Casino players based in the UK are blessed with being able to play at the most secure online casinos in the world thanks to the UKGC. This British gambling authority is the most stringent in the industry and has made it their mission to shield Brits from fraudulent online casinos and rigged games. However, despite the efforts of the UKGC, there are still malevolent online casino sites out there trying to scam unsuspecting players. On this page we will give you all the necessary information to spot a fake casino. On top of that we will also provide you with a list of the safest UK online casinos.
Secure and Trusted UK Casinos List 2023
| 1 |  | Deposit £20, Play With £50 |  Grosvenor Casino | Sign-Up | 18+ New Customers only! Deposit £20 or more online. Get 100% deposit match up to £20. Choose a £10 bonus for Classic Slot OR Live Casino. Wagering requirements 5x. T&C Apply |
| 2 |  | £30 Free Spins wager free when betting £10 |  MrQ Casino | Sign-Up | First deposit only. Min deposit & spend £10. Max 30 spins on Fishin Frenzy Megaways at 10p per spin. Spins credited upon spend of £10. Full T&Cs apply. T&C Apply |
| 3 |  | 100% Up To £100 + 50 Spins |  PlayFrank Casino | Sign-Up | New players only £20. Bonuses to a max of £100 50 bonus spins. Wagering bonus ( deposit) 35x. Wagering bonus spins 40x Bonus. T&C Apply |
| 4 |  | 100% Up To £200 + 11 No Deposit Spins |  Videoslots Casino | Sign-Up | 18+ New Players only! The Welcome Bonus is only available to newly registered players who make a minimum initial deposit of £ 10. Wagering 35x. T&C Apply |
| 5 |  | 225% up to 22.500 USDT + 225 Free Spins | Caibo Casino | Sign-Up | Terms and Conditions Apply | 18+ | Play Responsibly |
| 6 |  | 100% Up To £300 + £50 Spins |  William Hill Casino | Sign-Up | Opt in required. New customers to Casino page only. 1x per customer. Min. Buy in £10. Bonus value 100% of Buy in. Max. Bonus £300. 40x Wagering, Max Redeemable £4,000. 50 Free Spins with x35 wagering will be awarded after the Buy in Bonus is completed, Max Redeemable £1,000. Bonus expires after 7 days. Stake contributions, player, country, currency, payment method, game restrictions and terms apply. T&Cs Apply |
| 7 |  | 100% Up To £100 + 100 Spins on Book of Dead | Duelz Casino | Sign-Up | 18+ new players only. Min deposit: £20. Max £100 bonus. Max bet with active bonus: £2. Wagering required 100% match bonus: 30x deposit + bonus. Max win from welcome bonus: £500. 100 Free Spins are given out 20 per day on Book of Dead for 5 days in a row. Max Free Spins winnings: £100. Free Spins winnings credited as bonus money with 45x wagering & 3 days expiry. Deposit bonus & Free Spins wins are forfeited 30 days after bonus is credited if the wagering is not met. Game weighting and restrictions apply. Play Responsibly www.begambleaware.org. Scroll down for bonus terms. T&C Apply |
| 8 |  | 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash & up to £100 | LeoVegas Casino | Sign-Up | Full T&Cs apply | New reg only. Opt in & deposit £10, £25 or £50 within 7 days & further 7 days to wager cash stakes 35x to unlock reward (£50 on 2 deposits). 3 day exp. Wagering/game contributions vary. 25 wager-free spins x10p to be added to Big Bass Splash with each qualifying deposit, 3 day expiry. 18+ | BeGambleAware |
| 9 |  | £10 £ Free No Deposit Bonus | PokerStars | Sign-Up | https://www.casinoguide.co.uk/terms/pokerstars |
| 10 |  | 100% Up To £500 | Regal Wins | Sign-Up | T&Cs apply |
How to Feel Safe While Playing Online Casinos
While licensed online casinos take all the precautions to protect players, players still bear the risk of running into a fraudulent online casino without being aware of it. Especially if you are new to playing casino online, you might find it a daunting task to tell a scammy casino from a genuine one. CasinoGuide UK is here to help you give pointers as to what makes a legit online casino that is safe to play at.
On this page we will go over what to look for before signing up, which authorities are the most trustworthy, how to recognise fair RNG games and how to deposit and withdraw your funds safely.
How to find a safe online gambling site
We understand that not everyone has the time to read an entire guide on how to gamble at a safe online casino. All of the UK casinos listed on this page have been tried and tested by our editors with a critical eye. We only review online casinos that are licensed by the UKGC. In a nutshell, let’s go over the steps you need to take in order to find a safe online gambling site.
Step 1:
Look for the UKGC licensing logo with a link pointing to the public registry
Step 2:
Make sure it shows a valid licence number. Licence numbers that are issued by the UKGC look like this: 038758-R-XXXXXX-014
Step 3:
Go back to the footer of the casino site and see if you can find the logos of iTech Labs or eCogra to make sure the games are audited on RNG fairness.
Step 4:
Skim over the terms and conditions before opting in for any bonuses. The most important things to look out for are wagering requirements, timeframe and whether there is a rollover on a deposit.
How to recognize a safe and trustworthy online casino?
