How to Choose a Reliable Online Casino in the UK: Tips and Tricks

Many people across the United Kingdom love to try their luck at casino games and, as a result, there are now hundreds of online casinos out there that are happy to accept British players. Due to the number of casinos that are available for British punters, it can be hard to find the best online casino in the UK for you. However, this is where this guide comes into play because we will provide you with everything you need to know in order to find a reliable online casino for you.

The Importance of Checking the Reputation of an Online Casino in the UK

There might be plenty of online casinos that British players can open an account with, but they have not all been created with the same greatness. Some are poor, some are average, some are good, and some are very good - you are obviously looking for ones that fit into the good to very good category.

One thing that you should always take a look at before you go ahead and commit to an online casino by depositing money with them is the reputation that they have. Nothing goes unnoticed in the iGaming world, and if an online casino site has any glaring issues, then they will be highlighted by those who have signed up with them and had a bad experience. So, before registering, find out all that you can about their reputation and, if you see any red flags, find another online casino to register with instead.

Ways to Research a UK Online Casino's Reputation

How is it that you can go about checking out the reputation of an online casino in the UK? Well, there are a number of ways that you can do so, and we are now going to take a look at some of the more popular ways to do so:

Read reviews from reputable sources: There is not an online casino out there that has not had some sort of review written about it. Before you register with an online casino, read as many reviews about it as you can so that you get a very good idea as to whether it is worth your while opening an account with them. A good review will tell you all about the games that are available, the bonuses and promos, the banking options, and the customer support quality.

Check licensing and regulations: If you come across an online casino that has been regulated and licensed by the likes of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, then you know that it is a top site with very few issues. The UKGC, along with the likes of the Malta Gaming Authority, is one of the most reputable gambling regulators out there, and they will not license any online casino without being certain that they meet all requirements.

Look for Endorsements from experts: If reputable industry experts are endorsing an online casino, then it is fair to say that it is probably a decent one to register with. Such experts would not risk their reputation by promoting a casino that is going to rob its customers.

Below are some red flags to look out for when looking at a casino’s reputation:

  • A lot of negative reviews
  • Non-existent customer support
  • Unrealistic bonuses
  • Unclear privacy policies
  • Not licensed by a reputable gambling regulator

Security of Online Casinos in the UK

When you are playing UK casino games online, it is of the utmost importance that you are doing so securely. This section of our guide will deal with security at online casinos.

Importance of Security Measures at Online Casinos

If an online casino does not make use of top security technology, then they will be at risk of being attacked by cybercriminals. If this happens, then both your financials and personal details will be at risk, and you could end up having your hard-earned money stolen from you. It is a lot of hassle and effort to get your stolen money back, so the best thing to do is ensure that such a scenario does not arise by only registering with secure online sites.

Types of Security Measures to Look For

Before you go ahead and click on the “Sign Up” option at an online casino, there are some important security measures that you should look out for. Let’s dive into some of the main ones right now.

You should check whether they are regulated and audited by reputable and external companies such as iTech Labs and eCOGRA. If they are, then you can usually find their logo at the bottom of the homepage. For instance, if you head over to Betiton.com and scroll to the bottom of the homepage, you will see that they are audited by iTech Labs. This indicates that Betiton is a top online casino in the UK.

You should also test out their customer care team since quality customer support is indicative of a secure and safe online casino. Send a mock issue to a site’s customer care team via their available contact options, and see whether they respond quickly and with quality answers. If they leave a lot to be desired, think twice about registering with them - you will never know when you might need their help.

Encryption and Data Protection

HTTPS, for those who do not know, is the secure edition of the HTTP protocol - this is the way that websites and web browsers send data. If this traffic is secured with HTTPS encryption technology, then those who want to try and snoop will not be able to see what the site and the browser send to each other. You can tell when you are connected with HTTPS since there will be a little padlock icon in the site’s address - do not send any important data to a site that does not have this padlock icon.

Online casinos get their hands on a lot of personal data such as:

    House addresses
  • ID cards, driving licenses, and passports
  • Financial information

Every reputable online casino should have a privacy policy that you can read so you know what type of information will be stored, why that information is being processed, the length of time that they will store it, which parties they will share the data with, and how they are protecting all of the personal data that they process.

