Best UK Online Casinos List
Solicitors.guru, in cooperation with CasinoValley online casino experts, analysed some of the critical UK Gambling Laws, as well as the best legal UK online casinos list.
With so many generous bonuses and promotions on offer to choose from, including no deposit options, how can you be sure that you have picked the right one? Most importantly, you should choose a legal and fully licensed UK online casino.
The requirements of the UK Gambling Commission were also taken into consideration in this analysis. As a result, we present you the list that should answer the million-dollar question – what are the best online casinos in the UK?
Best Online Casinos UK
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CasinoBonusRatingPlay link
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1
£100 Bonus + 300 Free Spins
1,500+ Slot Games
12-24 Hour Cashouts (inc. PayPal) -
2
100% Bonus up to £100 + 10% Cashback
1500+ slots
Fast E-Wallet Payouts -
3
100% Bonus up to £100 + 50 Bonus Spins
6 hour cashouts with no fees
1,000+ slots -
4
100% Bonus (£100) + 200 Free Spins
1,750+ Slots
12-24 Hour Cashouts (inc. PayPal) -
5
100% Bonus (£100) + 20 Spins
2,100+ Slots
iOS + Android Mobile Apps -
6
100% Bonus (£50) + 50 Bonus Spins
1,000+ Slots & Jackpots
PayPal Casino -
7
100% Bonus (£100) + 10% Cashback
1500+ Online Slots
12-24 Hour Cashouts -
8
100% Bonus up to £100 + 100 Free Spins
1000+ Slots from Top Providers
6 Minute Average Cashouts -
9
100% Bonus up to £100 + 100 Free Spins
1000+ Slots from Top Providers
6 Minute Average Cashouts -
10
100% Bonus (£100) + 300 Free Spins
1750+ Slots from Top Providers
£10 Minimum Deposit inc. PayPal
The greatest difference between real-world and online casinos is that they can offer rewards in the form of bonuses and promotional play. These particular bonuses and promotions allow you to earn free money and credits. Essentially, you receive free money just to start playing. This is why you may hear the phrase “online casino no deposit” thrown around quite often.
The fact that a taxpayer has a system by which they place their bets, or that they are sufficiently successful in earning a living by gambling does not make their activities a trade.
In recent years, there has been a rise in new online casinos, with many of them being UK-based. This is fantastic news to us Brits, of course, but how can you know for sure that your chosen online casino is legal? You have to be careful as more and more illegal online betting services appear.
How to Choose the Best Site from the UK Online Casinos List?
License and Player’s Safety
The most popular online casinos in the UK listed here are licensed by the highest regulatory body of the British gambling industry – UKGC. On such casino sites, players get the most secure experience.
Fair Game Results, RTP and Payouts
The random number generator, based on which all legal casinos work, ensures the honesty of the game results. But the money aspect is also essential. So even though gambling is primarily a way to have fun and not to make money, the casino must have a fair payout system and RTP (Return to Player).
Site’s Technical Security
The best online casinos UK pay special attention to the technical security of the site. Availability iTech Labs or eCOGRA certificates is proof that the software used by the site is safe and reliable.
Generous Bonus Offers
Decent casino sites in Britain offer players good bonuses and promotions. These are not only generous welcome packages but also other bonus offers with reasonable wagering requirements.
Rich Game Collection
The best UK online casinos list includes sites with a large game selection. Thanks to the variety of titles and modes for playing, a wider gamblers’ audience can always find their favourite casino game.
Safe Banking Options
Payment terms and the player’s funds security depend on the chosen method of conducting banking transactions. Therefore, pay attention to what payment systems the online casino works with.
Mobile Compatibility
Modern gamblers are accustomed to a mobile lifestyle. This also applies to the best online casinos UK players have access to. The best gambling operators offer mobile versions as well. Whether it is a dedicated app or a web version for mobile devices, all casino features should be available, and games should run smoothly.
Excellent Support Service
If you can easily contact support specialists, they answer you politely and immediately provide a solution to the problem – you are on one of the best online casinos UK sites.
Solid Reputation
Reputable British casinos have been working on their reputation for years. This does not mean that the rising stars of the UK gambling industry are not worth your attention. However, it is better to prefer trusted casino sites with a good reputation.
Our Picks for the Best Online Casinos in UK: By Categories
There cannot be two identical punters in one casino. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to choosing the most reliable gambling site. Therefore, we have divided the best casino sites into a few categories.
Best Sites to Play Blackjack
Such sites are sure to offer a wide selection of the most popular blackjack variations. In addition, in the catalogue of the best casino sites, you will find releases from leading gambling software providers. The game is available in both demo mode and for real money. For fans of land-based casinos, these sites offer a live version of blackjack as well.
