Top 20 Online Casinos in the UK: 2024 Guide

We often get emails asking how to tell if a site is legit. As we mentioned above, your first stop should be the UKGC register of gambling businesses. From there, we use a set of specific criteria to evaluate each aspect of the casino and ultimately rank the top 20 casinos in the UK. This, however, takes considerable time and effort to gather and takes certain expertise in the gambling industry to be able to analyse.

In the following sections, we will share the process we use to review, compare, and rank British online casino sites. We’ll be discussing mobile casinos, customer support, online slots and games, welcome bonus offers and their wagering requirements, and more. Here is the full list of criteria for ranking the top 20 online casinos in the UK:

Online Casino Security Checks

Safety comes first when playing at an online casino. Therefore, we start all casino reviews with detailed safety and security checks. Only legit and trustworthy online casinos make it onto our top 20 best online casinos list. Licensing is the most important safety check. We only recommend online casinos with a valid licence from the UKGC. Online gambling sites must hold a UK licence to offer their services legally to players in the UK.

You may notice that some of our recommended casinos also hold licences from other gambling regulators, such as the Alderney Gaming Control Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. A UK licence is mandatory, yet the presence of additional licences further testify that the casino is legit. In addition to UK licensing, we also check for SSL certificates, certified game audits, and responsible gambling partnerships.

• UK Gambling Commission
• eCOGRA
• iTech Labs
• GLI
• GamCare
• GambleAware
• GAMSTOP
• DigiCert

Safe online casinos secure your sensitive data using SSL encryption. We check for SSL certificates from trusted technical security providers like DigiCert. Legit operators are independently tested for game fairness. We check for payout reports from testing houses such as eCOGRA and GLI. All reliable operators promote responsible gambling. We check for partnerships with charities such as GamCare, which offers 24/7 support through the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133).

Online Casino Game Selection

Sometimes the selection of online casino games will look perfectly fine at first. You would see many games, a decent number of developers and many tabs with different types of games. But we also like to check if the table games have just basic variations or at least a few innovative variants too. Here’s a list of all games at UK online casinos:

• Slots
• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Video Poker
• Keno
• Craps
• Bingo
• Sic Bo
• Scratch Cards
• Lotto
• Game Shows
• Progressive Jackpots
• Live Dealer Games

There should be a good number of live casino games or at least a bet-behind feature at some tables so that you don’t have to wait for a seat. The slot games are usually so rich that even in the worst-case scenario, they will be missing just a few of your favourite titles.

Another great advantage is that slot games are available everywhere, even at two-pound deposit casino sites or at operators for high rollers. Read on to find out more about the most popular game types for UK casino players – slots, roulette, and blackjack.

Online Slot Games

Online slots are the game of choice of most UK gamblers. It’s no wonder. Slot games do not require any skills. You usually don’t lose your progress if you have to stop playing because they play fast. And they are a perfect time-filler. Most operators will have an average of 500-700 online slots but some of the best online casinos may go up to 800+ titles. Check out the top-rated UK online casino for slots:

Look for a Vegas or Progressive Jackpots tab because the most lucrative and entertaining titles will be found at the best slot sites out there. The best online slots such as Book of Dead, Starburst, and Mega Moolah should be present or at least some of them. In the best-case scenario, there will be some deposit-free spins to try out the online slots when registering.

Online Roulette Games

Roulette is one of the most popular table games. All top UK casino sites offer roulette, yet some casinos are better than others. You need to look beyond the number of roulette games to find the best operators for roulette players. We look for diverse game variations in both RNG and live dealer forms. Wide-reaching table limits are also important. Here is the best casino to play online roulette in the UK:

The top roulette casinos online would offer the classic variants – European, American and French Roulette, but also innovative tables such as Lightning Roulette, Deal or No Deal Roulette and Speed Roulette. Since this casino game has a low house edge, always make sure to check whether roulette contributes to the wagering requirements.

Online Blackjack Games

Blackjack is a classic casino card game. You can play the game of 21 at each of the top 20 casino sites in the UK. Blackjack is not simply a game of chance. It also requires a little skill, as you must decide how to play each hand. Following a basic strategy will ensure you play each round optimally. You can test your skills at the best blackjack online casino for UK players:

At the top blackjack casinos in the UK, you should expect to see the basic American and European Blackjack, as well as modern variations such as Vega Strip Blackjack and Perfect Pairs Blackjack. It is not the sheer number of blackjack games that matters. We are much more impressed with casinos that offer blackjack tables with various bet limits, side bets and other special features.

