UK Online Casinos
Americans still consider themselves the king of gambling culture, due in large part to the global popularity of Las Vegas as a destination point, but regarding the Online Casino landscape, it’s different. The United Kingdom has embraced gambling culture like no other country on Earth, and there is a great variety of UK Online Casinos.
Various gambling acts have been authorized by the UK’s government throughout the years, paving the way for England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales to build dozens of casinos, sports betting shops, bingo parlors, and lotto dispensaries. In the UK, sports bettors don’t need to travel to one of a few cities in order to get in on the action, as sports book shops have been a street side staple since 1960. In 1968 the UK authorized the construction of land-based casinos, turning the entire nation into a veritable Sin City of sorts.
Studies have consistently shown that more than 60 percent of UK residents engage in one form of gambling or another during the year, ranking right up there with American, Australia, and China as the world’s per capita leaders.
Online Casinos Hit the UK
With the advent of online casinos in 1996, the UK became an early adopter of the new technology, and rightfully so. Just two years earlier, a company based in the UK-controlled Isle of Man known as Microgaming developed the world’s first online casino software. Cryptologic, a company based in Dublin, Ireland, followed in 1995, spurring a competitive relationship between the two UK rivals which continues to this day.
While the online casino gambling industry in America has been crippled by the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, in the UK players enjoy practically unfettered access to their favorite UK online casinos. Many of the most traffic-heavy online casino platforms in the world have roots in the UK, including 888 Holdings, Bwin/Party, InterCasino, Ladbrokes, and William Hill.
Overview
This page was written to highlight the top performers and reputable actors currently serving the UK’s rapidly growing online casino marketplace. You’ll find a list of the most popular UK online casinos, including detailed information on each site’s software provider, licensing body, games menu, deposit bonus schedule, and banking options. After that, you can brush up on the most current laws in the UK pertaining to online gambling.
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Top UK Casinos Online
Below you will find a list of reputable online casinos serving the UK market, sites which have developed a loyal base of players while building a strong reputation based on customer service and fair play:
888 Casino
- Owners: 888 Holdings Plc.
- Established: 1997
- Bonus: £/$/€1,500 Total
- Type: Online, Mobile, & Live
- Mobile: Apple, Android, & Windows
888 Casino Summary
Launched in 1997, 888 Casino is an offshoot of one of the UK’s most respected gaming companies, 888 Holdings. The 888 UK Casino Online attracts 520,000 monthly players to its gambling platform while 170,000 players are active on the site per day. In total, more than 5.2 million players are active on 888 Casino during the year.
Software and Games
The 888 UK Online Casino is powered by a combination of industry-leading software providers, including Random Logic Software, GamesOS, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, WagerWorks Software, NextGen, Net Entertainment, and Amaya Software. The site is licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the Gambling Commission of the UK.
As one of the world’s oldest online gambling services, 888 Casino offers the full assortment of games players have come to expect. That means you’ll find dozens of slot machine titles, in addition to classic table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Another popular product of 888 Casino is the Live Dealer concept, which connects online players to a living, breathing dealer via live streaming services. The 888 Casino platform is available as both a desktop and mobile client.
Bonuses
For players seeking out the best bonuses, 888 Casino only offers a 100 percent match on your first deposit, up to $200/£100/€140. This ranks on the lower side of the industry spectrum, so bonus hunters may prefer to search elsewhere.
Banking
Players in the UK can use several options to make deposits and conduct banking transactions:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- EntroPay
- iDebit
- Neteller
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Bank Transfer
- Wire Transfer
InterCasino
- Owners: WagerLogic Alderney
- Established: 1996
- Bonus: $900 Total
- Type: Online, Mobile, & Live
- Mobile: Apple, Android, & Windows
InterCasino Summary
InterCasino formed the world’s first fully functional online casino platform in 1996 under the ownership of software provider Cryptologic. In fact, InterCasino claims the honor of accepting the first ever real money wager over the internet. Today, the site is home to 4.5 million active players per year, with 180,000 active players visiting InterCasino every month.
Software and Games
As a Cryptologic property, the majority of games on InterCasino are powered by the popular software provider, but Amaya software is also a large presence within the site’s table games menu. The site is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and the Gambling Commission of the UK.
You’ll find all of your favorite table games at InterCasino, along with a massive list of slot machine and video poker titles to choose from. InterCasino also offers the Live Casino function, enabling players to enjoy a genuine casino experience from the comfort of home. The InterCasino platform is available in both a desktop client and a mobile app.
Bonuses
Slot players can score a welcome bonus of up to $600, which is spread out over your first three deposits. Table game fans can earn up to $300 in bonus funds over their first three deposits.
Banking
Players in the UK can use several options to make deposits and conduct banking transactions:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- EntroPay
- Neteller
- PaySafeCard
- PayPal
- iBanq
- Skrill
Ladbrokes
- Owners: Ladbrokes Plc. Casinos
- Established: 2000
- Bonus: £500+
- Type: Online, Mobile, & Live
- Mobile: Apple, Android, & Windows
Ladbrokes Summary
Ladbrokes is one of the oldest betting operations in the world, having opened its doors way back in 1886. The online casino component of the company was launched in 2000, and today more than 3.8 million active players use the site each year, including 420,000 players per month.
