An abundance of online casinos, but are they all safe to play at?
The internet revolution has led to many changes in people’s behaviour both in the UK and all over the globe. And when it comes to casino gaming, you can be sure that this very much holds too.
Indeed, in today’s world less and less punters are making their way down to brick and mortar casinos like London’s famous Hippodrome or Genting Casino in Manchester. Instead, many keen gambling aficionados are opting to turn to their laptops or phones for a bit of gambling fun. And who could blame them? It’s so much quicker, easier and less costly to find online casinos in the UK to play at that getting out of the house to head to a land-based casino just seems like a waste of time. But are they safe to play?
There’s plenty of sites to choose from but it’s crucial to perform a few checks before signing up and ensure they are safe to play
With the growing demand for casino entertainment, many companies have opted to open their very own internet-based casino. However, does this mean that all of them are safe to play at? Most certainly not. There are so many rogue casinos out there; it isn’t even funny.
Sadly, they exist in the dozens and sometimes fly under the radar of the UK’s gambling authority. So it’s absolutely critical to perform a few checks prior to signing up. Of course, reading casino reviews before making the decision to open an account and make your first deposit can definitely help. However, it might be very time consuming indeed. So if you’re a bit strapped for time or simply don’t have the patience to read through whole reviews, just keep a few of the criteria we deem to be amongst the most important in mind and you’ll be well on your way to finding a casino that’s fit for you.
Top criteria to keep in mind when searching for a UK online casinos to play at
1. The casino’s license
Compared to many iGaming industries around the globe, the UK casino industry is a very regulated one. And what you might not know, especially if you’re heading to an online casino for the first time, is that each one must be licensed and regulated by the UK’s gambling authority. The UK Gambling Commission, also known as the UKGC, aims to regulate the online casinos that are currently operating in the market.
Essentially, the regulatory body aims to ensure they are safe to play. It protects player’s from being swindled from their hard earn money and misled by any online casino promotions on offer by setting a list of requirements for casinos to comply with.
2. Transparency of terms and conditions for each bonus offer
Any online casinos offering their services to UK players must show the terms and conditions of their bonuses and promotions to players. Thus, if a casino is offering a flashy bonus of £500. The casino must definitely show the terms and conditions associated with claiming the bonus. These include the wagering requirements linked to the particular bonus, whether or not the bonus can be withdrawn with any winnings accrued and what casino games the bonus can be used on.
3. The games on offer and the casino software used
Of course, one of the reasons you’d be heading to an online casino in the first place is to play your favourite online slots game, blackjack or roulette game. So, before signing up to your online casino of choice, it is definitely advisable to have a look through the casino’s lobby of casino games as well as the software the company uses. Check whether the casino games available satisfies your need for versatile gameplay, the game’s RTP and the mostly importantly the online casino software used. Some of the most popular software you’ll typically find include the iGaming giants NetEnt, Playtech and Microgaming. However, there are also several other smaller companies offering their software around too. If you notice that the casino is using software you don’t recognize, that’s definitely a red flag. Read up on the software company and if it has a bad reputation don’t opt to play at the casino.
4. Reputable payment options
In order to play for real money, you must of course find a reputable payment option to deposit with first to get your funds to the casino. Moreover, you must also make sure that there are withdrawal options you’re able to use to cash out your winnings too. Otherwise, how can you get your hands on your money after you’ve won?
When you’re browsing through a UK casino’s payment options page, you’ll normally find various options out there including several e-wallets, bank transfer, prepaid cards options, credit cards and even a pay by phone bill option if you’re lucky. Some of the most popular payment options amongst UK gamblers are PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard and Paysafecard. They are all giants in the payments provider industry and your funds will definitely be safe if you opt to use one of these methods of payment. It’s important to note that sometimes you’ll be able to use certain payment options to deposit, but you won’t be able to use the same one to withdraw your winnings. Also, some payment options will charge you fees on the transactions you make. So be sure to check up on things before you select your payment option to use and ensure your chosen online casino is safe to play.
