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Online casinos in the United Kingdom
The UK online casino market is a rapidly growing industry. The number of players at online casinos, sportsbooks, bingo sites, etc. D. is increasing day by day as the convenience factors and wide range of betting products are too good to pass up.
British online casinos are also one of the safest places to gamble online, as the industry is well supported and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. This means that you can expect immediate and safe deposits, as well as timely payouts of your winnings. It's also perfectly legal to place bets online on any UKGC-licensed website, as long as you're at least 18 years old.
What's more, UK casinos often offer over 1,000 games at your disposal, plenty of bonuses and promotions, fast access to customer support and a variety of payment methods. Want to get started? Check out our list of proven and recommended UK online casinos to find the best online gambling destinations. Choose your casino, make a deposit, and you're all set.
Mobile casinos in the UK.
Mobile casinos are growing in popularity as more and more players prefer to play on the go because of their ease of use and convenience. More than 80% of UK residents own smartphones, and more than 50% of online betting in the UK is done using cell phones or tablets - primarily through iPhones and Samsung Galaxy.
As 5G superfast technology has begun to roll out across the country through providers such as Vodafone, O2 and Three, players can access their favorite gambling games with virtually no interruptions caused by connectivity issues. Thus, we expect the mobile gambling trend to grow even more in the near and distant future.
Online casinos are quickly adapting to changing trends and thus accommodating players through dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android or mobile-optimized casino websites. What's more, game developers are developing their games with mobile devices in mind, which means there are hundreds of mobile slot machines and table games at your disposal.
The best UK mobile casinos should offer well-optimized websites with no lag issues on modern devices, a clear navigation structure and quick access to customer support and payment methods. We provide mobile accessibility to every UK casino we review.
History of gambling in the United Kingdom.
Casino, sports and bingo gambling are an important part of British culture, as evidenced by the countless sponsorships of well-known sports teams, frequent television advertising and general marketing throughout the country. Gambling in the United Kingdom has a long and complex history, with laws dating back to the 16th century. In 1541, the Illegal Gambling Act made all types of gambling illegal, but only on paper, as the law was practically never enforced.
The general trend over the years and centuries of gambling in Great Britain shows the government trying to minimize and over-regulate gambling, with the public holding back and showing resistance, whether through "underground" betting stores, rules not enforced, and likes.
Numerous gambling laws of 1710, 1728, 1738, 1739, and 1744 attempted to further regulate the market, but the results were mixed. The Gambling Act of 1845 is a milestone in the history of gambling in Great Britain because it legalized gambling and made cheating illegal.
Gambling continued to grow in popularity over time, and in the 1800s, through several bills, additional rules were introduced.
Eventually, as the government saw that gambling would not go away, but instead was gaining in popularity, they legalized private betting stores through the Betting and Gambling Act of 1960. Today, gambling is more popular than ever in the UK, and online Betting accounts for 35% of all gambling activity on British soil. The future is equally good for online casinos and British gamers, but land-based casinos and betting shops such as Ladbrokes are also very popular.
If you prefer land-based casinos to online gambling, Grosvenor Casino, Hippodrome Casino in London, Genting Casino and the Rainbow Casino chain are the most popular in the UK. There's no shortage of physical casinos in the UK, that's for sure, and in both online and offline markets, the boom doesn't seem to see any stop signs.
Are casinos legal in the UK?
Online gambling in the United Kingdom is legal in many forms, with a minimum age of 18. The first legal gambling law in recent history was passed in the early '60s, which allowed bingo halls and sports betting stores, but with some restrictions. Shortly thereafter, in 1968, we saw the legalization of commercial land-based casinos offering table games. On the eve of our century, British gambling laws weren't ready to catch up with the boom in online gambling from the 2000s onward, and so the legality of British gamers placing online bets was largely ambiguous.
However, the Gambling Act of 2005 clarified the situation and made it so that all British casinos operating in the UK must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC is the only authoritative body responsible for licensing and regulating online casinos in the UK. It is an independent government body funded by the government department of sports, media and culture. The act has streamlined gambling in the UK and has played a major role in stabilizing the industry while eliminating the risks of underage gambling and money laundering.
In 2014, the Gambling Act was amended, adding another rule: Offshore online casinos offering gambling services to UK customers must also be licensed by the UKGC. Exceptions to this rule are "whitelisted gambling jurisdictions," which are licensing authorities approved by the UKGC as safe and legal places for online gambling. Current whitelisted jurisdictions are Alderney, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Tasmania and Antigua and Barbuda, which means you can bet at online casinos licensed by that jurisdiction.
Best online casino games for UK players
The UK has a big influence on gaming trends around the world, but it is also susceptible to trends infiltrating their culture from the "outside world." It is common knowledge that bingo and sports betting are widespread throughout the UK, but in terms of casino games, there is no one outstanding game.
