Casino Sites

casino sitesPlaying casino online is now easier than ever with thousands of table and slot games available from many great game developers.  Faster internet speeds, better software and high competition has also resulted in a flourishing industry with fantastic value offers and promotions that is great news for UK punters.

Casino gaming is licensed in the UK, and if you play with a regulated casino (like those we list below) you will receive all the same protections by law that you would do in a real world casino.  This means your funds are secured and you are protected from fraud and misleading offers.

Below we list some of the best any most reputable casino sites in the UK, all have been used and tested by us, over years in many cases, and we guarantee if you stick to these operators you cannot go far wrong.

We have also selected a wide variety of websites to suit a broad range of players, whether you are looking for a smooth and sleek casino, vibrant and colourful, lots of offers, great loyalty, certain payment methods, etc., we’ve got a brand listed to suit you.

Casino bonuses are some of the most generous offers of any type.  This is not a con, these huge deals are a result of a very competitive market combined with lower overheads of running casinos online.  They are certainly worth using, for more information about bonuses and features read our full casino reviews.  Bear in mind that the offers shown in the reviews and in the table below are for new customers, you must be at least 18 years old to claim and terms and criteria will apply.  Gamble responsibly.

Looking For Casino Bonuses?

betting offers man with cash

Just like bookies, most online casinos offer bonuses to new players. These range in value from a handful of free spins to a cheeky tenner or even several hundred pounds. You can find a full list of these promotions on the pages below.

Best Casino Sites in the UK

Please bet responsibly (18+). Terms and conditions apply. BeGambleAware.org | Gamstop.co.uk #ad
Operator
Min Deposit
Notes
Visit
BetVictor
£5

Eminently Professional

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

The BetVictor casino is probably the most stylish and professional online casino that you will ever see. This is not a site with flashy features and quirky offers, rather this is a casino for serious players who want to play good games on a great interface. The casino runs games from 24 different software providers with solid good value offers each week that give ordinary players real extra value.

BetVictor can also boast one of the best all round packages with an exceptional sportsbook alongside. For professional players, or those that simply want a refined casino site, this is a fantastic option.

bet365
£5

Our Favourite Casino

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad
Written from personal experience that could be subject to change and location. Customer eligibility is the decision of the bet365.

Bet365 don't overstate things, they just get on with producing world class betting and gaming products and never shout about it too loudly. These guys have been in this game pretty much as long as anyone and have been leading the line when it comes to their casino and games provision for decades now.

This casino site boasts the highest retention rate in the industry, with more existing customers coming back to play than with any other brand. There is a reason for this, no other operator can match their package of titles, banking options, honest value offers, and loyalty.

Skill On Net
£10
The Fair Casino

PlayOJO only came into existence in 2017 but have already achieved quite the following based on their commitment to being a fair casino. This isn't just a tag line, they actually focus everything around being as open, clear and honest with customers as possible and this makes a really refreshing change. For example, the brand do not have wagering requirements on their offers, anything you win is yours to keep, they pay all bonus wins in cash, there are no maximum win amounts and no withdrawal restrictions, you can take out as much or as little as you want.

Having fair terms is one thing but you need the games to back it up and PlayOJO do that well with games from over 20 different developers resulting in over 3000 titles. One nice aspect is you can search games by provider. Personally one of my favourite casinos in years.

Petfre Group
£5

Low Deposit Limits

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

BetFred are one of the last truly independent casino sites, they have not merged or sold out to anyone and this means you get a unique experience that you won't get elsewhere. A professional casino site with games from IGT, Playtech and others, and there is no shortage of great existing customer promotions and features. This is a fantastic option in particular if you want a UK focused world leading sportsbook alongside too.

Perhaps not the most modern of sites but if what matters to you is the range of games and quality of promotions then you couldn't be happier than with Betfred.

Rank
£5

UK's biggest Land-Based Casino

Grosvenor have the perfect balance of old and new; they have been going since the 1970's and run over half of the land-based casinos in the UK, but unlike many other traditional brands Grosvenor hasn't resulted in a tired 'old style' online casino - when you look at it you would think it belongs to a new modern company.