Audited Payout Rate & Fair RTP

Let us explain how payouts work for those of you who are new to the topic. The RTP percentage (return to player) is one of the key indicators of the top online casinos, as it shows how much of the stakes are expected to go back to players as winnings over the long run.

Each game in a casino has an individual RTP %. The cumulative percentage for all games at a casino site is called ‘payout percentage’. Theoretically, playing at a high payout casino can give you better chances of higher payouts because of the high RTP games they offer. It doesn’t matter whether you play at three-pound deposit casino sites or at operators for high rollers. Here are the payout percentages of the top 20 casinos online:

• Ladbrokes – 97.25%
• All British Casino – 95.98%
• Fun Casino – 97.50%
• Duelz – 96.32%
• Coral – 96.27%
• Monopoly Casino – 96.23%
• Virgin Games – 95.15%
• Rainbow Riches Casino – 96.23%
• Grand Ivy – 96.52%
• Mr Mega – 96.53%
• Betiton – 95.00%
• Slots n’Play – 95.00%
• Yeti Casino – 96.20%
• Grosvenor – 97.15%
• Merkur Slots – 96.11%
• BetVictor – 97.25%
• NetBet – 96.78%
• Dream Vegas – 95.74%
• Mr Vegas – 97.17%
• Casimba – 96.50%

In online gambling, everything is checked, measured, and certified so that the fairness of the operator is guaranteed. The same goes for casino payouts. These are audited on a yearly basis by independent testing houses such as eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and GLI.

Though we’ve ranked the best payout online casino according to the 2024 statistics, bear in mind that RTP is a piece of valuable data, not a definite verdict on how good a site is.

Online Casino Bonuses for British Players

The top 20 online casinos for UK players offer welcome bonuses. The welcome bonus amount is a key assessment tool for many UK players and gambling experts. However, you need to look beyond the size of the bonus to find the best casino offers. We have compared the available deals and selected the UK’s best online casino welcome bonuses:

Although we’ve ranked the biggest UK casino bonuses, we like to constantly remind our readers that there are many other factors more important than bonus size. You must also consider the wagering requirements, validity, game contributions, minimum deposit, and eligable deposit methods. It takes more than a good welcome bonus to rank on the best UK online casino site list. A good casino will also offer various regular promotions for its existing players.

Regular Promotional Campaigns

The offers do not end once you have claimed and used your welcome bonus. While operators offer welcome bonuses to attract new players, they also provide various promotions to retain customers and reward them for their loyalty. Therefore, assessing a casino’s promotional offers is important when reviewing a casino site.

One of the most common types of casino promotion is a reload bonus. Such offers will match your casino deposits with bonus money or free spins. Some operators provide daily deals, with different offers available each day. Many operators also feature a game of the week or month promotion. You can also take advantage of live casino promos. As with welcome bonuses, always read the promotional terms before accepting any offer.

Fair Wagering Requirements

We have noticed that low wagering online casino UK sites have been a hit lately. And for a good reason. Sometimes the wagering requirements are so heavy you can hardly meet them. On the other hand, low wagering casinos offer reasonable terms for your bonus money. You are also much more likely to be able to withdraw your free spins winnings.

Before you aim for a max bonus, always ask yourself these things. What games is your bonus valid for? How long is your bonus valid? What is the eligible minimum deposit? The best UK casinos usually require a £10 min deposit. Most casino games will contribute (including table games) with a different weighing. The wagering requirements will usually be somewhere between 30-45x. And the bonus will be valid for at least a week.

Payment Method Availability

Another essential characteristic of the best UK online casino sites is hassle-free banking. There should be a good number of supported payment methods. Let’s not forget the banking security. We always look for an SSL certificate or another protocol that guarantees our details remain safe. Here are the most popular payment methods for UK players:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• PayPal
• Apple Pay
• Paysafecard
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Boku
• Payz
• MuchBetter
• Maestro
• Bank Transfer
• Cryptocurrency

These banking methods are available at the top 20 casinos. All of them offer instant deposits, whereas withdrawal speed varies. E-wallets, such as PayPal, are very well-liked by UK players, and they can also be found at some of the best one-pound deposit casino sites. Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is becoming increasingly popular for casino deposits and withdrawals because it is virtually the safest option available. Still, it is more suitable for high rollers.

