The UK's Best Online Casino Sites

Pros and Cons of the Best Online Casinos

Let’s get a quick overview of the benefits and drawbacks of choosing to wager at UK online casinos.

• Entertainment – first and foremost, online casinos are places to have fun. It’s important to keep this in mind as you play because, while landings wins is always nice, you should never view online casinos as places to turn a profit;
• Convenience – online casinos make it a breeze to enjoy a wager from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere you have phone signal thanks to mobile casinos;
• Play at your own pace – you set the speed of play when you’re playing at online casinos, with no need to play in step with the pace of fellow players at the table or the dealer;
• Countless options – no matter your online gambling preferences, online casinos will have you covered;
• User flexibility – your experience is very tailorable, from the way you choose to make casino deposits to the way you make use of on-site time and spending limiters;
• Bonuses and promotions – online casinos regularly give out free spins, bet credits, and cashback offers to add little sweeteners to your play time;
• Trust and security – provided you’re playing at a licensed online casino, you can expect a high level of security and practices designed to keep you safe;
• Caters to all budgets – whether you’re looking to spin the reels on penny slots or place wagers in triple digits at the blackjack table, there’s an online casino game out there for you.

• Convenience – the convenience of playing at online casinos can be a double-edged sword if you are having trouble controlling your gambling habits. See below for advice on where to get help with problem gambling;
• Rogue operators – there are a tonne of unlicensed online casinos out there who absolutely do not have your interests, safety, or security in mind. Always play at a licensed casino site;
• Impersonal – unless you’re playing live dealer games, online casino games don’t have the same level of personal interaction you’d expect at a brick and mortar casino;
• Transaction speeds – while there are plenty of fast withdrawal casinos out there, some online casinos can still take several days to process withdrawal requests;
• Strict terms and conditions – while bonuses are commonplace, it’s rare to find one with user-friendly terms and conditions. Always read the fine print.

Online Casino Bonuses

Bonuses are part and parcel of the online casino experience, but their scope and quality vary significantly from site to site. Bonuses are a major consideration in our online casino reviews; we ensure the sites we recommend offer strong value against the competition, reasonable terms and conditions, and incentives to come back for more. Below you’ll find examples of the kinds of bonuses you can expect to see at the top UK online casino sites.

Matched Deposit Bonuses

Matched deposit welcome bonuses see the casino top up your initial deposit by a certain percentage up to a maximum amount.

For example, with a 100% up to £100 you could deposit £100, land another £100 as your bonus, and have £200 to play with. Alternatively, the offer may be 50% up to £100, meaning you would have to deposit £200 in order to gather the maximum £100 bonus.

The size of these bonuses vary significantly from site to site. You may find an offer at one casino for 100% up to £50, while at another it could be 200% up to £100. The more that’s being offered, the higher the wagering requirements will be. See below for more details on what wagering requirements are and how they work.

Free Spins

There are thousands of slots to try out at the best UK online casinos. The world’s software developers are continually adding more to the pile, so you’ll never be short of fresh reels to test your luck.

Free spins are a great way to do just that, and these bonuses can be offered as a standalone bonus or as an attachment to something like a matched deposit.

Some casinos limit the games you can use your free spins on, although named games will generally be popular titles like NetEnt’s Starburst or Play n’ GO’s Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead.

As with matched deposit bonuses, wagering requirements typically apply to free spins. The difference is that the playthrough requirements are applied to whatever is won with the free spins rather than the bonus’s monetary value.

No Deposit Bonuses

Generally speaking, you must make a deposit in order to claim a welcome bonus. As with all things, there are exceptions to this rule, cannily named no deposit bonuses.

These bonuses can come in the form of free cash, free spins, or even cashback on lost wagers. Unfortunately, the vast majority of no deposit bonuses have strict terms and conditions, particularly wagering requirements, so anything you win with a no deposit bonus will be tough to withdraw.

Nevertheless, no deposit bonuses are a welcome and player-friendly way to get acquainted with a site’s features without having to commit any of your own cash.

