Online casinos are visually enticing playgrounds filled with excitement for players, offering a vast array of slot machines and classic table games such as roulette and blackjack. The UK has more than 170 online casinos, which gives people plenty of choice in terms of where to play.
For someone dipping their toe in the world of online casinos for the first time, however, that choice can be daunting. Concerns about landing on a duplicitous site and wondering if a promotional offer is genuine or not can crop up, for example. Having a level of scepticism is good, and with the right knowledge gained through research, players can find reputable, safe online casinos.
The initial check
In the UK, the Gambling Commission (UKGC) issues operational licences, and the first thing to check when going casino hunting is whether or not they are licensed by the UKGC. This is public knowledge, and at the bottom of the homepage on a casino site, details of its licence will be posted, which will link to the UKGC website and licence record. Alternatively, a player can go to the UKGC website first and type in the operator’s licence number to verify details.
The reason for only playing at licensed casinos is that the UKGC sets out the guidelines that operators have to abide by, from financial audits to game fairness checks, responsible gambling features and more. This feeds back into your peace of mind, and is preferable to playing at an unlicensed offshore provider where no one will be in your corner should anything go wrong.
Random or research
There is the scattergun approach of typing in a search query for ‘online casinos UK’ or similar, and randomly clicking results. But the problem with search results is that they can be manipulated by advertisers who are prepared to simply pay more, so results aren’t always accurate in terms of getting you to the best site.
Going the research route is a much simpler option, and casino review sites such as https://www.newcasinos.com/ can help a lot. They will break down the details of operators, gauging their quality in areas like welcome bonuses, game selection, payment options, customer service and more. This helps a prospective player get a foot on the ladder, because if you check out a few review sites, it’s likely that familiar casino brand names that have been recognised for quality will keep cropping up.
New vs established
Many of the leading online casinos have well-established reputations because they have been around for a long time. Major gambling brands were some of the first to throw their weight behind the online casino movement, and many are offshoots of major sports betting companies.
Longevity is a factor for building a good reputation, but that’s not to completely dismiss newer online casinos. Strong, secure and viable new options do appear on the scene, and these often come to the table with fresh ideas and a more niche range of games as well. It can be harder to find newer casinos in such a crowded space, and again, this is where a review site can help.
Game selection
If your penchant is for live dealer roulette, you will need a strong, reliable platform that delivers on that front, maybe with plenty of variations of games as well. Slots come in an enormous range of themes and game mechanics, so whether you prefer classic slots or mega jackpot games, or enjoy a bit of everything, it’s worth browsing through a casino’s library to get a sample of what’s there for you.
Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are enticing incentives to get you signed up, but because they often come with prohibitive rollover requirements in their T&Cs, it can put a different spin on the actual face value of the offer. A welcome bonus is a one-off deal that shouldn’t be a dealmaker or a dealbreaker, and it’s worth looking a little deeper at ongoing offers instead, like reload bonuses or rewards clubs.
Payments and withdrawals
Online gambling accounts can be funded with anything from bank transfers to bank cards, e-wallets and other fintech solutions. All platforms will offer bank transfer and card deposits, but give a quick check that your preferred method is available if it falls outside of those. As for withdrawal times, fees and limits, this will vary depending on the operator, how much the transaction is, and even what day of the week you make a request.
Test drive
A good way to approach the task of finding an online casino is to pick out a few platforms when researching review sites and test them for yourself. You don’t have to open an account just to look around a website or play its demo games to check on the site’s performance. Hands-on experience will be a big factor in your ultimate choice of casino, because it may simply be down to the one you find most visually appealing, with a good search tool and easy menus to navigate.
Sign up and play
Only after all that testing should you sign up for an account. You’ll need personal details, and at some point, ID verification to start at a licensed online casino. Then it’s time to make a deposit (consider setting up deposit limits for responsible gambling) and then you can hit the slots or the tables. Remember, stick with a UKGC-licensed site, always check the T&Cs of everything, and gamble responsibly for a safe and enjoyable online casino experience.