Fast Payouts for UK Players

As mentioned above, online casino deposits are instant. However, withdrawals take longer to process. Withdrawal speed is a key consideration when ranking the top online casinos, as players want to receive their winnings as soon as possible. Withdrawal times vary depending on the operator’s processing time and your chosen payment method. At fast paying casinos, operators keep the time it takes to authorise a withdrawal request to an absolute minimum.

The fastest withdrawal casinos process withdrawals within just a few hours, whereas other operators may take a couple of days to authorise the payment. Once the operator confirms your request, the time it takes to receive your winnings varies by payment method. E-wallets generally offer the fastest processing times, while withdrawals with debit cards and bank transfers can take several days to reach your bank account.

PayPal Availability: The Top-Rated eWallet Option

No wonder PayPal is one of the most popular payment methods available at virtually all the best online casinos with high stakes. It is the undisputed winner of the title the ‘UK players’ favourite banking option’. One of its biggest advantages over debit card transactions is that you don’t share any banking details with the casino and your banking statement remains gambling free. This makes PayPal very secure and reliable. Here is the top-rated PayPal casino in the UK:

PayPal is also one of the fastest payment methods. Compared to other options where cashing out may take up to 5 business days, PayPal withdrawals are usually processed in up to 2 days, sometimes even faster. And finally, the number of trustworthy PayPal casinos online to choose from is significant, so you can choose according to your liking.

Top Online Casino Software

Being able to offer high-quality slot games and a good number of tables is dependent on the software providers powering the casino. Flawless software is the main difference between average sites and premium UK casinos. Of course, the 20 best online casinos in this article have been selected so as to offer as many award-winning developers as possible. Here are the most popular online casino software providers:

Since more and more British players are interested in live and mobile casino gambling, we pay special attention to mobile optimisation and responsiveness. Some developers are more popular than others. These include Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution, and Playtech. You will find their exciting games at the operators featured in our list of the top 20 online casinos in the UK.

As the longest-standing provider, Microgaming offers the largest online casino game selection. NetEnt is renowned for its excellent slots. Evolution, formerly known as Evolution Gaming, is arguably the best live casino software provider. And Playtech impresses with a diverse online gambling games portfolio. The paragraphs below provide more details about the biggest game studios on the UK gambling market.

Which Is the Best Microgaming Casino from the Top 20 List?

One of the pioneers in the iGaming industry, Microgaming has been setting the standards for more than 30 years now. Fun fact: Microgaming claims to be the founder of the first-ever online casino – the Gaming Club launched back in 1994. To this day, the software giant is synonymous with high-quality innovative games. Here is the best Microgaming casino:

One of the most popular Microgaming slots games is the progressive jackpot slot Mega Moolah. The slots broke a Guinness record when it paid out ‎£13,213,838.68 (€17,879,645.12) to a single UK player. Aside from slots, Microgaming is also known for its Roulette and Blackjack Gold Series, which is great for experienced players and high rollers. These quality titles can also be found at the top 10 online casinos in the UK.

Which Is the Best NetEnt Casino from the Top 20 List?

Launched in 1996, this Swedish software giant has both the experience and expertise to back up its solid reputation. With more than 200+ NetEnt games, the provider is one of the biggest casino software brands worldwide. Check out the top NetEnt casino:

NetEnt is mostly known for its high-quality 3D slots, such as Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst and Guns N’ Roses, but we should not forget that it develops RNG table games. The Blackjack Professional Series and Double Exposure Blackjack are two of the best-liked variations at all online casinos in the UK. All of the games come in a mobile variant compatible with iOS and Android devices.

Which Is the Best Evolution Casino from the Top 20 List?

Whenever we see an Evolution-powered live casino, we are sure it is going to be a good one. Live dealer games are very popular amongst UK players, so we are especially picky when reviewing live casinos. But with over 10 awards for ‘EGR Live Casino Supplier’, it’s extremely hard to be disapproving. Here is the best Evolution casino:

Evolution supplies our recommended operators with live roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and game shows. If titles like Dream Catcher or Lightning Roulette ring a bell, you’re already familiar with some of Evolution’s hit titles. The best part is that the live tables come in a compatible mobile version, so you can take the live casino with you.

