By Dominic Field

Dating back to 2016, PlayUK is a simple UK online casino managed by Grace Media. This legit UK-licensed operator also runs a dozen or so other online gambling brands.

It's online slots that are the focus, with about 350 in total, plus several free spins reload bonuses. But there’s also a quality live dealer casino, powered by Pragmatic Play. 

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Key information

What is PlayUK all about?

PlayUK launched in 2016, the result of a partnership between Life Investments Holdings and Nektan LTD. 

However, it’s since become part of the Grace Media network, an operator that’s handled as many as 40 online casinos over the years. It currently runs about a dozen other brands, including Fruity Wins, O’Reels and Vegas Wins.

The site promises “blockbuster video slots, immersive live-dealer action, or timeless table classics”, curated to be “fresh, fair, and unmistakably fun”. 

It’s certainly delivering in most of those areas – though I don’t think it feels particularly “fresh”. The site actually feels a bit dated.

Bonuses

A fairly average casino welcome bonus awaits new registrants, though I’ve definitely seen worse. Deposit and wager £20 to secure 100 free spins on Big Bass Splash by Pragmatic Play. 

The Ts&Cs are standard – spins are worth £0.10 each, and you’ll have seven days in which to meet the 40x playthrough requirement. Visit “My Promotions” within your account to claim the free spins.

Several other promotions exist for regular players, almost all of which revolve around spins. 

• Weekly Rewards Club. Deposit and wager at least £25 in a week and you’ll receive 10 free spins the following Monday. Make it to £50 and start your week with 20 spins.
• Free spins. At the time of writing this PlayUK review, there were five different reload bonuses, all providing free spins. Deposit from £10 to £25 to claim your rewards.
• Drops & Wins. Take part in Pragmatic Play slots tournaments to win a share of £20,000 every day. Look out, too, for random prize drops.

Available games

I was surprised by how small the game library is. It features roughly 350 slots, just five RNG table games – all of which are roulette – and no other RNG games.

Still, these games are of the highest quality, supplied by top industry names like Blueprint Gaming, Wazdan and Pragmatic Play. The latter’s collection includes slots like Starlight Princess, Gates Of Olympus and 24 of the popular Big Bass series.

There’s also a good live casino, so the lack of RNG table games isn’t a huge loss. You’ll find roulette, blackjack, baccarat and sic bo tables, but not craps or casino poker.

The live casino is also powered by Pragmatic Play, whose games are only a slight step down from Evolution. Expect high quality streams and charismatic dealers, plus a small collection of creative game shows. My favourite is Sweet Bonanza CandyLand.

User experience and interface

The site is minimalist – perhaps that’s what they mean by “fresh”. I experienced a few glitches, too. Not with the games, fortunately – they load as quickly as you’d expect. 

But when you click on informational pages like “About Us” or “Terms and Conditions”, the content doesn’t always display properly, if at all. 

Still, that’s hardly a dealbreaker. And on the bright side, the three-part registration form is really straightforward.

My account was restricted initially, as I didn’t make it through the automated security checks. Verifying through customer support was easy enough, though – the whole thing was wrapped up on the same day. 

At that point, the cashier was unlocked, and I found it very easy to use. The simplistic, uncluttered site design is actually a benefit here.

Mobile and app compatibility

The PlayUK website is responsive, so it detects your screen size and optimises the display accordingly. 

If you use a mobile or tablet browser, it looks almost identical to the desktop site. The only real difference is the buttons in the top-left corner are now hidden behind a hamburger button.

PlayUK doesn’t currently provide users with an app of any kind. It’s not a problem, though – I can’t really see what benefit it would provide to the mobile casino experience. 

Loyalty rewards

PlayUK doesn’t have a loyalty club that’s open to all users, but there is a private special program for high rollers.

To join, make a deposit of £2,000 – that’s it. A VIP account manager will then reach out to tell you about your exclusive benefits. 

Like all special programs, you’ll move up through the tiers the more you wager. There are four levels – Silver, Gold, Premiere and Elite – all of which bring increasingly beneficial perks. 

