company as part of its commercial team. The platform says its editorial and commercial functions operate under separate reporting lines with verification work handled according to a defined methodology.

What Proof of Play records

Each completed Proof of Play test records six categories of information. These are the deposit method, deposit speed, KYC trigger, withdrawal speed, withdrawal fee and transaction reference.

The structure is intended to make individual tests easier to understand. Deposit speed measures how quickly funds are credited through the method selected for the test while withdrawal speed is based on the movement of funds after a withdrawal request rather than simply the point at which an operator marks a request as approved.

The KYC trigger is intended to identify when identity verification is actually required during the tested process. The published framework distinguishes between different levels of verification ranging from no additional verification through email confirmation and basic identification to full document submission.

The transaction reference provides another layer of documentation where the payment method supports a publicly accessible blockchain record. In those cases, Gamblers Connect says readers can follow the published reference to the relevant public explorer and inspect the transaction independently.

The publication also records the month and year of the test. That dating is important because payment procedures, verification standards and processing practices can change over time. A result from one test therefore remains tied to the circumstances under which it was obtained rather than being presented as a permanent statement.

Why identity verification is a central issue

Customer identity checks are a normal part of compliance within regulated gambling and financial environments. Requirements can include age verification, identity checks and additional information connected with anti-money laundering obligations. Regulatory frameworks can differ by jurisdiction but the general importance of verifying customer identity is well established.

Gamblers Connect has positioned the KYC trigger as one of the most useful parts of its testing process because it documents the point at which verification was requested during the specific transaction under review.

“Operators are often clear about how to deposit, but less so about what is required to withdraw. Proof of Play addresses that gap by documenting the process our newsroom experiences, including when identity verification is required,” said Luka Dimitrijevic, Partnerships and Operations Lead at Gamblers Connect.

This approach also avoids presenting one test as evidence of a broader pattern. The method records what happened to the newsroom during its own transaction and leaves the result connected to that specific test.

Roobet becomes the first completed test

Gamblers Connect says the first completed Proof of Play test has been published on the Roobet operator page. The company states that it is also retesting existing operator pages where its testing method can be applied while new operator pages are expected to include the verification feature as part of the standard review structure.

The Roobet test reported by Gamblers Connect found that basic personal information was sufficient for the tested deposit process while government-issued identification was required for the withdrawal stage.

Dimitrijevic added: “Our first test with Roobet found that basic personal details were sufficient to deposit, while government-issued ID was required to withdraw. This is a factual record of one test, not an endorsement or criticism of the operator. Our aim is to give readers transparent findings they can independently verify.”

The wording is important because the result relates to a single test. It does not establish that every Roobet customer will experience the same sequence or that the requirements will remain unchanged over time. Roobet’s official website currently identifies Roobet.com as a brand of Raw Entertainment B.V. and publishes information about its licensing and operating structure.

A distinction between verification and endorsement

Gamblers Connect says Proof of Play does not function as an affiliate promotion or a recommendation mechanism. The company states that the testing records contain no affiliate links and that the platform does not use the verification feature to promote bonuses or direct players toward an operator.

That distinction is particularly relevant when presenting transaction findings about gambling businesses. A documented payment experience is narrower than an assessment of licensing, compliance, responsible gambling controls or overall business practices.

The company also says operators cannot commission the outcome of a Proof of Play test or influence its findings. Its published methodology presents the test as a separate editorial verification activity rather than as part of a commercial review package.

For legal and editorial clarity, that separation helps define what the published data does and does not establish. The transaction record can document a process while broader conclusions require separate evidence.

Pending tests will remain clearly identified

Not every operator page will immediately contain a completed test. Gamblers Connect says pages where testing has not yet been completed will display a pending notice connected to its Proof of Play Policy.

The company says the notice is intended to indicate the status of its own testing rather than imply anything negative about the operator. Where an operator does not offer a payment method that can be tested by the newsroom or where the stated testing conditions prevent completion, the page may remain pending with the reason identified.

This creates an important distinction between an absence of evidence and evidence of a particular outcome. A pending review does not establish that a payment process is problematic. It simply indicates that the stated verification exercise has not yet been completed.

The wider significance for iGaming transparency

Proof of Play reflects a broader industry interest in documenting operational claims with evidence that can be examined independently. Payment speed, KYC requirements and withdrawal fees can materially affect the practical experience associated with an online gambling account and are therefore distinct from promotional descriptions of a service.

The model is also consistent with the wider principle that transaction and customer verification controls should be documented within defined compliance frameworks. Authorities such as the Curaçao Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission publish requirements and guidance relating to online gaming oversight, customer verification and anti-money laundering controls.

For readers of operator reviews, the value of a transaction-focused record ultimately depends on clear methodology, accurate timestamps and an appropriate explanation of its limitations. Proof of Play seeks to address those factors by identifying what was tested, what was observed and where a transaction reference can be checked.

Gamblers Connect says the retesting programme for existing operator pages is already underway. It also intends to extend the method to non-blockchain payment methods using the same six categories while relying on documentary evidence where a public blockchain explorer is not available.

Conclusion

Gamblers Connect’s Proof of Play introduces a more specific form of evidence into the operator review process by documenting the practical sequence of a real-money transaction. Its focus on deposit conditions, KYC triggers, withdrawal timing, fees and transaction references gives readers a defined record of what occurred during an individual test.

The first completed test on Roobet establishes the initial application of the method while the company’s planned retesting programme is intended to expand the approach across additional operator pages. The most important qualification remains that every result is tied to a particular test, payment method and point in time.

By keeping those boundaries visible, Gamblers Connect is positioning Proof of Play as a factual verification mechanism rather than a broad endorsement or criticism. The initiative therefore places the emphasis on documentation and traceability, allowing the published record to stand on its own terms while leaving wider judgments to the evidence available elsewhere.

FAQs

What is Gamblers Connect?
Gamblers Connect is a B2B iGaming media platform that publishes industry coverage, reviews and other content for stakeholders across the gambling sector.

What is Proof of Play?
Proof of Play is a verification method introduced by Gamblers Connect to document real-money deposit, play and withdrawal activity during operator testing.

What information does Proof of Play record?
A completed test records the deposit method, deposit speed, KYC trigger, withdrawal speed, withdrawal fee and transaction reference.

Why is the KYC trigger included?
The KYC trigger shows when identity verification was requested during the specific test and what level of documentation was required.

Is Proof of Play an endorsement?
No. Gamblers Connect describes it as a verification record rather than an endorsement or recommendation.

Which operator was tested first?
Gamblers Connect says Roobet was the first operator to receive a completed Proof of Play test.

Does one test represent every customer experience?
No. The published methodology states that a result reflects one test using a specific method at a particular time.

Can blockchain transactions be checked independently?
Where a tested payment method creates a public blockchain transaction, Gamblers Connect says the transaction reference can be linked to a public explorer.

What happens when an operator has not been tested?
Gamblers Connect says the relevant operator page will display a pending notice explaining that the Proof of Play test has not yet been completed.

Will Proof of Play be used on future operator pages?
Gamblers Connect says all new operator pages will carry Proof of Play as a standard feature, either with a completed test or a pending notice where testing remains outstanding.