A Lowdown on the UK’s Online Casino Landscape in 2023
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It’s no secret that the past few years have had a significant impact on businesses across the board, and the UK’s online casino industry is no exception. While the pandemic was a key driver of increases in online gambling, data shows that the upwards trend in online casinos has only continued since the worst of the restrictions subsided.
In fact, as brick-and-mortar establishments closed between 2021 and 2022, the gross gambling yield in Great Britain increased by £1.3 billion from 2021 to 2022, reaching a staggering £14 billion, and the numbers have continued to increase since then.
The provisional 2022 to 2023 financial year-to-date (April to March) total for betting and gaming receipts is £3,303 million, £229 million more than the previous financial year-to-date, and the usual peaks in April, July, October and January have reached a three-year maximum in 2022-2023.
The variety in online gambling options
The online gambling industry has gone from strength to strength during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, with the number of overall bets increasing by 8 percent – little wonder when the range of modern, entertaining gaming options continues to expand. Quality online casino providers are working to provide gaming options for as many patrons as possible, and there’s no shortage of categories.
Popular online gambling options include classics like roulette, poker and blackjack as well as the online lottery, bingo, and real event betting – which, incidentally, increased by 12 percent year-on-year for Quarter 1, to £538 million. There’s no denying that casino games have a certain draw. The only question is, how do you know which provider will offer you the best online gambling experience?
Here are a few tips on making sure you’re using a reputable, quality provider.
Do your research
Not all online casinos are made equal, and the comparison stage can be tricky. That’s why sites like paygamble.com exist – acting as a one-stop-shop for all things concerning online casinos, they prevent punters from wasting their time and money in the process of finding the right online casino. At this early stage, it’s crucial to find out basic details like whether the casino you want to use accepts users from your country. All of this information should be in the website terms and conditions, but you may also get a notification from any venue that isn’t accessible in your country.
Before you hand over your financial information, you’ll want to ensure the safety and security of your data by checking the site for general signs of regulatory compliance. For example, logos from the E-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) indicate that these agencies are involved in analysing all games for fairness.
Explore the game selection
If you’re going to sign up for an online casino and commit to spending money, you’ll want to make sure the provider has enough game variety to keep you interested long-term. Of course, it’s important to make sure a provider has the types of games that suit your preferences, but you should also consider the variety of other games they offer and how often games are added or updated. Choosing a provider that regularly updates their selection with new high-quality offerings – for example, 3D roulette, live blackjack and blackjack surrender – is key to ensuring that you’ll get good value out of the exchange long-term.
Take advantage of welcome bonuses, rewards and promotions
Often, when a new player joins an online casino for the first time, they’re able to take advantage of welcome bonuses – the perfect opportunity to put the provider to the test and try new games for the first time. Depending on the terms, you may be able to use your trial period to get a feel for the website generally as well as the games on offer, and maybe even place a few trial bets without any financial risk.
Investigate payment options
Offering modern payment options is more than a win for convenience – it’s also a great sign that a provider likes to “keep with the times”, suggesting that they probably take a similar approach to other aspects of their business. It also allows players to make their deposits and receive their winnings in the way that best suits them, maximising the value they receive from the exchange.
Look out for signs of security
As with any website that takes and manages your personal and financial information, the best gambling sites should always make security a priority and proudly display SSL certificates for users’ peace of mind. In case you’re unfamiliar, a website sporting SSL security comes with a little padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar, preceding the URL itself.
If you’re yet to try your hand at playing online casino games in the UK, it’s never too late to get in on the action. By taking these tips into consideration, you give yourself the best chance of choosing a safe, reputable provider and setting yourself up for the best possible online gambling experience. Whatever you do, be sure to take stock of all the terms, conditions and details, and enjoy yourself – the UK’s online casino landscape is full of opportunity!
