Best Gambling Sites in the UK

Interest in online casinos has begun to significantly increase within the past two decades. It’s a fun and easy way to relax and enjoy different aspects of a casino without actually going to one. While land-casinos are still a good time, online casinos have their advantages as well. 

Land-Casino vs. Online Gambling: 

No matter where you’re playing, casinos are always a good time. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to both. Since we’re focusing on online gambling, let’s take a closer look at the aspects that make online gambling sites so great, as well as some of its disadvantages: 

Pros: 

• Probably the biggest benefit of being able to gamble online is being able to be comfortable in your own space. Now, you don’t have to worry about any dress codes or about being uncomfortable, because you can wear whatever and sit wherever! 
• In tandem with the first point, when you play online, you can play virtually anywhere. As long as you have some type of device that connects to the internet, either a mobile phone, tablet, or computer, you can play.
• You are actually saving money when you play online as opposed to a land-casino. Since you’re at home, you won’t be spending money on things like taxis, restaurant/bar tabs, or hotel rooms. This leaves you with extra money that you can play with!

Cons: 

•  Unfortunately, even though they’re great, online casinos don’t offer the same environment as land-casinos. While online sites have interactive and live games, it’s not the same as sitting next to someone at a table or playing against the dealer. 
• If you don’t have a good internet connection, you won’t be able to gamble. While many devices can work on data, that’s not an ideal situation and can rack up a large phone bill if done often.  
• Even though you can save money by playing at home, you can also lose money. If you’re able to pay just by clicking a button, you may not realise how much you’re actually spending. This could result in some nasty consequences if you’re not careful. Be sure to take breaks and keep a good record of how much you deposit, win, and lose. 

 

Pay to Play:  

Before playing on any of these gambling sites, you should first be aware of the different payment options you have. Unfortunately for gamblers in the UK, you are no longer able to deposit or withdraw money with a credit card. Even though this is inconvenient and limits your options, there are still several ways in which you can pay. 

1. Bank transfers: An easy and reliable way to put money into your gaming account. Even though it’s easy, bank transfers take more time than other payment methods 
2. Cryptocurrencies: Becoming more and more popular, cryptocurrencies are now a widely accepted form of payment. Not only are they accepted, but they’re preferred as they continue to increase in value. The most well-known cryptocurrency is BitCoin. Not only is BitCoin preferred, it’s also extremely, extremely secure. With the crazy amount of security BitCoin offers, players never have to worry about their money being stolen or losing it for any reason.
3. eCheques: These virtual checks are hardly used, but they’re still a valid form of payment. There are a few reasons why eCheques aren’t popular, but the primary one is because they’re notoriously slow. When gambling, you want your money to be transferred as quickly as possible, which is why these are being phased out. 
4. Apple Pay: One of the most popular ways to pay now, Apple Pay is an instant payment portal that you can use with any Apple device. Since you can make these payments anywhere, Apple Pay is especially great for those players who are using their mobile devices. 
5. Mobile phone bill: When using this method, you can deposit money either into your prepaid phone account or pay for your deposits when you pay your monthly phone bill. Depending on your mobile provider, you will pay for these deposits at different times in the month. While this is convenient, it can only be used when depositing money, so keep that in mind. 
6. Debit Cards: Even though the use of credit cards is prohibited, debit cards can still be used. Similarly to the pay-by-phone method, the use of debit cards are only possible when depositing money. Using debit cards can also take longer to process the payment or come with fees. Before depositing money, check with your bank to see if the additions will pertain to you. 
7. eWallets: Third-party payment portals are now a very common and widely accepted form of payment. Some of the largest and well-known companies are PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. These are great for depositing money, as they’re fast and trustworthy. 

Depending on where you’re gambling, the payment rules may differ, so always be sure to stay-up-to-date on the newest laws. 

Best Gambling Sites: 

No matter what kind of gambling you enjoy, there is a site out there for you. Ranging from betting to slots, to poker and baccarat, these great gambling sites cater to every and all players. The casinos listed below are not in any particular order, rather, they’re simply all here because they offer something unique and have the highest ratings from both players and critics. 

