Got questions about online gambling sites in the UK? We're here to answer them! This page will bring you everything you need to know about all aspects of online real money gambling in the United Kingdom. From casino, poker, and sports betting, our experts have provided you with our recommended UK online gambling sites, where to find the best gambling games, how-to guides, the biggest bonuses and who offers the fastest payouts. Read More Read Less
On this page, you will find:
We expect a very high standard from online gambling sites in the UK. To earn a place on our shortlist, gambling sites must meet our criteria.
UK gambling sites must provide a wide array of payment options for both depositing and withdrawing. This includes payments like debit and credit cards, as well as methods like eWallets and prepaid cards.
Security measures are of the utmost importance to players, and to us. Our recommended sites all provide state of the art SSL (secure socket layer) encryption, firewalls, and a license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
A welcome bonus is a great start, but our favourite sites also provide numerous of promotions for existing customers including free spins, deposit matches, and loyalty programs.
Our recommended sites not only offer top quality games, but also a wide array of gaming options including various game categories.
Our shortlisted sites are well-reputed for swift and efficient complaint resolution and provide various contact methods including live chat, email, and phone.
Any site we recommend must provide an excellent mobile interface, available via both a downloadable app, and direct access from a mobile device's web browser.
There is a wide array of online casino games available, offering something for everybody. The best gambling sites in the UK are those that provide a plethora of different game categories including slots, table games, and live dealers. Real money gambling options are evolving regularly, and the best gambling sites are those that keep ahead of the curve and always offer the freshest new games alongside the much-loved classics.
The most popular game at UK online casinos, slots see you spin reels to try and match symbols across a payline for a win. A much improved and evolved game type, many modern online slots come complete with a range of features including free spins rounds.
Blackjack is a simple heads up game played against the dealer. Starting with two cards, you can hit (get another card) or stand (stick with the cards you have) with the aim of getting as close to 21 as possible without going over.
A true casino classic, in roulette you bet on one or more numbers, and a ball is spun around a wheel. If the ball lands on a number that matches your bet, you win. This simple game is kept interesting thanks to the wide array of betting possibilities.
Baccarat is another game played against the dealer. Here, every card has a value (with a highest possible score of 9). In baccarat, the aim is to achieve a higher score than the dealer. A draw is a common outcome, which results in a push.
Craps is a dice game. You can either be the shooter (roll the dice) or bet on the outcome. A 7 or 11 is a win, a 2, 3, or 12 is a loss, any other outcome from the dice roll results in another roll of the dice.
At live casinos, games are played via video link, giving the closest to a true casino experience a player can get from their own home. Classic table games and numerous unique titles are available to play with live dealers, with more being added all the time.
Poker has maintained its position as a favourite at land-based and online casinos around the world. This card game is still a popular choice for online gambling in the UK and comes in a multitude of varieties. Here are some of the most popular games when it comes to online poker.
Texas Hold'em is the poker form most frequently shown in televised tournaments. Players are dealt two personal (hole) cards, and five shared (community) cards are then revealed (with betting along the way). The aim is to achieve the best five card poker hand with any combination of the seven cards available to you. You can find out more about how to play poker here.
Three card poker is simple in principle, players are aiming to achieve the best three card poker hand. Played straight against the dealer, unlike most poker games, there is no option to change cards here. Players either choose to play their hand against the dealer's, or fold.
Similar to Texas Hold'em, in Omaha, players are dealt four cards and there are five community cards. There is less freedom of choice here, players must use two of their own cards and three of the community cards to make their five-card poker hand.
One of the simplest forms of poker, and a good starting point for newbies, five card draw sees players dealt five cards. You can choose to discard any number of your cards and have them replaced by others. The player with the best five card hand wins the round.
Mississippi Stud Poker is not played against a dealer's hand, but against a paytable. Using their two cards and three community cards, players look to achieve a five-card poker hand of two Jacks or above to gain a win.
