Home » Best UK Casino Sites (2021)

Best UK Casino Sites (2021)

Great Britain is one of the oldest and most important territories of the gambling world and Britons have an insatiable appetite for online gambling. So, it comes as no surprise that there are hundreds of casino sites based in the UK. However, the abundance of options doesn’t mean that each and every casino should be placed among the top. We know that separating the best casino sites in UK from the rest has become a daunting task. That’s why we decided to go the extra mile for you and reviewed them product-wise and in terms of transparency; in order to bring you those that feature the best bonuses, a great range of slots & games as well as fast payouts.

Best casino sites UK

The following list consists of the best casino websites UK has to offer. They feature excellent welcome bonuses, 1000+ slots and fast withdrawals. So, check our list of UK casino sites and make your choice.

How we rate the best UK casino sites

If you’re wondering how we rate the top casino sites UK has to offer; you should simply keep in mind that all of them share some common characteristics. So, without further ado, we list the distinctive features that define online casinos that are based in the UK.

Top bonuses

Playing on a UK online casino means you get to enjoy tempting welcome offers. The most common types are matched deposit bonuses, free spins and no deposit bonuses. Many British casinos combine their sign up bonus with free spins (i.e. 100% bonus up to £100 + 50 free spins) and others offer exclusive welcome packages. No matter which bonus you opt for, always remember to check its terms. There will certainly be some applicable wagering requirements and the tougher they are (e.g. x60 times the deposit amount in 7 days), the more challenging it will be to complete them. Plus, always check the games that contribute to the aforementioned requirements, the payments that are excluded and on which slots are the free spins valid.

UKGC license

The United Kingdom is one of the most tightly regulated gambling regions in the world. So, playing on legitimate operators that have been approved by the UKGC, such as the ones featured in the list above; guarantees that you will indeed get your winnings and that you always play in a safe environment with all the necessary data protection protocols in place. Plus, keep in mind that the British casino sites which are regulated by the Gambling Commission have clear T&Cs and implement strict KYC procedures. So don’t trust operators that claim to offer you gameplay without any verification.

Variety of slots & games

If there’s one thing casino sites UK offer, that’s a wide range of slots and games. Choosing one of the best UK casino sites from our list means you will get to play all popular table games, such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat. Plus, if you are a live dealer games’ enthusiast; in most casinos you will find 20+ live tables of roulette and blackjack available. Online slots are also widely popular in the UK. So, the best British casino sites offer around 1000 titles each. Moreover, you will find lots of slots offering a progressive jackpot.

Games by top software providers

The games featured on online UK casinos sites are offered by top-notch providers. Among them there are some big names like NetEnt, Novomatic, Play’n GO and Pragmatic Play which have been GLI tested and approved by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC); in order to offer their games to British online casinos. This way you can rest assured that the titles you’re enjoying have been thoroughly evaluated.

Verified RTP

The payout of casino sites in Great Britain is verified; since their games are regularly audited by trusted testing agencies like TST and iTech Labs. Furthermore, the top UK casino sites make sure to disclose the payout percentages of the games that they offer. Those casinos come with an overall RTP (Return To Player) of 96%+.

Fast transactions

Deposit/withdrawal speed and ease of use are very important when it comes to choosing on which casino site to play. United Kingdom casino sites come with a wide array of secure payment methods, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Boku and Trustly. No matter which payment you opt for, you can rest assured that you will be able to deposit funds to your account and withdraw your winnings in no time.

How do casino sites UK operate

Since the establishment of the Gambling Act 2005; the British gambling market has become regulated and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has set very high standards towards license holders. The Gambling Commission has issued several different types of licenses including ones for arcade games, remote and non-remote betting & casino operators, bingo, gambling software, online gaming machines, as well as lottery.

So, the best UK online sites hold a remote casino operating license and they are required to be socially responsible, by not accepting underage gamblers. In addition, the best UK casino websites do not accept problem gamblers who have previously self-excluded on GAMSTOP. All in all, UKGC-licensed online casinos have been thoroughly audited on essential aspects, such as fairness and financial transparency; so they manage to keep their standards high.

