Most UK online casino players want to use a currency they know, they have faith in nothing else but the tried and tested British pound sterling. Moreover, many online casinos are happy to give it to them.
However, what if you fancy going off the grid and using an alternative currency to deposit at casinos? Should you use US dollars, or perhaps you might prefer something faster? Are cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin a possibility?
I know what you’re thinking. UK online casinos don’t accept cryptocurrencies, do they? Well, yes and no. Some UK casinos don’t, and others do – it really depends on what you consider to be a UK casino.
Don’t worry if this sounds confusing. I’m here to explain all in my latest blog, and I will answer the question, “Can you wager with cryptos at UK online casinos?” Let’s begin.
Cryptocurrencies Are Legal in the UK
Cryptocurrency is, in fact, legal in the United Kingdom. It is legal to buy them, it is legal to own, it is legal to do business in them, and it is legal to sell them.
Whilst they remain unregulated (to a degree) and are not considered to be legal tender, there is nothing to stop you using cryptocurrencies for all manner of things. As long as you pay the tax authority its cut when you sell cryptos and make a profit, everything is fine.
Is it legal to gamble with cryptocurrencies, though? The issue of cryptocurrencies being decentralised comes to the forefront with this question. To answer that, we need to look at the types of casinos that accept them and those that don’t.
Most UKGC Sites Don’t Accept Them
Officially, most UKGC online casinos do not accept cryptocurrencies. Because they aren’t regulated or centralised, there is no real way for the UK authorities to control them.
Given that control is a very important thing for the UK Gambling Commission, they haven’t yet made it possible for UKGC-licensed casinos to accept cryptocurrencies. However, fortunately, that’s not the end of the world.
UKGC-licensed casinos are just one type of online casinos that cater to gambling players in the United Kingdom. There is another type.
Crypto Casinos That Accept UK Players
While UKGC online casinos don’t permit deposits with cryptocurrencies, there are other UK sites that can. These are known as UK-facing casinos because while they aren’t licensed out of the country (they are often licensed out of Curacao), they do still accept players from the UK. It is perfectly legal for you to sign up and play at these sites. Known as international online casinos for UK players, they include casinos and sportsbooks, and they may come in a myriad of forms.
For instance, some of these casinos are crypto-specific gambling sites. These are sites where only cryptocurrencies are accepted. There are also FIAT/Crypto casinos. These sites accept both cryptocurrencies and FIAT options and will allow you to jump between the two options. This is very handy if you want to start out slow with FIAT, before slowly migrating to cryptocurrencies when you feel comfortable.
Either of these sites should work wonders if you want to play with cryptocurrencies in UK-facing domains. However, there are two very important questions that British players have about these casinos that we also need to answer. These include:
Can I Claim Crypto Bonuses?
Just because an online casino accepts Brits and cryptocurrencies doesn’t necessarily mean that it will allow you to claim bonuses and promos in crypto. Some sites accept crypto deposits but offer bonuses in USD, GBP, or other currencies.
However, if you opt to play at a trusted, mainstream, and top-tier cryptocurrency casino or one of the crypto-specific sites mentioned above, you’ll surely get to claim all manner of promos and bonus deals in BTC, ETH or whatever other cryptocurrency is accepted there.
Can I Wager on Games with Crypto Stakes?
Again, this is something that is going to vary. An online casino may accept British players and cryptocurrencies and allow you to claim bonuses in crypto. However, it may convert your deposit, bonus, and balance into a FIAT currency option, such as British pounds sterling for gameplay.
Of course, there are also casinos that allow you to wager actively in BTC, ETH, BCH, XRP, LTC, DOGE, TRON, and other cryptos in games.
This may come down to whether or not the game’s software provider facilitates crypto wagering. It may also be the casino that decides. Ultimately, if you want to wager with cryptos, you’ll need to ensure that your site permits this before you sign up to play there.
The Benefits of Crypto Betting in the UK
What is the reason you might want to engage in crypto betting in the United Kingdom? As it happens, there are certainly perks to doing so. Here are just a few of the main reasons you might want to consider doing so:
- Cryptocurrencies represent the fastest way to withdraw at casinos. Some withdrawal options take mere minutes.
- Many top-rated crypto casinos also have no verification process, giving you a spot of anonymity when you gamble online.
- Cryptocurrencies are perfect for off-the-grid and off-the-books action. If you want to keep your gambling activities private, you can do that with cryptos.
- Crypto casino banking options generally have much higher deposit and withdrawal limits than rival payment providers. This makes them ideal for high-rolling and big-spending players.
- Cryptocurrencies are not regulated. This means that their value can soar (or fall). You could end up winning an immense fortune twice – once when you play and win, and then again if the value of your cryptos rises.
- Many top online casino games are now crypto-friendly. This means that you will likely be able to claim bonuses and wager on your favourite slots and live casino titles using Bitcoin and other options.
Where to Find Top Crypto Casinos for UK Players
Now that you know that it is legal for you to wager at online casinos with cryptocurrencies, you may be on the hunt for somewhere to play. Look no further. On this site, you’ll find all sorts of top reviews for Bitcoin casinos not on GamStop.Any of these sites has been highly recommended and offers you a perfectly legal and trustworthy way to deposit, claim bonuses, wager, and withdraw using Bitcoin and other leading cryptos at UK-facing online casinos. I’d suggest you start there.
Best new Crypto Casinos include Charles Casino and DealBet Casino