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.
With so many online casinos sprouting up to try and grab a piece of the pie, new players looking to join in the fun can often be confronted with a daunting array of promotions and bonuses to attract your favour.
When looking for the best online casino bonuses, many websites offer reviews and comparisons, however, few provide independent opinions, such as those available at BookiesBonuses.com, with a dedicated team of experts who can help you sort the wheat from the chaff.
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.
Reviews:
Reviews are the backbone of any trustworthy online casino, with plenty of websites dedicated to reviewing sites independently, such as BookiesBonuses which has been reviewing online gambling sites since 2009 and features information on over 140 casino sites, plus sports betting sites too.
Every site which features casino reviews has an affiliate deal with a gambling operator, which sees them make money if you join a site via a link featured onsite, so it is a good policy to make sure reviews and articles are balanced.
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:
When joining an online gambling site, knowing they are legal and bound by UK laws is priority number one. The easiest way of doing this is to see if the casino has a UK Gambling Commission license. Many sites will have their license number displayed onsite, but if they do not, a quick online search will garner the information required.
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 feature a UK license, it does not automatically translate as “unsafe”, it simply means that you will not be covered by UK laws, if something was to happen.
Safer Gambling Options:
Safe gambling is an important part of any online casino, giving players the tools to limit the amounts a player can deposit, exclude themselves by taking a “break or completely remove themselves from having access to the sites.
All UK-licensed online casinos have links to www.gambleaware.org to assist players with gambling control issues, while Gamstop (www.gamstop.co.uk) also offers further gambling controls, such as blocking accounts across multiple online gambling sites and other management options.
Payments and Security:
Many new players may be put off by the idea of sharing banking details with online casino operators, however, there are plenty of checks in place to protect players, including Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect data and KYC (Know Your Customer), which helps to protect user data and prevent fraudulent actions.
Another way to lessen the potential for fraud is to use third-party e-wallets, which act as a trusted “middle-man” 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 communicating personal banking data.
Customer Service:
From time to time, players will incur problems when playing at online casinos, so a good customer service option is important. The best online casinos have a 24/7 customer service option via live chat or even telephone calls, along with an FAQ, email and even good old-fashioned postal communications.
Most casinos will show their customer service options on their homepage (at the bottom), so it pays dividends to look around and see what is on offer before you sign up or check out the reviews for further information. Some operators will happily answer your questions even if you are not a member.
Welcome Bonuses:
Online casinos will offer incentives for new players, with assorted options offered. These can range from deposit bonuses to free spins but usually have caveats attached, such as a wagering requirement which requires bonus funds staked multiple times before withdrawal.
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.
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 the games you want and how you want to play them.
No matter whether you are playing 10p or £10, make sure it is fun and you are in control of your spending!