Gambling in the UK has come a long way. For a long time, gambling was reserved for the high and mighty in society. Betting on lotteries and games such as horse racing was allowed although only the rich could afford to indulge in this kind of entertainment. On the other hand, the poor engaged in criminalized betting games such as dicing. In the mid-1800s, the government passed legislation that prohibited commercialized gambling following a series of betting frauds and corrupt lotteries. Unfortunately, this didn't prevent people from gambling. Enforcing the prohibition law proved to be hard as gambling went on in the streets.

In 1960, gambling was legalized but was to be under the supervision of the Gaming Board for Great Britain. This meant that casinos and bingo halls could operate in the streets as long as they complied with laid down regulations. Since then, the UK gambling industry has made considerable strides in making betting available to everyone, thanks to the 2005 Gambling Act. This act provided clear guidelines on the operation of gambling activities in both land-based casinos and remote sites. This article takes an in-depth look at UK casinos and provides new gamers with infallible tips on how to choose the best gambling houses.

Before discussing the tips for choosing casinos, let find out what the law says about gambling in the UK - who is allowed to bet and what is expected of them. It is important to recognize the fact that gambling is deeply entrenched in UK culture and its popularity continues to grow especially with the advent of gaming technology. Today all gambling activities in the UK, except for speed betting, are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission since 2015. This commission has gone to great lengths to make the gambling environment in the country safe and fair through meticulous regulation.

If you are a UK resident, you must be at least 18 years of age for you to gamble at any land-based casino or remote gaming site. Casino operators are required by the law to enforce this requirement otherwise they risk the revocation of their gambling license. It is therefore common for gamers who are younger than 21 years old to be asked to produce their identification documents when they visit gambling houses. On the other hand, remote gambling sites request clients to upload their identification documents for cross-verification with government records. Being a UK gambler, you should also know that:

• Your winnings aren't taxed
• It's your responsibility to confirm whether a casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
• It's recommended you use dispute resolution providers if you're treated unfairly

Gambling is one of the most profitable businesses in the UK with over £14 billion in Gross Gambling Yield. There are lots of casino chain brands spread over the cities that seek to provide gamblers with world-class gaming experiences. The top casino brands in the country have been around for decades now. They have made names for themselves and gained trust with the people. Moreover, these casinos have standardized their operations, making them predictable. This means that if you visit two branches of the same casino brand, but located in different cities, you will be treated the same. This gives confidence to the brands.

It also promotes professionalism in the industry to the benefit of gamers in terms of the quality of services provided. Modern land-based casinos in the UK are designed to provide gamers with complete solutions that address their social life needs. For example, it is common to find casinos that house bars and fine dining restaurants where guests can spend their leisure time with friends and family. Although only legal age individuals will be allowed to the casino area, there are other facilities within the complex that provide recreational services to clients. This approach to meeting the needs of the modern gamer has helped casinos to remain relevant.

Besides benefiting from access to other amenities, playing at land-based casinos gives you a real thrill of playing various games with fellow gamblers. That human interaction is something that remote gaming cannot provide. It is also important to mention that these casinos provide secluded lounges where you can enjoy quiet gaming away from the noise in bars and nightclubs. Playing at these casinos also comes with its share of challenges. These include the need to move to and from the casino. This is disruptive, especially if you have a tight schedule. Handling cash at casinos can be risky as you do not know who to trust.

When you visit a land-based casino in the UK, some of the games you should expect to find include the usual table games such as Roulette, Poker, Craps, and Blackjack. If you are a newbie, it is advisable to learn the games first so that you get a basic understanding of how to play them. The good news is that casinos ensure that basic rules of card games are provided to all players. Also, start small in your wagers and do not get over-ambitious. Other popular games you will find in these casinos include Mahjong, Wheel of Fortune, Casino War, and Kalooki.

Physical slot machines are also common in UK brick and mortar casinos. So, if you want to enjoy the thrill of spinning the Reel King slot machine, feel free to visit these casinos. You could be the next Reel King's jackpot winner. These games come in diverse themes ranging from ancient Egypt to fruit. This way, casinos can meet the diverse tastes and preferences of gamers. The beauty of slots is that you do not need any prior knowledge of the game to play. Besides, they are just fun to play. Casinos are required to make sure that the machines are not biased.

The best casinos usually get independent third parties to conduct regular audits on the slots to make sure that they are working as expected and remove any bias. The same thing applies to Roulette wheels. Besides, dealers are not allowed to spin the roulette wheel in the same direction for consecutive spins. Following these rules ensures that high levels of professionalism are maintained at all times. It also helps uphold fairness at casinos. Remember that if players feel that they are not be treated fairly at any casino, they are at liberty to file a complaint against the gambling house.