Live Hold'em is Texas Hold'em played via video link. A live dealer hands out the cards, and players play against each other to attempt to win the hand by getting the best five-card result from the seven cards available to them. The live scenario adds an extra level of excitement.
Slots once consisted of nothing but three-reel slot machines, but times have changed a great deal since then. In the modern online casino world, there are many different types of real money slots, each with their own unique charms. Slot options at gambling sites in the UK include:
Online slots are slot games that are made available at online casinos. An evolution of the Vegas classics, these slots build on the theme and offer features that can only be made available with use of a computer and an online playing environment.
View Online SlotsReal money slots are online slots that allow players to bet and win real money. There is usually a wide range of betting options, and wins are gained by matching symbols on a payline.
View Real Money SlotsJackpot slots come in two forms. A fixed jackpot slot has a set jackpot that is usually won by gaining the maximum number of the highest value symbol on a payline. Progressive jackpots see a jackpot build up with every bet, often paid out at random, these jackpots can be up in the millions.
View Jackpot SlotsVideo slots are 3D slots that use video technology to improve the graphics and animations and provide a more immersive experience. Often including exciting features, these slots can be based on TV shows and movies and often use actual footage from the source material.
View Video SlotsVegas slots are classic games based on favourites from casino floors. The likes of IGT's Cleopatra have proven that these simpler slots can have a huge impact in the online casino market, as long as the gameplay is exciting and there's a chance at big wins.
View Vegas SlotsPenny slots are, quite simply, slots you can play for a penny a spin. While prizes are unlikely to be huge here (slot payouts are usually multiples of the bet amount) these slots offer a fun and relaxed way to play without betting too much.
View Penny SlotsMany of the best UK gambling sites provide impressive mobile apps which offer most, if not all the gaming options available to desktop players. Additionally, bonuses and promotions can occasionally be mobile exclusive, allowing gaming on the go to come with a variety of potential perks. Find out more about mobile casinos and mobile slots here.
Bonuses are perks that online casinos offer to their players. Coming in many forms, these offers add an extra benefit to depositing or betting at your favourite online casino site. Used to gain extra spins, bonus money, and more, casino bonuses can add a new dimension to the gaming experience.
While some bonuses are more prevalent than others, there are several different promotions and bonuses that online casinos offer. From new players, to existing customers and VIPs, different players may be eligible for different casino bonuses.
A welcome bonus is the first bonus at most online casinos. A deposit match (bonus funds which make up the same amount as the deposit, or more) or free spins are the most popular bonus form here, with some casinos offering both.
VIP programs benefit high rollers but are often available to all players. As a player makes bets and wagers, they gain points, the more points that are earnt, the higher a player rises through the VIP levels. Exclusive prizes like event invitations and account managers can often be found at the highest levels.
Offered before the deposit bonus, this is a small deposit match or free spins bonus provided after registration, before a deposit is made. A nice way to experience a new site, these promotions usually come with very high wagering requirements. You can learn more about no deposit bonuses here and how to get them.
Available as part of some no deposit and deposit bonuses, as well as a frequent offering for existing customers, free spins are a popular bonus. This promotion provides a set number of free spins on a specific slot(s). Wagering requirements are often lowest with free spins bonuses.
The way you make your deposits and withdrawals at online casinos is as important as it is personal. Many players have different preferences, but one thing all players want, and expect is the safety and security of them and their money to be ensured.
Online casinos offer various safe methods. The classic debit and credit card (Mastercard, Visa, etc.) is still popular, but payouts can have a long waiting time. eWallets like NETELLER and PayPal are popular as they mean players don't share their banking information directly with the casino, and withdrawals tend to be quicker. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are also gradually gaining pace as a popular deposit and withdrawal method at gambling sites in the UK.
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The kings of live dealer options, Evolution has developed a wide array of unique live games. Lightning Roulette, Deal or No Deal, and Live Monopoly are just three of the immersive Evolution favourites.