Us mere mortals can enjoy the Weekly Rewards Club promotion instead. This gives you 10 or 20 free spins on a Monday, if you deposited and wagered £25 or £50 the week before. 

Pros & cons of PlayUK

Diving deeper into PlayUK

Licencing

PlayUK is one of several casino brands operated by Grace Media Limited, now part of the Betable Group. Fruity Wins is perhaps the best-known of its sister casinos.

Although it’s based in Gibraltar, the company has a license from the UK Gambling Commission. PlayUK operates under remote license number 057869-R-334655-008.

Payment methods

It’s easy to deposit and withdraw at PlayUK, thanks to a varied selection of convenient payment methods. 

Debit cards, several e-wallets and bank transfers are all on the table. Deposit instantly from as little as £10 – perfect for casual players. 

The minimum payout is also just £10, but if you request anything lower than £30, a £1.50 charge is levied. High rollers will be pleased to learn you can withdraw as much as £10,000 in one go.

It can take up to 48 hours to process withdrawals, but you’ll receive the money as soon as it’s released. Unless it’s your first request – then you may need to wait a further 48 hours to complete the necessary identity verification checks.

Software providers

There aren’t many providers contributing to what is a very small game library. However, those which are present of the highest quality.

Pragmatic Play powers the live casino, as well as supplying many of its smash-hit slots. Other notable names include Big Time Gaming, Relax Gaming and Blueprint Gaming.

Security and fairness

Licensed by the Gambling Commission, PlayUK is held to a high standard. It employs strict identity verification checks to protect vulnerable players, such as under 18s or those on the self-excluded list.

Payments are protected by SSL encryption, and only the most secure and reliable processors appear in the cashier. You know exactly what you’re getting with the likes of Visa, Trustly and PayPal.

The PlayUK casino website states that its RNG software is certified by NMi Gaming. That software testing agency is now part of GLI, the world’s foremost compliance agency.

Responsible gambling measures

PlayUK is a socially responsible casino, and its selection of responsible gambling tools is as good as it gets. 

Like all sites licensed by the Gambling Commission, it’s part of GAMSTOP, the UK’s national self-exclusion program. However, if you click the “Safer Gambling” link, you can exclude from PlayUK specifically for anywhere between six months and five years.

Other, less permanent options, include:

• Deposit Limits. Apply daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits to control spending.
• Take a Break. A lesser version of self-exclusion, ranging from one day to six weeks.
• Reality Checks. Configure a pop-up to let you know how long you’ve been playing.
• Account History. A detailed history lets you track time and money spent gambling.

FIRST rating: 3.7/5 stars

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with PlayUK. The first impression isn’t great – at least mine wasn’t.

The game library is really small, with about 350 slots and just 5 RNG table games. If it weren’t for the live casino, powered by Pragmatic Play, this casino would have scored much lower. 

Important informational pages like the Terms and Conditions wouldn’t load properly, either. That’s never good to see, even if it’s not the end of the world.

It’s not all negative, though. The games are provided by genuine industry giants, and you’ll find plenty of all-time great slots, including the Big Bass games. 

Payouts are reasonably quick, and the minimum withdrawal is just £10. But high rollers can still get involved – the maximum payout is £10,000 and there’s a special VIP program to boot.

Payment methods

FAQs

Is PlayUK legit?

Yes it is. PlayUK operates under a remote casino licence (057869-R-334655-008) from the UK Gambling Commission. This belongs to Grace Media Limited, the site’s Gibraltar-based operator.  

How can I contact customer support at PlayUK?

Email playuk@gracemediasupport.com, send an SMS to +447361587953 or use the 24/7 live chat service. Click the link in the site footer, then provide a few personal details and the bot will connect you to an agent. 

How do I reset my password at PlayUK?

To reset your PlayUK password, tap “Login” on the homepage and look for the “Forgot Password?” link. Click this, enter your registered email address and check your inbox for further instructions.