The best online casinos UK for real money casino games in 2022
16th Nov 2021 Life
People worldwide find casinos a fun attraction to keep them entertained, whether it's a traditional land-based casino or an online casino.
However, online casinos have become more popular in many places, and it's no different in the UK - that’s why we’ve decided to step in and find the most reputable ones.
To learn more about our top pick, PlayOJO, and see what other online casinos made the list, you can check out the rest of the review below.
First look:
- Best online casino UK overall - PlayOJO
- Best UK casino for bonuses - Magic Red
- Most popular UK casino - Grosvenor
- Best for live dealer games - LeoVegas
- Best game variety - Genesis
- Best slot casino - Mr Spin
- Best poker site - RedKings
- Best payment methods - Casino.com
- Best loyalty programme - Slots Heaven
- Best mobile app - The Sun Vegas
Runner-ups
How did we pick the best online casinos in the UK?
Mobile compatibility:
Online casinos are arguably more convenient compared to traditional land casinos.
However, in this ranking methodology, we are looking at device compatibility, including whether games can be played both on desktop and mobile.
Bonuses and promotions
Because of the competition amongst online casinos, each one offers some kind of incentive or welcome bonus to new players. Most online casinos also offer VIP programmes to earn loyalty points or other forms of bonuses or promotions.
Game variety
Players often look for sites that offer various game options to keep them entertained. Games can range from slot games and table games to live games, bingo, etc.
Privacy, security, and customer care
Everything done online is potentially a risk, and the last thing we want is for your privacy and security to be at risk.
Because of this, we made sure that all of the casinos mentioned in this review have verified privacy and security policies that will benefit you as a player.
Best online casinos UK reviewed
1. PlayOJO - Best online casino UK overall
- The best no wagering bonus offer
- A comprehensive library of over 3,000 games
- Friendly, professional, and reliable support team
- The site has some of the best security measures
- https://www.gamstop.co.uk/
- https://www.gamcare.org.uk/
- https://www.begambleaware.org/
PlayOJO is one of the most trusted online casinos in the UK. It's registered with the UKGC and Alderney Gambling Control Commission, which means it has great security measures to protect your information.
The platform has a wide variety of live games; some are exclusive to VIP (OJO’s A-listers) only. However, the majority of them can be played by anyone with a membership. Live games include a variation of blackjack, roulette, hold'em, fan-tan, and more.
In total, PlayOJO has over 3,000 games available on its platform, making it one of the largest online casino libraries. You can play slot games, card games, scratch cards, table games, live games, and daily jackpot games. PlayOJO also has a great casino app with over 300 games (the most popular games on the site) for you to enjoy on the go.
PlayOJO doesn't have the best welcome bonus, but it is better than no bonus at all. They offer all new members a welcome bonus with free spins for a minimum deposit. As previously mentioned, the casino does not have any wagering requirements for you to qualify for this bonus.
For all general concerns, you can view the FAQ section on the website. For more detailed queries not mentioned in the FAQs, you can contact the support team via the online live chat, which is available between 6 am and midnight CET. You can also send them an email. Unfortunately, they do not have a phone line to call.
A Full Guide on the Best Online Casinos in the UK
Is my personal information safe when gambling with online casinos in the UK?
Yes, it is. All online casinos listed above are licensed casinos with great privacy and safety policies to ensure your experience is enjoyable and all your personal information is protected. These online casinos are also compliant with the current GDPR and Data Protection Act.
As an online gambler, you can also take some safety precautions of your own. To do this, you can create and use a different email address that is not linked to your bank account or any other personal accounts. Also, make sure that the casinos you sign up with have an HTTPS connection by looking at the address bar on your browser.
What makes a great online casino?
Many things can make an online casino the best in the industry. However, the most important one has to be security and licensing, as this gives players the confidence to create an account and have a great time without worrying that their details might be compromised.
You should always look for casinos with the highest levels of security and a clear privacy policy, which will protect your personal information. To find this, you can check whether or not the website is SSL-encrypted, and you should also check the site’s license. Typically, an online casino that is fully licensed won’t do anything that would compromise its reputation, and as such it’s generally safe and secure to use.
The next thing you can look for are the games offered by the UK online casino. Naturally, the more games there are, the more variety there is. As such, it figures that there’s a better chance you’ll find a game you love to play.
Not just that, but the top online casinos also specialise in variants. For example, some casinos offer multiple blackjack variants, others offer multiple poker variants, while some focus on roulette.