Software and Games
The Ladbrokes online casino is primarily powered by Playtech software, although some games feature software provided by WagerWorks and Net Entertainment. The site is licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the Gambling Commission of the UK.
Hundreds of unique games are included on the Ladbrokes online casino menu, including the usual assortment of classic table games, the new wave of hybrid table games, and scores of slot machine titles. Video poker, bingo, keno, and lotto games can also be found at Ladbrokes, along with the interactive Live Casino section. Both desktop and mobile users can take part in the Ladbrokes experience.
Bonuses
Ladbrokes offers a 100 percent welcome bonus of up to £500 on your first deposit, along with smaller bonuses for the second and third deposit.
Banking
Players in the UK can use several options to make deposits and conduct banking transactions:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- EntroPay
- Neteller
- MoneyBookers
- Western Union Quick Pay
- ClickAndBuy
- PayPal
- iDebit
- Skrill
- Bank Transfer
- Wire Transfer
Party Casino
- Owners: Bwin.Party Partners
- Established: 1997
- Bonus: $500
- Type: Online, Mobile, & Live
- Mobile: Apple, Android, & Windows
Party Casino Summary
An offshoot of the legendary PartyPoker brand, PartyCasino is a relatively late addition to the industry landscape, launching in 2006. Nonetheless, PartyCasino’s affiliation with worldwide online gaming leader Bwin/Party has made the site one of the UK’s preferred online gambling destinations. In fact, the 6.2 million active players per year make PartyCasino the most frequented online casino in terms of UK-based players.
Software and Games
The site is primarily powered by the Bwin/Party software suite, although several dozen entries on the table games menu utilize either Cryptologic or Amaya software. PartyCasino is licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the Gambling Commission of the UK.
Slot machine titles make up the bulk of PartyCasino’s game menu, but you’ll also find the standard lineup of table games, video poker, and other options. The Live Dealer function is available on select table games, allowing online casino players to soak in the sights and sounds of a genuine casino experience. PartyCasino is available in the usual desktop client, but a wide variety of the site’s games are also in play on the mobile app version.
Bonuses
When it comes to welcome bonuses, PartyCasino offers a 100 percent match bonus up to $100 on your first deposit. Even better, you’ll also receive 50 free spins on the site’s expansive slot machine menu. On your second deposit, the bonus jumps to a 100 percent match on up to $400.
Banking
Players in the UK can use several options to make deposits and conduct banking transactions:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diner’s Club International
- EntroPay
- Kalixa
- Neteller
- PayPal
- PaySafeCard
- Skrill
- Bank Transfer
- Wire Transfer
William Hill Casino
- Owners: WHG (International) Limited Casinos
- Established: 1998
- Bonus: £150+
- Type: Online, Mobile, & Live
- Mobile: Apple, Android, & Windows
William Hill Casino Summary
Everybody in the UK is likely familiar with the William Hill brand, as it first opened for betting back in 1934. The online casino component of William Hill was launched in 1998, making it one of the earliest entries into the industry. Today, more than 3.2 million active players enjoy William Hill UK Online Casino every year.
Software and Games
The site is powered by a consortium of leading software providers, including Playtech, Microgaming, Net Entertainment, and Cryptologic. William Hill Casino is licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the Gambling Commission of the UK.
William Hill Casino has hundreds of games to choose from, including a long lineup of slot machine and video poker titles, all of the table games you’ve come to expect, bingo, keno, and lotto. Live Casino games are also available for players who enjoy connecting with a real live dealer during their gaming sessions. Desktop and mobile app versions of the site can be easily accessed.
Bonuses
Bonus hunters can earn a 100 percent match on first deposits, up to £150, along with a bevy of additional bonus options on subsequent deposits.
Banking
Players in the UK can use several options to make deposits and conduct banking transactions:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diner’s Club International
- ClickAndBuy
- EntroPay
- InstaDebit
- Neteller
- PayPal
- PaySafeCard
- Skrill
- Western Union Quick Pay
- Bank Transfer
- Wire Transfer
The Legality of Online Casinos in the UK
As a nation with some of the most permissive gambling laws in the world, it’s no surprise that the online casino industry has flourished here. While many players in the USA, Australia, and Europe must grapple with the unclear legal status of their favorite pastime, UK residents can enjoy online casinos without fear of prosecution.
Under the Gambling Act of 2005, so-called remote gambling is defined under Section 4 as a legally permissible activity under UK law. The Gambling Act of 2005 includes detailed procedures for the licensing and regulation of remote betting operators like online casinos, in an effort to ensure industry integrity and protect players from bad actors.
To that end, the Gambling Act of 2005 also created the Gambling Commission of the UK, which directly oversees the operations of all online casinos reviewed above.
While UK online casino operators must comply fully with the Gambling Commission of the UK and the Gambling Act of 2005, individual players are completely free to enjoy online gambling at their leisure. The only stipulation players must keep in mind is that this legality is premised on players using licensed and regulated sites, so unless you see the appropriate licensing stamps at the bottom of an online casino’s homepage, its best to avoid that site and visit one of those listed on this page.
