How to choose the best online casino?

What makes an online casino the best is different for different people. However, there are a couple of guidelines that can be valuable to keep in mind regardless of the entertainment characteristics of the casino. All casinos we list are trustworthy and fair, but this is in case you chose a casino somewhere else.

1. Check the footer of the online casino website for a license batch from MGA, UKGC or SGA.
2. Look at the payment methods and make sure the casino supports both your deposit method and the withdrawal method of choice.
3. Read the payment terms to learn what the payout limits are in case you win big.
4. Go to the casino game section and see that they have credible casino software.
5. Make sure to read the terms and conditions if you choose to claim a bonus.
6. Start with a small deposit to ensure everything works as you expected.

How do I know an online casino is to be trusted?

It is of great importance to gambling at online casino sites that are trustworthy. The best way to evaluate the trustworthiness is take a look in the footer of the casino site and check for trust shields and license batches. A license make sure the casino follows laws and regulations in the country that provides the license.

Trust Checklist:

• License to operate as an online casino issued by Malta Gambling Authority, United Kingdom Gambling Commission or Swedish Gambling Authority.
• Quality labels from organizations like Certified Fair Gambling and eCogra.
• Online casino website encrypted with security certificates like SSL

Safe and Secure Online Casino

The security at an online casino is crucial. Even if the casino itself is fair, they need to take action to enhance security like having encryption of the site to make it harder for third parties to get access to protected personal data and information. A good thing to look for is the SSL-certificate that tells you the site is encrypted.

How do I know an online casino is fair?

Provided the casino has a license to operate it’s of great importance to have credible casinos software. A Random Number Generator makes sure the numbers are random and not affected by earlier winnings. The Return To Player value is the number every slot has that tells you how much it pays out on average.

Fair Checklist:

• Credible casino software like PlayTech, Microgaming or NetEnt.
• Random Number Generation for fairness.
• Return To Player value makes sure you have decent odds.

The Benefit of New Casinos

New online casinos have the latest technology in terms of payment services and casino game software. Together with new ideas, this often results in a far more entertaining casino experience. If this was not enough, new casinos offer higher bonuses with more generous terms to attract the well needed new players.

Compare Internet Casinos

At CasinoRank we compare online casinos, and we have the experience to do this thanks to twenty years of experience. When we review an online casino, we are always looking at a couple of things. The casino needs to have a license to operate as an online casino. To have a license is very important and provides a level of safety for you as a gambler. The casino shall have been proven fair in an independent audit.

When we review a casino, we are in contact with the casino. To get a live contact with the casino is something we do to get an impression of the casino and the support staff. How the team treats us when we are having issues are very important for us. And we hope you value it too.

When we are evaluating casinos, we have an internal checklist we follow to make sure we sustain a good level of quality in our work. We think it’s a good idea to share it with you.

Compare checklist:

• User terms: The casino shall protect your personal information and data
• Deposit options: Supporting the most common deposit options
• Withdrawal options: You want the same withdrawal options as deposit options
• Withdrawal times: You don’t want to wait longer than needed when you cash out
• Payment terms: Large winnings are often divided over days, weeks or even months
• Bonus offers: What bonus offers does the casino has
• Bonus terms: What terms are limiting the possibility to win with bonus money
• Wagering requirement: What is the wagering requirement on bonus money and winnings
• Casino software: What casino software has the casino to offer
• Game selection: You want your favorite in the casinos game selection
• Loyalty program: A nice loyalty program makes the experience better
• Licensing: A credible license ensures the casino follows industry standards
• Fairness: The casino shall have proof of fairness from the third party
• Support hours: You need to get support at the times you are active
• Support methods: Sometimes e-mail is not enough and you want to call

Online Casinos In The United Kingdom

The UK online casino market is a booming industry. The player count at online casinos, sportsbooks, bingo sites and the like increases by the day, as the factors of convenience and a wide choice of betting products, are too good to pass up on.

UK online casinos are also one of the safest places to gamble online, as the industry is well-maintained and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. This means you can expect immediate and secure deposits, as well as timely payouts of your winnings. It is also perfectly legal to place bets online at any UKGC-licensed website as long as you’re at least 18 years old.

What’s more, UK casinos often offer 1000+ games at your disposal, a myriad of bonuses and promotions, fast-access to customer support and a variety of payment options. Looking to get started? Have a look at our list of reviewed and recommended UK online casinos to find the best online gaming destinations for you. Pick your casino, make a deposit, and you are good to go.

Mobile Casinos In The United Kingdom

Mobile casinos are ever-rising in popularity, as more and more players prefer gaming on the go due to its simplicity and ease of use. More than 80% of UK residents own a smartphone, and more than 50% of online bets in the UK are placed via mobile phones or tablets – most notably via the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy. As the super-fast 5G technology has started rolling out across the country via providers such as Vodafone, O2 and Three, players can access their favorite gambling activities with little to no interruptions caused by connection issues. Thus, we expect the trend of mobile gambling to rise even further in the near and distant future.