The resources available at Grosvenor are self evident, they have a tremendous catalogue of games, top end promotions, exceptional customer support and tons of banking options. They are also very good at rewarding loyal customers, and even have linked benefits for those that like to play in their real-world casinos too.

L&L Europe
£10
45 Different Jackpots

All British Casino have now been around for over a decade and have become a seasoned brand for UK players. The brand boasts an impressive array of nearly 1400 casino games made up of nearly 1100 slots and 45 jackpot games from leading provides such as Netent, Microgaming, Evolution, IGT, Next Gen, Play n'Go and Scientific. They also feature a lot of niche studios such as Amatic, Just for the Win, Slingshot and others. On balance one of the best catalogues you will see for variety and choice.

Having been in business a fair while the brand is stable and well backed, this means customers get a wide choice of payment methods, fair limits and very good 24/7 support. They also now have a sportsbook too, meaning they are suited to gamers who like to place the odd sports bet too.

Kindred
£10

Major Microgaming Casino

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

32Red boast a more loyal customer base than pretty much any other casino in the world. They have achieved this by staying true to what their users want over the long term; good games, a simple usable interface, and a first class loyalty scheme where you earn Red Ruby Points that can be converted to free spins and cash at a very generous rate.

The casino is a Microgaming specialist with over 1,000 games available as instant play via your browser, although there are also many games from other developers within that number. This includes things like slingo, slots, table games, and more.

One of the oldest online casinos around they have kept touch with their roots and retained a classical functional casino site that is ultimately useful for the user. If it aint broke don't fix it.

Blue Star Planet
£10

Lots Of Promotions

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

To customers in the UK, 10bet are probably better known for their sportsbook which has been around since 2003. The casino was a relatively new addition, launching in the UK in 2015. The casino offers games from Netent, Microgaming, Quickspin, iSoftBet and Evolution which can all be played directly in your browser. 10bet have been known to offer regular reload bonuses and cashback, as well as season themed promotions and giveaways.

Not the prettiest site you might play with but in terms of what is under the bonnet very few betting companies can beat them. If you like to bet on sports too, especially football, then with 10bet you can do it all in house with bigger depth than anywhere else.

BetVictor
White Label
£5
New To UK 2020
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Parimatch in the UK are a white label of BetVictor, in fact they are the only white label BetVictor has ever run making them highly unique among white label brands. Usually white labels are short lived underfunded clones but this is not the case with Parimatch. Why? Because Parimatch are a massive brand that have been around since 1994, established in the Ukraine they have become on of Europe's biggest and most well known brands. BetVictor on the other hand are a massive UK brand that have been around for 70-odd years, well before everything went online.

This is therefore a good match up of experience and knowledge. They have decided to work with BV in the UK because BV know and understand this market. This allows them to produce an instantly high quality site with Parimatch that includes: high level deposit protection (you will literally never see that with another white label), low payment limits for deposits and high limits for withdrawals, one of the best selections of games and features from over half a dozen high quality providers, bespoke promotions and more.

The perfect site for those that want to play with a new casino site but do not want to compromise on quality

LeoVegas Gaming Group
£10

Multi-Award Winning

LeoVegas have one of the best, if not the best mobile casino in the world. The site and apps are available on all platforms but this is truly optimised for mobile, tablet, and small screen devices.

The multiple award winning casino provides hundreds of gaming options from leading software companies like Microgaming and NetEnt plus many others. There is a great promotions page with genuinely useful regular offers on a simple but superbly functional interface.

The site regularly updates its game list too, so logging on from one week to the next will usually be a different experience with new releases ready to be tried and anything that was getting dusty shelved to make room.

Aspire Global
White Label
£10

Quality Over Quantity

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

If variety of games is what you want but you don't want to have to search through 4,000 titles to find them then Mr.Play is your perfect casino site. They only list around 700 games but they select them from around 40 different developers, meaning the quality of product here is truly outstanding.

Mr.Play is never going to take home any design awards, if anything it looks like a website from 10 years ago (it's better on mobile to be fair). If, however, you don't mind a more no frills interface and your main concern is the selection of games then you won't find many better casinos than this. Live casino is catered for by Evolution as well as selections from Authentic.

They offer all the major banking methods and have a good suite of promotions to support the superb collection of titles.

