{"id":"rust-upgrader-transparency-index","title":"Rust Upgrader Transparency Index 2026","description":"A criterion-level comparison of public Upgrader economics, chance calculations, fairness verification, custody and operator documentation for RustSnowball and RustClash.","version":"2026-08-30.1","checkedAt":"2026-08-30","publisher":"Best Rust Gambling Editorial","license":"CC BY 4.0","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","methodology":"https://bestrustgambling.site/research/rust-upgrader-transparency-index","downloads":{"json":"https://bestrustgambling.site/data/rust-upgrader-transparency-index.json","csv":"https://bestrustgambling.site/data/rust-upgrader-transparency-index.csv"},"scoring":{"pointsAvailable":100,"criterionWeight":12.5,"statusMultipliers":{"verified":1,"partial":0.5,"not-publicly-verified":0},"rankingTieBreaks":["unrounded score","verified criterion count","operator name alphabetically"]},"labels":{"desk-researched":"Public official pages were reviewed; no account or transaction was used.","formula-check":"A published numerical formula was reproduced locally without interacting with a live game."},"hashMethod":"Each SHA-256 contentHash fingerprints the normalized supportedClaims snapshot stored with that source, not the entire remote HTML response.","versionHistory":[{"version":"2026-08-30.1","date":"2026-08-30","change":"Initial publication with eight equally weighted criteria, dated official-source snapshots and the RustSnowball formula check."}],"limitations":["Archived August 2026 specification: the October help, odds and calculator now state a 90% chance factor and Gem-funded SkinsBack settlement. This snapshot’s 95% formula and scores do not describe current terms.","The index measures public documentation completeness and reproducibility, not safety, legality, solvency, payout speed or customer satisfaction.","No account was created and no deposit, wager, KYC process, support response or withdrawal was tested.","Not-publicly-verified means the required information was not found in the checked official sources; it does not prove the feature is absent.","A formula check reproduces published arithmetic only. It does not audit production code, randomness, custody or settlement.","Availability, live inventory, quotes and account-specific conditions can change after the observation date."],"criteria":[{"id":"published-economics","label":"Published RTP or edge","description":"The operator publishes upgrader-specific return or house-edge economics rather than a generic fairness statement.","weight":12.5},{"id":"chance-calculation","label":"Exact chance calculation","description":"The public material explains how source value, target liability and rounding produce the displayed probability.","weight":12.5},{"id":"pre-play-commitment","label":"Pre-play commitment","description":"A public explanation identifies what is fixed or cryptographically committed before the result can be known.","weight":12.5},{"id":"round-verifier","label":"Public round verifier","description":"A signed-out public route or documented workflow lets a reader reconstruct a completed round.","weight":12.5},{"id":"test-vectors","label":"Upgrader test vectors","description":"The operator publishes synthetic Upgrader inputs and expected outputs that can be reproduced without placing a wager.","weight":12.5},{"id":"custody-settlement","label":"Skin custody and settlement","description":"Public documentation separates deposit custody from play and explains what is consumed, credited, kept, sold or withdrawn.","weight":12.5},{"id":"operator-documentation","label":"Operator, KYC and withdrawal documentation","description":"The checked pages identify the operator and document verification and withdrawal conditions. This is not a licence or payout assessment.","weight":12.5},{"id":"evidence-freshness","label":"Evidence freshness","description":"Material game and policy pages show a recent review date or another clear version marker that readers can recheck.","weight":12.5}],"sources":[{"id":"rs-upgrader-game","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball Upgrader game page","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/upgrader","sourceType":"official-game","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"f512a5f37cc6d10e042dc2ac02b30078d7bda8167d02f46a97e09c6ac8fff5bf","supportedClaims":["Eligible Backpack skins, gems or mixed stake can fund a quote.","The display says probability uses a 95% configured return and a 90% cap.","A signed quote fixes source value, target liability and probability before play."]},{"id":"rs-upgrader-odds","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball published game rules and odds","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/odds","sourceType":"official-rules","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"e00151576c0c73e17f7c6bd04b79bfd7208b993eedc2a67bb9ff30992ef720c8","supportedClaims":["Upgrader numeric economics list 95% configured return, 90% maximum displayed chance and 1.03x sell settlement.","Committed server and browser entropy resolve a deterministic ticket against the displayed win zone."]},{"id":"rs-upgrader-calculator","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball Upgrader probability calculator","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/tools/upgrader-odds","sourceType":"official-calculator","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"4d6139ae75130a32495606b34bcc2633089df36793330db3fd2aa6433c9aa0dd","supportedClaims":["The documented formula floors source value times 950000 divided by sell settlement liability.","Skin sell liability is 1.03 times target cost and quotes above 90% are refused."]