Best Online Casinos that Accept Players from the United Kingdom

General Overview

Gambling in the United Kingdom is old as the country itself and can be traced back to the Roman era of dominance. Britons are known as keen gamblers since the early ages till this moment. Gambling is regulated by the Gambling Commission - a division of Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) under the parliament act of 2005. Before the advent of online gambling, horse racing, card, poker and related games were popular among gamblers for over three centuries. However, there has been some contrary bias from religious leaders based on moral grounds. Currently, the United Kingdom is a home for all kinds of gambling activities ranging from Bingo, casino, sports betting, to lotteries and arcade games. Despite their heavy involvement in gambling, some laid-down rules and regulations govern these activities in the country. 

A brief history of gambling in the United Kingdom 

Dating far back to centuries, the history of gambling in the United Kingdom has taken so many twists and turns due to protests and efforts to stop the venture for obvious reasons. The United Kingdom has always been the main base of evangelical Protestants whose beliefs oppose gambling and related activities. In the same vein, social reformers always argued about preventing vulnerable people from these activities. 

For most of it, gambling in the UK started as leisure rather than a business. Between 1500 - 1800, there was a lot of uproar about gambling in the country for several reasons. First, the government was worried that it might limit military training, then the moral battle which continued for several years. Within this period,  Queen Elizabeth introduced England's first national public lottery between 1566 and 1569 to raise money to repair the country's harbours. During the same period, Horse racing was also a thing, as different royals fancied the sport; as the game grew, there were regulations to control gambling as well as the game activities.

In the 18th century, lotteries were more prominent than card games and horse racing because they were less 'fixing' of games and the government also really benefited from its gains. Advertising on the lotteries was a major source of income for the newspapers. However, in 1826, government lotteries were abolished, but it didn't stop in the private spaces as upper and middle classes continued to stake their bets exclusively. 

From the 19th century, gambling activities continued to evolve into what it has become today as different private gambling companies sprang up but not without regulations from the government that changed as time went on.

Online Gambling Law in the United Kingdom

Just as like most countries, gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by laid-down rules that must be adhered to. In modern times, The Gambling Act 2005 is a bill set up to process licensing rights for operators as well as the protection of customers. This Act enshrines the right of overseeing the dealings of gambling companies and their website by the Gambling Commission. Operators must be able to prove they are capable of maintaining and financing their operations in the United Kingdom beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Payment Options in the United Kingdom

Payment is one of the key factors to determine the ease of gambling, ranging from one country to another. Most gamers try to find out the payment options of a particular operator before staking their bets. To ensure efficiency, operators provide customers with deposit and withdrawal methods as much as possible. In the United Kingdom, operators have a luxury of payment options to choose from when setting up operations, ranging from credit and debit cards, cryptocurrencies, phone payments, eWallets among others.

Here are the popular payment options in the United Kingdom:

Paysafecard, UKash, Paypal, Skrill, Maestro, VISA Electron, MasterCard, VISA, EntroPay, Neteller, Zimpler, Boku, Payforit, Bitcoin, InstaDebit, eCheck, Apple Pay, American Express, EcoPayz, Bank Transfer, Cheque, MuchBetter, iWallet and Qiwi.

License Commission in the United Kingdom

The UK Gambling Commission retains the right to uphold the laws of The Gambling act by overseeing every aspect of gambling in the country. The commission also ensures fairness and protections for vulnerable adults and children. As The Gambling Act 2005 restricts all foreigners from operating a gambling company in the United Kingdom, there have been exceptions to accommodate some operators with the following jurisdictions: EEA (European Economic Area) Countries, Alderney, Antigua and Barbuda, Gibraltar, Isle of Man and Tasmania.

Helplines for Problem Gamblers

In a bid to help protect its citizens from compulsive gambling, the United Kingdom has set up a means to help problem gamblers. Gamers that feel gambling is becoming a threat to their mental or physical health can reach to relevant authorities through the National Gambling Helpline managed by GamCare: 0808 8020 133 for information and face-to-face counselling. 

Also, the Gordon Moody Association offers residential courses for people having problems with gambling. They can be reached via email at [email protected] or phone on 01384 241292.

In addition to that, some several local groups and organisations help people struggling with compulsive gambling and related issues.

UK Online Casino FAQs

When was gambling legalised in the UK?

After several attempts, gambling was legalised in the United Kingdom through the Betting and Gaming act of 1960. Making it legal to run betting shops, bingo halls and casinos without the fear of committing a crime.

What are gambling commission fines in the UK?

The UK Gambling commission every year conducts regular audits and surveys to ensure that gambling operators meet the set-guidelines. Companies found guilty in any regard are fined according to the offence committed.

What are the top online gambling sites in the UK?

The United Kingdom has several online gambling sites that have done well in terms of customer support, branding, generous welcome bonus and variety of games. Some of the notable ones are Dunder Casino, Mr Play Casino, Sloty Casino, PlayOJO Casino, Pelaa Casino, Casilando Casino and so on. 

What is the age limit to gamble online in the United Kingdom?

The minimum legal age to gamble in the United Kingdom is 18 years old. This rule applies across all types of gambling from brick and mortar to online.

Which is the best casino in the United Kingdom in 2020?

Going by current ratings, Genesis Casino does well in excellent customer experience, a massive collection of games, fast payouts, multiple languages and excellent customer service.