Introduction to The Best Online Casinos in UK

Online casino gaming has become a highly popular form of recreation in recent years, with new UK casino sites springing up all the time and offering eye-catching bonuses to attract a share of a growing player base. With games such as Poker, Baccarat, Roulette and more slots than one could possibly count, players new and old find themselves spoiled for choice for their gaming activities. The UK online casinos list is split mainly between the casino arms of existing bookmaker sites and a wealth of sites dedicated to casino gaming alone. As a result, both experienced bettors and people who have never bet on anything before are finding themselves drawn to the virtual casino world.

On further inspection, it’s not hard to see why online casinos have become so commonplace, especially given the plethora of options available to the modern-day player. From the free spins with no deposit at UK casinos to a wealth of reload offers, there’s never a shortage of incentives to play a hand of poker or take a spin on the roulette wheel - all of which can greatly improve your overall gaming experience.

The best online casinos UK at greenbet

With such an extensive range of games and sites available, any new player could find themselves overwhelmed by sheer volume of options. The list of online casinos UK players can sign up to is a long one, and growing all the time. As with any industry, there are good and bad options available, and a negative experience on one site can, unfortunately, sour new players on the entire idea of online gaming. Therefore, it’s important to focus on casinos with a strong, trustworthy reputation when it comes to choosing a new UK casino to patronise.

There are several priorities to take into account when it comes to reading down a UK online casinos list. It is important to consider the site’s initial sign-up offer and any ongoing promotions they may have. You will also need to consider the range of games that each casino offers. Some will have plenty of slots games that you can play but not have much in the way of card games. Others might be excellent for poker, but not so good when it comes to roulette. Last, but by absolutely no means least, the quality of the site itself is important. It’s all very well and good to have a great selection of games, but if the site is confusing, slow to load, or awkward to view on mobile, players won’t stick around to play them.

What are online casinos UK?

In its most basic form, an online casino is a site to which you can sign up, where you can play a range of games like those available in the many brick-and-mortar casinos worldwide. A simple online casino will usually include one or more forms of poker, other card games such as Blackjack and Baccarat, at least one Roulette table and - typically - upwards of twenty fast-moving, colourful slots games. Usually, the more established a casino site is, the more games it will have - although some of the new online casino UK sites will present a wide range from the start, in order to compete with the big fish.

Any UK online casinos list worth its salt will feature an extensive range of all UK-based casinos, as well as other sites based in other countries which have a UK-facing site, and those which allow UK players to sign up. As the UK has some of the most relaxed online betting rules in the world, a good list will be a long list with plenty of familiar names and some that are less well-known. Some players may instinctively pick the names they know, but it is worth bearing in mind that a less established casino will not necessarily be of lower quality.

How to pick the top online casinos in UK?

When choosing the casino that you want to play at for real money, it is important to note that “the best” will mean different things for different people. Casino players have varying priorities for what they want to see on a gaming site. For example, a site which has a lot of choice with regard to poker games will be popular with players who enjoy a hand or two, but if your preference is for roulette or slots then the same site might leave you unmoved. Other matters, such as ease of depositing and withdrawal limits, will be priorities for other players.

This means that any UK online casinos list can offer guidelines on which sites are worth signing up, but when it comes to the top rated online casino UK players can choose, there isn’t a definitive answer. For a complete beginner, there is some benefit in knowing that the casinos at the top of a list are likely to be the best all-rounders. Therefore, if you want to get a feel for which games you prefer, it is a good idea to stick with those positioned higher on the list. For online casinos’ UK players who have a bit of experience, it is worth drilling down a bit more and seeing which casinos are best for their specific priorities.

What are the advantages of playing at online casinos UK?

The primary benefit of choosing from among the old and new casino sites for UK players is that there is a huge field from which to select. Almost every bookmaker has a healthy choice of casino games in addition to the sportsbook they offer, and those sites are just the tip of the iceberg. There is an additional group of sites which specialise solely in casino games - so players will never be short of options. This level of choice also leads to greater competition among casino providers, which in turn means the top names seek to provide eye-catching promotions, helping players get better deals.

All companies in the UK online casinos list will also have to sign up to legislation that protects users of their sites. That means that, unlike some of the casino sites operating in other countries, UK brands are bound by law to run a fair service that prevents online casino players from being scammed. This level of legal protection allows you to engage with online gaming in the safest way possible. Finally, playing at online casinos in the UK means that you are not subject to the same fees on financial transactions that you may be if playing in other currencies.

What types of online casino bonuses are available?

There are numerous different types of casino bonus available, from the “free spins, no deposit” UK casinos occasionally offer to a range of matched deposit bonuses that can turn your initial funds into a playing amount that may be several times larger. It is worth remembering that a lot of these bonuses are subject to playthrough requirements, which may mean that you cannot withdraw any winnings until you have bet a certain amount.

Casinos may also offer refer-a-friend bonuses, which will reward you with a certain amount of playing funds when you introduce a new player to the casino. The best of these offers will ensure that the friend you refer is also given extra funds as a welcome bonus.

For regular players, reload bonuses are also a nice way to augment their bankroll. You can think of these bonuses as a loyalty incentive for continuing to use and fund your account. This obviously means that you need to be playing regularly to qualify for them, but if you have been gaming successfully reload bonuses can be a very welcome top-up to your existing kitty.