},{"id":"rs-upgrader-guide","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"How a RustSnowball skin upgrade works","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/guides/how-rust-skin-upgrader-works","sourceType":"official-rules","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"a7944b96167ca7c18395032f1a53c3ae949e4021fd1c620fe7524a92af200d8b","supportedClaims":["The guide describes fresh source and target quotes, a transcript binding the quote before play, and revealed inputs for verification after settlement."]},{"id":"rs-upgrader-help","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball Upgrader funding and recovery help","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/help/upgrader","sourceType":"official-help","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"5dab756c6fbac9b14122c0c57755812d165cf84749965a1a87cb1343816db71d","supportedClaims":["The help page documents 0.5%-90% chance limits, custody separation, the probability formula, a 15-minute sell choice and round recovery."]},{"id":"rs-fairness-policy","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball fairness policy","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/legal/fairness","sourceType":"official-fairness","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"c1c4b1c129a1b1a2aec1b58a7c4dac0cd24bb4fdb308acf1f87513ec12015917","supportedClaims":["The policy describes pre-play hash commitments, post-round seed reveal and a public deterministic checker."]},{"id":"rs-test-vectors","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball public fairness test-vector feed","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/fairness/v1/test-vectors","sourceType":"official-fairness","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"75490d1b55f0a6bd6f03364343fa66701f75b9b1b49e74c1684ab2ac3f15ade2","supportedClaims":["The public vector feed lists coinflip, mines, towers, keno, plinko and case-battles vectors; no Upgrader vector was present."]},{"id":"rs-terms","operatorSlug":"rustsnowball","label":"RustSnowball terms of service","url":"https://rustsnowball.com/terms","sourceType":"official-terms","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"7b9b2636c8d819f1992dc954ca1fe692cb319fb159a0a9f2d68b01b1d779b372","supportedClaims":["The terms document withdrawal verification, skin custody risks and HMAC-SHA256 commit-and-reveal outcomes without guaranteeing payout time."]},{"id":"rc-upgrader-game","operatorSlug":"rustclash","label":"RustClash Upgrader game page","url":"https://rustclash.com/upgrader","sourceType":"official-game","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"9291879ec75e7e48f5b800fb822d08629ae4bef8ad7015e9584bc19785576e42","supportedClaims":["The signed-out Upgrader page exposes bet, multiplier, displayed chance, roll-under or roll-over choice, target selection and a Provably Fair entry point."]},{"id":"rc-fairness","operatorSlug":"rustclash","label":"RustClash fairness page","url":"https://rustclash.com/fairness","sourceType":"official-fairness","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"99d5ef7b249fa7ec384acad9f868518154d0cf75c9da7640b7fb6db8a8c2aa3a","supportedClaims":["The fairness page describes a SHA256 server-seed commitment before PvE play and browser client-seed input; Upgrader appears in its game list."]},{"id":"rc-terms","operatorSlug":"rustclash","label":"RustClash terms and conditions","url":"https://rustclash.com/tos","sourceType":"official-terms","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"e6ae7a858e6ac55f614a09baea3acfc4e1e05ce1d7bef7f71b98851cd567b857","supportedClaims":["Terms updated 2026-01-26 name Rust Clash Entertainment Ltd, describe Upgrader selection and settlement, and require account verification for some redemption paths."]},{"id":"rc-aml","operatorSlug":"rustclash","label":"RustClash AML policy","url":"https://rustclash.com/aml","sourceType":"official-policy","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"84551d16d938547135c94e9892a2ec8d3ac37794b6896dca0fffab3c1b69ca25","supportedClaims":["The AML policy describes risk-based KYC information and identity verification."]},{"id":"rc-questions","operatorSlug":"rustclash","label":"RustClash public questions page","url":"https://rustclash.com/questions","sourceType":"official-help","observedAt":"2026-08-30","contentHash":"c968069dc387af2669371320af66d96bd1001560d0549ec322882ebe490bc070","supportedClaims":["The public FAQ says won skins become balance that can be used to withdraw items from the onsite store."]}],"operators":[{"slug":"rustsnowball","name":"RustSnowball","reviewPath":"/reviews/rustsnowball","validationLabels":["desk-researched","formula-check"],"summary":"The strongest checked public Upgrader specification: numeric economics, an exact chance formula, custody rules and a completed-round verification path are all documented.","strengths":["Publishes a 95% configured return, 0.5%-90% chance limits and a 1.03x sell-settlement rule.","Explains the quote formula, integer probability units, pre-play transcript and post-round verification flow.","Separates Steam deposit custody from the later, explicit Upgrader confirmation."],"limitations":["The checked public test-vector feed does not yet contain an Upgrader-specific vector.","The checked public pages do not name a legal operating entity beyond the RustSnowball brand.","No account, deposit, wager, KYC process, support response or withdrawal was transaction-tested."],"formulaCheck":{"label":"formula-check","sourceId":"rs-upgrader-calculator","sourceValueMinor":1000,"targetValueMinor":2500,"sellLiabilityMinor":2575,"expectedPartsPerMillion":368932,"reproducedPartsPerMillion":368932,"passed":true,"limitation":"This reproduces one published formula example with no wager, account, deposit, KYC check or withdrawal. It is not a transaction or platform-integrity test."