The first thing a player should check to find out if they are gambling at a safe online casino is whether the casino holds a valid licence issued by the UKGC. Even whenever we here at CasinoGuide conduct a review, the first thing we look at is whether the casino is licensed or not. In almost all cases this can be found at the footer of the website. As a rule of thumb, if you cannot see the UKGC logo with a link pointing to the public registry, then leave the site immediately. It is no use looking up the credentials of the casino site. If they cannot display their licensing information then there is always something fishy going on.
UKGC Licensing authority
For British players there is only one regulatory body that issues valid licences – The United Kingdom Gambling Commission or UKGC for short. The authority was set up in 2005 under the Gambling Act of 2005, which presides over the fairness and legality of sportsbook, casino, bingo, lotto, arcades and slot machines, as well as all remote gambling operations. This is why you may find online casinos based in Malta or Gibraltar, but operate under a Remote Gambling licence by the UKGC.
Third party RNG testing and auditing
There are several official independent software testing authorities. Two of the most common ones that you will see are iTech Labs and eCogra. On top of that, there are also auditors who make sure that all operations of the parent company are compliant with UK laws. Two of the better known casino auditors are GLI and TST. eCogra also auditions casino companies besides RNG testing of software.
Honest Casino reviews
Here at CasinoGuide, we take great care in reviewing each online casino individually before we recommend them to our players. Our rating guidelines are straightforward and can be found on our casino review page which displays over 100 licensed UK casinos.
Reputable software providers
For a software provider to be able to supply their games legally to any online casino, the games must first be tested by an independent auditor. Two of such auditors are eCogra and iTech Labs. These two companies test whether the games run on 100% RNG (Random Number Generator) software. It is imperative that the outcomes are completely random on games of chance, such as slots, blackjack, and roulette.
Terms and conditions
Although rare in the UK, there are rogue online casinos that trap players in unfair terms and conditions. This mainly concerns bonus and withdrawal policies.
Responsible gambling tools
If an online casino offers their players the tools to keep their gambling behaviour in check through various tools, then you know they have the health of their clientele at heart. All safe UK casinos give players the option to set deposit and session limits, as well as cool-off periods. If an online casino is licensed by the UKGC, then there is a big chance they are also part of the Gamstop self-exclusion programme. Even here at CasinoGuide we care about our players and have put together a comprehensive responsible gambling guide.
Comparing the best safe UK online casinos
| Casino Name | Licence No. | RNG Tested | On Gamstop? | Our Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeoVegas | 39198 | eCOGRA | Yes | Visit |
| Grosvenor | 877080 | iTech Labs | Yes | Visit |
| Regal Wins | 57924 | iTech Labs | Yes | Visit |
| Genesis | 45235 | eCOGRA | Yes | Visit |
| MrQ Casino | 51250 | eCOGRA | Yes | Visit |
How To Ensure Your Online Casino Account is Secure
- Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): Whether a website has an SSL certificate is shown by the “s” in “https” in the address bar of your browser.
- 2-Step Verification: If the casino allows you to set up a 2-step verification in order to log back into your account, it means that they have taken the necessary precautions to protect your account.
- Document / ID verification: Albeit tedious, if an online casino asks for you to verify your identity by submitting proof, it means that they are abiding by the regulations set by the UKGC. Supplying proof of identification will make sure you avoid restrictions on your account when gambling online.
- UKGC Public Registry: The UKGC keeps a public database where you can check whether the online casino you wish to play at has a valid licence or not. A valid online casino will always link towards its public registry page on the UKGC’s website.
How to know if casino games are rigged
Software providers also need to be audited and licensed in order to supply their games. Just like online casinos, software providers are held responsible for fulfilling the technical requirements set by the UKGC. Should a game studio wish to white label their games legally, they need to apply for a licence and once passed, pay an annual fee to maintain it. They will also be subjected to regular audits and payout checks.
The technical requirements set out by the UKGC for software providers are:
- Protection of customer account information
- Displaying transactions fairly
- Rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winnings
- Time-critical events
- Results determination for real money and demo version games
- Generation of random outcomes (RNG)
- Autoplay functionality
- Progressive jackpot systems
- Interrupted gambling
- Limiting collusion and cheating
- Financial limits and reality checks
- Responsible product design
- In-play betting
- Use of third party software
- Fairness of live dealer studios
Safest withdrawal methods at online casinos
Every player wants their hard-earned winnings to be paid out in a safe and timely manner. To ensure that your funds arrive safely to and from your account, the first thing you need to look at is if the casino has an SSL encryption on the website. This ensures that all information and data is shielded from third parties and prying eyes through an encryption that makes it unreadable. Furthermore, to ensure that you funds are safe, we recommend using the same payment method to withdraw as you used to deposit. Here are some payment methods that can be used for both deposits and withdrawals:
FAQ About Safe Online Casinos
Which licence should I look out for as a UK player to ensure I gamble at a safe online casino?
You should always look for a licence issued by the UKGC.
How to Avoid Restrictions When Gambling Online?
The best way to avoid any restrictions the casino may impose on your account is by supplying your proof of identity and / or address should the casino ask for this information.
Do I need to pay taxes on my winnings?
No, in the UK you do not need to pay any taxes on your winnings. For more information we have a handy guide about UK gambling taxation.
Are bonuses safe to claim?
Yes, but make sure that you read the T&Cs to find out what the wagering requirements and timeframes to fulfil them are.
How do I know my payments arrive safely in my account?
Always make sure the casino site has a valid SSL-encryption on the site. You can check this by looking at the address bar in your browser and look for the “s” in “https”. This means that the website is secure.
