Best Online Casino Sites UK – 2018
The UK online gambling industry is growing exponentially, with new casino sites being opened non-stop. While the UK Gambling Commission and other credible gambling agencies ensure that all casinos are legitimate, they can’t help you decide whether an operator is worth your time or not. That is where our in-depth and unbiased casino reviews can help you.
We review the best and the worst online casinos that are available to UK players and rate them based on their performance. So, if you want to find out which operators feature top-notch gambling experience backed up by a trusted and reliable software, check out the list below.
| RANK | BRANDS | SIGN-UP BONUS | USER RATING | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | Get £88 Free + £1500 Welcome Bonus | Play Now Read Review | |
| #2 |  | Get up to $200 New Player Bonus | Play Now Read Review | |
| #3 |  | 100% up to $200 + 20 Free Spins | Play Now Read Review | |
| #4 |  | Get Up to 50 Free Spins | Play Now Read Review | |
| #5 |  | Get €1200 bonus + 200 free spins | Play Now Read Review | |
| #6 |  | Get 100% up to £100 Welcome Bonus | Play Now Read Review | |
| #7 |  | Get £300 welcome bonus | Play Now Read Review | |
| #8 |  | 200% Bonus up to £200 | Play Now Read Review | |
| #9 |  | Get 200% Bonus up to €/£400 | Play Now Read Review | |
| #10 |  | Get £50 WelCome Bonus | Play Now Read Review |
Can YOU Find UK’s Best Casino Sites?
Years ago, when the only places to gamble were brick-and-mortar casinos, it was relatively easy to choose a decent place to try your luck. Just by knowing the neighbourhood, you could guess with reasonable accuracy how good or bad the casino would be.
In fact, the difficult part was finding a casino. Judging it was easy. Two minutes in and you would be already certain. After years of gambling, recognising a trustworthy locale becomes more than intuition; it grows into practical knowledge.
But then online casinos started sprouting like autumn mushrooms, and things changed dramatically. If you were to conduct a quick Google search on online casino sites, you’d get millions of results. Now that’s the easy – and confusing – part.
The Gambling Commission does a good job by maintaining a reputable list of good UK casinos online, but a single regulator can do only that much in the rapidly expanding and constantly changing world of online gambling.
Even refining the search to discover the online casinos UK gamblers are trying their luck on would not help much in determining which are the best ones, and that is the real issue.
So many casino sites appear constantly that it takes special effort and focused research on finding out where is safe to bet, which games to choose and to know how withdrawals are handled.
You cannot judge an online gambling site based on its neighbourhood, nor can you walk in and get a good feeling about it. Most gambling websites are polished enough to make a decent first impression.
Reviewing Online Casinos
Our approach is slightly different than the industry standard. We strive to present a thorough picture through objective online casino reviews and ratings, by approaching the gambling sites as a player would. Since, when it comes to new online casinos, 2018 introduced more than a few to the market, we had more than enough to keep us busy!
Back to the review process now. Using a moderately powerful computer, we register with a small bankroll, collect the promised bonuses, install the necessary software and test the most popular games, before submitting a withdrawal request. We play slots, Blackjack, poker, and roulette to see how well the casino app responds, what bandwidth and computing power it needs and how is the player base of the casino. We check the overall number of games and their variety, too.
Then we use at least two withdrawal methods to determine the level of customer service and efficiency. Usually, one withdrawal is made to a debit or credit card, and the other is either to an e-wallet or direct bank transfer. Occasionally, we test all of the above. Probably the most boring part of our review process is the reading of the terms of service, but someone has to read these things, right?
Only after our reviewers approve a casino as one of the best online gambling sites UK customers can try their luck on, we request an affiliate link and take the liberty of posting it here. The presence of license to operate within the UK does not influence the final score of our reviews for one simple reason: casinos without a license from the Gambling Commission do not feature on CasinoSites.me.uk.