If it's your first time to visit a gambling house, the following tip will help you learn casino etiquette. For starters, the main idea of visiting a casino is to have fun irrespective of the outcome of the game. This means that you are expected to keep your cool at all times and be polite to both the casino staff and fellow players. When placing your bets, place the wager on the table and slide it towards the dealer. Never put money in their hands directly. This applies to any tips you intend to give them. In fact, some casinos have designated areas on the tables for tipping.

Always remember that tipping the dealer is a good habit but it is not a must. However, if you plan to frequent a casino, tipping a dealer regularly will help you build rapport with them. This will not guarantee you a win but they can help you get served quickly at the casino besides keeping the bad boys off your back. If you need a drink, no need to go to the bar. Signal a waiter, and they will come to you. However, do not place the drink on the gaming table. Also, do not get intoxicated when gambling. This will impair your ability to reason.

If you get a call or need to make one, do not do so while at the table. Use your phone away from the table. Remember that you shouldn't give your opponents reason to suspect you of cheating. When you place your bet, you are not allowed to change your mind. Keep in mind, you cannot touch your chips once you place them on the table, and don't take too much time to place your bets. Moreover, take a seat at the table only if you are betting. Here are some other tips for making your gaming experience at the casino a memorable one.

• Familiarize yourself with the hand gestures applicable to various games.
• Always put your Roulette chips in a neat pile.

Since online gambling made its debut in 1994, it has grown in leaps and bounds. Today, the online gaming industry accounts for over £5 billion Gross Gambling Yield in the UK. Online casinos provide gamblers with the flexibility to play remotely without the need to go to their favourite gambling houses. This is why more gamblers are embracing this gaming trend. Moreover, millennials have an affinity for technology. With the advent of social media, their interactions with each other have been built around these platforms. Therefore, it makes sense to package gaming in a way that aligns with their interactions.

This explains why online casinos are growing in popularity. They are some of the fastest-growing businesses in the UK. Furthermore, these casinos are borderless and are not confined to UK residents only. This means that they can operate on a global scale and serve millions of gamers around the world. This is a new frontier that land-based casinos cannot compete with. The net effect is that most gamers are gradually moving away from playing at land-based casinos. Although this is not good news for the gambling houses, it provides an opportunity for them to innovate and evolve. This will make them relevant to modern-day gamblers.

The UK Gambling Commission also regulates online casinos. The commission provides a robust framework for regulating online gaming. In fact, casinos that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission are regarded as some of the safest platforms to gamble for real money. These casinos are responsible for making sure that their platforms are secure and do not risk data leakage to unauthorized individuals. They also make sure that all gamblers signing up for wagering accounts on their platforms are 18 years old and over. These are just some of the requirements they are expected to meet.

When a company gets the license to provide gambling services remotely, one of the important things they need to develop is an online platform that will house various games. They can opt to build such platforms from scratch or purchase universal templates that they can easily customize to suit their needs. However, if the company has a unique concept they want to incorporate into their gaming platform, they are better off building the application from scratch. This is because integrating major changes to an already existing platform may prove to be a challenge and be time-consuming, especially if frequent updates will be required.

Some of the features of a good online casino platform include a secure database that will secure clients' data and all transactions performed on the site. This means that data should be protected from clients' gaming terminals to the servers that house the platform. There are several options available in the market that top casinos use to achieve this. Secure Socket Layer encryption technology is used to ensure funds transfers on casinos are safe. They also use firewalls to protect data stored on servers from being accessed by unauthorized persons. They also use restricted access to their platform.

It is also important to partner with approved providers of financial services such as banks, and e-wallet companies such as Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, and Neteller. These services ensure that players can deposit funds to their gaming accounts and also withdraw their winnings. This is an important feature that determines whether clients will love a gaming platform or not. Therefore, services need to be fast and accurate. Payment options should also not be restrictive. The more options there are, the better customers are likely to be served. These payment options come with varied timelines and charges for processing deposits and withdrawals.

The next huddle online casinos have to overcome is providing an excellent game selection experience for its clientele. This is dependent on how they choose their game providers. Most casinos opt to collaborate with multiple game developers in the market and offer an assortment of games from different companies. Others choose to provide different games from the same gaming company. It is also common for online casinos to procure exclusive games that are not available on other casinos. Each of these strategies come with their benefits as they help casinos to carve nitches for themselves. Some of the leading game developers in the market include:

• NetEnt
• Microgaming
• Play n' Go
• Playtech
• Evolution Gaming
• iSoftBet
• Pragmatic Play
• Play Tech
• Red Tiger Gaming
• IGT
• Realistic
• Betsoft

The benefit of having multiple companies providing a casino with online games is that clients will have lots of choices to pick from. Moreover, since new games are developed frequently, such sites will always have new games for their players to try out. This boosts the client experience at such casinos. Another important factor to consider is the quality of the games provided. Clients often go for games that are both entertaining and allow them to win. Therefore, the best online casinos must be deliberate about the games they host on their gaming platforms. These must be games that will appeal to clients.

