How to Choose an Online Casino

Essentials

When it comes to selecting an online casino, the most important thing is to be sure a site is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). A gambling licence from the UKGC is a legal requirement for an online casino to operate in the UK and ensures the brand ticks all the boxes when it comes to player safety, fairness, security, and responsible gambling.

You can rest assured we’ll only ever review and recommend licensed sites. So, if you find one you like through our rankings and reviews, you know the operator follows the strict requirements of UK gambling legislation.

One way to verify if a site holds a licence is to check the UKGC public register. If you scroll to the footer of an operator’s homepage, most sites detail their licence number here and provide a link to their specific page on the UKGC register. 

Rainbow Riches Casino, for example, is owned by Gamesys — this is how they display their registration and licence in the site footer:

Playing at an unlicensed casino is a very risky game. There is no guarantee the site adheres to standards of fair play, meaning the games you play may not function correctly or your withdrawals could be denied. You could also be offered misleading or too-good-to-be-true bonuses. Security at the site can be subpar, leading to breaches of personal data in the worst cases. You might also find the site encourages unhealthy gambling behaviours, or does not provide tools such as deposit and time limiters.

Identify Your Priorities

With so many online casinos to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you. So, how can you dial in on your perfect match? Essentially, it’s a matter of working out your priorities and matching them to a site that delivers in those areas. To give you a little inspiration, we’ve explained some different areas of strength you might come across when comparing sites.

• Slots tournaments – Some of the best casinos really push the boat out with their selection of slots tournaments. Sites such as Duelz feature exciting player-vs-player action, while others run promos like Pragmatic Play Drops & Wins. If this is a priority, be sure to check out the existing customer promotion section of the site.
• Welcome bonuses and existing customer promotions – Pretty much every site kicks things off with a welcome bonus, but players can choose between matched deposits, free spins, and more. And once that’s run dry, what else is up for grabs? Some casinos switch up their ongoing promotions on a regular basis, keeping things fresh for those who stick around.
• Specific games – There’s a fantastic array of casino games to try out, and many sites weigh their offerings in favour of a particular specialty. If it’s bingo you’re after, for example, check out our selection of top bingo sites. Likewise, we have ranked lists of the best casinos around for slots, table games, live dealer, and more.
• Payment methods – Hoping to use e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill for managing your bankroll? Be sure to check the available payment options of the site before you sign up. Some sites stick with a few popular methods like Visa and PayPal, whereas others, such as All British Casino, support a larger range of services including Boku and Paysafecard. 
• Site design – If appearance is a priority for you, there’s no judgement from us! Site design and usability play a major role in the gambling experience. Keep your eyes out for any snazzy additional features too.
• Software developers – You’ll nearly always find titles from the usual leading games developers, but what if you want something a little different? Be sure to see who’s in the library before signing up. You may like the darker themes from developers like Nolimit City, or perhaps the big, bold characters from Push Gaming. 

We cover sites to suit all priorities and preferences — be sure to check our detailed reviews to see which sites best align with your interests. 

Compare Options in Our Rankings

As you’ll see from the tables at the top of each of our pages, we highlight certain aspects of our recommended sites. Let’s go through what these elements mean:

• User rating – We take into consideration what customers think of a site to ensure an accurate starred score is applied. Below this star rating is a link to the detailed review of the site so you can find out exactly what you may encounter if you sign up.
• Welcome offer – Next on the table is an outline of the welcome offer. This is the promotion available to new customers following sign-up. You will usually be asked if you’d like to accept the welcome offer at the point of initial registration. Be mindful of terms and conditions attached to these offers, all of which we detail in our reviews. 
• Payout speed – The payout speed details just how quickly a withdrawal will reach your account. Many sites support fast withdrawals, usually via e-wallets, but some are faster than others with the very best offering instant payouts. 
• Key features – In this section we highlight three of the main strengths of that particular site. This could be specialisation in a particular type of game, the reputation of the operator, the supported payment methods, or something else entirely. 
• Claim bonus – Finally, the green button on the right takes you straight through to the site, where you can sign up and claim the welcome bonus.

If you’d like to take a look at our reviews, check out our reviews page where you’ll find a collection of top online casinos. It also covers our process in detail, explaining different factors to look out for including bonuses, payment methods, and T&Cs.