Casino Sites 2018 Reviews
888 Casino is home to exclusive slot and jackpot titles, table classics, and live dealer games. For its new members, 888 has three welcome offers, whereas existing casino members can take part in recurring monthly promotions with real cash rewards. The casino operator collaborates with global payment providers such as Visa, PayPal, and Neteller. Withdrawal times depend on the selected payment method, but e-wallets offer the quickest withdrawals. 888 is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Government of Gibraltar. Players can contact the casino’s customer care via email and phone service or by filling out a web form.
Party Casino offers a secure gaming environment thanks to its licenses from the Government of Gibraltar and the UK Gambling Commission, as well as the wide variety of trusted banking options it supports. The casino offers quick withdrawal times, as well as 24/7 email and phone customer support. The Party Casino game collection includes popular slots, video pokers, table games, blackjack, and roulette. Live casino games are available too. Promotions-wise, Party Casino rewards loyalty with their VIP programme and cashback offers, while for new online casino members the operator has an excellent welcome bonus.
William Hill Casino features an impressive collection of slots, card, and table games. The gaming operator currently has a couple of promotions designed to help casino players win some free spins. William Hill is a licensed UK casino with licenses in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar. The company works with secure payment providers such as Visa, PayPal, and Skrill – to name a few. Withdrawals can take up to 5 working days while customer service can be reached through email, live chat, and phone.
Bet365 Casino is home to popular slots, table games, video poker, and jackpot games. It has a vast range of promotional offers, and it rewards its most loyal players through a VIP loyalty scheme, comp point system, and weekly prize draws. Bet365 is a reputable casino with a license from the UK gambling regulator and the Government of Gibraltar. Casino customers can use various payment solutions. Withdrawal requests via e-wallets are usually processed within a day, while credit card withdrawals take 2 to 5 work days. Bet365 casino offers five customer support communication channels – from live chat to postal service.
With top titles from more than 20 leading game providers, Casimba Casino is packed with slots, table and live dealer games. The casino supports major payment processing solutions. Withdrawal times depend on the payment method, but the casino strives to process all withdrawal requests within 24 hours. Casimba has a license from the British and Maltese gambling regulators, and their customer care team is available around the clock via live chat and email. Promotions-wise, Casimba currently has one of the highest welcome bonuses for their new customers, while existing customers can enjoy awesome prizes through the casino’s loyalty programme.
Casumo Casino has a versatile gaming portfolio with anything from live casino games to slots and jackpots on offer and players can test the games in fun mode. Once they start playing for real money, they can join Casumo Reel Races tournaments with hundreds of awards up for grabs. Licensed in Malta and the United Kingdom, the casino supports various payment options and has quick withdrawal processing times. Live chat is the quickest way to reach the support and it is available 24/7.
Spin Casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. With over 450 games on offer, this casino has it all – from slots, jackpots, and poker to blackjack and roulette. While existing casino customers can enjoy the benefits of the Spin loyalty club, the staggering £1,000 welcome bonus is currently available to new members. Spin casino supports numerous banking options. The majority of accepted deposit methods can be used for withdrawing funds from the casino. For questions about payments or any other casino-related concerns, Spin’s live chat and email agents are there to assist players at any time.
Redbet Casino has an extensive range of online slots, jackpots, table classics, and live dealer games. The casino currently has only one promo reserved for new players. Redbet is licensed by the British and Maltese gambling regulators. Available payment methods on the site include Visa, MasterCard, bank transfers, and several others. Withdrawals take between several hours and up to five working days to reach players’ casino account – depending on the payment option they’ve picked. For customer support assistance, players can use any of the following – email, phone, or live chat service.
Betsafe Casino has a rich gaming portfolio with 1000+ games ranging from video slots and video poker to classic table games. The casino runs tournaments and promotions regularly and is licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and British Gambling Commission. Payment methods range from credit and debit cards to e-wallets and bank transfers, while, based on the payment option of your choice, withdrawals take anywhere from 24 hours to 3 to 5 work days. Betsafe has excellent customer service, and to get in touch with them, you can use any of the following: live chat, phone, or email.