Football Pools Limited
£5
56 Different Providers
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

The Pools comes from the famous old Football Pools that is still going 100 years after it first started in the 1920's. Things have changed a lot since then and today The Pools offers a fully fledged betting site that offers both sports betting and casino along with those old pools games that are much loved.

As a casino in its own right The Pools has a really nice mix of around 500 games from over 50 different providers. There is serious variety here but that isn't surprising from a company that have been around as long as they have. They wouldn't be here today if they didn't fully understand what customers need and this is one of the stand out aspects of this brand. If you want a good casino and all round betting site but you want to be safe in the knowledge that it is run by sensible people then this is a great option. The brand is still based in the UK (Liverpool) today.

NetBet
£10

38 Game Providers

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

NetBet are one of the more modern betting companies that don't identify themselves as specifically a bookmaker or a casino, but a general all purpose betting site. They offer hundreds of games from the like of NetEnt, Microgaming and IGT, plus a dozen others with a very good searchable interface that even lets you search games by software provider.

The primary selling point of NetBet is their promotions that are frequent and apply to both low and high stakes players. They are very good for existing customer bonuses, cash back, free spins and almost every other type of offer you can think of.

NetBet also provide Poker, Lottery betting, live casino (powered by Evolution) and virtual sports, so there is very little you can't do here.

Aspire Global
£10

Colourful and Characterful

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Karamba is an award winning online casino featuring games from big providers such as Microgaming, Netent and Next Gen with a total of around 750 titles at any one time. In particular they are worth a mention for their mobile gaming, which has been set up with a mobile-first approach that emphasises how bad some other sites are on small screens.

This is certainly one of the more modern breeds of casino sites but what they do they do very well, customers are loyal and terms are clear. If you are looking for a bit more colour and character when you play slots and games this has to be up there with the best looking sites.

Aspire Global
White Label
10
1000+ Slots
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

HeySpin has a lot of slots, you can guess that from the name, over 1000 of them. They are operated by AG Communications who operate more casino sites than any other operator in the UK. That may sound like a bad thing but what that means is AG can operate the economies of scale and this means they can negotiate good deals with games providers. As a result this site offers all the big games from the leading providers as well as plenty of games from more niche studios.

What makes HeySpin a bit different is they also have a top sportsbook powered by SB Tech (DraftKings) that has everything the normal punter would want, including racing. This site is definitely aimed at those that play games and want to place bets all under one roof. It is a perfect example of a modern betting site, it has everything you need and it is is delivered seamlessly with a very slick interface.

Entain
£5

Huge History In Gaming

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

A sophisticated and stylish online casino with a selective list of games from a great range of developers. Gala Casino is part of the Entain empire so it is well supported and financed, and this shows in the quality of the site. As further evidence of this, it is one of the few online casinos with a high deposit protection level making it a very safe place to play.

Powered by Playtech among other top developers, they have a live casino, loads of jackpots including some of their own, a nice selection of scratch and slingo games, as well as enough table games to keep the average player happy. Promotions do run but they aren't the main selling point of this site, although Gala make up for this in other ways.

Vivaro Limited
£10

7000+ Games

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Anyone thinking VBet's casino plays second fiddle to the sportsbook need only take a look at the 7000+ games on offer to realise very quickly that they are mistaken. With names like Playtech, Evolution, and NetEnt to name just a few, the content available here is industry leading, and it is surprisingly easy to browse the huge catalogue and bookmark games you want to revisit.

VBet is welcoming to players of all pocket sizes too, with a £5 minimum deposit on most methods leaving the door open to those with limited funds, and customer service is available 24/7 so any issues can be quickly resolved. You can play on any device including your mobile, and the BetGames prove to be a very welcome change of pace for anyone looking for a little bit more from their online casino.

L&L Europe
£10
45 Different Jackpots
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

With over 1400 games and nearly 50 different jackpots you get far more games here than you would get in any real pub. As the name suggests this is a very British site that deliberately showcases the most popular titles on these shores. With games from all the major names like NetEnt, Evolution and Microgaming but also with some more bespoke studios like No Limit City, Eyecon and Hacksaw.

The site also features a very good sportsbook for those that like both. The overall model here is about rewarding longer term over time by offering cashback, you won't get flashy free spin offers here but you can get added value over time.

