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Guide to Online Casino Sites in the UK
The advent of internet casino games in the years leading up to the end of the 20th century created an opportunity for players all around the world to experience safe, real-money online gambling straight from their desktops, laptops, and even mobile devices. The thrills and excitement of traditional brick-and-mortar casinos have been transferred from the real world to the web, with none of the perks left out. Players looking to enjoy a hand of blackjack or a quick spin on the slots can do so without the hassle of leaving the comfort of home.
The best UK online casinos offer all the most popular table games and slots found around traditional brick-and-mortar establishments as well as new and unique versions made specific for websites. The biggest iGaming sites in the UK partner with a wealth of the top software providers who create the most cutting-edge games for players to enjoy, helping to supply those players with the most up-to-date online experience. With so much going in to the biggest and best UK sites, players looking to pick one to bet with can be a bit overwhelmed by the selection.
Thankfully, this guide breaks down all there is to know about the best online casino sites in the United Kingdom and how to find them. Players wondering how to make a deposit online or looking to find out who offers the biggest progressive jackpots can find it all right here in this truly complete guide. Players will find the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) as well as other useful tips and strategy suggestions to ensure players find the best options available on the web in 2019!
Which Online Casino Should I Choose?
Comparing online casino sites to find the best UK casino for you can be a bit daunting when the selection includes dozens, if not hundreds, of topnotch choices. Casino a vs Casino b compared to Casino c and so on.. can be overwhelming and time wasting, but don't fret, were here to help!
We help guide players through the complex world of choosing a site to join. We have ranked and rated the best online casinos so you don't have to. We also have in depth reviews for each casino written by our casino experts.
UK players looking to pick the best sites should start by considering game selection, before moving on to welcome bonuses and overall user experience. Ensuring the selection has all the games and titles players love is crucial when choosing which one to sign up with. Once a player has established that the games they like are offered, players should move on to considering the bonuses being offered to new players as well as the actual user experience. If several competitors have the games and titles a player loves, offer generous welcome bonuses to new players, and have quality user experiences, players are ready to get into the nitty-gritty of choosing where they want to play.
Since most of the biggest betting operators in the UK offer the most popular games from all the top software providers, supply outrageously generous welcome bonuses, and offer a smooth, user-friendly gambling experience, players must look to more obscure aspects to find the differences. This includes investigating an operator’s payout rate or analyzing the mobile options available, like if a dedicated mobile app exists or not. The more you know about the brand, the easier it is to choose one!
How Safe is Online Gambling?
A major concern of many new online gamblers is internet safety. The early days of gambling on the internet came with a bit of personal risk but, thankfully, any players enjoying one of today’s top online casinos have nothing to worry about when it comes to safety and security. All the top options on the web take an immense amount of precaution when it comes to player security.
Any private information provided to a major site is guaranteed to be protected from third parties. All financial transactions are encrypted to avoid any virtual theft. Overall, the gambling world has come a long way with respect to player safety, ensuring all modern players they are safe to enjoy iGaming websites without securities risk.
Are Real Money Online Casinos Legal in the UK?
To put it simply, yes, real money online casinos are completely legal in the United Kingdom thanks to the passing of the Gambling Act of 2005, which directly regulated the legalization of online gambling and thus online table, card and slot games. As long as the online sites procure a license from the Gambling Commission, the 2005 Act allows for them to operate legally in the UK. A 2014 amendment to the Act was passed with stricter regulatory standards but the premise of the regulation stayed relatively the same.
Do Gambling Sites Need a UK License?
Yes, if an operator wants to accept players from the United Kingdom they must procure a gambling license. As mentioned, the only way to legally offer table games, card games and slots to UK players is to first apply and receive a jurisdiction license from the UK Gambling Commission. This does not mean that some obscure brands do not try to operate outside the legal infrastructure of the United Kkingdom, offering services to UK players without a legitimate license. But these operators should be avoided at all costs. When choosing an online casino, players should always ensure the operator holds a license from the Gambling Commission, which can usually be confirmed easily on the site somewhere noticeable, like the footer.
Understanding Online Betting Reviews
Players researching the best online casinos typically find themselves overwhelmed with endless amounts of online reviews for all the top names in the world, including the UK. Finding reviews and guides players can trust can be tough. Luckily, credible online casino reviews, like the ones you find on CasinoSource.co.uk, can be used to help players find the best choice for them!
In order for a review to be credible, as well as thorough, a few key aspects of the sites must be reviewed. First off, reviews should always indicate if the operator holds a gaming license from the Gambling Commission. Once legality is confirmed, reviews should investigate the safety and security of the sites before moving onto more personal preferences like game selection and software providers.
Understanding what games are offered, who provides them and just how many options are available is crucial to some players’ decisions. Other players are more interested in the aesthetics of the experience, which is typically covered in the user experience section, while some are all about the returns so they stick to reviews which include mention of the payout rates. Regardless of players’ preferences, a quality review can go a long way in successfully picking the best websites to join!