Are British casino sites safe?

A British online casino that holds a license issued by the UKGC is indeed safe; since the Gambling Commission does not grant licenses to operators that don’t take player protection seriously. More specifically, all licensed British casino sites use encryption technology so as to keep their players’ data & payment info secure and allow them to self-exclude at any time since they are compatible with GAMSTOP. Moreover, the software that all UK casino sites use is reliable and their games & slots are not rigged; since they are successfully tested by independent third-party organizations like eCogra. So a UKGC license is a clear sign that you are gambling on a legit casino site and not on a scam one. Plus, keep in mind that all winnings deriving from a regulated online British casino are tax-free.

How to deposit at United Kingdom online casinos

The UK is undoubtedly one of the leading economies in the world. As a result, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to how you’re going to deposit or withdraw your money on any of the best UK casino sites. The most popular payment methods are debit cards, wire transfer and e-wallets. PayPal is the top e-wallet among British players; while Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard constitute some decent alternatives. When it comes to mobile payments, Boku is quite popular in the region and the same applies to Apple Pay. As for crypto; they are technically accepted, although they aren’t recommended by the Gambling Commission. So, a rather few of the top UK online casino sites offer them as a deposit option.

Advantages of UK licensed online casinos

All licensed UK online casino sites are fully compliant with the UKGC’s fair and transparent terms and practices. This actually means that, if you opt for a licensed casino in the UK; you can rest assured that its T&Cs, as well as its bonus terms, are well-reviewed by the Gambling Commission. So let’s take a closer look at all the benefits of regulated online casinos in Britain.

✔ Transparent terms: As of 7 May 2019, all online casinos which hold a license in Great Britain, are obliged to verify their players’ age before they allow them to gamble. Furthermore, they do not mislead players with bonuses that are not accurate. More specifically, they make sure to clearly display the bonus terms, before a player opts in. Plus, they clearly display the rules of each game and slot that they offer; along with the RTP.

✔ Player protection: All the licensed online casino sites UK offers take gambling addiction very seriously. Thus, as of 31 March 2020 they are obliged to participate in GAMSTOP (i.e. the self-exclusion scheme for the online gambling sector in Britain). Furthermore, they are required to offer deposit limits, as well as session limits in order to promote responsible gambling.

✔ Financial security: According to the UKGC’s provisions, all licensees should keep their business funds and their players’ funds in separate accounts. They must also have SSL encryption implemented so as to keep their players’ payment ID safe and prevent money laundering. Apparently, they aren’t allowed to remove money from any account. Even if they think that the account is dormant. Plus, players are able to withdraw their funds anytime they want.

✔ Fair complaints resolution: All licensees must offer a clear complaint and dispute resolution process. Therefore, all player complaints must be responded within a reasonable time and a resolution should be given within a period of 8 weeks. However, if a player is not satisfied with the resolution given by the casino he chose to play on; he can simply escalate the dispute to an ADR or even take it to IBAS.

Disadvantages of UK licensed casinos

Apart from the aforementioned pros that they bring to the table; online casinos that are regulated in the UK have some significant cons too. For instance, they should apply bonus restrictions to players that are having serious gambling issues. Thus, let’s take a look at all the disadvantages of online casino sites in Great Britain.

Restrictions on slots: On February 2, 2021, the UKGC announced a series of restrictions for online casino sites in order to promote safer gambling. So, all licensees are obliged to remove the autoplay, as well as the quick spin feature (slot spin speed faster than 2.5 seconds) from their websites. Moreover, they should clearly display to their players their total losses and wins and the time played during each online slots session. All aforementioned restrictions must be implemented no later than October 31, 2021.

Strict ID verification: In order to prevent underage gambling; a United Kingdom online casino is obliged by the Commission to take players through an extensive verification process. Therefore, players are kindly requested to verify their age before they get to make their first deposit and gamble. On top of that, they should also send several documents, like an ID card photo and a copy of their payment ID, in order to get their identity verified.