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1
100% up to £100 + 100 Spins -
2100% up to £50 + 100 Bonus Spins
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3
100% up to £50 + 100 Bonus Spins
Best Casinos for Online Slots
In the list of the best online casinos UK for playing slots, we have included sites with a wide range of slot machines and themes, but we have also considered some other factors. On these sites, you will have access to the latest releases from the best providers on the market, as well as exclusive online slots.
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1
100% up to £111 +100 Bonus Spins -
2
100% up to £100 +10% Cashback -
3
100% up to £100+300 Bonus Spins
Best Casinos to Spin the Roulette Wheel
When someone hears the word “roulette”, a casino comes to mind. It is perhaps one of the most ancient and popular casino games. So which roulette sites are included in our UK online casinos list? Those where every gambler will find something for themselves: game option, betting limit, game mode, etc.
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1
Min. Deposit: £20 Max. Bonus: £200
Offer is valid on first deposit
Wager 40x. Offer only applies to new players. -
2
New Customers Only
100% Deposit Match
Min deposit of £10. 50x Wagering (Bonus + Deposit) playable on selected slots only -
3
New customers only
Minimum deposit £20
Wager 40x before withdrawing
Best Live Online Casinos in UK
For those who like to experience the real emotions and adrenaline playing in physical casinos, we have prepared a selection of the best live dealer casinos. Playing with a professional live croupier and real players in a live broadcast will not leave you indifferent.
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1
GET 100% BONUS €200 UP TO + 100 SPINS -
2
New players only.One bonus offer per player. Minimum deposit £20. Max bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days otherwise any unused bonus shall be removed. Bonus funds are 100% match up to £300 on your 1st deposit. -
3
Welcome Bonus 100% up to £100 + 200 free spins
Best Casinos with the Highest Payouts
Gamblers who prefer to play for real money should clearly understand: playing on what casino sites you can lose less and on what more. For this reason, when choosing a casino, it is vital to keep track of such an indicator as a return to player (RTP). Thanks to it, the player sees what percentage of the money lost they can return within a certain period.
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1
100% up to £100 First Deposit Bonus -
2
100% up to £150 First Deposit Bonus -
3
100% up to £99 First Deposit Bonus
Games and Providers the Best Online Casinos UK Must Have
To be included in our UK online casinos list, an online operator must be very generous in choosing the categories of casino games from a range of reliable providers.
Best Game Providers
There are a number of luxury gambling software developers in the global online gambling market. Their products can be found in each of the best online casinos UK. The best brands in the British market are:
Evolution Gaming
Big Time Gaming
Endorphina
Pariplay
Yggdrasil
Thunderkick
Elk Studios
Pragmatic Play
Quickspin
Betsoft and others
Popular Game Types
As we have already said, the best online casinos UK game library contains various gambling entertainment options. The games are available in both free and paid modes. The most popular categories include:
- Online slots with high-quality graphics;
- Real-time games with live dealers;
- Roulette in all its popular variations;
- Blackjack and all game variants;
- Online baccarat in demo mode and for real money;
- Other casino games.
Wide Range of Bonus Offers for UK Players
In our full UK online casinos list, each player will find a site with the most profitable types of bonus offers. The best UK online casinos regularly offer:
Bonuses without making a deposit. This type of promotion every punter can receive immediately after creating an account and without depositing funds.
Casino bonuses for the made deposits. Such bonus offers involve making a deposit and earning interest on that amount credited to the gaming account.
Exclusive bonus offers with no wagering requirements. The best online casinos UK usually offer such promotions to VIP clients or so-called high rollers.
A more detailed list of offered promotions and bonuses can be found directly on the chosen operator’s site.
Online Casino Payment Methods
Online casinos offer many deposit and withdrawal options.
It is perfectly normal to feel apprehensive about sharing your bank details online. In today’s world, it is a well-known fact that unsecured sites open up potential threats for malicious hackers to seize your information. For newcomers to the internet and the world of online casinos, one of the biggest fears is the submission of personal bank details. Security, hidden fees and ease of use can induce fears that stop many from accessing the online casino. For this very reason, legal online casinos within the UK now offer many deposit and withdrawal options. All of these options are quick, secure and simple. So what are the most popular payment methods in the best online casinos UK?
Top 5 Popular Payment Methods in UK Online Casinos
Debit Cards (Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro)
Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX)
e-Wallets (PayPal, Neteller, Skrill)
Bank Wire
Pay-by-phone
Let us discuss each method in more detail. A common method used to connect your current account to your online casino betting account is debit and credit cards. Debit cards are dynamically linked to your registered bank current account. This allows instant transactions with no additional fees to make deposits. VISA, VISA Electron, MasterCard, and Maestro are the key top debit card providers.
