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Tested by gambling experts
We’re a digital marketing company focusing solely on online gambling. We spend our entire time comparing gambling products, researching legislation, and perfecting our gambling philosophy. At this point, even our water dispenser is a gambling expert.
Reviewed by real players
We know you’d rather trust a player like you than a marketer. And that’s understandable. That’s why our team only takes care of the research while leaving the final word to our players. We encourage real, unbiased reviews and display them proudly next to each casino brand on our site.
Always up-to-date
The essential information about each casino is updated automatically on our site, so you never have to deal with expired bonus codes or inaccurate information. Plus, the moment the UKGC publishes any adjustments to their policy, we're already working to bring the highlights to you.
Fairness prioritised
To run a successful site, we must ensure our players return to us. And we all know that will only happen if we keep them safe. We're only showing you casinos with valid licences from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
This way, you know you're dealing with fair providers, and your data and funds are legally protected.
Pick a UKGC-licensed brand at your leisure
Casino Freak has a geo-targeted version for UK players. British players automatically land on the UK version of the site, where they’ll only find casinos with valid UKGC licenses.
Filter by Bonuses
You can use the tags displayed next to each brand to find bonus opportunities quickly. The "Exclusive" tag marks the place where you can grab bonuses and promotions exclusive to our players. Likewise, each casino displays, in short, one of the best offers you can get by signing up for an account.
Check the Medals
Each casino brand automatically receives a medal based on our players’ ratings. A gold medal is a testament to impeccable service, while a black medal should be a warning.
Remember
You should also check the number of reviews. A silver medal casino with many reviews might be better than a gold medal casino with only a few ratings.
All casino ratings are organically generated by our readers. It should go without saying, but we do not interfere with the review process in any way. Under no circumstances do we edit ratings or remove reviews to influence a casino's score.
Even though we follow a strict verification method to ensure we’re not missing any important detail, our team can’t simulate long-term relationships with every brand on this list. No one’s that passionate about gambling.
That’s where you come in!
We deeply value and rely on our readers’ reviews to fill in any gaps and help their fellow gamblers get a full picture of each casino. Players can rate casinos by assigning them different medals, each corresponding to a score.
Any additional medal a casino receives updates the score displayed on the site, which is an average of all ratings it received.
Whenever you leave a review, you trigger a high-five in the Casino Freak backstage. Why don’t you try it out for yourself?
Now that you know your ratings mean a lot to us, I should probably teach you what to look for in a UK online casino. Here are the seven most important factors to consider.
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Safety and Security The United Kingdom has one of the strictest and most reputable regulatory bodies in the world - The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). You can check whether a casino has a UKGC licence directly on our site. If you're looking for extra peace of mind, the licensing details are also displayed in a casino's footer. Lastly, you can always find additional details about a licence by visiting the UKGC's Public Register. These details include a business' legal name, the license status and any expiration dates you should know about. |
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Popularity Popular casinos usually have years of experience or run good deals for newcomers. It’s always worth noting how many players trust an online casino and how many are satisfied with their services. |
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Bonuses and Promotions Big UK casino bonuses can often enhance your gambling experience, but their size isn’t the only judging criterion. Read the T&Cs for vital information, such as the bonus validity period, wagering requirements, and available games. Some British players skip claiming bonuses altogether, so don't be afraid to listen to your heart and only claim promos that suit your gaming style and preferences. |
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Game Collection Speaking of games, variety is key. You might think you’re a one-trick pony, only looking for a certain game type. Yet, from my experience, I found it’s always better to have several games available. Just trust me on that. We, at CasinoFreak.com always grant bonus points to a collection of leading software developers and world-famous games. Looking at you, Starburst. |
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Payment Methods A range of secure banking options is essential. Even if you prefer to stick to the classics, you can sometimes misplace your debit card. It happens. The more payment options are available to you, the fewer issues you might run into. Many British players use e-wallets, and pay-by-phone is one of the most popular casino payment methods in the UK. |
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Deposits and Payouts Quick and flexible withdrawal options are always a must. Payout processing times can differ drastically depending on the payment methods and the casino’s internal policies. It’s always worth getting up to speed on any timeframes and limitations before committing to any new UK casinos. This info will be available on the T&Cs page. |
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Customer Support Excellent customer support services must be available around the clock. Moreover, it must be available via various channels such as telephone, email, or live chat. Gambling sites should also honour data protection agreements. Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, Brits are still protected under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). |
1. Make sure you pick the best UK online casino for you.
Don’t be swayed by popularity. What works wonders for some people might not scratch that itch for you, as well. Make a mental note of what’s important to you and guide your decision on that. Personally, I like a pink theme in my online casinos. It makes me feel like Paris Hilton.
