How to choose an online casino site 

When it comes to choosing the best online casino site for you, there are a few elements you will want to look into. Arguably the biggest factor you want to investigate on your casino hunt is the bonuses, but there are other factors to take into consideration too.

Bonuses

Bonuses can come in a variety of formats, but some casinos will offer better bonuses than others; additionally, you might prefer a deposit match over free spins, for example, so therefore you would want to scope out casinos that provide the ideal offer for you. However, don’t sign up to a casino until you have seen what else is out there.

Licences

One of the main things that you want to look for is a UK Gambling Commission licence - that way you know both your data and your money are in safe hands. Additionally, it is always a huge bonus if they have any association with testing labs, integrity companies, or responsible gambling tools.

Game selection

Once you have found a licensed casino with a great offer that suits you, then you want to make sure that the games available also live up to your expectations. Whether you play slots, live casino, table games, or instant play games, it’s always a good idea to check the site and make sure your preferred games are available. The last thing you want is to be someone who strictly plays blackjack, sign up with an online casino, deposit and then not be able to play blackjack because that online casino doesn’t provide that game.

Strong UX/UI and app compatibility

At times, some online casinos can be cluttered and difficult to navigate. This is something you may want to take into consideration when choosing somewhere to play, as not everywhere will have a mobile app. Ideally you want a smooth user experience, with easy accessibility and no disruptions. 

Deposits and withdrawals

Other things to consider when looking for an online casino are their deposits and withdrawals - can you deposit with your desired payment method? Are there any fees for withdrawing? And just how long will it take for you to receive your winnings in your bank account? Ideally ASAP, right? 

VIP programmes

Some online casinos may have VIP schemes or loyalty programmes available for their players - like everything - some will be better than others, so it’s always a good idea to look into this too.

Customer service

If your gameplay is interrupted or stopped at any point, you want the option to communicate with the operator immediately. Therefore, it’s important for your chosen online casino to have a live chat (preferably 24/7) that can solve any queries, any time. Additionally, alternative options of contact are always a benefit too.

Responsible gambling

A good way to tell if a casino cares about its players is by their association with responsible gambling tools and charities, so always keep an eye out for them at the bottom of the web page.

Not every online casino will be for you and many will be far from perfect, so it’s all about weighing the pros and cons of the above factors. Once you have assessed the benefits (and perhaps pitfalls too) of your chosen casino, then it is time to sign up and make your first deposit!

Top casino reviews

1. Mr Vegas  

Alongside its vast casino games offering, our number one ranked casino has an incredible welcome bonus for new UK players. If it is your first time visiting the online ‘city of sin’, you will be enticed with a 100% bonus up to £200 as a welcome offer.

At Mr Vegas you will find an impressive 7,100+ titles, covering slots, roulette, blackjack, Slingo and instant plays, as well as one of the largest live casino offerings available in the UK. The live casino library holds over 680 titles, from the best providers in the industry such as Evolution Gaming. 

Mr Vegas makes it so easy to find your next favourite game with its multiple search options and user-friendly interface across desktop and mobile devices. Furthermore, Mr Vegas offers their players 24/7 support via live chat as well as multiple deposit and withdrawal options including Skrill and MuchBetter. What are you waiting for? Sin City’s Mr Vegas awaits your arrival!

Read more here

2. Fruity King

Having been launched almost a decade ago, in 2015, Fruity King is an experienced online casino owned by ProgressPlay. It offers new customers an exciting welcome offer of 200% up to £50 as well as 10 no-wagering free spins on Reactoonz.

Fruity King has a wealth of slots on site, over 2,400, to choose from including an array of Megaways and jackpot slots as well as expanding their offering to other game types such as RNG table games, live casino and instant play. Additionally, expect to enter a live casino powered by one of the industry’s leading creators of live casino games, the almighty Evolution Gaming.

As well as a solid selection of games, Fruity King also has a strong responsible gambling section which shows how much they value their players on-site. This casino also offers you multiple bonuses and games to play, alongside your welcome bonus, such as ‘Games of the Week’, ’Lucky Wheels’ so you’re sure to be entertained by this sweet operator.