Credit cards, however, can have additional charges for many online casinos. The reason being, funds transferred from your credit card are effectively borrowed from the online casino. The money is not yours, and can, therefore, incur small charge fees for their use. Common credit card providers include VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express and Discover.
E-wallets, such as PayPal, is a common method of deposit due to the extra layer of security they provide. E-wallets combine elements of both prepaid cards and instant payment services. The exact method varies between providers, but e-Wallets mean the provider will simply debit your account and pay on your behalf. Such providers include their own protection policies and fees.
There are offline methods of getting your funds to an online casino too, for those who are still sceptical of submitting their bank information online. Bank Wire allows you to use an online casino’s account details to transfer funds within a branch or via online banking. These funds are not instant and can take up to three working days to clear.
Instant Bank Transfer is another simple method used to transfer cash to an online casino. Simply visit a branch or utilise online banking features for a simple and quick transfer.
Believe it or not, it is also possible to write a cheque to the stated address of an online casino in order to pay any required fees or deposits. This can take several days for UK postcodes, as well as three days for the cheque to clear.
An alternative for those who prefer to speak to a person rather than conduct a faceless transaction is paying by phone bill. Many online casinos have a pay-by-phone bill deposit feature. This payment system is efficient as well as being highly secure.
As for the future, online casinos are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to make their customer payment processes easier. With Bitcoin becoming a continually relevant topic, new online casinos in UK are currently considering Bitcoin customer payment options. You can find out if your online casino of choice accepts Bitcoin as a method of payment by visiting their website.
Online Casino Gambling Commissions and Licensing
UKGC ensures the ethical running of the gambling industry.
Gambling within the UK has several benefits, with the key being the safety and security of your deposit. This is thanks to dedicated government bodies working within the UK, who ensure the ethical running of the UK gambling industry. This very body requires all companies that operate online casinos within the UK to receive a licence in the country.
The UK’s online gambling licensing model is known as one of the highest quality models in the world. Set by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), rules and regulations were created in order to effectively police online gambling. This very model allows gambling within the UK to guarantee you the ultimate protection against unfair treatment from an online casino or any other gambling operator.
The UKGC is an official body created under The Gambling Act of 2006. The commission works to ensure there are no links between crime and gambling. It includes ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly. This has many advantages, but the most important by far is that your money is protected. UK online casino must explain within their terms and conditions whether your funds are protected, along with what kind of protection is in place. In addition, every online casino is obligated to keep customer money within a separate account.
What the Gambling Act of 2006 Means for Players and Casino Operators
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All online gambling operators in the UK are subject to consistent regulations |
Operators must use software supplied by a company holding a valid UKGC licence |
Operators must comply with the Commission’s technical standards |
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It is required to segregate customer funds and clearly disclose how their funds are protected |
Operators must promote Social Responsibility, protect children and combat problem gambling |
Operators must adhere to anti-money laundering policies and practices |
Another fantastic service the UKGC provide is the governance of licencing procedures for gambling sites located within the UK. This applies to any business looking to start offline or online gambling, including UK online casino. The commission achieves this by charging an annual fee to licence holders to ensure the validity of their licences.
In an evolving world of growing cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, the UKGC has also begun to introduce several regulations and safety measures to protect players. New standards ensure that each and every UK online casino follow the Data Protection and Cyber Security Standards before they are issued a licence. This is perfect because it means you can be assured your deposit is safe from hackers and online threats.
In addition to all of this, the UKGC also reviews online casino software and policies. This means any player with a dispute against an online casino can hold the site accountable. Any offshore sites operating without a UKGC-issued licence are doing so illegally. This has the potential to result in seizures and criminal charges. Sites not licensed within the UK often operate illegally in other countries, increasing potential legal action and putting player funds at risk. As an online casino user, you can trust the UK Gambling Commission. Their standards revolve around the protection of player funds and player protection.
Online gaming operators must comply with the regulations set by the UKGC. Otherwise, their licence is revoked, with the company then facing investigation and/or prosecution.
All leading online casinos in UK are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, including 888casino, Betway, and Dunder.
Are Winnings from Online Casino Taxed in the UK?
Winnings are tax-free in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Gambling taxes can result in winners quickly becoming losers if they do not pay their duties. For instance, winnings in Las Vegas, USA, are liable to a federal withholding tax.
With this in mind, what are the taxation rules for gambling winnings within the UK? Are winnings from the UK online casino taxed?
It may be hard to believe, but online casino gambling winnings are, in fact, tax-free for players in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This has been the law as of 2001, thanks to the budget reform of that year by the UK Government. Prior to this, there was a Betting Duty, which implied a 6.75% tax on all gambling winnings. The abolishment of these taxations erased concerns about the possibility of the UK losing revenue and jobs to offshore gambling sites.