Secure Payment Options

Check out the payment options because this is an indication as to the levels of security on offer. If you see that they offer some of the most popular banking methods such as Visa, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, MasterCard, and Bank Transfer then you can be pretty certain that you should have no issues when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money. All these banking options have very strict levels of security.

Fairness and Randomness of Games

When you are playing at a new online casino in the UK, you obviously want to have a fair shot at landing some winnings. Casino games are now made with a random number generator to ensure that they are completely random and not rigged, while aforementioned companies such as iTech Labs and eCOGRA will test out a site’s games to make sure that they are safe and fair to play.

Red Flags to Watch Out for When Assessing an Online Casino's Security

Below are key red flags to look out for when you are assessing the security levels of an online casino:

  • Missing licenses
  • High withdrawal fees or slow payouts
  • No padlock icon in the search bar
  • You do not recognise the games
  • Extremely generous bonuses with few T&Cs

Games and Software at UK Online Casinos

Now that you know how to be safe and secure when you are looking for an online casino, this next section of our guide will deal with the casino games and software developers that you can come across at online casinos UK.

Importance of Games and Software Offered by an Online Casino

Many novice punters will pay more attention to the online casino offers in the UK than they will to the games that are on offer, but this is a big mistake. The games available and the software developers that an online casino has teamed up with are much more important than the Welcome Bonus.

After all, the welcome offer will quickly run out, while the games will always be there - if you have a poor selection of games because the casino has teamed up with underwhelming software developers, then your gaming experience is not going to be a good one at all. So, always look at the available games before you start looking at the bonuses! This is advice that you will thank us for later.

Popular Game Categories and Software Providers

There are a number of different games that you can find at an online casino, and we shall take a closer look at these categories now.

Slot games are the most popular due to the fact that they are pretty simple to play, come with many bonus features, and give players the chance to win decent cash prizes without having to stake a lot of money. Many punters love progressive jackpot slots because their jackpots increase in size until they have been won.

All the top casinos will also offer table games such as roulette, poker, blackjack, and baccarat to their players. These are great for those who are not fans of slot games or those who like slots, but feel like playing something else. Many of the best online casinos nowadays also have a live casino section. For those who are new to iGaming, a live online casino UK is one that offers table games that are manned by a real-life dealer with all players at the table also being real. You can speak to the dealer and your fellow players with all of the action being streamed to wherever you are.

There are hundreds of software developers out there but, just like online casinos, they have also not been created equally. Below we have provided you with a list of the top software developers that you should keep a look out for as they are known for creating quality games. Casino players from all around the world get excited when these software developers announce that they are releasing new games:

  • Microgaming
  • NetEnt
  • Play'n Go
  • Red Tiger Gaming
  • Playtech
  • Pragmatic Play
  • Evolution Gaming
  • Yggdrasil Gaming

Below are some of the red flags to keep in mind when you are evaluating a casino’s games and software:

  • A small variety of games in their library
  • Lesser-known software developers
  • No option to test out the games in demo mode
  • Games that you have never heard of

Bonuses and Promotions at Online Casinos in the UK

The online casino world is extremely competitive, and this competitiveness means that online casinos need to offer a variety of bonuses if they want to have the type of success that they are after. An online casino that struggles to attract players is obviously one that will not be around for a long time. The dog-eat-dog nature of the iGaming industry might be frustrating for operators, but it is great news for players as it means that there are some great bonuses that we can try to make good use of.

Types of Bonuses and Promotions to Look For

Below we are going to take a look at the various types of bonuses that you can encounter:

Welcome Bonus: When you register with a new casino online, you will see that they are happy to match your first deposit by a particular percentage up to a certain value - sometimes they will chuck in free spins as well. For instance, they will offer a 100% deposit match up to the value of £200 and 50 free spins. Welcome bonuses are also known as deposit bonuses.

Free Spins: With such a bonus you will be given some free spins that you will be able to use to try out some slots without risking any of your own cash. Usually, you will be told what slots you can use the free spins on, and the amount you can win will usually be capped.

Reload Bonuses: These bonuses are aimed at ensuring that existing players hang around. With a reload bonus, you will be told that if you make another deposit your deposited amount will be matched - it will usually be a match of 25%. 50%, or 100%.