Dazzletag
£10
Focus Purely On Games

This is a very straight forward site from Dazzletag that focuses purely on games (with a bit of bingo), which is the exact reason we recommend them. For those players that want to find a casino site where the games are front and centre with no other products and filler then this is a great site.

The whole ethos of Dazzletag has always been to create simple sites that allow the games to shine and Peachy Games, launched in 2019, does that better than any other. They feature games from over a twenty providers but it is their existing customer loyalty points that is one of the biggest reasons why customers keep coming back and why they have some of the highest retention in the market.

Aspire Global
White Label
£10
Over 50 Providers
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Given its name Vegasland doesn't need too much introduction as a casino site, given it is born out of the most famous casino location in the world. This site run by AG communications comes with a hell of a lot of games. They have over 50 providers on board with literally thousands of games at any one time. This is backed up by really strong customer support and an array of banking options, including PayPal.

The nicest aspect of this site is how it looks. It has a light and calm theme, with a bit of a 1950's vibe going on. It is a very easy site to use and navigate, which is useful given the number of developers they list.

The Rank Group
£10

Nice Casino-Only Site

Spin and Win were part of the old Daub Alderney group that is now owned by the even older Rank Group, so you know there is a lot of experience and a good amount of resources backing this casino. This is always a comfort when playing at a new online casino, as it sets them apart from those casinos that are there one day and gone the next.

The multi-software (NetEnt, Daub, Micro, Play'N Go, etc) site offers over 1,100 instant play games on desktop and mobile and comes with a hugely valuable welcome package plus a loyalty reward scheme.

If you are fed up of the same old faces when it comes to casino brands then perhaps give Spin and Win a go. If you just want to play games and don't need a sportsbook, bingo, lotteries, etc., then you may find this a good option.

Kindred
£5

Part Of Same Group As 32Red

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Unibet are the archetypal modern betting brand in that they are known equally as being a sportsbook and casino. They are the premiere brand of the Kindred group and they have a huge amount of resources and experience.

Their casino offers a large selection of games from over a dozen providers including the likes of NetEnt, Play’n GO, and Microgaming, and they also offer bingo, poker, live casino and pretty much anything else you could want to bet on.

The brand is known for having good customer loyalty and this is largely due to the frequency and value of their existing customer bonuses that are aimed at all types of user, no matter their stake. Their tournaments and prize features are especially good and those that play a lot of casino regard Unibet as one of the best places to go.

Belbridge Consultancy
£10

Daily & Weekly Special Promos

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Quinnbet are a brand that run on the FSB platform but are unique in the sense they are a family owned operation who seem to understand long term value, unlike the investment companies that run many white-labels.

On the face of it the site seems simple but this is no negative as it makes game-play supremely easy, which let's face it is what we want most when we play games online. Their best tribute is their loyalty offers for existing users that are both regular and numerous.

Dazzletag
£10
It's All About The Games Here

The best thing about FruitKings is it doesn't try to be more than it is, it is simply a gaming site and that in itself makes it attractive for those who want to just play games without the distraction of sports, bingo and all sorts of other things. That comes as no surprise though as this is a Dazzletag brand and that is what this group are all about, do the basics right and the rest will follow.

FruitKings offer games from around a dozen of the top developers, including: Evolution, Microgaming and Netent but the real reason this site have a high number of returning customers is for their simple, clear and effective loyalty points scheme. By focusing on just one product and doing it well this brand have managed to do things that the Jack of all trades sites cannot.

Taichi Tech Limited
£10
Easy To Use Site
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Fafabet is a UK owned FSB powered site that is all about a clean and crisp interface that showcases games and markets above all else. It is perfectly aimed at the UK and showcases the best games that are most popular in the market.

The benefit of being powered by a third-party software is FSB are able to negotiate games licenses on mass meaning lower fees and so more games available. Currently Fafabet offer around 1200 games from tons of providers, pretty impressive.

Dazzletag
£10
Simple Casino, Good Loyalty

Play Sunny is an online casino that has been running since 2014 and is one of the oldest Dazzletag brands. The beauty of this group and this casino in particular is it doesn't pretend to be anything other than it it. It is simply a casino offering games from leading providers like NetEnt and Microgaming without any other clutter or nonsense. An ideal site for those that just want to play games and not engage in the other stuff.

