Online Casino Reviews: Expert UK Casino Tests, Ratings & Information 2024
Online casino reviews are our bread and butter. But we focus on quality, not quantity.
So, while we review most gambling sites in the UK, we choose to ignore ones of ill repute. Instead, we handpick the best online casinos (and poker and sports betting sites). And we give our 100% honest opinion each time.
If you’re looking for the best licensed UK casinos, this is the online casino and gambling review site for you. And we’ve done all this so you can compare the top UK casinos in one place!
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What to Expect From Expert Online Casino Reviews
So, what is it that makes us the GamblingAuthority?
Well, first of all, we feel our online gambling experience is second to none. On our team, we have slots specialists, table game gurus and sports betting masters. And we all collectively try out the latest UK online casinos and give our opinions on them. Then one of us writes up a detailed blow-by-blow account, going through each of our criteria and comparing each feature to what’s already available.
Another reason to trust GamblingAuthority reviews is that we are 100% independent. We stand by our word. We heap praise on the online casino sites that get things right but we don’t pull our punches when things need improvement. Therefore, we only shout from the rooftops when gambling sites provide new UK customers with an exemplary experience. At the same, you can expect us to raise red flags when something isn’t quite right or if it’s just plain bad.
In short, we write all our online casino reviews with as little bias as possible. Also, we don’t just cover UK online casinos. We also review a multitude of different sports betting sites, too. In fact, you can find a page dedicated to online casinos with sportsbook features. Plus, as many UK online casinos also feature bingo, poker and live dealer casino games, you’re bound to find the perfect place at which to play. When it comes to gambling online, we’ve got your back.
GamblingAuthority is an Online Casino Affiliate Site
We all need to eat and pay the bills. So, to be completely upfront about our online casino reviews, here’s our little disclaimer. We make a small amount of commission from the links on our site. However, this in no way affects our ability to say whatever we please about each brand in our online casino reviews. We remain committed to being honest and open in each of our casino site reviews. In this way, you know we don’t give out praise idly and, when we criticise, there’s always a good reason.
We Don’t Review Blacklisted Online Casinos in the UK
Coupled with the above, we are focused on removing any links to dodgy online casino sites. To do this, we maintain a blacklist of casino operators who don’t cut the mustard. After all, we want you to always feel safe and secure when playing at a site recommended by GamblingAuthority. Therefore, we won’t ever write online casino reviews about unlicensed UK casinos. We have also listed the casinos you should avoid on our rogue casinos page, so you can be certain you are not playing at a casino you shouldn’t be. You’re welcome!
How We Write UK Online Casino Reviews
Having been around the block more than a few times, we’re picky when it comes to recommending the top online casinos in the United Kingdom. And an online casino cannot simply do one or two things well to the detriment of the overall experience. We find that the best online casino sites have certain things in common. They not only offer a great welcome bonus (with low wagering requirements and plenty of free spins) but round this off with a stellar selection of casino games, round-the-year promotions and great customer support.
Speaking of the welcome bonus offer, our online casino reviews pay particular attention to the small print. While an offer can stick out from the crowd for its headline bonus money figure and battery of bonus spins, it’s the details that really matter. After all, it’s no good taking the maximum bonus if it’s going to condemn you to a month of grinding to make the appropriate wagering contribution. That’s why we always go through any terms and conditions with a fine-tooth comb. And we dock points if everything is buried in legalese rather than being written in plain English.
Finally, aside from the criteria we apply to online casino reviews (below), we’re very hot on responsible gambling. Each site should give players a choice of opting out of marketing materials, for example. And they should also give UK customers a set of tools to limit things like deposit amounts, losses and time spent playing slots online. There should also be the option of self-excluding from the online casino entirely for a short cooling-off period or else indefinitely. It’s these quality-of-life features that can help turn a good online casino into a truly great one.
Online Casino Reviews: How to Choose a Top Online Casino
Here, we will go over the various criteria we consider for each of our online casino reviews. You can then use the same considerations when picking a UK site that works best for your needs. And don’t forget that many of the online casino operators also feature sportsbook sections and poker rooms if you ever want to place a bet on the Champions League or play a few hands of poker instead of chasing progressive jackpots, joining live casino games or playing slots online. So, here’s our list of things we weigh up against the competition in each UK casino site review…
Welcome Bonus ☑️
A welcome bonus offer can make or break some of the best UK online casinos. This is especially the case in the eyes of brand-new players. Not only do we want to know the max bonus amount but also the qualifying deposit, if a free spins bonus is included, as well as any follow-up deposit bonuses, the bonus expiry date and if game weighting applies when wagering. When writing our online casino reviews, we read all of the small print to ensure that no tricky T&Cs apply.
Free Spins and Bonus Spins ☑️
As mentioned, free spins (which are known under UKGC rules as bonus spins in the United Kingdom) are a vital part of an online casino’s package of promotions. In our online casino reviews, we bear in mind not just the number of free spins but also the max bet allowed, the included online casino game and what wagering requirements apply before being able to withdraw your free spins winnings. Again, we read through all the T&Cs to ensure you know exactly what’s what.
Casino Promotions ☑️
Having a good selection of casino promotions is key to keeping players interested after the fun and games of the welcome bonus have come to an end. And we’re not just talking about the seasonal promotions that everyone and their dog is offering at Christmas and other UK national holidays. We want to see plenty of reload bonuses, casino cashback deals and slots tournaments to maintain our interest over the long haul. Bonus funds are very important!