Other things that make an online casino great include live dealer games, an easy-to-navigate user interface, mobile optimisation, exciting bonuses and promos, and a good selection of payment methods.
In short, the best online casinos are safe and secure, fully licensed, easy to use, easy to sign up to, and they have an array of games and bonuses that make them fun to play at.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of online casinos?
Online casinos are far more convenient than land-based casinos because you can theoretically access them anytime from any place - and on any device. All you need is an internet connection, and either a desktop or mobile device, and you’re free to play slots, table games, card games, live dealer games and more from anywhere you want.
Online casinos also offer welcome bonuses to new players, as well as subsequent promotions to existing players, and the best ones are generally easy to use and bags of fun to play at. Plus, they give you the chance to win big.
On the other hand, online casinos are far less sociable and lack the kind of authentic casino experience that a land-based casino offers. And while live dealer games go some way to recreating an authentic casino experience, nothing compares to walking into a proper casino and playing alongside real-life dealers and players,
Other drawbacks include dealing with legality, substandard casinos, and financial issues such as accessible banking alternatives and processing periods.
Can I use more than one online casino in the UK?
Yes, you can. What’s more - you might need to, if you're looking for specific games, promotions, or banking choices. Joining a number of casinos, on the other hand, also provides diversity.
What are the tricks employed by online casinos to attract and retain gamblers?
Promotions, such as deposit bonuses, free cash offers, and VIP programmes are the most prevalent strategies used by online casinos.
Bonuses and free money offers are used to entice gamers to join. The play-through conditions compel people to stay long enough to clear the offer, even if it means losing some money.
VIP programmes, which frequently reward players with cash in return for points gained while playing, keep them coming back. Reload bonuses, which are free money incentives to existing players to entice them to make another deposit, are also available at several casinos.
So, while these incentives might look attractive, always make sure that you use them to your advantage and that you gamble responsibly.
Are online casinos fixed?
This is a question that gets asked often, with players wanting to make sure that they’re not being cheated in some way by the software.
The good news is that, as long as you’re registered at a fully-licensed UK online casino, there is no way the games are fixed.
How come?
It’s because the online casinos use something called RNG (Random Number Generator). RNG essentially mimics real-life odds. It’s an algorithm that randomly determines the outcome of a game, such as blackjack or slots.
So while it might feel as though the game is rigged if you’re on a losing streak, the truth is that it’s impossible for an online casino to rig the game.
Does the house always win?
Following on from the above, a lot of people worry that online casinos are fixed because the house always seems to win in the end.
And it’s true - the house does always win in the long run. It might sound contradictory, but when it comes to the house edge (which purposely reduces the size of potential winnings), the odds are stacked in favour of the online casino, and chance doesn’t play a purpose.
But if chance doesn’t play a purpose, are things still fair?
Yes.
Things are still fair because, while the house will win in the long run, players still have the potential to win as much as possible at the odds that are provided.
For instance, roulette gives you a 50/50 chance of winning if you bet on red or black. But because the roulette wheel has a number 0, the house will always have some form of advantage in the long run between all players combined. You could still hit the jackpot and make millions potentially, but others will have less luck. It’s the way it is today, and it’s the way it always has been since casinos and bookies have existed.
Moreover, the house must retain its edge, otherwise it’s less of a business and more of a charitable organisation, which it certainly is not.
How to win at online casinos?
This is a great question that, unfortunately, has no simple answer - nor does it have a guaranteed answer.
The truth is that you largely need three things to win at online casino games: Luck, timing and judgement.
Judgement is usually reserved for skill games such as blackjack and poker, while luck and timing will help you with the likes of slots and roulette.
However, some conscientious players improve their chances of winning by having discipline, as well as a solid, fine-tuned strategy that has been proving to work.
That all said, luck and chance plays such huge roles that it’s definitely not advised to sign up to an online casino site and play casino games with the intention of making regular money. Instead, it’s much better to have fun and to see online gambling as a form of entertainment.
Can I deposit and withdraw via the same method at UK online casinos?
Most of the time you can deposit and withdraw via the same method.
For example, if you wish to deposit via credit card and withdraw via credit card, you can usually do this.
However, there will sometimes be occasions when you won’t be able to deposit and withdraw via the same method. This is why it’s important that you always check an online casino out thoroughly before creating an account.
Some players will definitely see this sort of thing as an inconvenience, while for others it’s just a case of setting up two different payment methods - one for their deposits and one for their withdrawals.