This is a bold and enlightened decision by the Government and great news for the betting and racing industries and for our customers.
Of course, this move paid off, with legal online casinos now enjoying high levels of popularity within the UK. Taxation within the gambling industry is handled by online casinos within the UK, not their players. The current law states that offline and online gambling agencies must pay the UK Government a 15% tax levy. This hefty sum helps the Government taxation body, HMRC, pull in £2.7 billion annually from leading UK gambling bodies.
Things You Should Know about Gambling Tax in the UK
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Gambling winnings are tax-free in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales |
Before 2001 all gambling winnings were taxed at a rate of 6.75% |
You do not have to pay any tax, even if you are a professional gambler |
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All offline and online gambling agencies must pay the UK Government a 15% tax levy |
HMRC pulls in £2.7 billion in taxes from gambling bodies annually |
Whether you are a total novice or an expert, you will be pleased to know that HM Revenue and Customs do not distinguish between casual and professional gamblers. Within the UK, gambling is not recognised as a trade. This means you are able to keep whatever you win from an online casino, regardless of the amount. For those who do professionally gamble, there are a couple of benefits to keeping a performance log of your winnings. It is smart to keep track of your spending, wins, and losses while gambling. Not only can it help you be aware of your gambling, but you can easily calculate how much profit you’ve made after you factor in your losses.
For some, gambling is the sole and main source of income. There is nothing illegal about this whatsoever. However, it can raise suspicion from banks and authoritative bodies when large financial deposits appear suddenly in your bank account. For this reason, it is useful to keep ample proof that you are not receiving income from taxable sources.
The current online casino taxation regulations within the UK make it an excellent place to gamble.
Other countries are not as lucky, with gambling winnings being as taxable as income from a full-time job. Spain, for instance, does not claim to have tax fees. However, all gambling winnings are required to be reported as income, which allows them to be taxed.
With this fantastic information, you can sleep easy knowing any potentially life-changing wins are all yours. Even better, it is unlikely these laws will change any time soon, considering the current model of the UK taxation system.
Online Casino UK Laws that You Should Know
One of the best-regulated gambling models in the world.
The online casino industry and gambling account for 35% of all betting activity. Because of this, the UK Government actively oversees the gambling industry to ensure legality. The Gambling Act of 2005 ensured the regulation and correct licensing for all forms of gambling. This act included the regulation that if you reside within the UK, you are legally permitted to participate in legal online casinos. As a UK resident, you can be completely assured that you are entrusting your money to one of the safest and best-regulated gambling models. There are strict sanctions in place to ensure all gambling operators abide by legal regulations. Failure to do so opens them up to large potential fines and prosecutions.
You must always be aware that gambling within the UK is legal for residents aged 18 or over. This includes gambling within UK online casinos. You should ensure that the online casino you choose to gamble with is licensed by the UKGC. This is your obligation as a user. If you feel as though you are being treated unfairly by a UK online casino, THE UKGC offer 11 Alternative Dispute Resolution providers, all of which have their approval.
What You Should Know about Gambling as a UK Resident
Online casino industry and gambling account for 35% of all betting activity
UK has one of the safest and best-regulated gambling models in the world
UKGC regulates all commercial gambling in the country
You have to be aged 18 or over to gamble in the UK
UKGC has a whitelist of approved gambling commissions
There are 11 Alternative Dispute Resolution providers that can help you if you were treated unfairly
The highly developed UK gambling model requires online casinos to abide by a number of rules and regulations, each referenced within UK Gambling Law. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) was established with the very purpose of regulating all commercial gambling. This includes online casinos in UK. All operators offering gambling services online must hold a valid licence from the UKGC in order for their operation to be legal. They are then obligated to display the details of the licence clearly within their premises and on their website.
At times, an online casino may refer to another gambling commission and licence authority as being responsible for their licence. This is because some gambling jurisdictions have been approved on a dedicated whitelist by the UKGC. This means operators licensed by whitelisted jurisdictions are permitted to offer gambling services and advertise on the UK market. The full whitelist of approved gambling commissions can be found on the UKGC website.
Should an online casino be discovered to be non-compliant with the UKGC regulations, they may potentially be fined or prosecuted. Sanctions vary depending on the scale of non-compliance. For example, in March 2018, Skybet were issued a £1m penalty package for failing to protect vulnerable consumers. 36,748 self-excluded customers did not have their account balance funds returned to them on account closure. This serious failure highlighted the importance of compliance, along with the power of the UKGC.
UK Gambling Law has been created and structured to protect you, the consumer. Your safety and security is always most important in the eyes of the law, not your money.