Wagering Requirements ☑️
We believe that any wagering requirements shouldn’t be too prohibitive. That’s why we look for industry-standard wagering of 35x the bonus funds (or lower). Anything higher than that (or any casino deals that also force players to wager their first deposit too) isn’t really worth it, in our opinion. Plus, the minimum deposit should be low enough to cater for all types of players and the date on which unused bonus funds expire shouldn’t be set too harshly.
Casino Games Selection ☑️
The majority of your time spent at an online casino in the UK will be used to play games. Therefore, you need a very good selection of top casino games from some of the best providers on the planet. Video slots, fruit machines and progressive jackpots should be more than covered but what about live casino games? On top of that, perhaps you also like to mix things up with a sports bet, a round of bingo or a hand of poker. You should consider all these things.
Site Design and Usability ☑️
Not only should a UK casino site be visually appealing but it should also function flawlessly. By this, we mean that it shouldn’t be a chore navigating the site, finding information about payment methods (and any associated fees, for example) or claiming a deposit bonus. That’s why we recommend playing at the best online casino sites where everything is laid out logically, you can search or filter things appropriately and everything is within easy reach.
Mobile Casino Sites and Apps ☑️
Coupled with the above, the majority of UK casino players now use their iPhones, iPads and Android devices to play casino games. Therefore, we judge the best online casino sites on a responsive design that works on smaller touchscreens or else provides a dedicated iOS or Android app instead. This is why we always test a fair few casino games on a mobile device to see if the performance is up there with the best of them. Mobile casino gaming isn’t going away!
Casino Reputation ☑️
Online casino reviews should cover how the gambling community feels about a site. After all, it’s a great indicator of the kind of casino experience you’ll get. So, we regularly frequent various trusted gambling forums and social media channels. This enables us to see how many people are complaining about each of our featured sites. A lot of people might have trouble getting their winnings in a timely fashion, for example. If so, we will highlight this in our online casino reviews.
Payment Methods ☑️
Credit cards can’t be used for gambling in the UK. However, any decent online casino should provide players with a wide variety of payment methods. This includes bank wire transfers, debit card casinos, prepaid cards, e-wallets and more. Also, there shouldn’t be any unnecessary fees charged for making deposits or withdrawals. And, most importantly, withdrawals should be processed within 24 hours (if not sooner). If these things are to our liking, a casino gets top marks from us.
Customer Support ☑️
If you have an issue, no matter how big or small, you should be able to speak to someone. They can help you get back to more important things – playing casino games! We specifically test out the customer support team by sending them a few tough questions during our casino review process. Not only does this give us an idea of the training but also the response times. We want to see 24-hour support that can answer queries in the dead of night.
UKGC Licensing ☑️
Unless you’re looking for a crypto casino, you should always play at a UKGC-licensed casino. The UK Gambling Commission is one of the most trusted, effective and downright judicious licensing authorities in the world. And because the UKGC always has a player’s back in case anything goes wrong, we strongly believe that you should only play casino games at sites officially approved by the licensing organisation. Unlicensed casinos are asking for trouble.
Safety and Security ☑️
Thanks to the UK Gambling Commission, all casino sites operating out of the UK should have robust data protection policies in place. For example, your information should be stored on dedicated servers and deleted at your request. In addition to that, we always want to see full SSL or TLS encryption used on every single page. This will help keep your personal and financial details (such as your debit card number) safe. You don’t want them falling into the wrong hands.
Responsible Gambling ☑️
Finally, a site that slacks on its commitment to responsible gambling is not one we would recommend. Gambling is perfectly fine for the majority of players. Yet some still fall through the cracks and need a little extra help at certain times. So, in our online casino reviews, we look for self-exclusion tools, links to professional gambling addiction organisations and a trained customer support team. We dock points if these measures are not in place.
Online Casino Reviews – Conclusion
Collectively, the GamblingAuthority team has many years of experience working within the iGaming industry. And in that time, we’ve written hundreds of online casino reviews. So, we’ve been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Therefore, we believe that we offer a one-stop shop for all things relating to online casino reviews in the United Kingdom. Check out the online casino reviews and links above for more information and you’re good to go.
Online Casino Reviews FAQ
What's the best UK online casino?
While we can recommend a wide variety of excellent online casinos, we couldn't say which one would be best for your needs. That's why we take such care to write detailed and knowledgeable casino reviews so that you can make up your own mind. You're welcome!
Can I play casino games for free?
In the UK, you cannot play demo or "free play" casino games without creating an account and signing in. This is because there has been a clamp down on underage online gambling. By forcing playing to sign up and log in, it's easier to keep the games for those over the age of 18.
How do I claim a no deposit bonus?
Essentially, just find the perfect online casino bonus on this page or one of our others and click through. You will be taken straight to the casino's sign up page. Then it's just a matter of filling in some details, making your first deposit and playing your deposit bonus and free spins.
What are casino wagering requirements?
This is best answered with an example. If you have to wager a £100 bonus 35 times, that means you need to play through £3,500 on eligible casino games. That sounds like a lot (and it is) but don't forget that wagering is not the same as losing – you can still win while wagering.
Are UK online casinos rigged?
No. If the online casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, then all of the games are verified for their legitimacy by third-party organisations such as eCOGRA. This, in turn, means that all of the games operate according to their stated return to player (RTP).
Should I only play at UKGC casinos?
Yes, in the majority of cases, we would say that you should only ever play at UKGC-licensed casinos if you are based in the United Kingdom. However, if you're looking for a crypto casino that accepts Bitcoin, for example, then you will have to play at a site based away from the UK.
With an education from the University of Cambridge and while working with iGaming for the last 6 years, Stephen has obtained a lot of knowledge about the industry. He usually writes about the different types of online casinos, casino bonuses and various gambling strategies.
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