Betsson Casino promises to keep its players entertained for hours with a vast selection of games they have on offer. Whether you prefer slots, table games, jackpots, or scratch games – Betsson Casino has it all. The casino is never in shortage of exceptional promotional offers, and their customer support team is always there to help you get the best out of your casino adventure. The casino holds licenses in the UK and Malta, and Sweden’s National Laboratory of Forensic Science and Canada’s Technical Systems Testing are the two independent bodies in charge of ensuring fair play at the casino. Payment methods are in abundance, while withdrawal times take up to five days tops.
Cashmio Casino holds an RNG certificate, which means that it supports fair play. You can choose between 11 deposit methods, while half of those can be used to withdraw funds from your account. The average withdrawal time is 24 hours. There is no phone support and live chat is only available from 09:00 to 01:00 (CET), but you can send an email anytime you want. If you’re a fan of slots or live casino games, you’ll find them easily by using theme, features, and software provider filters. Benny, Cashmio’s bonus manager, loves karaoke and chasing butterflies but isn’t a fan of casinos without bonuses.
Slotty Vegas is known for an impressive range of slot games, but they also have classic live casino games on offer. The casino’s trademark is the supercharged wins feature that helps players pocket extra funds every time they win a round. Their current welcome offer promises substantial winnings with a matched deposit bonus of up to €500 and 50 free spins. With licenses from the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission, as well as a vast number of payment options, Slotty Vegas guarantees a safe gaming environment. To get in touch with the casino’s customers support, you can reach out to them via live chat when available, or send them an email.
Queen Vegas collaborates with industry’s leading game providers delivering top slots and card games, as well as jackpot and video poker games. Apart from a generous welcome bonus, the casino rewards its players with deposit and double up bonuses, free spins, and other great offers through their Daily Picks system. Queen Vegas is licensed by the British gambling regulator and Malta Gaming Authority. It supports major payment processing services, while withdrawal requests are processed the same day. Queen Vegas customer care is available 24/7 via email, but unfortunately, the casino doesn’t have live chat service.
With more than 1,300 games to choose from, you’ll easily find your favourite casino titles at Casino Euro. Whether you like playing slots, video poker or table games, Casino Euro has your back. To make your casino journey even more enjoyable the gaming platform is armed with exciting promos, including daily deals and jackpots, as well as weekend surprises. Casino Euro is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority. Players are offered a number of payment options, while withdrawal times are within the industry’s standards. The award-winning customer support team is highly professional and available via live chat, email, and phone services.
BETAT Casino is the top gaming destination for players who seek the thrills of a live casino, as well as for players who enjoy classic slots and table games. Promotions-wise, the casino currently offers a matched deposit bonus that gives new players a chance to double their initial deposit. BETAT casino has a license in the UK and Malta. The operator offers secure payment methods, as well as fast withdrawal processing times of up to four hours. If you want to get in touch with the BETAT customer support team, you can do so via email or live chat service.
Responsible Gambling
Before drawing the final conclusion, we examine how much the UK online casinos promote and adhere to responsible gaming practices, as for many people gambling online hides greater risks than real-life casinos.
This is especially true with mobile casinos, which can be accessed anywhere, at any time. Playing at a desktop machine can also prove to be more addictive than going to a brick-and-mortar casino, as the gambler is isolated in the comfort of his or her home.
The solitude removes potential social or peer pressure to limit gambling with excessive amounts, and the added comfort facilitates longer sessions at the casino. Tiredness is a big contributor to bad calls and losing streaks. In reality, all licensed online casinos in the UK feature a word about responsible gaming. Some highlight it stronger than others, though.
Luckily, there are charity organizations like GamCare, BeGabmleAware, and BigDeal where help can be found. They work with individuals, offering personal counselling and sound advice how to tackle the issue, but also collaborate closely with the gambling industry in effort to implement the best and safest practices.