2. Use accurate information when creating an account.
It’s not often a website will request your social security number and other sensitive data, and that might throw you off. Remember that UK online casinos must legally request this information to ensure legal compliance. Only use accurate information, and don’t make deposits with payment methods you don’t hold in your own name.
3. Carefully consider whether claiming a bonus works for you.
Don’t let the bigger casino bonuses throw you off your game. It’s vital you only claim a promotion when you know it will benefit your particular play style. Read the T&Cs carefully, and don’t feel pressured into accepting a bonus if you don’t think that’s the right choice for you.
4. Do your research before picking a casino game.
After your account has been verified, don’t just jump into the first game you see. Keep that spontaneity for other areas of your life. Look into a game’s rules, volatility, software developer, and reviews. Remember that you’re not only looking to gamble; you want to have fun.
5. Keep your wits about you and know when to stop and withdraw your funds.
Not knowing when to stop is one of the most common mistakes beginners make. Set realistic limits for what you’ll spend and have a bit of a goal in mind. If you double your balance, you might be tempted to go all in. Yet, it’s a much better idea to call it a day, withdraw your funds, and return some other day.
All online casinos that are reliable and trustworthy have passed rigorous tests. UKGC-licensed casinos, in particular, were deemed reliable and trustworthy.
This includes ensuring that the site offers bonuses and promotions it advertises and provides fair deposit and withdrawal terms. Moreover, it highly respects its players with a responsive customer support team.
Real-funds casino games must have fair payout percentages and software with strict security protocols. Any casino game with a suspicious pattern of events, undisclosed fees, or faulty software must be avoided.
Moreover, you should look for these red flags when assessing the quality of a casino.
We don’t want to freak you out, but you should stop playing and immediately report the casino if you spot any of the above.
Here’s how you conduct a Sherlock-esque investigation on a rogue casino:
Contrary to what you might think, reporting these rogue websites does help. We’ll take note of the unfair practices and give the casino a permanent spot on our Blacklisted Casinos.
This way, our readers will know not to touch it with a ten-foot pole.
I remember being a beginner gambler, stumbling upon strange terms and making careless mistakes. Although most casino games rely purely on chance, there’s also an element of strategy involved. And that comes way before you load your first casino game.
I had to learn these through experience, but you're in luck. Here are the things I wish someone had told me before I even registered an online casino account.
RTP stands for "Return to Player," a theoretical percentage indicating how much a casino game will pay back to its players over time.
Example
If a game has an RTP of 96%, that means that for every £100 that players wager on the game, the game will pay back £96 in winnings over the long term.
It's important to note that RTP is calculated over many spins or rounds, so individual players may experience wins or losses that are higher or lower than the published RTP. However, over time, the game should pay out the advertised percentage to players who play it consistently.
Conversely, volatility refers to the level of risk involved in a particular game, and it measures how frequently and how much a game pays out in winnings.
A highly volatile game will have bigger payouts, but they will be less frequent. In other words, you might go through long stretches without landing any winning combination, but when you do, the sums are generally bigger.
On the other hand, a game with low volatility will have smaller payouts, but they will be more frequent, so you'll have a better chance of winning smaller amounts more consistently.
UK online casino bonuses are a big topic, but here’s what you should know right off the bat.
These promotions come in different “flavours” to suit various players, but some of the most popular UK casino bonuses are:
Ask Freak: When should I claim an online casino bonus?
Go for it when you're in it for fun, and the wagering requirements are reasonable. However, if you're not keen on playing through the requirements, it might be best to skip the bonus and play with your own funds.
One essential aspect of gambling is knowing how to keep this habit under control. According to statistics published by the UKGC, the prevalence of problem gambling was between 0.3% and 1.8% as of 2022.
Problem gambling is considered a proxy for gambling disorder, a recognised medical disorder similar to substance use disorders.
Now, if you're entertaining the idea of gambling, you're probably a bit of a thrill seeker. Taking some risks is fun, which is why gambling is such a widespread activity. However, the difference between exciting thrill-seeking and recklessness is information.
Let us consider the following quote.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained, you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
Sun Tzu, "The Art of War"
Problem gambling is a powerful enemy you must battle to keep this hobby harmless and entertaining. And "only gambling money you can afford to lose” isn't enough.
If you want to gamble responsibly (which you absolutely should), you must know both the enemy and yourself. And this is how you'll do that.
| Know yourself | Know the enemy |
| Ask yourself what your reasons for gambling are | Learn what the symptoms of problem gambling are |
| Have multiple other pleasurable hobbies and activities apart from gambling | Learn how addictions develop in the brain |
| Recognise the moods and situations that make you want to gamble | Learn what behaviours, game types, and features are more likely to trigger problem gambling |
| Know your time and budget limits and stick to them religiously | Find support organisations in your area |
| Keep strict track of your wins and losses | Learn about what recovery entails |
You can always start your research on our Responsible Gambling page. And, indeed, don't gamble money you can't afford to lose.