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Known best for their Vegas slots, IGT is a throwback in the best way. Cleopatra and Da Vinci Diamonds still lead the IGT portfolio, many years after their respective releases.
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Microgaming is best known for its video slots like Immortal Romance and progressives like Mega Moolah. Table games and instant win options can also be found in the Microgaming selection.
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NetEnt does a bit of everything, popular slots (Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst), progressives (Hall of Gods, Mega Fortune) table games, and live dealer options are on offer.
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A focus on fun comes with Play'n Go. Hugo and Mystery Joker 6,000 are classic, yet modern feeling slots, while many Asian themed video slots are also available.
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A host of exciting slots, Playtech also provides some impressive live dealer software and sports betting options. The jewel in the Playtech crown is the Age of the Gods progressive jackpot series.
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A focus on old school slots has done WMS well, with numerous popular slots under the developers' belt, each with an old school theme.
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A new name that made an immediate impact, the Vikings series shows the unique, playful, and exciting gameplay provided by this excellent software developer.
The online gambling world can be a confusing place. Luckily, we’re here with a handful of useful guides to help you get to grips with all areas of the online gambling world, including games, sites, strategies, and more.
Online gambling has been legal in the UK since the Gambling Act came into place in 2005. The later inception of the UK Gambling Commission saw regulation stepped up. For players, there is not tax on gambling winnings and anyone over the age of 18 can gamble legally. Rules in Northern Ireland are more confusing as they still relate to a 1985 law, which did not cover online gambling and there is no official regulator.
Any online casino providing services in the UK must hold a UKGC license and pay tax on their earnings, regardless of where the operator is based. This aids players safety and security. Players in the UK can gamble anywhere over 18 and can play the National Lottery and scratchcards at 16 or over.
| Region | Minimum Gambling Age | Is Online Gambling Legal? |
|---|---|---|
| England | 18 | Yes |
| Scotland | 18 | Yes |
| Wales | 18 | Yes |
| Northern Ireland | 18 | Yes |
While there are plenty of great online casinos offering live dealer games, there are a number of sites out there that sensible players are best staying away from.
Below you'll find three sites that we at CardsChat.com have blacklisted for failing to meet a number of the basic requirements we expect from any trustworthy operator.
| CASINO | RATING | Our Verdict | |
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2.09 |
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1.81 |
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1.90 |
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The UK is one of the largest and best controlled gambling markets in Europe and so there are many different options for devoted players. It does not matter if the casinos are based in the UK or are foreign, as long as they accept UK players and GBP. Check out our carefully compiled list of recommended casinos for places where you can play to your heart's content.
UK players engage in most traditional gambling types. The most common ones are poker and all its types, slot games that come in thousands of variations, roulette, baccarat and blackjack, but this is far from a complete list of all games available in large, established casinos.
Signing up happens at an online casino of your choice where you create an account and deposit some cash. Once the deposit has gone through you can immediately start playing for real money.
The best winning opportunities may be both at huge, well-established casinos, as well as in small start-ups that are fighting to create a loyal player base. Just make sure that the casino you choose to deposit your hard-earned cash into is reliable and closely monitored for fairness and reliability.
Yes. During the past few years, online casinos have engaged heavily in creating mobile apps that allow you full access to their games and features. You can now access your entire mobile gaming account from your portable device, including withdrawing winnings and changing your personal information.
The internet is a wide place, so always read sites' praises with a pinch of salt. If you are unsure whether to trust a site or not look for signs that it has been externally audited, and see if it has been recommended by trustworthy online reviewers. You can also check out our website's section of recommended online casinos.
Legitimate sites have a few markers that you can look for before anything else: they look professional, they contain detailed contact information for customer service and company, and they are based in a country that is known as a reliable online gaming regulator, such as Gibraltar and Malta. In addition, you can check out our detailed review pages for our recommendations that have been written by our dedicated team of experts.