Slot machines, often referred to as fruit machines, are central to most online casinos in the UK and have good reason to boot. They are luxurious, dynamic and exciting. Naturally, they can also generate big winnings. Video slots and progressive jackpots are the most popular among British gamers, but classic slots are still the mainstay despite outdated graphics and game mechanics.
Pontoon was the preferred blackjack option among British gamers in the past, played with a single deck of 52 cards, but nowadays players spend their playing time on the dozens of available table game options offered by modern gaming suppliers.
How we choose the best online casinos in the UK
Our review process involves looking at every aspect of online casinos and determining an overall score based on how well they meet our standards and expectations.
Some online casinos will inevitably be better than others, but all of our recommended casinos are safe for placing real money bets. Below we list the most important factors we look at and how they work when it comes to UK casinos.
Security of casino sites in the United Kingdom
The UK online casino market is one of the largest in the world. Thus, one of the most developed gambling markets in terms of security and fair play. According to the UK legislation, all online casinos intended to serve UK residents must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, the only gambling regulatory body in the UK. The UKGC closely monitors casino operators and sets strict standards to ensure smooth operation and, most importantly, fair treatment of customers.
Operators who do not comply with the UKGC risk heavy monetary fines or even license revocation. Moreover, players who feel that they have been wrongfully deprived of their winnings or have been mistreated can file a complaint with the UKGC.
In addition, UK casinos have basic online security standards such as SSL encryption, protecting all your personal information such as account details and payment method information.
The language of UK casino sites
Naturally, all British casinos are available in English. Many reputable British brands also strive to cater to a broad European player base and are therefore available in additional languages such as Swedish, Norwegian, German and Finnish. Customer support is usually available in English and rarely in other languages.
Customer support at online casinos in the UK
Customer service is one of the most important factors for a pleasant gaming experience. When you have an unavoidable question or some problem interrupts your gambling experience, it's good to know that you can count on a fast customer support channel to solve your problem as quickly as possible. Fortunately, online casinos in the UK are well aware of this, and most of them offer professional customer service via live chat.
Casinos that offer 24/7 chat get bonus points in our book, but what's more important is the quality of the support offered, as well as the response time. A few minutes is a reasonable wait time, which can rarely reach 5-10 minutes during peak hours.
In addition, most British casinos offer a local support phone number that you can dial for a more personalized experience. Alternatively, a callback request is also an option at some casinos.
Players are used to live chat and rarely feel the need for phone support, so we decline our strict judgment regarding British casinos without a phone line.
Bonuses and promotions at British online casinos
Every UK online casino without exception is sure to welcome new players with a generous welcome bonus. Moreover, many of these casinos extend their generosity with recurring promotions such as holiday bonuses, weekly and monthly bonuses, etc. Д.
Welcome bonuses UK casinos
A welcome bonus is usually the most valuable promotional offer you can get at any online casino. These bonuses are available exclusively on your first deposit, meaning you have one chance to get them. Typically, the first deposit welcome bonus will match your deposit by 100% up to £100, doubling your money in the process. It's not exactly free money, as it includes wagering requirements and other conditions, but it's worth the effort to qualify for it.
Free Spins at British Casinos.
Sometimes a British online casino will offer you a free spins bonus on a particular game. The funds you win from these free spins are later converted into bonus money to be wagered. In some cases, however, your bonus money has no stakes and you can withdraw it immediately.
UK Casino no deposit bonuses
No deposit bonuses are in high demand in the online casino market. The name speaks for itself; you get bonus money to play without depositing any real money in the process.
Many online casinos offer no deposit bonuses of £10 or 10 free spins for new customers in the UK, but be careful as these bonuses come with higher wagering requirements and withdrawal limits.
Software providers and game selection at UK online casinos
British online casinos are at the pinnacle of the industry when it comes to game selection. Typically, gaming decisions at UK casinos rarely attract UK players such as Playtech or Gamesys and European giants such as Net Entertainment, Microgaming, Yggdrasil and Play N Go. We make sure to mention good and bad gaming preferences in our casino reviews, but we have yet to create a UK casino that does not meet our expectations in this regard.
Slot Machines.
As a British gamer, you can expect hundreds of high-quality slot machines no matter where you gamble. Video slots boast the best graphics, animations, sound effects and potential winnings, but plenty of classic slots are also offered if you're looking for retro-style fruit machines. Popular examples include Mystery Joker 6000, Starburst, Gonzo's Quest, Immortal Romance, Dead or Alive and Thunderstruck II. Progressive slot machines are also popular among British gamers. Games like Mega Fortune from NetEnt and Mega Moolah from Microgaming are both capable of rewarding you with millions per spin. The current jackpot record holder is a British soldier from Cheshire who won £13.2 million on Mega Moolah at Betway Casino, all for 25p.