Rebate Bonuses

Everyone loves a rebate, and that’s no different in the gambling world.

Rebate bonuses, sometimes called cashback, return a small percentage of a losing stake in free bets or spins.

This a nice way to take the sting out of a loss, and it can also mean that you’ve got a little cash injection ready and waiting for your next wager. 

Reload Bonuses

After you’ve claimed a welcome bonus with your first deposit, the best online casinos will offer additional bonuses for further deposits, or reload bonuses.

These might be smaller than your welcome bonus or come in the shape of free spins or bets rather than extra cash to play with, but they’re a welcome incentive for your loyalty to a site. 

Payment Options at UK Online Casinos

There’s a tonne of payment options available at the best online casinos, each of which offer varying withdrawal speeds, security measures, and ways to make life more convenient.

While most casinos accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards, you’ll need to make sure your preferred method is accepted before signing up if you want to use an e-wallet like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill, ecoPayz, pay by phone bill options, transfer services like Trustly, or prepaid cards.

It’s also important to make sure the deposit and withdrawal limits, as well as the processing times, are suited to your preferences. All of these factors vary from site to site.

For example, some of the best UK casino sites offer instant PayPal withdrawals, while others can take several days to process payout requests.

How to Make Deposits and Withdrawals

The online casino’s operator wants it to be as easy as possible for you to make a deposit and get started. 

Once you’ve registered with the site and opted-in for your welcome bonus, head to the cashier page and select your preferred payment method, fill in the relevant details, and complete the required KYC checks.

Withdrawals are equally straightforward — simply return to the cashier page and select the withdrawal option. You’ll generally need to use the same payment method for withdrawals and deposits, although you may be offered the option to use an alternative. As pay by phone bill and prepaid card options don’t support withdrawals, you will need to select a different method to make withdrawals.

Debit Cards 

Debit cards are the most common and popular payment method. Simply enter your card name, number, and CVV number, and you’ll be set to make deposits and withdrawals.

Compared to other payment methods, debit cards can be one of the slower options when it comes to withdrawal wait times.

You’ll often need to wait 3-5 working days added on to your casino’s internal processing times, meaning you might need to be patient if you choose to bank with this method. If you use Visa Fast Funds, however, you should be able to significantly accelerate your withdrawals.

e-Wallets

The likes of PayPal, Neteller, ecoPayz, AstroPay, and Skrill are widely available at the UK’s best online casinos, and they simplify the payment process by only requiring you to enter your linked email address into your casino’s cashier page.

Many e-wallets offer enhanced security over debit cards, with 24/7 fraud protection, payment protection services, and extra authentication layers.

Not only that, but e-wallets are typically the fastest way to get hold of your withdrawals, with many fast withdrawal casinos offering 24-hour or even instant payouts.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards, such as Paysafecard, are a great way to manage your spending.

Once you’re set up with a card, available at over 600,000 brick-and-mortar retailers worldwide, simply enter its unique 16-digit PIN into the casino site as if it were a typical debit card.

Unfortunately, you can’t make withdrawals using prepaid cards, so for payouts you’ll need to provide alternative details.

Bank Transfers

Sometimes known as wire transfers, bank transfers are the simplest way to link your bank account to your casino account.

Simply enter the name the account is under, the sort code, and account number, and you’ll be set up for deposits and withdrawals.

Bank transfers are typically one of the slower ways to make withdrawals, however, with payouts occasionally taking up to seven business days.

Pay-by-Mobile Casinos

Through services such as Boku and Siru, you can add your casino deposits to your monthly phone bill.

Simply enter your phone number and the amount you would like to deposit, and you’ll receive an SMS confirming the transaction.

Once you’ve confirmed the payment, your deposit will be added to your next phone bill. This payment option typically has a low maximum deposit, making it easy to control your spending.

Unfortunately, you can make withdrawals with pay-by-mobile services.

Cryptocurrencies

Some real money online casinos are offering cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, meaning Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and more can be used as a banking method at select gambling sites.