Read more here

3. Mr.Play 

Mr.Play is another partner that doubles as both a bookmaker and online casino, it was launched in 2017 under the Marketplay Limited banner and is owned by AG Communications. You can expect to find an incredible offer of up to £200 plus 100 free spins when you deposit just £10. 

The trademark moustache will remain ingrained in your mind alongside the excellent offerings available. Here, you can find 2,200+ casino games including a large live casino of over 175 titles. Mr.Play also offers a variety of free games and regular bonuses to its UK customers such as the ‘Daily Spins Frenzy’ to keep you reeled in and coming back for more!

Alongside its vast offering, you will receive instant withdrawals on-site as well as low deposit and withdrawal amounts for a wealth of payment providers. 

Read more here

4. Conquer Casino 

Conquering the UK, one casino game at a time, this history-themed, revolutionary casino was founded in 2012. Clued up with the latest games from the top providers in the industry with over a decade of experience, this casino knows what its players are after and its welcome offer is a great start.

New UK players will be offered up to £100 + 10 free spins when they sign up to Conquer Casino and will be welcomed on arrival with a wealth of slots. Additionally, if you need help with anything on-site they have you covered with their 24/7 live chat.

Conquer Casino is committed to making sure its players are having a fun and safe time on-site which is why they take their responsible gambling practices very seriously. Here, you can access several tips to stay safe, you can set deposit and loss limits, there are self-exclusion options and much more - therefore you can be reassured that Conquer, at its core, are very much a player-centric casino.

Read more here

The best casinos, compared

What casino bonuses can you claim in the UK?

More often than not, UK online casinos will entice new players with lucrative (and sometimes not so lucrative) welcome offers. Alongside welcome offers, there are also other casino offers to keep current customers coming back. Casino bonuses come in a variety of forms, such as:

• No deposit: You don’t need to deposit any money to claim the bonus.
• Free spins: You will receive a set amount of free spins once you have played the desired deposit amount. Always check this offer though, as sometimes wagering requirements can be high.
• No wagering free spins: Unlike the above offer, these free spins really are free; there are no wagering requirements attached so whatever you win, you get to keep.
• Deposit match: Whatever you deposit, the casino matches. Again, these often come with wagering requirements so always check the T&Cs before you sign up.
• Reload: This is often given to players who are already on the site, as a ‘welcome back’ bonus, to remind you of the casino and to encourage you to start playing on their site again.
• Cash back: This is when you receive back a percentage of your losses made on-site.
• Free draws: Similar to a lottery, you will be put into a draw (if you opt-in) to win a prize, which could be money, free spins, holidays or access to exclusive events and more.

What to watch out for when using casino bonuses

As mentioned in the above bonus section, some bonuses have wagering requirements attached, which means there is a required amount of money you need to spend before you can cash out any winnings. All of this information will be in the T&Cs for the welcome bonus.

In the T&Cs you will discover if you are eligible to claim the bonus, how long until the bonus expires, as well as any wagering requirements that will be attached. Some online casinos might not highlight the wagering requirements distinctly enough on the offer, which means you will have to do some digging to make sure that you get the most out of your welcome offer.

When it comes to eligibility, most online casinos will only allow one person, per household, to claim the offer; which means you could risk losing your winnings if somebody else in your household has already completed the offer. This is to prevent people from setting up multiple accounts and claiming multiple offers. 

Additionally, welcome offers are only available for new customers residing in the UK who are over the age of 18. So if you aren’t a new customer, or you aren’t over the legal age to gamble in the UK, then you won’t be eligible for the offer. 

Games you will find at an online casino

Basic tips for playing at an online casino 

• Know your budget: The top tip is to only bet what you are willing to lose, nothing is guaranteed and you want to have a fun time, right?! That fun time tends to go out of the window if you spend way more than you make. Keep it fun.
• Always check your bet amount: More often than not, the bet amounts are pre-set on a game and it is up to you to change them. If you plan on playing £0.10 a spin, the last thing you want is to start spinning £1 spins!
• Research your games: Some games will be better than others. Older games often have fewer bonus features than newer ones, so it’s always good to do your research and make sure you know what game you want to play, before you start spending any money.
• Look for games with a high RTP: If you didn’t know already, RTP stands for return to player. This is the amount that a casino game returns to its players - the higher the RTP, the better.
• Don’t get too carried away: As fun as playing at online casinos can be, you don’t want things to spiral out of your control. Make sure you set your deposit limits and time limits to avoid spending too much money and time on the site.