Gaming Technology and Security
Top online casinos are only as good as the interactive experience they can deliver. They rely on dedicated developers, who specialise in gambling software and applications. Sadly, the internet can be a tremendously tricky place, especially when money is involved. Having a well-known and established software manufacturer guarantees a seamless and secure experience.
On our ongoing hunt for the best UK online casinos, we compare the sheer performance of their platforms: speed, reliability, user interface, visual and sound effects, size of the platform, time for installation and launch and, of course, its security.
Most of the best UK casino sites use their applications for handling transactions and for managing personal data, making the app security a crucial factor on many levels. The most popular casino software developers are Playtech, NetEnt and Microgaming, with IGT and NextGen following closely behind.
Playtech – one of the best software casino developers, Playtech boasts an impressive portfolio. Not so much in terms of quantity, but the quality of the games is nothing short of stunning. Graphics and sound blend to perfection to create a truly engulfing gaming atmosphere. Throw in the mix extended transaction history, reward systems and great jackpots, and you get one of the most comprehensive and well-executed casino software there is.
NetEnt – Speed and efficiency are the trademarks of NetEnt software. Bustling with innovative game features, the applications developed by the Swedish company run smoothly, load in an instant and provide an immersive gaming experience. Often, the players can try their browser-based casino games before installing the app.
Microgaming – the undisputable king behind some of the best slots sites, Microgaming is probably the most well-known casino software developer. With over 20 years of expertise, they provide Flash-based versions of some of the games, but it is their downloadable application that really sets them apart. One of the frontrunners in terms of player protection and fair play, Microgaming are a textbook example how good business practices and innovative solutions can take you to the top and keep you there.
Reliable gaming technology is, indeed, a key contributor in the making or breaking of any online casino. This being said, many casinos can be enjoyed directly through a web browser, without downloading any applications.
The browser experience is usually a bit slower. It could be considered slightly less secure as well because most web browsers are susceptible to malware, which has nothing to do with the casinos but rather with the end user.
The next sections discuss game variety and payout rates of some of the most popular casino sites in the UK. Both things are related to the technology, as software providers tend to encode payout rates and jackpots in their games.
Game Variety
There are many online casino games, but the most common ones are slots, roulette, Blackjack, baccarat and poker. Beyond doubt, the slots present the greatest variety, with some software manufacturers approaching quadruple digits of different slot machines. Most of the best online casino sites provide several hundred different games, with the vast majority of them being virtual slots.
We test the most popular among them before moving to roulette, which is another game perfectly adapted to the digital world. All sorts of card games are also very entertaining and popular in practically all casino sites.
However, the greatest attraction is another. Have you heard of the online casino live games? Extremely engaging and interactive, they could convey the feeling you are at a real-life casino masterfully. All you need to access them is a web browser.
Most casino games online run smoothly at moderate internet connection, but the live ones require good bandwidth because you’d be watching a live stream from the casino, making bets at the same time. We consider the quality of live games in the final verdict, as they, when executed well, add a different dimension to the online gambling.
Payouts and Percentages
RTP or Return to Player is used to quantify the winning chance of the player. For instance, a payout rate of 95% means that for every $100 betted, the end user can expect $95 return.
The top 20 online casinos UK gamblers like to try their luck at typically have RTP above 95%, as this is one of the factors we use in our evaluations. An important thing to notice is that different games have different RTP rates which vary from month to month, too.
eCogra is the organisation that audits most UK casinos to ensure the integrity of the software used and to measure the RTP. There are detailed reports on their page on the casinos they monitor.
There is the occasional UK casino not audited by eCogra, but such establishments often publish the payout rates on their websites and mention who does their audits.
Payment Options
Being able to deposit and, especially, withdraw money is an integral part of any online gambling activity. It is also an essential aspect when determining which is the best online casino. While most casinos advertise a great variety of payment methods, usually not all of them can be used for withdrawal. You have to be prepared to present a proof of identity when withdrawing for the first time, while some casinos request papers every time.