At casino sites offering the option, crypto users can expect instant deposits and the ability to have withdrawals processed inside 24 hours.

Software Providers

There’s a broad range of top-tier software developers at the best casino sites.

This is just a brief selection of the names you can expect to find attached to online casino games and slots, but we’re confident that you’ll be satisfied with any game you play that’s been delivered by the following heavyweights.

NetEnt

Swedish software developer NetEnt has been in the game since 1996, and it has developed a fierce reputation as one of the finest to grace online casinos.

The company’s products have expanded beyond games over the years, and its portfolio now encompasses casino platform hosting, business intelligence services, training, technical support, and much more. 

NetEnt, whose subsidiaries list includes Red Tiger Gaming, commands an ever-growing list of premier slots titles, including Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and branded titles such as Street Fighter II and Narcos.

If you find NetEnt’s name attached to a slot, you can be sure you’re in good hands.

Microgaming

Founded in 1994 and based on the Isle of Man, UK, Microgaming lays claim to being the world’s first online casino software developer.

The firm offers a casino platform and development services for new operators, along with over 800 casino games.

Microgaming has also produced a host of popular branded titles, including Game of Thrones, Jurassic World, and Lara Croft slots.

Known for its jackpot slots, the industry heavyweight has paid out over €1.1bn through its progressive jackpot network over the years through such titles as Mega Moolah.

Playtech

Playtech’s another seasoned hand in the gambling software space, having launched operations in 1999, and its since developed an extensive portfolio of top-tier games.

These include casino classics, slots, live casino games, sportsbooks, virtual sports, video poker, bingo — you name it, Playtech is on it. Along with its prolific output, Playtech is a quality-focused developer whose name is a welcome sight on any casino game.

Evolution Gaming

Evolution Gaming has carved out an impressive niche as the live casino game developer of choice, and its expanded its dominance further since acquiring NetEnt in 2020.

The company has four streaming studios around the world—based in Latvia, Malta, Georgia, Romania, Canada, New Jersey, Belgium, and Spain—meaning time zones are no boundary to stellar live casino experiences.

Along with sheer availability, Evolution is dedicated to delivering high-quality streams, top of the line games, and a brilliant user interface that keeps you up to date without being intrusive.

Novomatic

Novomatic Group is an enormous, global company that employs over 30,000 people, operates 255,000 gaming terminals and video lottery terminals worldwide.

The firm is committed to delivering innovative and progressive technology solutions, particularly in tackling underage and problem gambling.

In the online space, Novomatic delivers a broad selection of fantastic slots, table games and progressive jackpots. Including the likes of Book of Ra, Lord of the Ocean, Riches Ahoy!, and American Poker II Deluxe.

Pragmatic Play

Another leading developer in the iGaming space is Pragmatic Play, a company headquartered in Malta. Despite its youth — it was only founded in 2015 — it quickly established itself among the top software studios at online casinos in the UK, with over 100 slots plus live casino games and bingo in its portfolio. 

Some of Pragmatic’s most popular slots include Big Bass Bonanza and its Bigger Bass sequel, Wolf Gold, Great Rhino Megaways, and Gates of Olympus. On the live casino side, the company streams live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and game shows like Mega Wheel from its purpose-built studio in Bucharest.

Mobile Casino Sites

Many casino players prefer to do their gaming via Android and iPhone devices. This means that whether you fancy a quick game on your lunch break, during your commute, or simply when you’re relaxing at home, having a fully-optimised mobile casino is a must.

Luckily, pretty much all of the best UK online casinos have adapted their websites for mobile use, meaning you can play your favourite games on the move via a smartphone web browser. However, it’s mobile casino apps that provide the best on-the-go gaming experience.

Not all casinos have mobile apps, and the user experience varies between the ones that do, which is why we take each app for a test run as we review the best online casinos.

We consider the mobile games available and factor-in the proportion of games that carry over from the desktop site, as well as the design, ease of navigation, user interface, and more. If you’re searching for the best mobile casino apps, you’re well catered for at TopRatedCasinos.