Best UK casino sites

Population: 66,65 million
Active Players: 20 million
Currency: GBP (£)
Regulated Gambling Products: Online and land-based casinos, betting shops, online bookmakers, betting exchanges, horse racing, lotteries
Operator Types: Online and land-based casinos, slot machines in pubs
Designated Authority: United Kingdom Gambling Commission
Status: Fully regulated

The United Kingdom is now one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. In its imperial past, the British Empire was the largest empire in history and the leading global power. As expected, the country has a proud past and a healthy economy that is reflected in the British players’ appetite for online gambling and betting. Around 30% of adult citizens gamble every week in the UK. Home to some of the oldest casinos and bookmakers in the world, the United Kingdom is a model for many other markets in Europe when it comes to regulating online gambling and offering an exceptional experience for players in complete safety conditions.  With so many online casino UK options to choose from, it’s often hard to pick the one that delivers the best services. That’s why we are doing an in-depth analysis of how online casinos operate in the UK. Covering the most important aspects from the players’ perspective, we’re helping you choose the best UK casino for an ideal online gambling experience. 

Did You Know That?

• The legal gambling age in the UK is 18
• The UKGC is one of the strictest gambling authorities in the world
• Winnings from gambling are not taxed in the UK 
• The online casino market is worth more than £6 bn per year 
• Approximately 80% of casino players enjoy their games from a mobile device

Casino Sites in the UK

As previously mentioned, there are lots of online casinos available to players in the UK. Both local and international online casinos offer their services to players and choosing the best online casino UK is a highly subjective task as every player wants different things. We’re going to focus on the legality of both sets of casinos and how UK players can enjoy them safely.

Legal Casino Sites in the UK

The legal casino sites operating in the United Kingdom are the ones licensed by the UKGC. To be able to offer their services to players in the United Kingdom, casinos need to pass strict checks and comply with the regulations imposed by the Gambling Commission. Among the most important rules casinos have to follow, KYC, affordability checks, and anti-money laundering. In other words, legal casino sites in the UK need to undergo procedures to know their customers, make sure the money they spend in the casino doesn’t affect other essential expenses, and also ensure there’s no crime of money laundering going on. Also, there’s a strict control from the authorities over how casinos can promote their services and the number of bonuses they can issue to players.

William Hill, Casumo, 32Red, Gala Casino, Ladbrokes, or 32Red are among the most popular licensed online casinos in the UK. However, with almost 400 online casinos licensed by the UKGC, you can rest assured knowing there’s plenty to choose from.

International Casino Sites in the UK

We’ve already made it perfectly clear there’s no shortage of casino sites UK players can pick from. However, the strict measures imposed by the UKGC are sometimes considered too harsh by casino enthusiasts. And while international casino sites are banned in the UK, there are several that still offer their services since there’s no real effort from the UKGC towards blocking or restricting access to them. Furthermore, players are not held responsible in any way if they choose to play at international casinos. So, when you add the international casino sites UK players can access to the 400 licensed operators, you get the real dimensions of the online gambling scene in the country. 

There are various reasons why UK casino players choose international sites. The better bonuses and higher stake limits are among the most important ones. However, other details such as a wider offer of games from providers that are not licensed in the UK are also important.

Welcome Bonuses and Deposit Limits

No matter if you play at the new casino sites UK or more established ones, you’ll surely enjoy a welcome bonus. Most go with a percentage bonus applied on your first deposit (usually between 100% and 150%), however, you will also find casinos that offer free spins packs, sticky bonuses, or even a cashback bonus based on what you wager. When it comes to free spins, you can expect to get anywhere from 100 to 300 spins, depending on the game they’re on. 

No matter if you go for a pack of free spins, a match bonus, or a sticky bonus, the minimum deposit to claim any of these is in most cases £10. Also, it’s good to know that the match bonuses come with a cap, usually around £100 or £150. Make sure to check the full Terms and Conditions before claiming any bonuses so you are well aware of the bonus limits, wagering requirements, or any other vital information.