• William Hill: One of the highest rated online casinos now, William Hill is known for more than just this. In fact, it’s also a well-known, established chain of land-casino too. The knowledge gained at the land-casinos has been transferred to their online casino as well, which bodes well for the customers. Providing their players with an enormous game library, as well as the chance to play with live casinos, they definitely stand out. While they do have many games, if you choose to play on the mobile site, you will only be able to enjoy slots and some table games.   

First time players will enjoy a 100% buy in bonus, as well as 50 free spins! 

• Play OJO: Primarily known for slots and their state-of-the-art mobile app, Play OJO is a great site for all players, both new and returning. With offers that are hard to pass up, this casino truly shows it’s players a good time. Since they don’t require deposits when playing, players have the ability to ‘test drive’ the casino to see if it’s right for them. 

In addition to not requiring deposits, Play OJO is offering their new players 50 free bingo cards and 10 free spins! If you’re more interested in the slots though, deposit just £10 and get 50 free spins!   

• Yahoo! Fantasy Sports: Are you a sports fanatic? If so, Yahoo! Sports is the website for you. Offering the chance to bet on multiple different sports, as well as create your own special leagues and teams, Yahoo! Sports gives you the chance to play against your friends and family. Since Yahoo is an international search engine, you can even bet against people from all over the world! With this being a possibility, winners of larger betting pools, like those for March Madness, have the chance to win big, maybe even earning millions! 

Unfortunately, betting with Yahoo! Sports doesn’t make you eligible for bonuses. The trade off of this is having the ability to win thousands of dollars with certain bets. 

• Ladbrokes Bingo: Known for having several different strong suites, Ladbrokes is most well-known for two games: sports betting and bingo. Offering four different variations of bingo, Ladbrokes has something for everyone. To enhance player’s experiences, Ladbrokes continuously gifts players with promo codes and other deals that they can use to get more cards or lower wagers. 

Players here get a welcome deal specifically for bingo. When they make a deposit of £10, players will be able to enjoy £40 as their welcome bonus. 

• Grosvenor Casino: One of the oldest operating online casinos available, Grosvenor Casino is top-of-the-line and is a great choice for online gamers. Primarily known for their large collection of slot games, this casino has no shortage of entertainment for it’s players. You can play on-the-go or are home too. In addition to the slots and other casino games available, Grovenor also gives players the chance to win big and hit the jackpot! 

Sound like your cup of tea? New members are eligible for a welcome bonus of £50 when they deposit £20! 

• NetBet: With over 1,000 games, NetBet is one of the best online casinos available today. With a game selection this big, you won’t have any trouble finding something that you’ll enjoy. These games include hundreds of slots, roulette games and blackjack variations. In addition, the games are created by a variety of software developers. This means each game is unique and has something different to offer. 

New players with NetBet can win up to 500 free spins on their first deposit! 

• Jackpot.com: Feeling lucky? Jackpot.com is the best place to try your luck for the chance to win big! Most well-known for its lottery, players can buy cards for as little as £1.50! Not sure you want to try for something that big? Don’t sweat it – this website also allows users to enjoy playing with scratchcards, as well as other popular casino games.

Since it focuses on the lottery, Jackpot.com doesn’t give bonuses to the participants. 

• BetFair Casino: More interested in betting than in gambling? If so, BetFair is the casino for you! Being a gambling outlet since 1999, this casino has millions of users and is clearly, very well-known. After you bet, you can still enjoy some of their other available casino games, most notably their slots, since they have over 200 games to choose from. Working closely with Playtech, BetFair games and betting is extremely user-friendly and can be done both on the mobile app and online. 

If betting is your forte, don’t be shy, sign up! Deposit and bet £10 and get £30 bonus plus 100 free spins! Not many other casinos offer multiple welcome bonuses as good as this, so be sure to check them out! 

