Claim check
Are best betting app lists paid for by the bookmakers?
A betting-app list can earn its publisher a commission when you register. Irish rules expect that to be shown. The ASA Code bars presenting an advertisement as an editorial review, and consumer law treats undisclosed paid placement as a prohibited practice. This page shows how to tell an ad from a review and how this site discloses its own links and ordering.
Editorial team · checked
Short answer
- Can lists be paid for? Yes, through commission or placement. That is lawful only if it is shown clearly.
- Can you tell? Yes, by a label, a disclosure near the top and a stated order method. See the checklist below.
- This site: earns commission on links marked "Ad", takes no payment for position and sets rankings by AppScore v1.
In short: payment is not the problem; hiding it is.
What the rules require
5 checked1 not checked
| Rule | What it covers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ASA Code 3.31-3.32 | Advertising must not be presented as an editorial review | Checked on 6 November 2026 |
| ASA Code 4.32-4.33 | Cited in our research; text not summarised here | Not checked |
| ASA influencer guidance 2023 | The label "Ad" goes first in the block, visibly, and not behind a "see more" | Checked on 6 November 2026 |
| Consumer Protection Act 2007, s.55(1)(qa) | Search results shown without clear disclosure of paid placement are a prohibited practice. In force since 29 November 2022. Whether it applies to a static page: with the lawyer | Checked on 6 November 2026 |
| CCPC guidance | Paid reviews must not be passed off as unbiased | Checked on 6 November 2026 |
| E-Commerce Regulations 2003, reg 8 | A commercial message and the party behind it must be clearly identified | Checked on 6 November 2026 |
In short: Irish rules ask for disclosure, not for a ban on paid lists.
Telling an ad from a review
- Label: is "Ad" the first word of each paid block?
- Disclosure: does the page say it earns commission before the first link?
- Order: does it state how it ranks, and is that method published?
- Criteria: is "best" tied to a criterion and a date?
- Operators: are non-partners treated the same way?
In short: five questions, answered from the page itself.
What the top of search results shows
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Pages surveyed | Not checked |
| Pages with disclosure visible in the top third | Not checked |
The survey is part of the research plan and has not been run. We give no count.
In short: no count until the survey is run.
How this site discloses
- The top strip on every page reads "Contains affiliate links (Ad)".
- Each partner block opens with "Ad · 18+ · T&Cs apply". This page has none.
- Ranking order follows AppScore v1; ties go alphabetical. Commission does not set it.
- Position cannot be bought. See the editorial policy and how we earn.
- An operator with no programme is included the same way, without a link.
- We publish no bonus amounts or promo codes.
In short: which disclosure wording applies waits on the owner's written confirmation.
How we checked
Read, as summarised in our research of 6 November 2026: ASA Code 3.31-3.32, ASA influencer guidance 2023, Consumer Protection Act 2007, Consumer Rights Act 2022 s.157, CCPC guidance and E-Commerce Regulations reg 8.
Not read: ASA Code 4.32-4.33. Not run: the results survey.
What changed
7 November 2026: first version of this page.
Caveats
Whether s.55(1)(qa) covers a static ranking page is open and is for the owner's lawyer. ASA reach over a site hosted outside Ireland is also open.
18+ only. Free 24/7 support: 1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie. More on responsible gambling.
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