Looking to bet on your favourite sport or try your hand at blackjack online? There's no shortage of online casinos and betting sites in the UK. But not all of them are created equal. Some sites are more trustworthy than others. Some are just downright scams.
How can you tell if a betting site or casino is trustworthy? Here's what to look for.
Check for Licensing
All legal British online casinos and betting sites must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Part of the licensing requirements is that remote betting sites and casinos must display on their website that they are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission. They must also display their account number with a link to their licensed status.Usually, this information is found at the bottom of the page, so check there first.
If you want to make absolutely sure that the casino is licensed, you can search their lists and registers.
Licensing is a good sign that the casino is reputable and legal.
Check for Certifications
Is the casino certified by a third-party test house? In order to be licensed, the Gambling Commission requires all gambling products to be tested and approved by an approved test house.The top test houses in the industry include:
- eCOGRA
- ITech Labs
- Gaming Laboratories International (GLI)
Each test house has its own requirements for approval and certification, but typically, they check for:
Fairness. For casino sites, they may run RNG testing to check for randomness.
Safety and Security. Test houses will run security audits to ensure the betting site or casino is in compliance with Gambling Commissioner rules.
The three test houses listed above are the most well-known, but the Gambling Commission has a list of other approved test houses that online casinos and betting sites can use.
Look for Reviews
Licensing and certification are the two most important things to look for. But these two things really only tell you that the casino is operating legally.Some casinos and betting sites have practices that may be legal but can be a turn-off to players.
It's a good idea to check reviews for British online casinos to learn more about their practices and player experiences. Make sure the reviews are either objective or from an actual site user.
Objective reviews will give you a more detailed look at:
- How to set up an account
- Accepted payment and withdrawal options
- Bonuses and their requirements
- The site's history and reputation
- The types of games they offer
Reviews can be a valuable resource for finding trustworthy betting and casino sites, so use them to your advantage.
Check Payment and Withdrawal Methods and Terms
The way a casino or betting site handles deposits and withdrawals says a lot about their trustworthiness. Reputable sites will accept a number of different payment methods, including:
- Bank transfer
- E-Wallets, like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller
- Mobile billing
- Prepaid vouchers
Check to make sure that the site you're considering accepts your preferred payment method.
In addition to payment methods, you also want to consider withdrawal policies. Trustworthy sites won't make you jump through hoops just to get your funds.
Consider:
- How long the withdrawal process takes
- What documentation you will need for making your first withdrawal
- As part of fair gaming rules, legal and trustworthy casinos and betting sites should have relatively quick payout times.
- Review Their Customer Service Options
Even if a site checks all of the other boxes for trustworthiness – licensing, certification, great payment and withdrawal terms – they can still miss the mark by having poor customer service.
A truly trustworthy site will have customer support available through multiple channels, including:Check the Terms and Conditions
When you visit a website, the last thing you want to do is read their lengthy terms and conditions page. But when it comes to betting sites and casinos, it's worth your time.
The site's terms and conditions can provide you with useful information about their practices, such as:Additional certifications
It's not uncommon for casinos and betting sites to have complex requirements for claiming and withdrawing bonuses. The site's terms and conditions can shed some light on what you need to do to make the most of the bonuses they offer.
You can also find important information about making withdrawals. You may need to meet certain conditions or have to wait a certain length of time before receiving your funds. The Takeaway
There are many things to consider when trying to determine whether a betting or casino site is trustworthy. Keep these points in mind when evaluating each site.
Generally, if the site has a large user base and a good reputation, they're trustworthy. But to really maximize your experience, make sure that you're choosing sites that also offer great bonuses and a large game selection.