Another important thing to note is that you can play most casino games without spending any real funds. Various games are available in demo mode in casinos, but you'll need to register an account and confirm you're of legal age before accessing them.
A common question about free gambling sounds like this: why would anyone use real funds to gamble when they can play the games for free?
Well, casino games aren't exactly packed with features and achievements. Even if modern casino games have various exciting mechanics, gambling is still quite a repetitive business.
Take slots, for example. You can only engage with slots by setting wagers and clicking on the Spin button.
When you are gambling real funds, each spin comes with the possibility of an actual win or loss, which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
But free games use mock funds to demonstrate their features. You won't experience any emotion when you spin the reels since you already know there is no potential loss or reward.
You are only getting familiar with the symbols and the triggers for any bonus rounds or special mechanics.
Freak's Verdict
Demo casino games are valuable for learning the rules of table games or getting used to the mechanics of new slots. But, speaking from experience, they get boring fast.
Gambling mechanics rely on you having some skin in the game to cause little emotional rollercoasters. Demo games are the equivalent of watching a point-of-view bungee jumping video. They are informative, but you will only know what bungee jumping feels like once you try it yourself.
Getting an online casino account implies a few more steps than getting a Netflix subscription. But not many more. One of your first questions might be whether you need an account to play online casino games.
And the answer is yes.
No UK online casino will allow you to play games without an account. At least, no online casino that you’d want to play in. The good news is that the registration process is straightforward; everyone can complete it if they meet a few eligibility criteria.
Are you of legal age to gamble?
If you're a British player, UKGC states that you must be at least 18 to gamble online and in land-based casinos. This is non-negotiable, and there is no way to cheat the system. If you're under 18, you should just wait. In fact, go find something else to read.
Is this your first account on that specific casino site?
Online casinos are adamant about players having a single account. Most brands restrict access to one account per person, e-mail address, phone number, household, and even IP address.
This means that if a household member already has an account on a specific site, you won't be able to create a new one. But you’re more than welcome to try a newer casino brand.
Did you self-exclude from that casino brand or network?
Self-exclusion schemes are meant to prevent at-risk gamblers from accessing casino games. The UK has a nationwide exclusion scheme through GAMCARE, to which players register voluntarily.
You should know that when you self-exclude from a casino account, temporarily or permanently, you also forfeit the possibility of creating a new one.
The actual process of creating an account is nothing complicated. You just have to visit a UK casino in our list and find the “Register” or “Sign-Up” button.
In many cases, you’ll find it in the top right-hand corner. Once you click it, you’ll see the registration form you must complete with the following information.
Before the registration is complete, you must verify your contact details by entering a code or clicking on a link you receive on the provided e-mail address or phone number.
Be aware
It’s essential that you provide accurate information during this step. Otherwise, you won’t gain access to the full functionality of your account, and you risk having it closed.
We know it’s uncomfortable to provide sensitive information online, but your details will be completely safe at licensed casinos.
Once your account is created, the last step is to verify your identity. Depending on the platform, you’ll either have to e-mail the customer service team with copies of some legal documents or upload them directly to the site.
Freak’s Advice
UK online casinos cannot request identity verification as a condition for allowing a withdrawal if they could have done so earlier. UKGC requires the casino to complete all the necessary verifications before allowing you to gamble.
If a casino delays a withdrawal to perform more identity checks, they might be in breach of the Licence Condition 17 - Customer Identity Verification and may be subject to regulatory actions.
The types of documents you should provide usually include:
Casinos in the United Kingdom also require you to prove ownership of the payment method you use for deposits. You can verify a bank account with a bank statement or screenshot of your mobile banking app showing your full name and account number.
Likewise, you can verify a debit card with a photo showing your full name, expiry date, and last four digits of your card.
The verification process usually takes a few hours. However, in some cases, you might need to wait up to a few business days.
Keep in mind
According to UKGC provisions, you cannot use a credit card to make deposits in online casinos.
Once your account is ready, you’ll have access to a range of exciting casino games. They are easy to pick up, but their sheer number can overwhelm a beginner. Here are a few quick guides that will take you from absolute rookie to a slightly more informed rookie.
Slot Machines
Online slot machine games are digital versions of the classic slot machines in land-based casinos. You play them on your computer or mobile device, and the gameplay is pretty straightforward - just hit the "spin" button and see what symbols line up.
If you get a winning combination, you'll earn a prize based on the payout table. Online slots come in various themes, from classic fruit machines to elaborate video slots with cool animations and special features.
Table Games
Table games are a casino staple and include classics like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, and more. The rules and gameplay are the same as in traditional table games, with the main difference being that you're playing against a computer program rather than a live dealer.