How long does a withdrawal take to process?
The answer to this question varies because it depends entirely on the online casino site itself, as well as the payment method.
For example, cryptocurrency withdrawals are often processed in just a few minutes. Credit card and debit card withdrawals take longer, as do eWallets and bank transfers.
How much longer?
This mostly depends on the online casino. You’ll find that some are able to process your withdrawals in 24 hours or less, while others take 2-3 days.
If you’re the kind of person who’d rather their withdrawals are processed faster so that they get their winnings sooner, it’s important that you sign up to a UK casino site that allows for this.
How do I sign up to an online casino?
Signing up to a UK casino site is thankfully easy. All you need to do is head over to the homepage of a particular gambling site, and click “create an account” (or something similar).
Then, you will need to hand over your basic information, including your name, your address, date of birth and mobile phone number.
You will then need to create a username and password, before the casino site verifies your email to confirm your identity.
That’s usually all you need to do, but some UK online gambling sites require new players to confirm their identity via a document, such as a passport or a driver’s license. This, however, is rare.
What is Bitcoin gambling?
This is a really interesting question because many casinos in 2021 are marketing themselves as “Bitcoin casinos.”
What does this mean?
Well, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that is accepted at some UK online casinos. In other words, you can use Bitcoin to make a deposit and process a withdrawal. Some online casinos actually only accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which is why they’re often referred to as “Bitcoin casinos” or “crypto casinos.”
Bitcoin gambling, however, is really no different from traditional gambling. Everything is the same, including the games, the prizes, the bonuses and so on. The only difference is that you’re staking BTC instead of fiat currencies.
What games can I play at UK gambling sites?
There’s pretty much no limit on what games you can play on UK gambling sites. You can play the likes of blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, slots, bingo, keno, scratch cards, live dealer games, game shows - and more.
That said, the exact games and their variants you can play really depends on the exact online casino you sign up to. For instance, some online casinos might offer just 2 blackjack games, while others might offer 10+.
Some casino sites might offer zero poker games, while others might offer a great selection of them.
As such, it’s essential that you do a bit of research to find out what each UK online casino offers in terms of its game selection before you sign up so that you know exactly what games are available.
What are free casino games?
You may have noticed that there are such things as free casino games. They’re also known as demo games and they let you test a game before playing with real money.
The catch is that you don’t get to keep any “winnings”. Instead, free casino games are just for a bit of fun, and to give you the chance to try out any strategy you might have.
How should I start as a beginner?
If you’ve never indulged in online gambling before, the best thing to do is to try out some free casino games first (see above). These will give you the chance to get acquainted with the games and find out which one(s) you like the best.
Then, it’s really important that you get to know the rules before staking your own real money. You can also start out with the very basic games, such as slots and bingo, before making your way up to the more complex skill games, such as poker and blackjack.
It’s a smart idea to set a staking strategy too, so that you never lose more than you can afford to.
Key takeaways - The best online casinos in the UK
In this review, we’ve covered the best online casino in the UK, its benefits, and what makes it the best.
Our number one pick for the overall best online casino is PlayOjo. Its game variety is virtually endless and caters to everyone’s preferences.
We’ve also answered your biggest question in regards to UK online casinos, including how to get started, how to deposit and withdraw, and how to best succeed at online gambling.
The next step is go ahead and check out which gambling site has what you seek; enjoy yourself, and - most importantly - remember to gamble responsibly.
All of the casinos listed above require players to be 18 years or older.
As we've always emphasised, gambling is a risky entertainment form. With this in view, you should never take this path to resolve financial difficulties as there's nothing assured. Remember, at any given point, the "house always wins."
Do you feel as though you're approaching problem gambling, or do you know someone with a similar issue? Without further ado, call the National Gambling Helpline at 0808-8020-133. When you dial this line, you're immediately transferred to an advisor who gives you some insight into gambling addictions and steps you can take to reverse them. This action, of course, is vital as it allows you and your loved ones to understand the risks attached to this activity, thus engaging in safer gambling. Also, gambling sites are to be accessed by persons who are 18+ only.The reviews on display on our site are reader-supported and 100% independent. Although we might make some form of commission from time to time due to giving some wagering destinations a mention on our posts, be rest assured that our online casino listing isn't biased. We feature online casinos that meet our criteria and the players' to deliver a gambling experience that's not only intriguing but safe and secure at any given point.For wholesome resources on online gambling, you might want to set your sights on these organisations:
