An observatory everyone can use

1. The standard we work to

We aim for starvellan.co.uk to meet level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. Pages are written in plain, semantic HTML, so a heading is a heading, a table is a table and a button is a button, and each new page and game is checked against the guidelines as it is built. No independent audit has been carried out yet, which is why we say we aim for AA rather than claim full conformance.

2. Keyboard, touch and controls

• A keyboard is enough to use every page. The first press of Tab reveals a "Skip to content" link.
• Links, buttons and form fields show a clear outline while they hold keyboard focus.
• Inside a game, Space or Enter triggers the main action, such as Spin, Deal or Drop, whenever focus is not on another button or field.
• The forward slash key (/) opens the game search on any page; the arrow keys and Enter then choose a game.
• In Night Train Hi-Lo, the up and down arrow keys call higher or lower.
• Controls are large enough for fingers as well as a pointer, and no game requires dragging.

3. Text, colour and zoom

• Body text targets a contrast ratio of at least 4.5 to 1, and controls at least 3 to 1.
• Layouts reflow on narrow screens and under browser zoom, so text can be enlarged.
• Type is set in the system fonts already on your device, at a comfortable size.
• Meaningful images carry text alternatives, and purely decorative ones are hidden from screen readers.
• Each game result is written out as text beneath the board and announced to screen readers, not only animated.

4. Movement and sound

• We respect the "reduce motion" setting on your device or browser: reels, cards and counters settle almost instantly, and decorative movement stops.
• Slots include a Quick spin option that shortens every spin.
• No sound plays until you interact with a game, and every game has a sound button to mute it. Signed-in players have the setting remembered on their account.

5. Inside the games

Balance, stake and the last result are always shown as text. Every game also has a rules page in plain HTML, so you can learn how it works with a screen reader before playing.

Coral Scratch has a Reveal all button that uncovers the whole card in a single press, with no scratching by hand. Every action in every game is an ordinary button, so nothing relies on swipes or other gestures.

6. Gaps we know about

Some parts of Starvellan are not yet as accessible as we would like:

• Game boards are visual: screen readers hear each round's result, but not where every symbol sits.
• Some symbols are distinguished mostly by colour and artwork; their names appear alongside their pays on each game's rules page.
• A few game sounds have no visual equivalent, although none of them carries information you need in order to play.
• Accounts rely on browser storage, so they do not work where storage is blocked, as in some strict privacy modes.

We are working on each of these, and we would always rather hear about a barrier than leave it standing.

7. Tell us about a barrier

If something on Starvellan is unusable for you, or harder than it ought to be, email hello@starvellan.co.uk or use the contact form. Let us know the page or game, what you were trying to do, and your device, browser and any assistive technology. Every report is read, and we will explain what we can do.