Typically, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill are the fastest way to get your cash out of the casino, but bank cards also work reasonably quickly. When evaluating the payment options, we take into account their number, but also the time it takes to process withdrawals. Arguably, the latter is the more important of the two.
Bonuses and Promotions
Now we are talking! No deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses, weekly promotions and many other ways to keep your casino wallet healthy and primed for more action.
Finding the best online casino UK gamblers can get a bonus on is a tall order. There are so many and so diverse ways to attract new players. There is the occasional online casino no deposit bonus, but the standard among all casino sites are free spins and welcome bonuses.
Indeed, limited as they may be, an online casino free bonus (no deposit required) practically enables you to gamble online for real money for free. There can be no doubt, this is the sweetest online casino bonus you can come across.
Many people wonder whether these few generous casino sites with free signup bonus allow the player to keep the winnings. It depends on the terms of service, but generally you’d be able to withdraw after a certain amount is accumulated.
Free spins and deposit bonuses are much more common, though. At some casino sites free spins can be claimed for weeks and months, if you play regularly. Others have excellent deposit bonus schemes, allowing you to gain more than £1,000 when charging your casino bank.
Customer Support
For many of us here at CasinoSites.me.uk the level of customer support is easily the most important factor to consider. More often than not, casinos have some sort of identity verification procedure to insure the withdrawal process is secure. This is the most frequent interaction players have with the customer support team.
Due to its nature – money is involved and sometimes it is needed urgently – this process could be quite stressful for the player. Having an understanding, knowledgeable and cooperative support team on the other end of the line is a huge advantage.
Summary
The UK online gambling scene is so rich and diverse that one has to thread carefully. At first glance, the best casino sites might be quite obvious, but you must look out for certain subtleties, which separate the truly best from the rest.
Despite the great number of renown establishments, many new gambling houses appear every day. They try to find their place under the sun, offering incredibly seductive bonuses. Some of them use very sketchy terms of service. Some of them are genuinely good casinos, with a lot of potential. The competition is fierce.
That’s why conducting a thorough research before registering and testing your luck is a must, an integral part of the responsible and healthy approach toward gambling. Read through our reviews carefully, test whichever website you find interesting and commit little by little. Finding the ideal casino site for you should be a long-term project, and the relationship should be tested and proven to work, before going all-in.
FAQ
Q: How do you judge how fair is the casino software?
A: For online casinos, the Random Number Generator software used determines the outcome of the games. All reliable casinos have their software tested and regularly audited by independent organisations.
Q: How do I know if a casino is illegal?
A: UK casinos list their license information at a visible place, usually at the bottom of their home page. They also have the seals of independent auditors and charity organisations, which help with gambling addiction. If you have any doubts whatsoever about the legality of the casino, check with the UK Gambling Commission.
Q: It looks like your site is focused mostly on well-known casinos. Is there any information about new casino websites UK customers can gamble on?
A: We update our reviews constantly. The search for new, promising UK casino sites never stops. Check out our latest reviews.
Q: How can I be sure that a casino would pay out when I win?
A: As long as you are not in violation in the casino’s terms of service, there should be no ground to deny you payment. Don’t hesitate contact the Gambling Commission if payment is denied for no good reason.
Q: How to improve my chance of winning?
A: Read the rules of the game, check out the odds and study the best strategies. Play in reputable casinos, which use only untampered software.
Q: Can a casino ban my account?
A: Absolutely. If you violate the terms of service, behave inappropriately or try to influence the outcome of games through illegal means the casino has all the right to ban you from accessing its services.
Q: Is it possible to play for free?
A: Yes. There are some casino sites that offer no deposit bonuses. Just register and claim them. Also, some games allow you to gamble with play money, which have no real value but enable you to test some strategies and get a feel of the game without committing.