Top Games in 2019
Caribbean Stud Poker | Don’t let the use of “poker” in the name mislead you, this card game is becoming a must-have offering at all online casinos. Caribbean Stud Poker is similar in nature to traditional five-card stud but involves playing against the house, not other players.
Craps | Who doesn’t love the rush of a craps table? One of the most exciting games in all of gambling (both online and offline), craps is certainly an eye-catcher for some online players. Not as many sites offer craps as say slots or blackjack but it’s still a game that can be found at some of the best iGaming hubs on the market.
Live-Dealer Games | As video streaming technology has improved, so has the overall experience of live-dealer products. Now that live-dealer sites can use the highest quality HD cameras to stream their professional dealers, online players are taking notice. Most top gambling sites now offer some form of live-dealer games.
Baccarat | Baccarat didn’t always find the most success in the traditional brick-and-mortar establishments, especially when compared to blackjack, but online baccarat has certainly found a place for itself among the most popular internet games.
Roulette | Players looking for a bit of simplicity have always turned their attention to spinning the roulette wheel. This trend was passed along to online players as roulette has become, like blackjack, a crucial staple among online game selections.
Blackjack | Hitting 21 has proven to be as exciting on the internet as it is in real life because online players have embraced this timeless card game just as traditional gamblers always have. With what seems like an endless list of variants offered, online blackjack is certainly a staple among the best sites.
Online Slots | Topping the list of most popular games in 2019, online slots are by far the most played offering available on the web. Thanks to all the top software providers turning a majority of their attention to creating new and exciting titles, slot games are now offered by the hundreds at each of the top iGaming stops.
Classics like blackjack and roulette seem timeless as players embrace the ageless games just as they always have in brick-and-mortar establishments. Games like baccarat have also found love among online players throughout the last couple decades but it is online slots that have taken the iGaming world by storm. Making up a majority of all the games produced online, slot game are definitely the cream of every crop. Interactive games hosted by a live, professional dealer are also on the rise in terms of popularity in 2019. Most of the top online sites offer some form of a live product featuring live-dealer games.
Learn About the Top Software and Game Providers
Online table games, card games and slot titles wouldn’t be much without their games and the people to thank for those are the world’s top third-party software providers and developers from industry leaders like Playtech, Microgaming and NetEnt. These companies not only provide the incredible table games and slots titles everyone’s grown to love, they also create and provide the backend side of the sites. The top game providers include those listed above, with NetEnt getting the most recent recognition for their titles, as well as others such as Ash Gaming, Quickspin, Evolution Gaming, Thunderkick, and Yggdrasil, to name a few.
Table Games to Play on the Internet
Signing Up for an Online Account
Once a player has investigated which online casino to enjoy, they must sign up for an account. Most registrations ask players to provide some personal information before picking their deposit method and making their first deposit. The following is the most common personal information asked for when players sign up:
- Name
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Phone
- Address
- Username
- Password
- Security Questions
- Betting Currency
How to Deposit at an Online Casino
Here’s a step-by-step guide to depositing funds:
Step 1: Go to the deposit page, which is usually clearly marked or offered once you’ve signed up for a new account.
Step 2: Decide which payment method you’d like to use to make your deposit – remember most deposit methods are then used as withdrawal methods too.
Step 3: Once you’ve confirmed the operator accepts your desired payment method, find out if there are any time restraints to deposit with that method or any fees associated with that method.
Step 4: Input all the relevant banking information.
Step 5: Decide how much to deposit on your first deposit – don’t forget most signup bonuses offer to match your first deposit, so make sure to take full advantage!
Step 6: Confirm all the information entered and save.
Do Online Deposits Charge Any Fees?
Most deposits made with the top payment options will require no fee but some sites will collect a fee even on debit and credit card deposits as well as eWallets; fortunately, this practice isn’t all that common. For players who wish to make a deposit with a more unique service like PayPal or a direct bank transfer, operators are more likely to carry a small fee.
Is There a Limit on How Much You Can Deposit?
Almost all online casinos, including the biggest in the UK, have some sort of limit on how much a player can deposit at a time or in a given time period. Some operators push that limit to the point it only affects the highest rollers, like £10,000, but others consider the limits a way to promote responsible gambling so they limit deposits to £100 a day or £300 a week, for instance. The deposit method players choose also plays a role; a service like Paysafecard will limit the deposit amount to a few hundred on average but eWallets tend to allow much higher limits.
Best Deposit Options for Online Gambling
Debit/Credit Cards | Used around the world in a majority of countries for most everyday purchases, debit and credit cards are also the most used deposit method at online casinos. VISA and MasterCard debit/credit cards are by far the most widely accepted but some sites do accept others like American Express or Discover.
eWallets | As one would expect with an internet-based industry like online gambling, digital banking methods are popular as is the case with eWallets. The eWallets accepted at almost all the best UK gambling sites include NETELLER and Skrill (formerly known as Moneybookers).