• Betway Casino: First and foremost, this casino is dedicated to the slots. Having more than 750 slot games, Betway can, and does, have one of the most impressive slot game collections out of any casino. Even if slots aren’t your thing, they also have a great selection of poker, blackjack, roulette, and live casinos. Get their highly-rated app and play anywhere!

New players who join Betway today will get up to £50 as a welcome bonus. 

• UniBet Casino: A rival to Yahoo! Sports, UniBet is a great spot to place bets for online sports. In addition to its betting selection, you can also play games like roulette, blackjack, and other live casino games. You can play and bet with UniBet either online or via mobile app. 

Regardless of how you choose to play, new members will get £40 when they make their first £10 deposit. 

What Makes a Gambling Site? 

Obviously the above casinos are great and all have unique factors that make them stand out among the hundreds of other gambling sites. So what makes them so special? What are the characteristics and qualities that make these websites attractive enough to clearly stand out? 

While these are valid questions, they can be a little tricky to answer with a definite answer since these websites are all offering different things. The range and types of games and the differing (or lack of) bonuses make an impact on websites and appeal differently to everyone. 

Even though this is the case, there are some things that you can keep in mind when looking at these sites to make sure they’re reliable, legal, and have what you’re looking for. 

The first thing is that they’re licenced. All legal online gaming websites must be approved by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, aka the UKGC. This governing body helps dictate which sites are credible and appropriate for players. They don’t work alone though – there are a few other groups who have similar authoritative powers. Some of these include the Malta Gaming Authority and Curacao EGaming.  

If you don’t see the stamp of approval (or simply their approval statement) on the website, don’t trust it and definitely don’t input any of your information. 

The other thing to look at is whether or not the website is compatible on your mobile device. A bonus is if the operator also has a mobile app. Since not all sites have the apps available, simply the ability to work on a mobile browser is enough. 

With this option, players have the ability to play anywhere and at any time. This is one of the best aspects of online gaming, so when recommending gaming sites, it’s important that they always work on mobile devices, in addition to working on the desktop. 

Safe & Responsible Gaming: 

Taking care of yourself is important. Having the ability to kick back, relax, and game is an awesome way to unwind. Unfortunately though, sometimes people can take it too far and it can become an issue. Millions of people around the world suffer from gambling addictions and like all kinds of addictions, it can become very serious. 

Since it’s not a physical addiction, like drinking or drug problems are, many people disregard the potential seriousness of these addictions. However, this problem can just as easily ruin relationships, careers, and in extreme cases, lives. 

Because of this, all legitimate and legal casinos promote responsible gaming. If you, or someone you know, is suffering from this affliction, be sure to reach out to one of their recommended sites for tips and help. 

• BeGambleAware: Perhaps one of the most well-known sites for helping gambling addicts. A great resource, this site provides information for you if you for sure have a problem or even if you’re not sure but are concerned. Judgment-free, this website even allows you to contact someone 24/7.This can be done through their website as well as via phone. 
• GamCare: Another wonderful resource that is available for players in the UK is GamCare. Just like BeGambleAware, this website has the ability to contact help through their phone line, through a chat, and also in forums and in group messages. The community that has been built by GamCare is one of the best resources for those who are seeking help.  
• Gamblers Anonymous: Similar to the other Anonymous groups, Gamblers Anonymous is a safe space for addicts to come, talk to others, and get both help and support. Acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step in recovery. 

Gambling Softwares: 

Obviously not all gambling sites are created by the same people. Each casino has their own unique software program, which affects different aspects of the casino’s games. This software programs everything from the graphics, to the sound effects and soundtrack used. There are five top-notch software developers in the UK who are sought after by casinos: 

• Playtech: One of the leading companies in their industry, Playtech is highly regarded by its customers and critics. Founded in 1999, they got a jump-start on the rising popularity of online casinos and are known for their stellar games, good graphics, and data-optimisation. 

Looking for a way to test them out? You can find their games at the William Hill Casino. Here, they offer casino games, bingo, poker, and different live game options. 