Betting with British pound

No matter if you play with your deposit only or claim a casino bonus, UK it’s always more comfortable and straightforward to do so using the local currency. All the licensed online casinos have to offer GBP as the standard currency, however, there are plenty of international casino sites that support the British pound as well. Play Ojo, Yeti Casino, Red Kings, GunsBet or Yako Casino are some excellent examples of international online casinos where you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite slots and table games in GBP.

How to Deposit and Withdraw on UK Casino Sites?

A country as advanced as the UK offers plenty of payment methods casino enthusiasts can use to top-up their accounts. We’re going to take a close look at all the popular payment options offered by UK casinos.

Bank Transfer

The customers of all the big banks in the UK are able to make deposits at online casinos directly from their bank accounts, through internet banking. This can be done directly from the apps provided by banks such as HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds, Halifax, or Barclays. Or, you can use third-party payment options that were designed for online gambling such as Trustly. No matter how you do it, you will always enjoy instant deposits without fees. The standard bank transfer and Trustly can be used as withdrawal options as well, another benefit for casino players.

eWallet Options

Even though the bank transfer is a popular method to deposit at online casino sites UK, eWallets remain the undisputed favorite method of depositing for most players. While there are many ewallets that British casino players can use, PayPal enjoys a lot of popularity. And not just for online gambling. PayPal was the most used online payment method in 2019 in the UK. Skrill, formerly known as Moneybookers – a UK startup, together with Neteller are the other go-to ewallets players from the UK use to deposit and request withdrawals. Speaking of withdrawals, you can expect your funds back within 4 hours when playing at a top casino.

Mobile Payments

As previously mentioned, there’s a very wide list of payment methods available for British casino aficionados. And since most of the online gambling is done from a smartphone or tablet, it’s natural that there are lots of mobile payment alternatives as well. Boku and Siru are available at the vast majority of UK casinos. Also, plenty of local and international casinos will accept Apple Pay and Google Pay as well. As fast and secure as these mobile deposit methods are, they don’t also offer support for withdrawals from online casinos.

Cryptocurrency

Even though casinos that offer the option to deposit with cryptocurrency have gained a lot of ground in recent years, the UK market is still focused on fiat currency. Furthermore, the UKGC officially advises players to be cautious when using cryptocurrencies invoking multiple associated risks.

How to Create and Verify Your Account on UK Casino Sites

We’ve put together the steps to follow for creating an account after picking the best online casino UK for your needs:

• Access the official casino website and click on  the “Registration”, “Sign Up” or “Join” button ( usually located in the upper-right corner of the homepage
• A new window will appear where you’ll be asked to insert some personal information like Title, First name and Surname, Date of Birth, Email address, Mobile, and Postcode ( after you insert the Postcode, you will be able to find the address so you won’t have to complete other details like Address line, Town/City, Country, or Country)
• Next, you’ll be asked to choose a Username and a Password for your account
• Most casinos will also require you choose a Security Question and an answer for it – to add an extra layer of safety for your account
• Also, when joining a new UK casino you will get the option to set a daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limit
• If you have a promo code you’ll have the chance to enter it as well.
• Before finishing the registration process, decide if you want to receive communications via email, SMS or telephone from the casino by checking the boxes for each communication method
• Press “Join” once more and your account is created 

Once your account is created, you can easily make a deposit by clicking the “Deposit” button. Simply choose your favorite deposit option, insert the deposit amount and payment details, then confirm the transaction. After you enjoy the deposit and the bonus you claimed for it, requesting a withdrawal is just as easy. Access your account and hit the “Withdrawal” button instead. Once more, choose the withdrawal method you want to use, insert the amount and the rest of the details to request the cashout. 

What Can We Expect from UK Gambling Law Changes?

The online gambling environment in the UK is one of the safest and most regulated on the planet. New casino sites UK, as well as existing ones, need to follow the UKGC rules thoroughly to ensure compliance and player protection. Given the current global situation, the Gambling Commission issued another warning that all operators must perform clear affordability checks and increase their social responsibility interactions. 

Also, the UKGC constantly tries to control the sometimes aggressive marketing of top casino sites UK. This means all marketing practices should be conducted responsibly and player protection should be paramount. It goes without saying that the best casino sites UK has to offer are on board with the rules and remain 100% compliant to deliver a top experience to all customers.