Struggling to find your next casino of choice? Then you are in the right place. We have brought together the cream of the crop in terms of online casinos after spending hours tirelessly researching and comparing casinos all over the world. We looked at the stuff that matters including site design, number of games, welcome bonuses and more!
UK Online Casino 2019 Guide: The Art and Science of Finding the Right Site
As a UK gamer, you now have more ways to play than ever before. As well as mobile casinos, you’ve got desktop and live casinos. Beyond those, we’re now starting to see the emergence of social free casino sites and even virtual reality venues. Put simply, you have an almost endless number of options if you’re a fan of blackjack, roulette, slots and the like.That said, whenever there are options, there are decisions to be made. The top UK casino brands are all doing their best to lure you into their platforms through a combination of games, features and offers. Of course, that’s not a bad thing. However, it can make things tricky when you’re searching for a new place to play.
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the nuances of online casinos. Starting with some general insights and finishing with tips on how to find the best online casinos, this article should help you decide whether desktop sites are for you. So, without any further delay, here’s everything you need to know about online casino UK sites.
Why Should I Play at a UK Online Casino?
Well, the simple answer here is: “because you want to”. If online casinos aren’t your thing, don’t use them. However, in our opinion, they have a number of features that certain players will love. For example, when you read through our 2019 UK online casino reviews, you’ll notice that bonuses abound. From no deposit casino offers to reload rewards and VIP deals, there’s always something extra up for grabs.
The same is also true of the best mobile casinos, but not so much in the offline world. Although UK live casinos do have loyalty schemes, welcome rewards and deposit bonuses are unique to the virtual arena. In tandem with added value, the top UK casino sites of 2019 also have speed and stakes on their side. What we mean by this is that you can typically place more bets per hour and for less money.
Take, for example, blackjack inside London’s Hippodrome Casino. Minimum bets at this live venue start at £2. On a busy night, you’ll often find the smallest amount you can wager per round is £5. On top of this, the average hand can take upwards of one minute if there are multiple players at the table. In contrast, when you use a recommended UK online casino, the minimum bet will be around £0.10. From there, a hand can be over in a matter of seconds. So, in terms of value, speed and stakes that suit all players, online casinos have the edge over their live counterparts. From this, it follows that the top internet casino sites are well-suited to newbies (i.e. low bets) and pros (i.e. more bets per hour).
Discover the Best Online Casinos: Comparing and Contrasting the Leading Platforms
Unlike other UK casino comparison sites, we don’t want to simply tell you where to play. Our motto is “education first”. In other words, we want to teach you how to compare online casinos for yourself. Yes, we’ll give our expert opinion on new UK casino brands, the latest deals and more. However, we also want you to consider our comments objectively.
If you can understand what it takes to be ranked among the top online casinos, you stand a better chance of getting the best overall experience. So, as much as we might look like other casino comparison sites, we’re not. Because we know everyone is different, it’s important for us to educate first and compare second. With that in mind, here are the ways we find the best UK online casinos and, in turn, how you can do the same.
How to Choose the Best Casino Site
Although there are multiple factors that decide how a site ranks among the UK’s leading players, here are four features we focus on heavily when we conduct our online casino reviews:
Online Casino Software
It could be argued that casino software isn’t an important feature when you’re sizing up a potential platform. Because new casinos naturally contain modern software, you could say they’re better than established sites. Of course, in reality, we know that’s not always true. A platform that’s a decade old could actually be slicker than a 2019 UK casino site.
As a general guide, software should be stable, secure and efficient. Perhaps the biggest mistake newbies make when they’re searching for a new online casino is to focus on aesthetics. Yes, looks are important. However, if you can’t find games in seconds or there are security concerns, a pretty interface isn’t going to help. Therefore, when you compare UK online casinos, make sure you pay attention to the fundamentals of how it’s been made.
Gaming Options
Any casino without a solid selection of games isn’t worth a minute of your time. Although there is no set standard, anything less than 100 table games and slots would be considered on the low side. As well as quantity, quality and diversity are also important. Software suppliers such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Evolution Gaming are brands you should look out for. Beyond that, slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, live tables and arcade games should be on the menu.
Casino Games and Slot RTPs
Having hundreds of games is great. However, if you’ve got little chance of winning, you’re onto a loser. The best online casinos UK gamers can access have impressive return to player (RTP) scores. In practice, RTP means how often you’ll win, in theory. Now, if an RTP score is 98%, that doesn’t mean you’re going to win 98% of the time, every time you play. However, in the long term, a game with this RTP should provide a 98% return rate.
Casino Sign-up and Deposit Bonuses
From the best old school sites to the top online casinos 2019 has to offer, bonuses are important. As we’ve already said, internet operators are great at giving you more for less. When you’re analysing a no deposit casino bonus, welcome rewards and more, make sure you consider the wagering conditions.
Obviously, try to get as many free credits as possible. However, it’s also important to read the small print. Before you can withdraw any casino bonus, you’ll need to bet a certain amount of your own money. Therefore, you want the playthrough conditions (i.e. the amount you have to bet) to be as low as possible.
Best New Casinos in the UK: Know What to Look For
The UK gaming industry is booming. With the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) reporting that licensed operators now generate more than £5.4 billion in annual revenue, new UK casinos are popping up all the time. Now, we’re not saying a casino that went live in 2019 is better than one that launched in 2010. However, there are certain benefits to modern platforms.