Video slots form the bulk of games found on online gaming platforms. The beauty of the games is that they can be based on virtually anything that touches human life. Some of the common themes around slots include ancient mythology, music, fairy tales and folklore, politics, science fiction, TV show characters, and nature. These games often come with special features and fantastic animations that appeal to gamers. The wide range of themes ensures that the games appeal to several players. Usually, slots come with the options to play for either money or fun. The latter allows you to play the game risk-free.

It is also an opportunity to learn the game and sample its features before wagering real money. Slots come with varied Return To Player percentages, bonus hit frequency, and volatility rating. These statistics are very important when selecting which game to play for money. Also, casinos provide progressive slots that come with jackpots. Usually, a percentage of every wager placed by different players contributes to the jackpot until a winner is picked and the process starts all over again. Such jackpots can go up to millions of pounds. Please note that the jackpot is not the only win a player gets.

Online casinos also offer video table and card games. These include variants of traditional games like Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Poker. Instead of playing against real players, you will play against the computer. Usually, an algorithm is built in the software to require random number generation that allows for card shuffling, and wheel-spinning for the case of Roulette games. You can also play these games on demo mode and gain infallible knowledge about them. This is an excellent way for newbies to learn casino games and develop gambling skills before hitting the tables to play for real money.

To appeal to gamers who love the thrill of land-based wagering, gambling software developers went ahead and developed software applications that allow casinos to stream online live gaming sessions from their land-based studios. These games are aired on the Live Casino section of their gaming platforms. Here, you can catch real action on your favourite game from the comfort of your home. This game-changing technology uses HD videos to ensure that players get crisp images of the gaming action. You are able to connect with real people and play for real money remotely on a secure gaming platform.

You are able to see the dealer and can communicate with them through a webchat. If you need any help or need to ask a question, just type your comment on the webchat. The dealer will read it aloud and give you a response verbally. The interface allows you to see who else is playing the game and allows you to connect with them through a webchat. The gameplay is the same as when playing at a land-based casino. The only difference is the interaction is digital. This is an experience that continues to be refined even as new technologies such as Virtual Reality emerge.

Some of the games played on Live Casino include Live Blackjack, Live Deal or No Deal and Live Roulette just to mention a few. For you to reap the maximum benefits of Live Casino gaming, it is essential to invest in quality equipment. These include a good computer with great processing power. Also, make sure that you have a stable high-speed internet connection. Consider having a power backup in case you are not guaranteed a steady power supply. This will ensure that you stay connected throughout the game and not risk being disconnected midway. And, always play with a reputable casino.

To attract new clients, online casinos offer attractive welcome bonuses to their customers. Usually, these are matched with the initial deposits made by the player to their wagering account. Matched bonuses may go as high as 400% of the deposit. However, the total amount of the bonus is capped at a maximum value of hundreds of pounds. While some casinos offer bonuses on the first deposit, others are generous enough to give you bonuses up to the fourth deposit. For you to qualify for such bonuses, you may be expected to deposit a minimum amount to your wagering account.

Also, these bonuses are not forced on you. You are given the freedom to opt-in or out. It is unusual for these bonuses to be accompanied by free spin offers on selected video slots. These allow you to play risk-free with a chance of winning with every spin. It is important to mention that, both the bonuses and free spins come with conditions that you must fulfill before you can withdraw any winnings associated with them. For example, you may be required to fulfill a wagering requirement of between 30x to 50x of the bonus amount and winnings from free spins.

Other conditions include limited time to access and use the bonuses and free spins offers. For instance, you may need to use the bonuses within 7 days of activating it. If this condition is not met, then the bonus is deactivated from your account. Moreover, these bonuses are non-transferable. Only one beneficiary is entitled to use them. It is also common for some casinos to expand the limitation bonus offers to a household. This means that once one member of a family accesses an offer, the others cannot qualify. This is done to prevent the abuse of casino bonuses by clients.

When it comes to rewarding existing players, UK casinos are known to offer promotional offers to gamers. These range from weekly bonuses to special day free spins. For example, a casino may offer deposit bonuses, say 50% on all deposits made every Tuesday, and call that the Terrific Tuesday offer. The casino will then attach certain conditions to the bonus or opt to make it a no-wager offer just to boost the morale of the gamers. Special days offers may include Birthday bonuses to gamers. All these bonuses are meant to support clients and get them to play more with less of their own money.