Loyalty Programs: Online casinos love loyal players, and they will do all that they can to ensure that such players stick around. Many sites now have a loyalty program where players can move up through the levels depending on how much money they are spending. The higher up the loyalty ladder that a player climbs, the better the rewards on offer - these can be cash prizes and free spins. Those who spend an awful lot of money will be invited to join the VIP program (if they have one), where even bigger and better prizes are up for grabs – this includes holidays and brand new cars.

When it comes to casino bonuses, it is important that you pay attention to the terms and conditions that are attached to it. For example, take a look at the wagering requirements since these indicate the amount that you need to stake in order for any winnings or bonus money to be withdrawn. If you get £100 bonus money and the wagering requirements are 20x, it means you need to wager £2000 before that money becomes withdrawable. Other important terms and conditions to look out for include:

  • Number of days to meet wagering requirements
  • Number of days to use bonus
  • Restricted payment options
  • Minimum deposit to claim bonus

Below are some red flags to look out for when assessing bonuses:

  • Outlandish offers
  • Huge wagering requirements
  • Only a few days to complete the wagering requirements
  • Unclear T&Cs

Payment Methods on UK Online Casinos

Before opening an account with any online casino you need to check out the kind of payment methods that the site has available for deposits and withdrawals. You need to do this to ensure that the online casino offers a range of top banking methods, which means that depositing and withdrawing money should be easy. The last thing anyone wants is to have to waste valuable playing time trying to work out how to deposit funds or request any winnings.

The Best Payment Methods to Look For

e-Wallets have become the most popular type of banking method because they allow for quick deposits and withdrawals, while users do not need to keep inputting their card details each time. Some of the most popular e-Wallets include the likes of PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and ecoPayz. More often than not you will not be able to claim the bonus on offer if you deposit with an e-Wallet.

Prepaid cards such as Paysafecard and Neosurf have also become popular due to the fact that they are completely anonymous. You just purchase a voucher, scratch off the back to reveal a card, and input the digits in order to top up your account. One downside to a prepaid card is the fact that you cannot make withdrawals with it.

Every online casino should allow their players to deposit and withdraw using a bank transfer. This is a popular method because of how secure it is, but it is a slower method when compared to the other options that we have just spoken about.

UK players cannot deposit money at gambling sites with credit cards - it has been this way for a number of years now. This is because credit cards allow players to play with money that they do not have, which can lead to a lot of financial issues. You can, however, play with debit cards such as Visa since you cannot spend money that you do not have when using debit cards.

What is the best payout online casino in the UK? Well, some of the top ones include Mansion Casino, Dream Vegas Casino, PlayOJO Casino, 888Casino, and Grosvenor Casino. They also offer all of the top banking methods. Below are the red flags to look out for when you evaluate a casino’s payment methods:

  • Few banking options
  • Slow deposits and withdrawals
  • High minimum withdrawal amounts

Customer Support at Online Casino in the UK

It is important that the online casino that you register with has a quality customer support team because you never know when you might need their assistance. You do not want to encounter a problem and then have to jump through fiery hoops in order to get the help you require to start playing again.

As we mentioned earlier, you should send a mock problem to the customer care team before registering so that you can see whether they reply quickly enough and provide satisfactory solutions to problems. You want the customer care agents to be available 247 via contact methods such as live chat, telephone, and email support.

They should also be more than willing to help their players set up responsible gambling features such as deposit limits and self-exclusion periods. If you want to find out more about overcoming any sort of gambling addiction, then visit this website.

Some red flags to look out for when you are assessing a customer support team at a casino are:

  • Limited availability
  • Slow response times
  • Lackluster solutions
  • Limited contact methods
  • No responsible gambling features

Final Thoughts

If you want to have a top online casino experience, then it is important that you choose a reliable online casino. In order to do this, you need to read plenty of reviews, check who they have been licensed by, make sure that they are secure and fair, offer plenty of game variety, all of the top banking options, and have some enticing welcome bonuses and promotions.

If you pay close attention to everything we have said in this guide, we are 100% sure that you will be able to find the best UK online casino for you. We wish you good luck, and remind you to always make sure that you gamble responsibly.