There’s no shortage of online casinos in the United Kingdom. We have one of the largest casino markets in the world. However, most of the online casinos are not all that great. So,  we put together this guide that will help you choose a new online casino.

Is the Online Casino Licensed?

This should be your number one priority. An online casino should always be licensed in the country where you’re gambling. So, if you’re in the UK (as we suspect you are), then the online casino should be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, or UKGC for short.

The main aim of a valid licence is to ensure that the online casino is fair: the games are truly random (which you want them to be) and you’re properly protected if something goes wrong. In the UK, it is illegal to offer gambling services to people if you are not licensed there. We know of a few people who have gambled at non-licensed casinos, and, well, let’s just say they ended up regretting it!

Does the Online Casino Have the Games You Want?

You could be playing at the best online casinos in the world, but if the casino doesn’t have the games that you want to play, then it’ll be pretty useless to you.There’s no such thing as an online casino that has everything.

Firstly, having everything would mean having thousands and thousands of games, which can become a little overwhelming. Secondly, online casinos tend to have contracts with certain game developers (although, thankfully, the days of a single developer being on a platform are now almost gone).

Finally, most online casinos target certain markets. There is no sense in them having high-roller casino games if they’re trying to cater to the casual gambling crowd.

So, before you sign up for an online casino, always think about the types of games that you want to play and make sure the online casino has those games. However, you might need to register for multiple online casinos if you have some more unique gambling tastes.

What are the Casino Bonuses Like?

Don’t choose online casinos based on the strength of bonuses alone,  most people rarely get any value from a casino bonus. The wagering requirements are often so high as to render this impossible. But, a casino bonus is a nice little incentive.

In particular, look at the terms and conditions of the bonus. A bonus could seem like the greatest bonus in the world, but when you dive into the terms and conditions it doesn’t seem as appealing. For example, we’ve seen some fantastic bonuses that have heavy restrictions on the types of games you can play, plus have some high wagering requirements.

So, if bonuses are your thing, then always make sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for.

How do Withdrawals and Deposits Work?

Not a massive problem nowadays – deposits and withdrawals tend to be standardised,  thanks to the improved processing of online payments. Still, there are a few things that you might find are worth keeping an eye out for:

  • Is your selected payment method supported? This likely isn’t an issue for most people, we’ve yet to find a reputable online casino that doesn’t accept debit cards or bank accounts for deposits. If you’re planning to gamble, you probably have one of these. The main exception is cryptocurrency-only casinos, but since they aren’t licensed in the UK, you don’t need to worry too much about them.
  • Are there any fees for withdrawing money? Some companies have sneaky fees that you want to avoid. Nowadays, most reputable online casinos will make it 100% free to withdraw from your account.
  • What is the minimum withdrawal amount? You want this to be as low as possible if you’re a low-roller gambler. After all, you want to be able to withdraw your money if you do win.
  • How fast are the withdrawals? Some online casinos will have instant withdrawals, but most will take between a few hours and a couple of days to process your withdrawal. For most people, the speed of getting your money shouldn’t matter too much. Just make sure the online casino is transparent abouthow long it will take.

How About Customer Support?

All good online casinos have a quality customer support system. Before you register for a casino, find out how to get in touch with them. If an online casino doesn’t make it clear how you can reach customer support, or you need to jump through a ton of hoops to contact them, avoid the site.

Does the Online Casino Have Mobile Support?

All good websites have mobile support. If they don’t, avoid them. It doesn’t even matter if you’re not planning on gambling on your mobile device. The fact that an online casino hasn’t invested in a mobile platform is a strong indicator that they don’t care about their business, and you shouldn’t care about them either.

Is the Website Secure?

Finally, make sure your selected website is secure. It should be if the site is licensed in the UK. If you get any warnings from your web browser that the site might not be secure, then avoid the site like the plague.

Check the URL address bar on your web browser – if you don’t see HTTPS:// before the URL and a small padlock on the same bar, the site isn’t secure. It could lead to your details can get swiped.

Final Thoughts

Looking for a new online casino isn’t too tricky. The tips we covered on this page should point you in the right direction. Don’t forget to read casino reviews, too. A good online casino will have plenty of reviews to read, steering you toward the best platforms!