Online casinos can be great fun, combining the convenience of being able to play from the comfort of our home with a stacked library of our favourite games. There are constantly new casinos emerging, enticing players in with tempting welcome bonuses.
Before you hit that signup button, there are a few things to verify to make sure the site is legit. These include licensing, responsible gambling tools, and the registration process. It’s vital you ensure a new online casino is safe before you begin playing. Here are five of the most important things to be aware of.
1. A Reputable Licence
The first thing you should always check for when considering a new casino is their licence. Usually, these can be found clearly displayed at the bottom of the casino’s page or highlighted in their ‘About Us’ page.
If you can’t find any reference to a licence at all, that’s a big red flag. Unlicensed casinos don’t adhere to the same rules on responsible gambling, security, and safety as those with a licence do. Should a player encounter a problem at an unlicensed casino, there’s no guarantee they’ll get any help, and it’s unlikely they’ll receive any money back.
Which Licences are Reputable?
There are different levels of licences to look out for. The most reputable is from the UK Gambling Commission, the board in the UK that oversees gambling regulations. They have high standards for all the casinos that receive a licence from them, so players can expect to have a fair, safe, and secure experience.
Other reputable licences include those from the Malta Gaming Authority, Spain, the Swedish Gambling Authority, and the Danish Gaming Authority. Having a licence doesn’t necessarily make an online casino safe. For example, a Curacao licence doesn’t actually guarantee the player any protection should something go wrong.
How do You Check a Licence?
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just see the symbols that indicate a casino is licensed. There are cases where scam sites use these fraudulently. That’s why it’s important to check the individual licence number of the casino. You can then verify the number on the regulatory body’s website.
The UKGC also has a full list of all the casinos they licence on their site. You’re able to search this to see if the casino you’re considering is on there.¹ If the casino has no reputable licence, we’d definitely recommend giving it a miss.
2. A Range of Responsible Gambling Tools
The next thing we’d recommend checking out is the range of responsible gambling tools. All casinos in the UK have to abide by certain rules on responsible gambling. This means they have to offer tools, such as time, loss, and deposit limits, as well as breaks, reminders, and self-exclusion. While casinos don’t have to offer all these tools, one that doesn’t have any responsible gambling tools is to be avoided.
An online casino worth using will often have a responsible gambling centre. Here, they’ll offer educational materials on how to stay safe when gambling and highlight the tools they have on offer. It should be easy to find this section. You can also look for the responsible gambling logo at the bottom of the casino’s page.
Why is it Important for a Site to Include Responsible Gambling Tools?
A site with no responsible gambling tools is not operating within the UK law. That means if anything goes wrong, the UKGC won’t be there to support you.
It also shows a disregard for their players. Responsible gambling tools are essential for making sure users stay safe when gambling. Without them, there’s little to help players remain in control of their behaviour, leaving them at greater risk of gambling-related harm. According to a 2023 study by the National Council on Problem Gambling, those who regularly use responsible gambling tools are 60% less likely to develop gambling problems.
3. A Thorough Registration Process
In the UK, all online casinos have to include a Know Your Customer procedure either during signup or withdrawal. This includes asking for information like the player’s date of birth and address. Players have to verify this information by uploading a form of ID and proof of address, like a utility bill.
The purpose of this procedure is to verify that the person is legally allowed to access the site. It helps to prevent underage gambling, and gambling being used for money laundering purposes, by checking the player’s identity.
Why is KYC Important?
Not only is KYC important for preventing money laundering, but it also helps safeguard players. It protects those who are vulnerable from the harm they’d experience from gambling. That’s why there are serious consequences for businesses that don’t follow these procedures.
One example of this is Spreadex, who received a major fine for not following UK guidance on KYC and responsible gambling procedures. In 2023, they were fined £2 million by the UKGC for not following regulations. The UKGC report highlighted that Spreadex didn’t verify player details with documents, as they’re supposed to. In one case, a player was able to spend £64,000 in a ‘short period’ and lost £50,000 in a month without ever having to provide proof of funds.²
If you find you’re able to withdraw money at an online casino without completing a KYC process, they’re not operating within the law. We’d definitely encourage players to steer clear.
4. Clear Terms and Conditions
The fourth thing you should consider when examining a new online casino is their terms and conditions. Generous bonuses can be incredibly tempting, but it’s always important to read the terms and conditions that come with them.
You’ll find that each bonus has different requirements players have to meet.³ For example, there might be a wagering requirement of 40x for any free spins. This means you’ll have to play through those free spins 40 times before you can withdraw any winnings from them.
What’s Fair?
The conditions that come with bonuses can really add up, so make sure you verify if they’re fair!⁴ Anything up to 45x is around average, with any wagering requirements above this being pretty steep. Many providers offer a bonus calculator to help players check how much they’ll have to spend before reaping the benefits of a bonus.
There might also be other requirements with bonuses. A common example is a loss requirement for cashback bonuses. These bonuses give players a percentage of their losses back, which can seem like a great deal. However, they often come with a loss requirement that players have to meet to be eligible. When players are close to the requirement, they may be encouraged to commit more than they can afford to reach it. Any casino that has high or confusing requirements for bonuses is one to be wary of.
5. What Other Players Have to Say
The final thing we’d recommend looking out for is the reviews of other players. Many providers have reviews on their own sites, but these can’t always be trusted. We recommend checking out an independent site, like Trustpilot or Reddit, to get the views of real players.⁴
What Should You Look Out For in Reviews?
Make sure to read a good range of reviews with various star ratings. Look for any patterns that may emerge, such as frequent mentions of problems with customer service or withdrawing funds. Although new online casinos may not have many reviews, it’s still a good idea to check them out to avoid any nasty surprises.5
If you notice that customers frequently have a similar problem, it’s likely best to avoid playing at that online casino. A new providerthat doesn’t have any reviews at all isn’t necessarily unusual, but be cautious of this when making your selection and make sure to regularly check back for any new reviews.
How Can You Find a Trustworthy Online Casino?
It’s important to be thorough when researching a new online casino. To ensure your safety and security, verify that the casino has a reputable licence, like that from the UKGC. You should only play at operators who have a licence and operate within UK law. To further verify this, examine the responsible gambling tools on offer and make sure the casino has a KYC procedure in place.
Although it can be slightly dull, it’s also essential to read some of the terms and conditions for bonuses at the casino. Look out for fair requirements, around 45x, and steer clear of high or confusing conditions. The final thing to look at is reviews of the casino, if you can find them. These give a great, unbiased taste of the playing experience from real players. To ensure you stay safe while having fun, remember to follow these five steps the next time you’re looking for an online casino.