The UK Gambling market continues to go from strength to strength, with another year of profitable growth, despite the UK Gambling Commission’s push towards strong regulatory action and the implementation of financial checks and more robust protections for vulnerable players.
To give some context on the growth, in the 2023/24 tax year, remote (online) gambling companies made £6.9 billion after winnings were paid out, with two in every five UK adults admitting to having played some form of gambling, including lotteries.
For the year 2024/25, current estimations suggest a 1.75% increase in Gross Gambling Yield (GGY), the overall profit made after winnings are paid.
With a saturated market full of online casino bonuses in the UK, it can be hard to find the very best casino website or mobile app to use. Thankfully, the team at www.bookiesbonuses.com have you covered, with impartial and independent reviews.
So Where Do I Start?
According to the experts at Bookies Bonuses, there are several important criteria to consider when looking to join an online casino. The ability to build a trustworthy picture is arguably more important than any bonus or promotional offer.
According to the experts at Bookies Bonuses, the best way to find a great online casino is to use several criteria when searching. Not only does this help you build a picture of what you want as a player, but it also helps to sort the winners from the also-rans. A great casino experience doesn’t just start and end with a deposit bonus or free spins!
Reviews:
Reviews are the backbone of any trustworthy online casino, with websites such as www.bookiesbonuses.com dedicated to reviewing sites since 2009. Independent opinion and without bias can be difficult to find, but not impossible.
It is always good to understand that every site which reviews online casinos also operates as an affiliate, which means that if you sign up through the link on their page, they will make money, similar to a “finder’s fee”, so it is always worthwhile looking at multiple reviews to see if a review site is being truthful and honest with you.
The wonderful thing about independent reviews is complete transparency, with poor sites held to account and information passed on to you, the potential customer, with no ulterior motive from the reviewer.
Licensing:
If you want legal protections when using an online gambling site, make sure the site in question has a UK Gambling Commission license, which can be found at the bottom of most casino homepages.
A UK license means that UK laws bind the casino and therefore you are fully protected against fraud, data mishandling and other potentially illegal activity. If a casino does not hold a UK license, it does not automatically mean they are dangerous, but you will have the same protections as you would with a licensed site. The UK Gambling Commission usually geo-blocks these sites, but players should be aware that access can still be found in various ways.
Safer Gambling Options:
Safer gambling is a fundamental part of any online casino, offering a full range of tools that can limit the amount of funds deposited on sites and block the capability to play on gambling sites, either for a set period of time or indefinitely.
All UK-licensed online casinos have links to www.gambleaware.org to assist players with gambling control issues. Gamstop (www.gamstop.co.uk) also offers further gambling controls, including blocking accounts across multiple online gambling sites and other management options. If a site does not provide these tools, it is advised to visit another online casino.
Payments and Security:
The idea of sharing banking details with online casino operators may fill some players with dread. The idea of my personal information floating in the ether has never really appealed. However, there are checks in place to protect players, including Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to secure data and KYC (Know Your Customer), which adds further security measures such as Two-Step Authentication and more.
One of the most popular alternatives to using a direct link to a bank card or account is an e-wallet, which acts as a trusted “middleman” between your banking details and the online casino
Apple Pay, PayPal and Google Pay provide the best options as they separate the transaction into two sections: one between your bank and the e-wallet, then the e-wallet to the online casino, without sharing personal banking data.
Customer Service:
Good customer support is a must for any continually online site. The best online casinos should house 24/7 customer service options via live chat and telephone. If they do not, then check to see if they have set times, while fundamentals such as an FAQ and email addresses should be available.
Most casinos provide their customer service options on their homepage (at the bottom), so it is worth visiting any potential online casinos before signing up. Once again, check reviews to see how the operator fairs. If customer service is rated poorly, it may be one to avoid!
Welcome Bonuses:
Online casinos offer incentives for new players to join, including a deposit bonus and free spins. Although these may seem great, the fine print is what’s important here, as some bonuses have wagering requirements (turnover), which may require a bonus to be played multiple times before a withdrawal can be made.
Example: if you receive a £10 bonus, and the wagering requirement is 40x, this equates to 40 x £10. Thus, you would need to stake £400 before the withdrawals are available for any winnings.
Websites such as Bookies Bonuses offer comparisons of the best bonuses, providing all relevant information in one place, based on the minimum deposit amount, time to use the bonus and turnover, to give you the best options and bang for your buck!
Most importantly, Have Fun!
Remember, the priority is to have fun! Do not get bogged down by the plethora of promotions thrown at you.
Play how you want, when you want and with as much as you are prepared to lose.
No matter whether you are playing 10p or £10, make sure you have fun and are always in control of how you play!
https://gambleaware.org/