The layout is simple, some may say dated, but it is absolutely functional and if it isn't broke don't fix it.

The brand stands out for its loyalty features where you can earn loyalty and experience points that can be exchanged for free spins and bonuses. Like the site in general the scheme is straight forward and clear, which is probably why they have so many loyal customers that have been playing for years.

Dribble Media
£5
30 Different Providers
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

If you like to search your casino games by provider then head over to Midnite because the way they have set up their games means you can - much more easily than on any other site. With over 30 providers on site from big studios like NetEnt, Pragmatic, Play'n Go and Evolution to more niche developers like Fantasma, Wizard, Spinberry and Design Works. In total that makes over 1000 games to choose from but while keeping a wide and distinct variety.

The company behind Midnite started as a mobile fantasy sports platform, then became an eSports betting site, then a full sportsbook and now a casino too. That isn't exactly unique but what is are the people behind the brand who are a newer generation compared to those that run the big old traditional names. This means you get a site that is different and built for the modern player. A very nice site indeed.

Rank Group
White Label
£5

Two Live Casinos

If you have ever taken a walk through London's Leicester Square, you will have passed the real Rialto that this online casino is based on. It's now owned and operated by Grosvenor Casinos who themselves are part of the Rank Group, so this is a cut above your regular cut and paste online casino.

The site is fantastic for those who enjoy the real world casino experience as much as the online one, as it attempts to replicate it as much as possible, even providing the ability to bet on real tables from the brick and mortar venue via the live casino.

Basically, if you can find it in a physical casino you will probably find it here, as well as a whole lot more of course. Live casino fans will be especially pleased with the Rialto as they run not one but two live casinos, with a huge number of game variations available.

Playbook Gaming
£10
26 Game Providers, Great Mix

Rhino offer games from 26 providers at the time of writing with a really nice mix of well known studios like NextGen, Evolution and WMS along with more niche developers like Lightning Games, High 5 and Iron Dog. The catalogue is unique and that is down to the fact that Rhino runs on its own proprietary platform and is the in-house brand of Playbook Gaming. This means Playbook have been able to create a bespoke selection you won't find elsewhere.

It's not really the games that is the reason to play here, though. The interface is exceptional. It has been built do do away with flashy features and needless filler you get with all other sites. You will find and load a game on here faster than anywhere else, so if that is what matters to you most you should certainly look at Rhino.

Fitzdares Ltd
£10
Super stylish based on a members club

Fitzdares are best known for their Mayfair private members club in London, they also have one in Gloucester. They have been running these since 2005 offering exclusive member services and gambling options. They have now launched an online site but they have managed to keep the same levels of service you would expect if you were actually in one of their clubs. This is a site that seriously values customers and makes you feel welcome, your loyalty is genuinely rewarded at this site.

the casino is very slick and stylish, pretty much what you would expect from a brand like this. They offer 100's of slots, live games and tables from a host of leading providers. This isn't really the reason to play with them, though. You should choose them if want to feel values and you want loyalty to go both ways.

Goodwin Racing
£10
Top For Sports Too
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

BetGoodwin is synonymous with horse racing and betting in Britain, a famous name that became a popular choice for racing punters well before the internet. Today, however, like most other operators BetGoodwin offer a wide range of gambling options, including a casino that they launched in 2024.

The casino, as with many online casinos, isn't especially stand out. There are around 600 games on offer from a host of providers with live games, slots and table games. The real reason why you might want to consider this as an option is if you also use a sportsbook. If you bet on sports (especially horse racing) as well as play games then there are few that have the options to match these guys.

Eaton Gate Gaming Limited
£10
Unique Games Catalogue
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

If you've used Kwiff in the past for sports you know they are all about doing things differently and that carries through to the casino section too. The site have developed their own unique platform and so it isn't like any other site, they also have their own games licenses so the catalogue is unique. It includes games from popular providers like NetEnt, WMS and Microgaming but also more niche providers like Booming Games, Hacksaw and No Limit Games.

