The online casino industry in the UK is big business. The country itself has very relaxed and flexible laws and legislation compared to a lot of countries in the world, meaning that it is very popular both amongst players and also amongst operators.
And this has also led to the UK being home to some of the biggest online slot developers in the world. Becoming a hub of top talent when it comes to software development and branding.
And it also means that it calls itself home to some of the biggest sportsbook brands in the world. There are thousands of licensed betting offices spread across all nations within the UK, as well as plenty of online and land-based casinos. If you are looking for a top UK casino, there are plenty to choose from.
Licensing and regulation
So today we are going to look at what separates the UK from the rest of the world when it comes to this highly lucrative industry. All online and land-based operators within the UK have to be licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. This is a very big factor in why the industry is so popular in the UK compared to other countries.
A lot of players, when they’re looking for somewhere to play online, want to ensure that they’re being treated to a fair gambling experience and that they’re not being ‘conned’ so to speak. And so the reassurance that the website they’re playing on is regulated by a totally independent third party means that their concerns are alleviated.
Do your research.
It’s for this reason that the first thing that you should always do is ensure that the site you’re playing at is licensed, and this can usually be identified by seeing the UKGC logo either in the header or the footer of the website. The next thing to note is that you have to be 18 to gamble in the UK, whether online or on physical premises. This is lower than in other countries, such as having to be 21 if you live in the US. This is also advantageous to the industry, as it means that it attracts younger players than anywhere else in the world. A lot of the online sites also have a lot of rigid support structures in place in order to ensure fair and responsible gaming.
Keeping you safe
If you’re a player, another good thing to know is that each and every online operator within the UK not only has to be licensed by the UKGC but also has to undergo training in processes regarding KYC and ML. Respectively, these are the Know Your Customer and Money Laundering processes. Again, this ensures that they are held to account and to a high standard too. This means that they need to ensure that they know you as a player and step in where they can should they see any signs that you may have an addiction to gambling. This is also hugely important for players, as more than ever before they are finding themselves victims of addiction, so having a support structure in place is extremely encouraging.
In Summary
And so overall, not only is there a huge range of different sites to choose from in the UK, each with their own expansive gaming catalogues, but, at the same time, it’s one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to the infrastructure surrounding licensing and regulation and also to encourage safe and responsible gaming. All of these factors mean that it has rightfully earned its title as one of the top countries.