Another great way of rewarding loyal gamers is through well-defined loyalty programs. Every time you wager real money on any game at a casino with a loyalty program, you earn points. It is common for such programs to have levels that are graded according to the cumulative amount a player has played on the platform. The more you play, the more points you earn. As you advance through the ranks, the number of points you earn per wager increases. This motivates gamers to play more. The points earned can be redeemed as wagering credits with lenient conditions attached to them.

Most online casinos promote responsible gaming policies. This allows them to offer support to their clients by providing useful information to help them stay in control of their gambling activities. This includes providing gaming platforms that allow you to limit your daily gambling amounts as well as the ability to temporarily deactivate your account whenever you feel that you are losing control of your gambling escapades. They also provide leads on how to get professional help whenever you need it. These self-help resources come in handy to help you develop a healthy gaming habit that works for you.

The era of smartphones brought technology closer to consumers through enhanced internet connectivity. Today, it is possible to connect people in remote places to the internet using GSM technology. Online casinos used this opportunity to launch their mobile casino platforms. This has made gambling accessible to everyone who has a mobile device that can connect to the internet. Some casinos prefer to build mobile responsive platforms that can be opened on hand-held devices on browsers. Others prefer to build native applications that are designed to run on specific devices. Some of the most common mobile gaming apps are based on:

• Android OS for smartphones and tablets running on Android.
• iOS for iPhones and iPads.

Each of these approaches come with their advantages and disadvantages. For example, gaming sites that are mobile responsive do not require customers to download and install apps on their devices. This gives them the convenience to switch devices whenever they need without having to worry about fresh installations. However, since such applications are not optimized to run on specific devices, they may experience glitches such as slow connectivity and blurred graphics. On the other hand, native applications allow you to have fast connectivity with crisp images for an awesome gaming experience. Providing such applications can come at an additional cost by the casino.

As stated earlier, the growth of land-based casinos in the UK has slowed down thanks to the new frontier: online casinos. However, there is still hope that new innovations such as Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence may breathe life into the shrinking market size. Already, Live Casino streaming is shaping how online gamers interact with land-based casinos. On the other hand, online casinos are likely to see continued growth thanks to the power of mobile devices. With global connectivity, casinos will have the power to reach out to billions of gamers around the world. However, this may also come at a cost.

Remember that the internet is becoming a haven for criminals. To combat financial crimes such as fraud and money laundering, the UK Gambling Commission is likely to step up regulations on online casinos. These restrictions may come with limitations on how games are played. For example, the autoplay features of certain games such as slots may be limited, therefore affecting the frequency of winnings. Some regulations may target how gambling accounts are managed to weed out criminal elements in the industry. The good news is that in the end, this will work out well for everyone who is into gambling for good reasons.

Even with tough regulations, the industry will continue especially as gaming firms continue to innovate and incorporate cutting edge technology to games. This will keep on attracting more players to the industry. Moreover, more games and ways to play them will be invented to the delight of many. As the industry grows, there is a chance that more jobs will be created in the industry as well. This includes employment opportunities in game development firms, content creators and casino management. This will also support other businesses such as money transfer services and telecommunication firms that provide internet services.

UK casinos have come a long way and even though the journey has been somewhat turbulent, it has remained profitable. Land-based casinos continue to experience a drop in the number of gamers visiting them. This can be attributed to the fact that most gamblers are shifting to more convenient and cheaper gambling options such as online and mobile betting sites. Remember that the minimum gambling amount at land-based casinos is way above the minimum amount you are allowed to gamble on a video slot game. However, if existing brick and mortar casinos innovate and embrace technology, they are likely to thrive.

Online gambling continues to grow, and the world continues to be more connected. This has seen as online casinos in the UK thrive and grow. In order to attract new gamers, online casinos have embraced technology to bring gambling closer to gamers through mobile gaming. Their online platforms are either mobile responsive or designed to run on native apps based on Android and iOS operating systems. They also offer welcome bonuses and promotional offers to clients to motivate them to play more. Although these bonuses and offers come with wagering requirements, they allow players to manage their bankrolls and stay in the game long enough to win.

How do you open an account with an online casino?

It's easy! Hit the sign up but and follow the prompts.

Is the money in my online casino account safe?

Yes, provided the casino is reputable and UK Gambling Commission regulated.

Are casino bonuses beneficial?

Yes. They boost your bankroll and help you stay in play.

What are the most rewarding games to play?

Tables games such as Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, and Video Poker.

Can I gamble for a living?

Odds will always favour casinos so pursue gambling as entertainment.