The site is designed to be used on phones and tablets but it is still effectively on desktop if that is how you like to still play your slots and table games. It probably isn't the biggest or best casino in the world but it is unique and if you are sick of seeing the same old clones then certainly worth a go.

Entain
£5

Playtech + Others

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Coral is something of a one-stop-shop for those who enjoy a variety of games. From well-known slots to playing against live dealers, there is something to suit every taste. Coral Casino has some of the lowest deposit and wagering limits, highest payout and withdraw limits, and a choice of almost 1,000 games run by well-known software names, such as Playtech.

The British high street bookmaking brand may not be your first thought when it comes to playing games but in reality these guys are more resourced than typical online only casinos. This means you tend to get far better value, especially when it comes to loyalty and retention offers for existing customers, an area where Coral cannot be beaten.

Boylesports Enterprise
£5

Main Provider Playtech

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Boylesports are definitely mainly a sports bookie and are best suited to those that want to place bets on events and then play games alongside. That said, being one of Ireland's biggest betting companies the site is exceptionally well stocked with games even though it is not the main attraction. They feature titles from Playtech as their headliner, who they have a long running partnership with, which means they have a focused product for those that like Playtech games, but there are titles from other providers too in the 'Games' section.

This is a great site if you like to bet on lots of different products though offering bingo (on the Playtech Virtue Fusion network, of course), poker, lottery games from around the world, virtuals, instant win games, and more. Not a great site for casino only players perhaps, but a brilliant overall gambling site if you like to have lots of different things to do.

Entain
£5

Multiple Providers + Exclusives

T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Ladbrokes operate one of the biggest gaming and betting products in the world. What you won't get here is a niche, minimalist casino site, but what you will get is a colossus of an online casino that is able to put some serious resources behind itself. This starts with a massive welcome bonus, superb value regular promotions and some of the fastest and most diverse banking and customer support options around. Limits are also extremely high.

Don't be put off by the idea that Ladbrokes are a high street bookie, in actuality they provide one of the biggest online casinos available and given the size of the company there are few areas they don't have a presence in.

Aspire Global
White Label
£10
Classy Royal Theme
T&C's Apply. 18+ #ad

Regent Play are one of the Aspire Group casinos, which means they are well backed and have licenses with over 20 leading developers with in excess of 1,000 titles available. They are a very well regarded loyalty program too that has several tiers designed to suit pretty much every type of casino player.

This is a site aimed at those that like to try to replicate the luxury of real world casinos at home and the sleek look and feel of the site does this well, especially in the live casino section.

Betable
£10

Online Since 2008

This is the perfect modern site for those who just want their casino to be a casino. Part of the Betable group, they provide a selection of games from a range of providers to suit a wide range of tastes but without offering so may titles it becomes too hard to find the games you want.

Prospect Hall are particularly strong when it comes to their interface, customer support, and very good retention promotions. Regular players will find a lot of value here and if you are tired of the old style casino websites the sleek style of Prospect Hall will make a nice change.

Online Casino Regulation in the UK

There are still more than a few people that enjoy taking a wander down to the bookies to place a bet or love to head to the casino in their local town in order to soak up the atmosphere. The reality is, though, that more and more gambling is done online than ever before. The proliferation of betting websites and online casinos means that there is more choice that there has ever been when it comes to having a flutter, to say nothing of mobile apps allowing people to place their bets on the go.

Yet how do you discern between one site and another? How do you know whether a new bookmaker that has seemingly sprung up from nowhere is reputable? Is there any way to assess an online casino and know whether you should be placing your money in their hands? The answer to those questions is, of course, ‘yes’. That’s what we’re here for! You can read guides to how to place bets, articles about the types of welcome offers you can take advantage of and even reviews of all of the different betting sites.

UK Gaming and Betting Laws

The British parliament has passed two different acts since the explosion of online betting in order to protect customers from rogue companies looking to take advantage of this brave new world. The first act was named the Gambling Act and it was passed back in 2005. The aim of the act was to ensure that the laws revolving around betting online were made much clearer. The main aim was to make sure that companies offering gambling products to UK customers operated openly, with honesty and fairness to ensure that these new sites couldn’t be used for illegal activities such as money laundering.