Online casinos are quick to adapt to shifting trends, and thus accommodate gamers via specialized mobile apps for iOS and Android, or mobile-optimized casino websites. What’s more, gaming developers design their games with mobile in mind, meaning you can expect hundreds of mobile slots 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 navigational structure and quick access to customer support and payment options. We make sure to cover the mobile accessibility of each UK casino we review.

History of Gambling In The United Kingdom

Casino, sports and bingo gambling are a big part of UK culture, as it can be witnessed by the myriad of sponsorships on famous sports teams, frequent ads on television and general marketing across the country. Gambling has a long and complicated history in the United Kingdom, with laws going as far back as the 16th century. In 1541, the Unlawful Games Act made all forms of gambling illegal, but only on paper, as the law was hardly enforced.

The general trend over the years and centuries of gambling in the UK shows the government trying to minimize and over-regulate gambling, with the public holding back and showing resistance, be it through “underground” betting shops, rules not being enforced, and the like.

Numerous gambling acts in 1710, 1728, 1738, 1739, and 1744 made attempts at additional regulation of the market, with mixed results. The gambling act of 1845 is somewhat of a landmark in the history of UK gambling, as it legalized games of skill and made cheating illegal.

Over time, gambling establishment kept rising in popularity, and additional regulations were introduced via several bills throughout the ‘1800s.

Eventually, as the government saw that gambling isn’t going to perish, but was instead gaining more traction, they legalized private betting shops via the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960. Today, gambling is more popular than ever in the UK, and online bets account for 35% of all gambling activity on UK soil. The future is bright for online casinos and UK gamers alike, but land casinos and betting shops such as Ladbrokes are also heavily popular.

If you prefer land casinos to online gambling, the most popular land casinos in the UK are the Grosvenor chain of casinos, the Hippodrome Casino in London, Genting Casino chain and the Rainbow Casino chain – to name a few. There’s no shortage of physical casinos in the UK, that’s for certain, and with both online and offline markets booming, there seem to be no stop signs in sight.

Are Casinos Legal In The United Kingdom?

Online gambling is legal in many forms in the United Kingdom, with the legal age minimum being 18 years. The first legal gambling act in recent history was passed in the early ‘60s, allowing the operation of bingo halls and sports betting shops, but with a few restrictions in place. Not long after, in 1968, we saw the legalization of commercial land-based casinos that offer table games. Fast forward to the turn of our century, UK gambling laws were not ready to catch up with the boom of online gambling from the 2000s and onwards, and thus the legality of UK gamers placing online wagers was largely ambiguous.

However, the Gambling Act of 2005 cleared things up big time and made it so that all UK casinos operating on UK soil must acquire a license by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC is the only authoritative body in charge of licensing and regulating UK online casinos. It is an independent public body financed by the government’s Department of Sport, Media and Culture. This act streamlined gambling in the UK and played a big part in stabilizing the industry, while at the same time eliminating risks of underage gambling and money laundering.

In 2014, The Gambling Act was amended to add another rule: off-shore based online casinos that offer gambling services to UK customers must also obtain a UKGC license. The exception to this rule is “Whitelisted Gambling Jurisdictions”, which are licensing authorities endorsed by the UKGC as safe and legal places to gamble online. The current whitelisted jurisdiction are Alderney, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Tasmania and Antigua and Barbuda, meaning you are safe to place bets at online casinos licensed by these jurisdiction.

The Best Online Casino Games for UK players

The UK has a great influence on gaming trends across the world, but it is just as subject to trends creeping in their culture from the “outside world”. It is generally known that bingo and sports betting are widely popular across UK soil, but in terms of casino games, there are no single standout titles to feature.

Slot machines, often called fruit machines, take center stage at most UK online casinos, and with good reason to boot. They are flashy, fast-paced and exciting. Naturally, they can generate some grand winnings as well. Video Slots and Progressive Jackpots are most popular among UK gamers, but Classic Slots are still a mainstay, despite their dated graphics and gameplay mechanics.

The Pontoon was the preferred Blackjack variant of UK gamers in times gone by, played with a single deck of 52 cards, but nowadays players are scattering their playtime to the dozens of available Table Game variants offered by modern gaming suppliers.

How We Select The Best Online Casinos In The UK

Our review process involves looking at each aspect of an online casino and determining an overall score based on how they met our standards and expectations.

Some online casinos will be inevitably better than others, but all of our recommended casinos are safe to place real money bets. Below we’ll list the most important factors we look at and how they fare when it comes to UK casinos.

Security Of Casino Websites 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. As per UK law, all online casinos that aim to service residents of the UK must obtain a license by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the only gambling regulatory body in the UK. The UKGC keeps a close eye on casino operators and imposes strict standards that ensure smooth operation and most importantly – fair treatment to customers.