• Dragonfish: Working exclusively with 888Casino, Dragonfish has definitely shown players what it is capable of. Even though it's relatively new (starting up in 2007), these developers clearly know what they’re doing. Together with 888Casino, Dragonfish has helped them focus and create seamless play on mobile devices. 

If you prefer to play on your mobile device, you’re in luck! Since they’re a B2B division of 888, you can play Dragonfish games on their app and website. While they unfortunately don’t offer any live games, you can still play bingo, poker, and casino games there. Enjoy!

• Microgaming: Arguably one of (if not the) best software companies in the online gaming industry, Microgaming was the first company to achieve many things. For starters, they were the first ones to actually create any kind of online software for gaming. Then, in 2004, they created the first software that was compatible with mobile gaming. These two innovative creations have shaped online gaming into what it is today. 

Want to play with the best of the best? Check out Microgaming’s work at Betway Casino. There, you’ll enjoy the possibility of playing live games, poker, casino games, and bingo among other games. 

• NetEnt: With more than 200 active games, NetEnt has lots to offer their customers and players. This global company has been in the game for 20 years now and works with some of the largest casinos and gaming companies in the world. Always knowing how to best cater to their customer, they have been able to provide casinos and online gaming sites with some of the best, most thrilling games on the market today.

You can find NetEnt games at the NetBet Casino. At this casino, the NetEnt games are primarily casino games and live games. 

• Pragmatic Play: A newer player in the industry, Pragmatic Play was founded in 2015, but has quickly made a name for itself. Offering games in 31 languages and accepting all major currencies, they have made gaming with them an inclusive experience. Not only do they have hundreds of games to choose from, but they also have top-notch customer service and are more than willing to help with any problems you may be having. 

Primarily known for their slots, you can enjoy Pragmatic Play’s games at Play OJO Casino. They offer all the most popular game selection: bingo, casino games, poker games, and live casinos. It’s no wonder they’re one of the best! 

FAQs: 

• How old do you have to be to enjoy online gaming? 

• • In the UK, and in many other countries, to play at an online casino, you must be at least 18 years of age.

 

• What kind of different bonuses do online casinos offer?

• • There are many different varieties and combinations of casino bonuses. Some of these bonuses are: 

• • • Free spins 
    • No deposits required
    • Receiving bonus money to play with after your first deposit

• • Again, there are more bonuses available and these offers vary depending on the casino. Be sure to always read the Terms & Conditions written out underneath to ensure you know exactly what the rules and requirements are.
• Which online casino is the best? 
  • That’s a tough question, and doesn’t really have one correct answer. As we saw above, there are hundreds of online gaming sites to choose from and we outlined the top 10. It really all depends on what you’re looking for as a player.  
  • To further break it down here is another list of online gaming sites and what they’re the best known for: 
    • Play OJO:  Best Casino Gambling Site
    • Grosvenor Casino: Best Poker Site
    • Betway: Best Sports Betting Site
    • Yahoo Sports:  Top Daily Fantasy Site
    • NetBet: Top Novelty Gambling Site
    • William Hill: Top Live Casino Site
    • Jackpot.com: Best Lottery Gambling Site
    • UniBet: Best E-Sports Gambling Site  
    • BetFair: Best Betting Exchange Site 
    • Ladbrokes: Best Bingo Site
• Are BitCoin casinos available?
  • Yes, they are! Since not everyone has BitCoin though and it’s still somewhat new, not all casinos accept cryptocurrency at this time. If you’re interested in looking more into this, here are a few casinos who do accept BitCoin:
    • Casino.com
    • NetBet
    • Slots Heaven 

Conclusion: 

In the world of online gaming, the possibilities are endless. You can find specific niche, casinos or you can play one on a website that has everything you could want and more! When choosing a site to gamble on, always be sure to check that it’s legitimate and you are able to deposit and withdraw money from them easily. And most importantly, responsibly enjoy yourself and the games you’re playing.