},"criteria":[{"criterionId":"published-economics","status":"verified","finding":"Official Upgrader pages publish a 95% configured return, 90% maximum displayed chance and 1.03x sell settlement.","evidenceIds":["rs-upgrader-game","rs-upgrader-odds","rs-upgrader-help"],"points":12.5},{"criterionId":"chance-calculation","status":"verified","finding":"The official calculator and help page publish the source-value, liability, return-factor and flooring calculation.","evidenceIds":["rs-upgrader-calculator","rs-upgrader-guide","rs-upgrader-help"],"points":12.5},{"criterionId":"pre-play-commitment","status":"verified","finding":"The guide and help page say the stored transcript binds source and target quotes, amounts, zone and entropy before settlement.","evidenceIds":["rs-upgrader-guide","rs-upgrader-help","rs-fairness-policy"],"points":12.5},{"criterionId":"round-verifier","status":"verified","finding":"Official documentation links a public checker and explains which revealed inputs reproduce a completed Upgrader result.","evidenceIds":["rs-upgrader-guide","rs-upgrader-help","rs-fairness-policy"],"points":12.5},{"criterionId":"test-vectors","status":"not-publicly-verified","finding":"A public test-vector feed exists, but the observed feed contains no Upgrader-specific vector.","evidenceIds":["rs-test-vectors"],"points":0},{"criterionId":"custody-settlement","status":"verified","finding":"The help and guide pages separate Steam deposit custody from play and document loss consumption, keep, sell and claim states.","evidenceIds":["rs-upgrader-guide","rs-upgrader-help","rs-terms"],"points":12.5},{"criterionId":"operator-documentation","status":"partial","finding":"Terms document KYC and withdrawal conditions, but the checked pages identify the operator only as RustSnowball and its affiliates rather than naming a legal entity.","evidenceIds":["rs-terms"],"points":6.25},{"criterionId":"evidence-freshness","status":"verified","finding":"The game rules and Upgrader guide show checks or update dates from 29 August 2026 and were re-observed for this index.","evidenceIds":["rs-upgrader-odds","rs-upgrader-guide","rs-upgrader-help"],"points":12.5}],"score":81.25,"rank":1},{"slug":"rustclash","name":"RustClash","reviewPath":"/reviews/rustclash","validationLabels":["desk-researched"],"summary":"The checked pages provide a visible chance interface, a general seed-commitment explanation and stronger named-company documentation, but less Upgrader-specific public math.","strengths":["Shows chance, multiplier, target selection and roll-under or roll-over controls on the signed-out Upgrader page.","Publishes a general server-seed hash and browser client-seed explanation that lists Upgrader among covered games.","Names Rust Clash Entertainment Ltd and publishes KYC and redemption-related policy information."],"limitations":["No Upgrader-specific RTP, house edge or exact chance formula was found on the checked official pages.","No downloadable Upgrader test vector was found.","No account, deposit, wager, KYC process, support response or withdrawal was transaction-tested."],"criteria":[{"criterionId":"published-economics","status":"not-publicly-verified","finding":"The checked official Upgrader, fairness, terms and FAQ pages do not publish an Upgrader-specific RTP or house edge.","evidenceIds":["rc-upgrader-game","rc-fairness","rc-terms"],"points":0},{"criterionId":"chance-calculation","status":"partial","finding":"The game displays chance, multiplier and roll bounds, but the checked pages do not publish the calculation connecting item values to that chance.","evidenceIds":["rc-upgrader-game","rc-terms"],"points":6.25},{"criterionId":"pre-play-commitment","status":"partial","finding":"The general fairness page describes a server-seed hash before PvE play and browser client seed, without an Upgrader-specific committed-field transcript.","evidenceIds":["rc-fairness"],"points":6.25},{"criterionId":"round-verifier","status":"partial","finding":"The Upgrader page exposes a Provably Fair entry point and the fairness page describes verification generally; the signed-out text does not expose the full Upgrader reconstruction algorithm.","evidenceIds":["rc-upgrader-game","rc-fairness"],"points":6.25},{"criterionId":"test-vectors","status":"not-publicly-verified","finding":"No official downloadable Upgrader input-and-expected-output fixture was found on the checked pages.","evidenceIds":["rc-upgrader-game","rc-fairness"],"points":0},{"criterionId":"custody-settlement","status":"partial","finding":"Terms and FAQ describe selecting an Upgrader target, balance credit or Steam delivery, and store withdrawal, but do not publish a complete valuation and custody sequence.","evidenceIds":["rc-terms","rc-questions"],"points":6.25},{"criterionId":"operator-documentation","status":"verified","finding":"Terms name Rust Clash Entertainment Ltd; terms, AML policy and FAQ describe verification and redemption conditions.","evidenceIds":["rc-terms","rc-aml","rc-questions"],"points":12.5},{"criterionId":"evidence-freshness","status":"partial","finding":"Terms show a 26 January 2026 update date, while the checked Upgrader and fairness pages expose no comparable page-level update date.","evidenceIds":["rc-upgrader-game","rc-fairness","rc-terms"],"points":6.25}],"score":43.75,"rank":2}]}