Which Is the Best Playtech Casino from the Top 20 List?

Playtech is a world-renowned online gambling software developer founded in 1999. It provides a full suite of online casino games, including slots, table games, and scratch cards. Playtech also offers top-notch live casino software with diverse real dealer games, including roulette, blackjack, Sic Bo, and gameshows. Here is the best Playtech casino:

Some highlights of the Playtech casino games selection include the series of Age of the Gods progressive jackpot slots and the DC Entertainment branded slot games. In addition to its online casino game portfolio, Playtech provides software for online poker rooms, online bingo platforms, and online sports betting.

Mobile Casino Compatibility & App

We are not going to pretend that mobile casinos are the latest innovation because they are now a must-have for any good operator. The difference between the best online casinos and the mediocre ones is in the quality of the mobile platform. All the top 20 recommended UK casinos have been tested for speed, UX and compatibility. We’ve also checked the available mobile games and how fast they load. Based on our tests, this is the best mobile casino for UK players:

Most providers nowadays have a mobile-first approach when launching new games. But to be on the safe side, we’ve specifically hunted down UK operators with a good rating on the app stores. In case the casino has no downloadable app, just a mobile page, we’ve run mobile-friendly tests using various tools across several mobile browsers. We used the exact same process to find the best casino app for UK players, too.

Live Dealer Games & Platform

The main characteristics of the best live casinos are HD broadcasting, no lag, and professional croupiers. Of course, we’ve made sure that the top 20 UK online casino sites tick all these boxes. Since British players are especially demanding when it comes to live casino games, we’ve made sure each lobby has a good selection of tables with different limits and game features. Based on our detailed checks, we have hand-picked the best live dealer casino for UK players:

What players love about live games is the higher limits and the authentic casino experience. If you are a complete newbie, you’d better practice your skills at the RNG tables first because you typically have somewhere between 20-30 seconds to make your bets before the dealer closes them. So, you will have to make quick decisions.

Just like in a land-based casino, if the seats at a table are taken, you will have to wait until one opens up to play. This is no big deal, though, because the best UK live casinos offer many more tables and some blackjack tables come with the bet-behind feature that lets you gamble on another player’s hand.

Best UK Casino Sites for Customer Support

How many times have you been on the verge of a temper tantrum when a support agent politely suggests you try and restart your device one more time? Customer support is rarely your first thought when signing up at a casino but can make your life so much easier if the agents are actually trained to help. Reliable customer support is well-informed and willing to assist you. Fortunately, UK players are blessed with the opportunity to talk to native speakers, a luxury many international players can’t enjoy.

There are several things we look for to give the customer care division a high rating. Live chat is essential in online casino gaming because of the quick and easier access. A 24/7 free phone would also do the trick, but still, many users would rather go for a live chat given a choice. FAQ pages that are well-organised and comprehensive are also appreciated. Inquiry forms and support emails are essential features but are highly insufficient to pass for good customer support.

Other Online Gambling Products Available at the Top 20 UK Casinos

According to the statistics, 30% of Brits gamble for real money every week. Most of the gamblers prefer sports betting, followed by casino, bingo, and lottery. So, it’s no wonder that many of the top UK gambling operators have multi-product platforms, meaning that the same brand may offer a casino, a sports betting site, bingo rooms, etc. Here are some of the different gambling products found at the 20 top British casinos online:

• Online Poker (Best at Ladbrokes)
• Bingo (Best at Monopoly Casino)
• Lottery (Best at NetBet)
• Sports Betting (Best at Mr Mega)
• In-Play Betting (Best at Grosvenor)
• eSports Betting (Best at Yeti Casino)
• Horse Racing Betting (Best at BetVictor)
• Virtual Sports Betting (Best at Coral)

Some of the best UK online casinos on this list will give you access directly from their homepage to other platforms. You may be able to play with a single account and use a single wallet. But always make sure you review the bonus you wish to claim so that you are sure it is intended for the gambling product of your choice. For example, you may be opting for a live casino bonus, whereas you intended to grab the standard casino offer.