PayPal | PayPal is one of the most commonly used online payment services in the world, so it makes sense that you can now find online casinos that accept PayPal for deposits and withdrawals.
Prepaid Cards | Thanks to the added security, prepaid cards are an extremely popular deposit method for players. A large portion of the top rated places to play in the UK accept the most popular prepaid card, Paysafecard. The Paysafe Group also owns and operates multiple eWallet services including Skrill.
Bank Transfers | A direct bank transfer has always been a widely used deposit method for many online players. Increased security and technology has also made this option much safer and thus more popular.
Pay-by-Phone | The newest form of depositing to take online gambling by storm, pay-by-phone through services like Boku and Zimpler is now accepted at a ton of the most popular online betting offerings. Based on an account set up through your phone service, pay-by-phone services add a new dimension of security to depositing.
Bitcoin | The cryptocurrency taking the world by storm despite it’s somewhat mysterious beginnings, Bitcoin is by far the most popular virtual currency available. The digital, encrypted currency thrives, in part, thanks to its stellar privacy and security benefits as well as Bitcoin’s digital nature. All this and more is why the world of online gambling has embraced Bitcoin as a means of depositing and withdrawing.
Withdrawing Funds
Players usually enjoy withdrawing funds from their account more so than depositing. But like depositing, withdrawing has become a breeze. Most sign-up processes inform players whatever payment method they’ve chosen to make the initial deposit will be used for all withdrawals. This means if a player deposited with a debit card like VISA, then they will receive their withdrawals to that same account. Worth noting, MasterCard is one of the most common depositing methods but typically does not offer a withdrawal option, so withdrawals must be completed to an alternative account.
What Does it Cost to Withdraw Funds from an Account?
A majority of the biggest gambling websites in the UK typically only charge withdrawal fees on unique or obscure payment methods like PayPal but a huge portion of withdrawals to debit/credit cards and eWallets do not carry any cost.
How Long Does it Take to Process Withdrawals?
There are no steadfast rules for processing times when it comes to withdrawing from an account but it’s safe to say on average most withdrawals through popular payment methods will take about 3-5 days. Some casino sites pride themselves on quick processing times and can do it in less than 2 days but others struggle and need up to 7 days of processing.
How Much Can You Withdraw at One Time?
Limits on the amount a player can withdraw vary but do exist in some fashion at most of them. Sometimes players are limited to certain amounts per day with the average on debit/credit cards and eWallets hovering around £1,000 - £3,000. Some limits only apply weekly or monthly and reach much higher totals.
High Paying Sites
Determining which of the biggest online casinos pays out its players the most each year can be done by simply researching the payout rate for each site. The payout rate percentage can vary from site to site, and even game to game, and is governed by the laws of each jurisdiction. Slot payouts are on average between 96% and 98%, with other games paying out less often.
Is There a Limit to How Much a Player Can Bet?
Betting limits have long been a discussion within the world of online gambling. Allowing players the opportunity to bet massive amounts on a single hand or one spin can be a major draw to a particular site but can also create much higher risk of devastating losses for the players, a negative in the eyes of those looking to promote responsible gambling. Because of this break in ideology, games with all ranges of betting limits exist on the web. Some games only let players bet £10 per turn while other games seem limitless in terms of wagering amounts. New players should stick to casino sites and games with lower betting limits, while the higher limits should be left for high rollers.
Downloading to Your Desktop
Although more popular in the earlier days of internet casinos, a large number of the most popular online products to gamble with can still be downloaded straight to your desktop for easy access. The downloadeded offerings provide a shortcut to the games without having to actually visit the websites in a browser as well as allow the software developers to load up the files with memory-consuming features and widgets. Nowadays, instant-play websites displayed within a browser can handle all the software upgrades, making instant-plays more user-friendly and thus more popular.
The growth of mobile gambling and mobile casinos has brought downloading back into the forefront, though, but this time with mobile apps as opposed to desktop apps. A wealth of the biggest UK online betting sites offer dedicated mobile apps for their gambling products, which can be downloaded straight to the device just like the desktop. Although instant-play casinos have taken hold in the world of browser-based iGaming, the mobile world is heading back in the direction of downloading it seems.
Advantages of Instant-Play Websites
Experienced online gamblers will attest to just how far instant-play (also known as browser-based) casinos have come. Thanks to advancements in processors, software, graphics, memory saving and a few other areas, playing instantly through a browser has become the easiest way to access an online casino. Instant-play sites are now the most common product offered with many of the newer brands not even offering a downloadable version.
For many years, downloading to your desktop was more advantageous than playing in the browser but this no longer holds true. Instant-plays come with a wealth of advantages, which is why they’ve become the most popular way to access all the games. Players do not need to download space-consuming software on their computer, nor do they need to update the software when upgrades have been made (that’s all done automatically with instant-play). Players using instant-play websites can also access the most up-to-date game lists, a major draw for some online players.
