There are many online casinos open for business on the internet, with more popping up almost daily. Some will be more worthy of your custom than others. The good news is that the UK has strong regulations for online gambling. The UK Gambling Commission oversees all licensed operators and ensures they meet strict safety standards. This means players have clear guidelines on what to look out for when they choose where to play. This article highlights how to find the best casinos regulated by the UKGC.
5 features to look out for in an online casino
Here are five features to have on your checklist:
- Regulatory compliance
Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable in the UK. All online casinos are required by law to be licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), as long as they operate in the UK jurisdiction. There are two steps to check if an online casino has a UKGC licence. You first need to scroll towards the end of the homepage or navigate to the ‘About Us’ page to find information about the casino’s license. Once you’ve confirmed that the casino has a UKGC licence, head over to the UKGC website to search for the casino and confirm the licence validity. Casino gaming is safer on licensed and regulated platforms. This is because online casinos with a UKGC licence have already been evaluated to ensure player fund protection and fair gaming.
- Security
Another important feature you should look out for is security. Here, you should ensure that certain elements, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, are present. SSL encryption is usually denoted by the ‘s’ in ‘https’, and you can confirm its presence when you tap the settings icon beside the URL link. Google will display a box that shows if your connection is secure or not. You can then tap on the connection heading to see if your information, like passwords and credit card numbers, remains private when you send it to the site. An online casino with good security will have a full encryption protocol to safeguard your personal and financial information.
- Payment methods
Another key factor to prioritise while on the quest to find a safe and reliable online casino is the payment methods. Crypto casinos are great if you rank anonymity above fund security. Many crypto casinos operate offshore, which makes fund recovery a challenge if issues arise. The UKGC does not ban crypto-based casinos but always ensure these casinos partner with well-known and secure payment providers like Visa and PayPal. These payment channels ensure that your money can be tracked from the moment it leaves your account to when it arrives at the destination account. They can also provide fund recovery services in specific situations.
- Terms and conditions
Reading the terms and conditions for an online casino may feel exhausting, but it’s important to avoid unexpected surprises. You’ll find everything from the rules regarding welcome bonuses, deposits and withdrawals to account management. Comprehensive information on how the casino ensures fairness during gameplay and how they protect your data and guard against fraud should also be provided. One cue that signals an online casino is safe and reliable is if their terms and conditions are explicit, without any hidden or vague details.
- Customer service
Customer service is crucial when selecting an online casino. For one, you may have issues with your deposit or withdrawal processing, and might require help from the casino to resolve this. It’s essential that the online casino you choose has quick and responsive customer service support. You can try reaching out to customer support just before registering, to test their responsiveness. A standard online casino should have multiple customer service portals, including live chat, phone contact, email and an in-app or website messaging channel.
Places gamers in the UK can find safe and reliable casinos
Now that you know how to vet the different casinos you’ll find online, here are some places you can find safe and reliable online casinos in the UK:
- Review sites
Casino review sites such as John Slots are the first go-to for many gamers looking to find a safe and reliable platform for professional and casual iGaming. Reputable review sites follow a meticulous process when reviewing casino platforms to ensure their audience understands what to expect once they sign up at an online casino. The casino experts usually follow set criteria to judge each platform, including the number of games offered, payment methods and withdrawal speed, bonuses and promotions, customer service, security and licensing. Most top review sites require their in-house team to test the casinos to ensure accuracy, especially regarding player experience.
- Forums and social media
While casino and sports reviews give a professional outlook on various casino platforms, online forums and social media networks allow gamers to get insights about what other bettors believe to be the most reliable and safest online casinos. Platforms like r/casino and r/gambling on Reddit, Quora and other social network sites usually feature first-hand player experiences on different online casinos.
The downside to relying on forums for information is the potential to fall for phishing or scam links. However, a good rule of thumb when using forums to find a reliable online casino is to pay attention to comments or posts across different timelines. If several people are hammering on the same view concerning an online casino, it’s likely true. However, you should always double-check by reading reviews from other sites, watching videos of player experiences on social media and testing the platform on a small-scale budget before committing fully.
The bottom line
The most important factor to consider when looking for a safe and reliable online casino is licensing. As a gamer in the UK, look out for online casinos with the UKGC licence on casino review sites like John Slots, and on online forums and social media networks. Other factors like security, terms and conditions and customer service should also come into consideration.
