Playing online casino games with real money is popular in the UK. While some people prefer spinning the fruit machines in the pubs, others prefer playing from the comfort of their couch on their mobile. If you opt to play online, you need to learn how to distinguish a trustworthy online casino from a rogue one—knowing which casino can be trusted to pay out your winnings and not just keep all your deposits is essential.
So, to help you learn about safe online gambling, we’ve made this guide covering the question: how do you know if a casino site can be trusted? Several factors are crucial to spotting a trusted casino site:
- the online gambling licence
- transparent terms and conditions
- the casino’s reputation with players
- secure payment options
- game offering like slots from trusted casinos
In this article, we’ll tell you more about these factors, which will help you to spot a trustworthy casino.
Top 7 trusted online casinos for UK players
1. NonStop Casino – 950% up to £7,000
One of our favourite trusted online casino sites is NonStop Casino. The site offers new players a massive welcome bonus package, which can be claimed on the first three deposits. The casino gives UK players many secure payment options, including credit cards and cryptocurrency. The game selection includes everything you’d expect from a grand casino: online slots, live games, jackpots, and sports betting options.
2. Mr Big Wins Casino – 250% up to £1,500
Another player’s favourite is Mr Big Wins Casino. UK players can claim a welcome bonus package of up to £1,500 on the first two deposits. You can play many popular online slots from well-known developers, including Play’n GO, NetEnt, and Yggdrasil. What players like are the fair bonus terms and safe payments.
3. Blood Moon Casino – 100% up to £800
The horror-themed online casino is licensed in Curaçao and focuses on a spooky atmosphere. They offer games from popular developers, including NetEnt and Microgaming, and live casino tables with money wheels, roulette, or blackjack. You can also place a bet on your favourite team in the sportsbook. New UK players at Blood Moon Casino can receive a welcome bonus of up to £800.
4. Players Club VIP – 222% up to £1,000
Enjoy an exclusive VIP experience at Players Club VIP Casino and benefit from a 222% welcome bonus of up to £1,000. You can play popular slots from Mascot Gaming, Betsoft, and NetEnt or sit at a live casino table. The licensed casino offers safe payments with credit cards or cryptocurrency, and they have a bonus policy with fair terms.
5. Luck of Spins Casino – 300% up to £1,200
Do you choose the side of the Sheriff or the bandit? At Luck of Spins Casino, you can enjoy many Wild-West-themed games in a safe and secure environment. The licensed casino offers new players from the United Kingdom a generous welcome bonus of 300% up to £1,200 on their first deposit. The comprehensive game selection includes slots from dozens of developers and a live casino and sports betting section with thousands of monthly events.
6. Slots Dreamer Casino – 400% up to £1,200
Another popular UK gambling website is Slots Dreamer Casino. The colourful theme with neon pink and purple lights reminds of the 1980s. Their game selection includes everything a player’s heart desires, including online slots, jackpot slots, live casino, and table games. The secure online casino offers new UK players a welcome bonus of 400% up to £1,200 with reasonable wagering requirements.
7. The Red Lion – 750% up to £3,000
The name and website of The Red Lion Casino remind of a cosy old UK pub. New UK players can claim a low-wagering welcome bonus of up to £3,000 on their first three deposits. The Curaçao-licensed non-GamStop casino offers a safe environment to play for real money, and they offer casino games from many developers, including NetEnt and Microgaming. You can play live casino games, try your luck to win a progressive jackpot, or place a bet in the sports book.
Characteristics of trustworthy online casinos
With thousands of online casinos around, it can be difficult to distinguish a good one from a bad one. Here, you can find some characteristics that all trustworthy online casinos share. These aspects are essential when playing real money games at non-GamStop UK casinos.
A good reputation
You can play at a casino with what looks like the best licence, the best terms, or the best bonuses, but nothing beats having a good reputation with players.
Many offshore online casino sites are run with relatively weak licences. However, they can still have a good reputation with players. Someone who wants to operate in the gambling community for a long time will aim to keep the players happy.
Transparent terms and conditions
A trustworthy online casino operator will display the terms and conditions and make them easily accessible. If they can be trusted, why would they have anything to hide? Someone who makes it difficult for users to find or understand their terms and conditions may have something to hide.
As a general rule, online casinos display a link to the terms and conditions in their website’s footer. These terms and conditions can include their payment terms, withdrawal limits or fees. Sometimes, payment terms are displayed at the cashier section or once you initiate a payment.