Of course no act is perfect and the 2005 Gambling Act missed a few bits and bobs. In fact, around 75% of companies offering online bettering services were being regulated, leading to the introduction of the Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act in 2014. Since then the vast majority of companies operating some form of gambling site in the UK are regulated. If you’re unsure whether or not to sign up and place a bet with a company then have a look to see if they have a UK Gambling Commission licence.

The UK Gambling Commission

This is an independent body that was introduced on the back of the two different Acts of Parliament. The Acts states that a company needed to have a licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission if they wanted to offer their services to people living in the United Kingdom. Companies apply for a licence and are then put through a rigorous examination of their credentials to ensure that they’re going to work in a responsible and fiscally secure manner.

There are three different licences offered by the UK Gambling Commission and which one a company applies for will depend on the services that they’re hoping to offer. If they’re looking to use technology, such as a website or app, then they’ll want a remote licence. If, on the other hand, they’re not interested in using technology and mostly just want to set up a betting shop or casino in the traditional sense then a non-remote licence will do. Nowadays, of course, lots of companies offer a combination of the two and they will, perhaps unsurprisingly, apply for a remote and non-remote licence.

One thing you’ll be pleased to know id that the UK Gambling Commission is an independent, public body that is non-departmental and therefore cannot be interfered with by political parties. The very best way to ensure your money is safe is to only bet with a company that a licence issued by the UKGC. They have a responsibility to operate in a way that protects children and society’s most vulnerable people, so you know that you’re betting in the safest and most secure manner possible.

Safe and Responsible Gaming

Very few people that like to have a bet or two haven’t been caught up in the seductive world that they’re presented with. Perhaps you’ve been promised that a particular horse is going to win and encouraged to bet big on it. Maybe you’ve got yourself into a bit of debt and believe that one large win will solve all of your problems. It could be that you’ve got something coming up like a holiday or a wedding and need that big payoff to ensure you can do it all in style. The problem is that if the big payoff doesn’t come you’re in a worse situation than before and might throw good money after bad.

That why it’s really, really important that you gamble responsibly. The good thing is that reputable betting companies acknowledge that they want to part you from your money, but only if it’s money that you can afford to lose. They promote responsible gambling and encourage you to take advantage of the systems they’ve put in place to stop you from getting yourself in trouble.

You can limit the amount of money you’re able to deposit into your account, for example, and can also exclude yourself from being able to access sites on a voluntary basis. Don’t be ashamed of yourself if you feel that you’re losing control. Plenty of people have been there before, so there are numerous organisations like GamCare who are keen to help you. Have fun and, as the saying goes, if the fun stops then you stop.

Betting Adverts

Gambling companies want you to be safe and clever with your betting, but there’s no getting away from the fact that they do want you to place bets with them.

Over the years they’ve come up with some great adverts in order to win business, but sometimes they go too far. When that happens the Advertising Standards Agency will step in and stop companies from breaking the rules and regulations set out before them.

The rules laid out for gambling companies are plentiful, but we’ll give you some examples of the sort of things they can’t do. They’re not allowed to appeal to people under the age of eighteen, for one thing. They’re also not allowed to suggest something that isn’t true.

An advert would be cracked down on if it suggested, say, that you become more attractive simply because you were placing a bet on something. They’re also not allowed to say that your financial problems will be solved by having a flutter. If you think an advert is being naughty then you’ll want to get in touch with the Advertising Standards Authority, who will investigate the complaint.

Making a Complaint to an Online Casino Site

Speaking of complaining, it’s entirely possible that a situation might present itself during your time as a bettor that leads you to want to make a complaint. The first thing you should do is speak to the company you’ve been betting with directly. As part of their UK Gambling Commission licence they’re obliged to do everything that they can to resolve a complaint against them. Sometimes, though, they will feel as if they’ve done nothing wrong and you’ll need to turn somewhere else to get resolution to your issues.

If this happens then the company you’ll be turning to more often than not is the Independent Betting Adjudication Service. IBAS, as it’s known, will investigate any matters set before them and all parties must accept their decision. The reason we mentioned going to the bookmaker or company in question first and foremost is that the Independent Betting Adjudication Service won’t even engage with you on the issue if you haven’t done so. As long as you’ve tried to resolve it amicably, however, then they’ll investigate and come up with a solution that should be fair and impartial.