A specific type of reload bonus known as a VIP or High-Roller bonus is also a possibility if you are a player who makes bigger deposits and larger wagers on a regular basis. To reward you for being a valued customer, these bonuses will typically be for larger amounts, or offer greater advantages, than an ordinary reload bonus.

The Top Rated Online Casinos, Ranked;

The waiting is over. Here at Gambling me our editors and the research team have analysed 167 online casinos and came up with a list of the top 10 and top 20 online casinos. What matters most to casino players when they're deciding on where to play is;

1. Safety and payments. Players want to enjoy their time playing at a safe and legal online casino. They also look for payment safety and the ability to withdraw their winnings easily
2. Quality of games and speed. Casino players look for the number of quality casino games like slots and the ability to play at any game with fast loading speed.

Mobile Casinos UK: Play on the go

In the modern age, anything that you can do online can also be done on your phone, and any new online casino UK players can sign up to will usually have a dedicated mobile app. As with casino websites, the quality of such apps is variable. Some of them will offer all the same features as the website - allowing you to fund, withdraw, play and contact customer services from your phone - while others may offer a more stripped-back service. Most online casino sites are now mobile responsive as well, and you can play without actually downloading the app. If you are a dedicated player, then the chance to play a few hands of Baccarat or spin the wheels on a slot game wherever you are can be a big selling point.

One word of warning when it comes to app-based gaming is to ensure that wherever you are playing has a solid WiFi or 4G connection. The last thing you want is to suddenly lose service when you are in the middle of a game; for the same reason you should make sure when signing up to a new online casino in the UK that its app is considered to be of high quality. As with any other type of app, glitches are something you need to watch out for, and the better casinos will do all they can to avoid such issues.

New UK Casinos: Rewarded for your loyalty

As previously mentioned, many of the better new UK casino sites offer reload bonuses to regular customers - and the more you play, the bigger the bonuses can get. What some people don’t know is that regular players can benefit from more than just free spins, or bonus betting cash that needs to be played through dozens of times before it can be withdrawn. It is worth checking various sites to see what kind of loyalty offers they have, because in some cases they can be more substantial than you would imagine.

Some examples of loyalty offers that have been available in the past include a system that allows players to build up points whenever they play, and players can then redeem these points for prizes such as laptops, iPads and watches. Regular players with a long history at a bookmaker can even end up with enough credit in the bank to redeem against a new car or an expenses-paid holiday.

Online casinos UK: Safety and legislature

To operate within the UK, a betting service needs to be a signatory to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), which oversees the industry and has powers to revoke the licence of any provider that does not operate within the law. The good news for players is that the laws of the UK are not hugely restrictive on players, but hold providers to some of the highest standards in the world.

As a player, you need to satisfy some specific requirements. Firstly, you must be at least 18 years of age. Most providers will require that you upload some form of ID to demonstrate that you meet this requirement - some will ask for it as part of the sign-up process while others may stipulate that you provide it before you can make a withdrawal. You must deposit from, and withdraw to, a card or other payment source that is registered in your name.

Additionally, you are subject to laws protecting against money laundering and other illegality. This is something that will be up to the provider to judge, but if you fall foul of the rules you may, as a minimum, have any money you have won withheld. If you are found to have used illegally-gotten money to fund your account, or cheated in any way, you can face a substantial fine or even prison time.

On the provider’s side, they must stick to a range of laws governing the fairness of games - so they have to ensure that players have a reasonable chance of winning. They must also ensure that players who may have a gambling problem have the option of excluding themselves from playing. If, during a period of self-exclusion, the casino encourages or incentivises the player to gamble, they face penalties ranging between large fines, compensation for the customer, and potentially the loss of their licence.

What types of payment methods are accepted at online casinos UK?

Every company on the UK online casinos list will have a range of ways that you can fund your account and also a payout method for you to withdraw any winnings. The most common methods of payment are debit cards; this way of paying is accepted by almost all casino sites operating in the UK. You may well find, however, that you cannot fund your account using an American Express card; Mastercard and Visa are, however, accepted just about everywhere.

If you do not wish your personal accounts to be used for betting, however, there are other methods for you to consider. Most popular among these are e-wallet services such as Neteller and Skrill (formerly known as Moneybookers). You can fund an e-wallet from your bank account or debit card, and then use the service to deposit in, and withdraw from, your casino account. Some casinos may apply fees for the use of e-wallets, so it’s best to check with the casino before depositing.

You may also fund your account by way of a bank transfer; this means taking the details listed on the casino site and making a payment from your bank account directly to those details. One word of warning on this; funding via bank transfer can take a while, so if you are looking to play instantly, you’ll need to choose a different payment method.

Finally, there is Paysafecard; a prepaid voucher system that involves purchasing a card at one of the many outlets offering the service in the UK. You can purchase a voucher for your chosen amount and, when prompted on the casino website, enter the 16-digit code on that voucher. The funds will then appear instantly in your casino account. This service operates much like topping up a Pay As You Go mobile phone. One drawback of this service is that although you can use it to fund your account, it cannot be used for a withdrawal - so if you want to get your hands on your winnings, you will need to find an alternative deposit method.

Hopefully, you now know a bit more about the best online casinos in the UK and how they operate. You can now make more informed decisions when it comes to all of your casino gaming endeavours!