The objective of each game varies - for example, in blackjack online, you're trying to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21, while in roulette, you're betting on where a ball will land on a spinning wheel.
Each game has its own set of rules, but they’re not hard to pick up, and they also involve a bit more strategy and decision-making than slots.
Scratch Cards
Online scratch cards are digital versions of the popular scratch cards you can buy at convenience stores and gas stations. Instead of using a coin or your fingernail to reveal the hidden symbols, you use your mouse or finger to scratch off the covering on the card.
If you reveal a winning combination of symbols, you'll earn a prize based on the payout table. Online scratch cards come in all sorts of themes and styles, from simple one-card games to multi-card games with elaborate animations and sound effects.
Ask Freak: What casino game is the best for beginners?
That depends on your playstyle. Slots rely purely on chance, and they’re very easy to pick up. Conversely, table games require a bit more skill, but they’re sometimes a bit more satisfying since you’re a lot more involved in the game. Lastly, Poker is considered the only casino game that purely relies on skill.
After you get a feel of a casino’s game collection and pick a few favourites, you’ll be happy to know you can also play them on a mobile device.
All newer games are developed on HTML5 technology, allowing you to load and play them directly in your mobile browser.
If you’d like faster loading times and easier access to your account’s functionality, you’ll probably find the solution on our UK online casino apps page.
Oh, and the best part? You can often claim mobile-exclusive bonuses for downloading a casino app.
A casino software developer is a company or organisation that creates and provides software solutions to online and land-based casinos. These solutions include:
As a player, you’d want to research various software providers so you can quickly find new games that fit your preferences. Before we look at some important names in this industry, here are a few key points about these companies.
With that out of the way, let’s introduce you to some of the most popular software providers in the United Kingdom.
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| Games Global is a renowned industry player and is the proud inheritor of Microgaming's renowned portfolio. With a vast collection of video slots, live games, and more, and over 35 studios and 10+ licenses, it's a safe and enjoyable choice for every gambler. My recommendation? You can start with great slots like Mega Moolah or Immortal Romance and then explore more exciting titles at Games Global Online Casinos. |
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| Of course British players have a soft spot for Barcrest Gaming, considering this is a 100% born-and-raised UK software developer. Founded in 1968, Barcrest had ample time to release more than 1700 excellent slots. There are plenty of examples, but I'll only say one thing. Rainbow Riches. Barcrest casinos are a mandatory pitstop in any British gambler's journey. History is important. |
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| Playtech had more than two decades to perfect its gambling products, and it’s evident that time was well spent. This provider is renowned for an excellent live dealer casino platform and a range of branded casino games, such as Superman, Man of Steel, and Green Lantern. Playtech casinos have a way of immersing players into the wildest stories, so Freak encourages you to check them out (especially if you’re a bit of a nerd). |
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| IGT was founded in the golden age of Las Vegas, back when Siegfried & Roy were starting to entertain gamblers at The Tropicana. As the first to introduce the player loyalty system, IGT proved its outstanding commitment to innovation, which continues to pay dividends today. It’s not us saying it; it’s the myriad of awards they receive each year for their continuous contribution. IGT casinos are a testament to the provider’s adaptability, and they’re quite classy, to boot. |
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| A true pioneer in mobile gambling, NetEnt is a multi-awarded software provider that operates worldwide. Some of their most popular games include Starburst, Gonzo's Quest, Mega Fortune, and Twin Spin. NetEnt casinos are great places to try some of the most popular slots of the decade while forgetting mobile errors were ever an issue. |
These providers are a great starting point. However, Freak knows there are plenty of you who like doing your own scientific research routine. Just head to our All Software Providers page and rub your palms together in delight seeing all that information.
Now, if you’re still not ready to start calling yourself a gambler, that’s OK. There is still some stigma surrounding this topic, and we strongly recommend you take all the time you need to research and feel safe before starting to gamble.
Freak believes gambling should be seen as a form of entertainment. He likes gambling, and he will happily pay for the adrenaline rush without expecting to win. But if he does win, it’s always a nice surprise.
And we’re not the only ones saying it, either.
The number of users in the online gambling market is expected to reach 233.7 million by 2027. That's almost ten times the population of Australia. Not counting the spiders.
Moreover, the biggest online gambling market in the world is the United States, with a $9.5 billion industry. The US is followed by (surprise!) the United Kingdom, with a five times smaller population and a £6.44 billion market. It seems like Brits really do like their gambling, but how many of them do so responsibly?
And, as of 2023, there were 4,792 businesses in the Global Casino and Online Gambling industry, a 6.1% increase from 2022.
Everyone does it, but not everyone does it well. That’s why you should stick around. ‘Till next time!