What Can I Expect from New UK Online Casinos?
When you join a new UK casino site, the first thing you can expect is that it will be secure and regulated. Without a UKGC licence, a site isn’t allowed to offer service to UK gamers. Beyond that, the best new casinos will use optimised software that’s compatible with desktop and mobile devices. Finally, expect a comprehensive selection of games and responsible gaming features such as time prompts, deposit limits and cooling off controls.
How to Find New Online Casinos
The easiest way to find a new online casino is to take our advice. By reading our 2019 online casino reviews, you’ll get a complete overview of what the leading upstarts have to offer. From there, you can use your own knowledge to compare and contrast the top picks. Once you’ve weighed up all the options, follow our secure sign-up links and create your first accounts.
Bonuses and Promotions at New Online Casinos
New casino bonuses are typically packed with value. Because industry newbies need a way to cut through the noise, their headline offers are more lucrative than the average. Again, we’re not saying these deals are better than the rest. However, you will find that 2019 online casino bonuses are generous.
What Payment Options Should Are Available at Online Casinos in the UK?
Every licensed UK casino site has to offer secure payment options. However, there’s nothing in the rulebook to say an operator has to use a certain selection of processors. As a consumer, you have the power to pick out the platforms that offer deposit/withdrawal options you like the best.
In our opinion, some of the most efficient and user-friendly options are: Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, PayPal, Neteller and pay by mobile phone bill options such as Boku.
Biggest UK Online Casino Payout Ever
Before we conclude our round-up of online casinos and how to find the right sites, here’s something you probably didn’t know. Because the UK is one of the most active markets in the world, it’s seen some of the biggest payouts in history.
Although seven-figure wins aren’t a daily occurrence, there have been plenty of success stories in the past. In fact, one of the biggest online casino jackpots of all-time was won in the UK. Retired British soldier Jon Heywood turned £0.25 into more than £13 million when you hit the progressive jackpot on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah.
Is Customer Support a Defining Factor Among the Best Online Casino UK Sites?
Yes. Online gaming is a consumer-led industry, which means support is important. Even though we’ve done our best to pick out the most reliable platforms, we can’t guarantee you’ll never need help. Because of that, it’s important to use an online casino with solid customer support. As a general rule, 24/7 help and advice should come as a standard. Email and phone support should also be within easy reach, as should live chat options.
How We Write Comprehensive Online Casino Reviews
As we’re now coming to the end of our look at UK online casinos, let’s take you through the criteria we use to judge a site. Although this isn’t a complete overview of the features we consider, it should give you an idea of how we compare online casinos and pick out the top options:
Bonus and Promotions: Our job is to find the best online casino bonuses and, in turn, critique their wagering conditions. Once we’ve found the most lucrative offers, we make them available to you via a single secure sign-up link.
Free Spins: In tandem with promotions that provide free credits, we also like to see free spins added to the mix. These offers are a great way to turn nothing into something.
Mobile Casino Options: The only thing better than a desktop casino is a mobile one. During our casino reviews, we make sure the operator has either a well-crafted app or a slick optimised mobile site.
Live Casino Gaming: Any online casino 2019 has to offer should feature live casino technology. The most interactive way to play, these tables allow you to play alongside real dealers and enjoy an authentic casino experience.
Software Suppliers: We’ve already explained that software is important when you compare UK casino sites. As a general rule, we look for platforms that have partnerships with leading suppliers such as NetEnt, Evolution, IGT, Yggdrasil and Microgaming.
Banking Options: Without a secure way to pay, you can’t play for real money. Don’t accept anything less than a selection of recognised payment processors such as Visa, Skrill and PayPal.
Licensed and Regulated: Without a UKGC gaming licence, UK casinos operators aren’t legal. Every site we recommend will be fully regulated, so you shouldn’t have any concerns when you join.
User Experience Matters: Mastering the Art and Science of Choosing an Online Casino
For all the rigour we apply to our online casino reviews, it’s not an exact science. In reality, there is an art to finding the right sites. Of course, you should follow the tips we’ve outlined in this guide to give your searches some structure.
However, when it comes down to it, personal preference matters. If your experience isn’t enjoyable, then the site you’re using isn’t right for you. Therefore, to ensure you get the most from your time online, follow our advice but also go with your gut. Get that right and you’ll soon see why UK online casinos are some of the best in the world.
Casino top five
Top 5 Casino is a list of the best online casinos in Europe, all of which we have tested and reviewed. All game sites are available in English and in other languages and use a number of different currencies. On the casinos in the Casino Chart you can deposit money via the most common payment solutions on the market. For example, you can use credit cards like MasterCard and Visa or through a regular bank transfer. All deposits are handled safely and securely.
If you still have problems with deposits, or have issues with anything else, the casinos all have great customer service teams on hand to assist you. Another deciding factor we used when picking casinos for inclusion in our top 5 list was that they must have professional and prompt customer service that a player can contact if they have any concerns.
Casino Chart
Most casinos in the chart offer Free Play, where you can test all games and scratch cards for free without having to register or deposit. This is a great way to see the variety of games that the casino offers before choosing to register. If you want to visit any of the top 5 casinos we recommend that you click the banner next to the text. If you want to read more about a casino you can read our casino reviews. Also check out our casino awards to see which online casinos have secured our various awards in 2016-2019.