Step-by-step guide for signing up to an online casino

Signing up for an online casino can be done in a few simple sets, but first, you will need to find your ideal casino and welcome offer and then you can begin this process!

1. Opt-in to the bonus - Find the ‘join now’ button, to sign up to the casino, which will appear somewhere on the top of the page and opt-in to the bonus.
2. Enter your details - Most UKGC online casinos will ask for: your full name, address, date of birth, email address, phone number and a card to deposit with.
3. Accept Terms & Conditions - Following entering your details, you will be asked to accept marketing and communications (at your discretion) and to confirm the T&Cs.
4. You’re in! - Once you have completed the above steps and have made your account, it’s time to place your first deposit and enjoy your welcome bonus!

Popular payment and withdrawal methods 

How do we rate casino sites? 

Our main criteria for judging the best casino sites in the UK is based on: the quality of the welcome bonus, the UX/UI, mobile app compatibility, customer service, withdrawals and deposits, variety of payment methods, games available on-site, if there is a VIP scheme available and what the main pros and cons are of the casino. Once we have individually assessed those aspects of an online casino, our experts will conclude with an overall FIRST rating.

See how FIRST rates the best casinos on our dedicated page.

Most popular casino software providers in the UK 

The UK is fortunate to have a wealth of top-quality casino providers available to play at most online casinos. Some of the biggest names you will come across at UK casino sites are: Blueprint Gaming, Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play and NetEnt - if you see these providers on-site you know you’re going to have a good quality range of games to play!

Legal situation with gambling in the UK 

Currently, if you are over the age of 18 and are a resident of the United Kingdom, it is legal to gamble. However, when it comes to keeping yourself protected online, you want to make sure that any online casino you have signed up to is legislated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). 

The UKGC protects players by regulating all of the gambling in the country and making sure that operators are living up to their side of the deal too. The commission can issue large fines to operators not abiding by their standards; and just like they have the power to give a licence, they have the power to take it away!

Responsible gambling 

Responsible gambling comes in a variety of forms: resources, charities and/or by setting your own limits. Lots of licensed online casinos in the UK will have responsible gambling resources you can use on your account, such as deposit limits and time outs; and more often than not, they will usually be associated with a responsible gambling charity. 

Renowned charity partnerships to look out for are: GamCare, GamStop, Gordon Moody Association, GambleAware, National Gambling Helpline, Gamblers Anonymous and GamBan.

Find out more with our responsible gambling at online casinos page.

FAQs 

What is an online casino?

An online casino is pretty self-explanatory - it is a casino that is online! Instead of croupiers, you will be up against a random number generator or, if you play live casino you might face a live dealer - which is the closest you will get to an in-house casino experience. Online casinos are known for having higher RTP’s, more games and can be played anywhere, anytime, so lots of people prefer playing online compared to brick and mortar for those reasons.

Is gambling online legal in the UK?

Yes! Online gambling in the UK has been legal and regulated in the UK since 2005, when the UK Gambling Commission was formed to help regulate online casinos.

How can I tell if an online casino is safe?

The main thing to look out for, when you want to be reassured that you are in safe hands, is a UKGC licence. This can be found at the footer of any licensed casinos page.

How do I register for an online casino?

As long as you reside in the UK and are over the age of 18 you can sign up to any online casino! Just find the one that suits your preferences, as well as one with a solid welcome offer and simply click the ‘join now’ or ‘sign up’ button and you will be instructed from there.

How do I play casino games online?

Once you have made your account and your ID has been verified, all of the casino games available on the operator site will become visible. You can refine the games down by their individual vertical or (if you know what you’re looking for) via searching for them through the search bar.