Significant bonus T&Cs are usually displayed on the page with the promotions and sometimes on a more detailed separate page, giving you more information about the specifics regarding bonuses.
Openly displays a licence
Online casinos should have a licence. Many jurisdictions issue gambling licences, and their regulations significantly impact how the operator has to conduct their business. Some jurisdictions have more lax rules than others, so it’s up to the players to decide whether or not they want to play at the casinos if they don’t have proper player protection regulations.
Every licensed casino should display the license on their homepage, usually in the footer. You should be able to click on the link and verify the licence’s validity. A casino that doesn’t display a licence probably doesn’t have one and should be avoided. Similarly, a casino that shows a licence seal but no link to verify should also be avoided, as it may be a scam.
Offers secure payment options
Using encryption is essential when making a payment to an online casino. This payment should be transmitted through secure channels only. When using a credit card, the operator should not store your complete card details; only the first and last four digits, name, and card expiration are needed for card identification.
A trustworthy online casino operator will protect your personal and financial information and not pass it on to unauthorised third parties. UK players playing at non-GamStop casinos don’t have to worry about their financial information being passed on to UK authorities, as offshore casinos don’t fall under the jurisdiction of UK laws.
Jurisdictions that issue gambling licences
Many jurisdictions issue gambling licences. Some are just for one specific country, while other jurisdictions regulate gambling for many parts of the world. Let’s look at some of the jurisdictions that accept UK players. The most important is the UKGC, and Curaçao is a non-GamStop alternative.
In the past, UK players could also play at Malta-licensed casinos. However, with the implementation of the UK Gambling Commission, Malta-licensed casinos had to stop accepting UK-based players.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, online gambling is regulated by the UKGC. The Gambling Commission has strict regulations with a focus on player protection. UK-licensed casinos must participate in the GamStop self-exclusion program, ensuring players don’t gamble with funds they can’t afford to lose. They also have to ensure that money laundering and fraud are prevented.
Curaçao
The gambling licence from Curaçao is a popular licence for casino operators who want to accept players worldwide. Four master licence holders issue sub-licences to gambling operators. These sub-licensees have to follow some regulations but are not as strict as the UKGC.
Online casinos licensed in Curaçao don’t have to participate in the GamStop exclusion program making them a good alternative for players wanting to get around GamStop. Even though players can self-exclude from the casino by selecting the self-exclusion option in the user menu, there is no general register where they can add their name and exclude them from all Curaçao-licensed casinos.
Player protection and responsible gambling measures are more lax, which means that if you have a problem with gambling, you need to seek help from outside the casino industry.
In addition to weaker player protection, a Curaçao-licensed casino doesn’t fall under UK laws for consumer protection. If you encounter a problem with a casino, you’ll be left on your own devices and won’t be able to seek help from the Gambling Commission regarding your lost deposits. This makes it even more important to find a trusted online casino operator with a good reputation, like the ones we recommend on our page.
Conclusion on finding a trusted online casino
As you can see, it’s important to look closer at the casino site where you want to play and not just mindlessly deposit at the website with the biggest bonus. You must examine the licence, payment options and terms, and the operator’s reputation. Finding a trustworthy online casino not on Gamcare can be difficult, but we make it easier for you by recommending the best tried and tested casinos.
FAQ
How to spot a trustworthy casino online?
It’s challenging for someone inexperienced to see the difference between a trustworthy online casino and a rogue operator who wants to steal your money. At first glance, they all look the same. Please read our online guide to learn about trustworthy online casinos and how to spot them. We also recommend trusted UK online casinos not on GamStop, where you can play with confidence.
Is gambling at non-GamStop online casinos safe?
Playing at a non-GamStop casino is safe, provided you spend a little time learning about the key indicators of an excellent online casino. First, check the casino’s licence and its validity.
As a rule of thumb, only play there if the casino has a licence or if it’s valid. Secondly, check the casino’s reputation and only play at recommended websites that have been tested thoroughly. You can find trustworthy non-GamStop casinos listed at the top of this page.
How can I verify the online casino’s licence?
Every licensed online casino should display the logo of the jurisdiction or a licence-issuing body in the footer of their website. This logo should link directly to a verification page where you can check the validity of the licence. If a casino doesn’t provide a licence link, they may be unlicensed and should be avoided.