Credit cards not accepted: As of April 14, 2020 credit cards have been banned in the UK for gambling account funding. This measure apparently applies to all casinos that operate in the country; so players who gamble on them are in constant search of decent alternatives. Luckily, the best British online casinos offer a wide range of payment options, such as bank wire, debit cards and e-wallets.

Other payment-related limitations: As regards casino websites UK Gambling Commission has also introduced a permanent ban on reverse withdrawals. More specifically, this function used to allow players to re-gamble money that they had previously requested to withdraw. Other than that, UK casino sites are not considered Bitcoin-friendly casinos; since the UKGC simply doesn’t recommend crypto transactions.

Is it worth playing on UK online casino sites?

As soon as the UKGC came into force in 2007; casino sites in UK operate in a well-regulated market. However, no one can deny the fact that in recent years the Gambling Commission has applied strict restrictions (i.e. autoplay ban on slots) on all its casino licensees; in an effort to promote safer gambling.

Nonetheless, the pros of gambling on online casino sites which are regulated in the UK outweigh by far the cons. First of all, their games & slots are offered by legit software providers. Moreover, the top online casino sites UK offers, guarantee for a high RTP. Plus, they offer fast and secure transactions. To put it simply, if safety remains your top priority; then British online casinos are what suits you the best.

FAQ

1. Is it legal to gamble online in the UK?

It’s 100% legal, as long as you are playing on an operator that’s licensed by the UKGC. As mentioned above; the Gambling Act of 2005 made gambling (both online and offline) legal and introduced a framework to control it. The corresponding regulator that’s in charge of the auditing and evaluation process, in this case, is the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.

2. Are there a lot of new UK casinos?

With online gaming being such a huge tradition in the country; there are new UK casino sites launched all the time. Some of them are members of larger groups or brands with many years of experience in the industry; while others are complete newcomers. A good idea to always stay updated is to regularly check out our New Online Casinos page.

3. Can I play on casinos that are not licensed in the UK?

Well, you might be able to gamble on an operator that’s not licensed by the UKGC; although the Commission has banned a great deal of websites that haven’t been approved. However, choosing an unlicensed UK online casino means there’s no guarantee that you will indeed be paid. In addition, UKGC licensed casinos have been tested on data security and protection.

4. How do I ensure I am playing at a safe UK online casino?

The best British casinos run on encryption security protocols. A good way to find out if the site is secure is to check for HTTPS in the URL. Additionally, if the operator is endorsed by organizations such as eCogra; it means that the casino’s software has been tested and approved on fairness.

5. Are UK casino payout percentages accurate enough?

The best payout casino sites UK has to offer are tested by third-party organizations; such as TST, GLI and eCogra which audit how fair their software is. As a result, the payout percentages they announce are definitely true and backed by the equivalent certificates.

6. What is the best online casino site UK?

That is a tough question to answer, since in order to find the best UK casino site, one should apply a series of certain criteria. So, you should simply look for casinos that offer a 96%+ RTP, along with fast transactions and a wide variety of slots & games offered by top-notch software providers.

7. How much does a casino license cost UK?

All legal online casinos in the United Kingdom operate with a remote casino operating license issued by the UKGC. In order to receive one; an online casino should pay an application fee of £57,304. On top of that, an annual fee of at least £512,083 is also required.

8. How many online casinos are in the UK?

At the moment, according to the official website of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission; 227 online operators hold a remote casino license. Consequently, all of them can legally offer their services online in the UK and accept British players.

9. How to report a cheating online casino UK?

If you accidentally come across a rigged online casino that manages to operate in the UK; then you should simply contact the Gambling Commission. Besides, the last thing you want is to join a scam online casino that hasn’t been approved by the UKGC.

10. How to check if online casinos are ok UK?

If you simply want to know the criteria that you should apply in order to determine whether or not a UK casino site is legit; we got you covered. So, first look for the UKGC logo on the footer of the casino website you consider opting for. As soon as you do so, make sure that there are games by well-known casino providers (i.e. Novomatic, NetEnt) and you’re good to go.