Operators who disobey the UKGC risk large monetary punishments, or even license removal. What’s more, players who feel they’ve been wrongfully stripped of their winnings or mistreated in any other way can file a complaint with the UKGC.

Additionally, UK casinos have baseline online security standards such as SSL encryption, safeguarding all your personal information such as account details and payment method info.

Language Of Casino Websites In The UK

Naturally, all UK casinos are available in UK English. Many respected UK brands also aim to serve a wide European player base and are thus available in additional languages such as Swedish, Norwegian, German and Finnish. Customer support is generally available in English, and rarely in other languages.

Customer Support in UK Online Casinos

Customer support is one of the most essential factors for having a good time while playing. When an inevitable question pops on your mind, or some issue interrupts your gameplay, it is good to know you can rely on a fast customer support channel to resolve your matter in no time. Fortunately, UK online casinos are well aware of this, and most of them offer professional customer service via live chat.

The casinos that offer live chat 24/7 get bonus points in our book, but what’s more important is the quality of the support offered, as well as the response times. A few minutes is a reasonable waiting time, which may rarely extend up to 5-10 minutes during peak hours.

Additionally, most UK casinos offer a local phone support number you can dial for a more personal touch. Alternatively, requesting a callback is also an option at some casinos.

Players have grown accustomed to live chat and rarely feel the need for phone support, which is why we withhold our strict judgment for UK casinos without a phone line.

Bonuses And Promotions At UK Online Casinos

Every UK online casino, without exception, makes sure to welcome new players with a generous welcome bonus. What’s more, many of these casinos extend their generosity with recurring promotions such as Holiday bonuses, weekly and monthly bonuses, and so forth.

UK Casino Welcome Bonuses

The welcome bonus is usually the most valuable promotional offer you can claim at any online casino. These bonuses are available exclusively on your first deposit, meaning you have one chance of claiming them. Generally, a first deposit welcome bonus will match your deposit by 100% up to £100, doubling your money in the process. This is not exactly free money, as wagering requirements and other terms and conditions are involved, but they are worth claiming all things considered.

Free Spins at UK Casinos

Occasionally, a UK online casino will treat you with a Free Spins bonus on a specific game. The funds you win from these free spins are later converted into bonus cash that needs to be wagered. In some cases, however, your bonus cash is wager-free and yours to withdraw immediately.

UK Casino No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses are highly sought after in the online casino market. The name speaks for itself; you get bonus money to play without depositing real cash in the process.

Many online casinos offer £10 no deposit bonuses or 10 Free Spins to new UK customers, but be wary that these bonuses come with higher wagering requirements and cash out limits.

Software Suppliers And Gaming Selection At UK Online Casinos

UK online casinos are at the height of the industry when it comes to gaming selection. Usually powered by UK market leaders such as Playtech or Gamesys, alongside European giants in the likes of Net Entertainment, Microgaming, Yggdrasil and Play N Go, the gaming selection at UK casinos should rarely be a concern for players. We make sure to mention the good and the bad of the gaming selection in our casino reviews, but we’ve yet to come up with a UK casino that falls short of our expectations in this regard.

Slot Machines

As a UK gamer, you can expect hundreds of top-quality slot machines regardless of where you venture. Video Slots boast the best graphics, animations, sound effects and winning potential, but a myriad of Classic Slots are also on offer if you’re looking for retro-styled fruit machines. Popular examples include Mystery Joker 6000, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Immortal Romance, Dead or Alive and Thunderstruck II. Progressive Slots are also a big thing among UK gamers, with titles such as NetEnt’s Mega Fortune and Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, both capable of rewarding you with millions in a single spin. The current jackpot record holder is a UK soldier from Cheshire who won £13.2m on Mega Moolah at Betway Casino, all from a 25p spin.

Table Games

Table Game lovers can usually enjoy a rich selection of the finest classics: Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Poker, Video Poker and occasionally Craps. What’s more, gaming providers have crafted dozens of variants based on these games that can make for interesting game sessions. Lookup a UK casino’s gaming library, and you will find over a dozen Blackjack variants, for instance.

Live Casino

The Live Casino is a true haven for online casino players fond of games of skill. Live dealer tables are brought to you via high definition streams and professional presenters you can engage with via live chat. In front of you, you have the ability to chat, place numerous bets, and enjoy a generally lively and immersive atmosphere from the comfort of your home. Evolution Gaming is a standout live gaming provider, hosting tables such as Blackjack Party, Immersive Roulette, Deal or no Deal, Monopoly Live, and many others.

Video Poker

Although Video Poker is far more popular in the US in contrast to Europe and the UK, Video Poker titles can be found in varying amounts across UK online casinos. The titles on offer are usually Deuces Wild, All American, Joker Poker, Aces & Faces and Aces & Eights.

Other Games

If you’re looking for a break away from the usual set of Slots and Table Games, you’ll be happy to know that most UK casinos have special sections hosting Scratch Cards, Keno and Virtual Sports Games.