UK real money online casinos

A fully regulated online gambling scene means players in the United Kingdom can choose from a wide variety of legal and licensed casino sites for desktop, tablet and mobile. Let us show you what’s on offer for British punters.

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Online gambling in the United Kingdom

Legalised gambling has existed in Britain since 1960, when the introduction of the Betting and Gaming Act paved the way for bingo halls, betting shops and members-only gaming parlours. The laws were loosened further with the Gaming Act 1968, which allowed for the establishment of commercial casinos.

The big change came with the Gambling Act 2005. Introduced by the Blair government, this vital piece of legislation brought UK casino gaming into the 21st century by refreshing outdated clauses and opening the door for Vegas-style casino resort projects. It also the led to the formation of the Gambling Commission, which now regulates most betting and gaming activity within the UK.

But perhaps the most significant result of that 2005 bill was the legalisation of online gambling. Britain’s interactive gaming sector is now one of the biggest and best in the world, while the Commission’s regulatory standards are second to none. That means punters in the UK can indulge in a veritable smorgasbord of online casino delights while knowing that GC-approved operators are licensed, safe and 100 per cent legal. Learn more facts and statistics about online gambling in the UK here.

In October, 2017, the UKGC announced it was releasing new standards of advertising, with it previously one of the most contentious issues with anti-gambling types. Among these changes was the banning of free spins and the introduction of fair spins and extra spins which are aimed at providing more clarity about wagering requirements. Under the new rules players at online casinos will be given much clearer guidance on what they have to do to withdraw any money won from free spins or bonuses. Read our wagering requirements guide for more information on the criteria associated with claiming and withdrawing money made from extra spins bonuses.

Top online casinos for UK players

Because the country has its own regulatory body for online gaming, residents of the UK may only play at desktop and mobile casino sites that are licensed by the Gambling Commission. That means every operator featured in this article meets the strictest industry standards for game quality, player safety, online security, customer service and fair practice.

There are dozens and dozens of Commission-licensed gambling sites to choose from, but these are our top picks:

Guts.com – Launched in 2013, Guts Casino is an emerging powerhouse in the online gambling industry. The site’s instant play interface is one of the best in the business, offering sleek lines and easy navigation to over 350 real money games. That includes a fully loaded live dealer casino for desktop, tablet and smartphone.

Dunder Casino: This is a relatively new online casino, but it features an outstanding range of real money games. This UK-licensed casino also has a Malta Gaming Authority license, which means nearly every software company of note is available, including a great range of live dealer games, such as blackjack, roulette and Casino Hold’em. Dunder review.

Thrills.com – Like Guts and G’Day, the Thrills Casino model is all about instant access via any browser on any platform. Trusted digital suppliers include Microgaming, Net Entertainment and Betsoft, while the live casino features tables from both Evolution Gaming and the NetEnt Live collection.

New UK online casinos in 2018

HighRoller.com: A new online casino from the creators of Guts.com, HighRoller.com boasts a UK license and was launched in late November 2017. It features multiple software providers and boasts unique social game experience, with players are sent into heists to loot coins from other players. Check out our HighRoller Casino review here.

Real money games at UK casino sites

If you can find it at a land-based casino in London, you should have no issues locating your favourite gambling games online. Here is a taste of what’s available at the best UK real money casino sites.

Online slots – From classic pub fruities to feature-packed video slots, there are hundreds upon hundreds of online poker machines to choose from. Top software brands such as Microgaming and NetEnt have produced many of the world’s most popular licensed slots, including Aliens, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, Playboy, South Park, Tarzan, Terminator 2 and Tomb Raider. If you want to play for the big bucks, online progressive slots like Mega Fortune, Mega Moolah and The Glam Life are renowned for their seven-figure jackpots.

Video poker – Always a favourite among punters who prefer raw value and questions of skill over flashing lights and pure chance, online video poker is perhaps the most underrated of all the treasures available at British real money casinos. Top titles include Aces and Eights, Aces and Faces, All American, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better and Joker Poker. If you play the right strategy, most of these games offer expected returns of more than 98 per cent.

Table games – Baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean stud, casino hold’em, craps, pai gow poker, pontoon, roulette, sic bo, three card poker – the list goes on. UK online casinos carry a wide range of table games powered by secure random number generators (RNGs), including a number of real money 21 variants that offer better value for money than any land-based table in this day and age. Those who prefer an authentic, tactile feel can enjoy live dealer tables with real cards and real croupiers streamed in real-time HD.

LadyLucks Casino LadyLucks.co.uk is a new UK-facing casino by the creators of Slots Million. Alea Gaming purchased the site in September of 2017, and it is slowly being transformed into the high standards set by their other domain. This purely UK casino will get better and better in the coming months. Read the full Ladylucks review.

Casual games – Most top casino sites carry versions real money keno and digital bingo, along with a number of online instant-win scratch cards. A few also offer skill games and virtual AWP machines (Amusements With Prizes), including original web-only titles you won’t see at any brick-and-mortar casino.

Mobile gambling on iOS and Android

Mobile casino betting offers a level of convenience and flexibility that no other platform can match. In the UK, punters who play on smartphone and tablet devices also get the same standard of security and service as you would find at a leading desktop casino site.

As for gameplay quality, mobile betting interfaces are improving so rapidly that they may outstrip their PC and Mac counterparts in the very near future. It has even been said that the visual displays on new mobile slots games are already superior, offering rich graphics in a fully optimised package for iPhone, iPad and all Android devices.

Perhaps the biggest innovation of recent times is the advent of mobile live dealer casinos. The entire Evolution Gaming catalogue is available at Guts.com’s mobile instant play casino site, while Thrills.com also carries the NetEnt Live Mobile collection. That means real money live blackjack, baccarat, roulette and more, all at your fingertips.

GBP casino deposits and withdrawals

All UK casino sites accept British pounds, so there is no need to exchange your cash into a foreign currency. Popular deposit options include:

• Bank transfer
• Citadel Direct
• ecoPayz
• EntroPay
• Maestro
• MasterCard
• Neteller
• Paysafecard
• Skrill
• Visa

While bank transfers and money wires can take several days to go through, every other method on that list supports instant deposits so you can start playing straight away. Most casino operators prefer direct transfers and bank cheques for cashouts, but select credit cards, debit cards and e-wallets may also be used. Withdrawals can take up to five business days to clear, but same-day payments may be available if your account is already verified.

Casino icensing, regulation and security in the UK

As we said earlier, UK residents should only ever play at online casinos that are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission. Other things to look for in a trusted operator include:

SSL digital encryption – This is what protects your cash and personal details from invasive third-party spammers and online fraudsters. If a real cash casino does not run a certified Secure Socket Layer of at least 128 bits, you might want to look elsewhere.

RNG certified – Random number generators are the sophisticated engines that make those computerised casino games behave in accordance with the probabilities and chance factors of real life. Before you play, make sure the casino has its RNGs audited regularly by a recognised testing agency.

eCOGRA approved – The eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance body is the leading players’ advocate in the internet casino industry. The eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal of approval is always a good sign, indicating an operator that ticks all the boxes for security, honesty and reliability.