The Best Online Casinos – Legit Casinos

Picking the best online casino can take time, but our experts can help you decide.

We put casinos under the microscope to give you the tools to identify which ones are legit. Discover all you need to know.

Top 24 Safe Online Casinos List

Safe Online Casinos in the UK Market

Before we dig into the aspects of a legit casino, we first need to identify the market. At legit, we are taking a look from a UK point of view.

It’s important to be specific with this as different countries operate under their own laws.

In the UK, we are lucky in terms of how regulated the market is. The governing body, the Gambling Commission (UKGC), is responsible for ensuring that players are protected and that casinos operate in an honest way.

As well as laws, the UKGC also enforce strict advertising and campaign rules. All promotions must be clear with the key terms identified instantly. You’ve probably seen this in adverts.

Fines in the millions of pounds have been handed out over the years and are a big deterrent. Therefore, when you play at a legit online casino you can be sure that you are in a safe environment.

How to Find the Safest Online Casino

There are many factors that we look at when examining online casinos. Here at legit, we leave no stone uncovered and reveal the desirable along with the less so, to give an unbiased review.

We look for high-quality casinos with excellent security features, a good platform and fair bonus terms amongst other things.

On this page, we’ll take an in-depth look at all of the above topics and scrutinise the details so that you know what to look for.

Licence

This is a big one. Always check who an online casino is licenced with before signing up. If they hold a licence with the UK, then you can legally play with them.

As mentioned, the UKGC has a lot of power and can hand out fines and even revoke licenses for rouge outfits.

If an online casino has more than one licence, we see this as a big plus as they are also trusted in other markets.

The other main licenses we look for are:

• Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
• Swedish Gaming Inspectorate
• Revenue Commissioners in Ireland
• Danish Gambling Authority.
• Italy (ADM-AAMS)

All of these are notoriously hard to get and retain. If an online casino holds a UK licence and any of the above licences it means that they are solid enough to be able to meet the strict requirements of all the governing bodies.

Security Features

It is important to know that when you enter your personal data that it is protected. This is true for all online transactions. So what is in place for online casinos?

SSL encryptions are common on websites that deal with financial transactions, and online casinos are no different. The standard amount is 128-bit and goes up to 256-bit.

This adds an extra layer of security by making your data hard to read for hackers. In all of our reviews, we’ll let you know exactly what the online casino operates.

On top of that, other features may be 2-step verification to log-in to your account. At bet365 you can set-up a four-digit pin on mobile as well for extra secure log-ins.

For all of our reviews, we dedicate an entire section to security. We’ll walk you through which each means, and how it might affect you.

eCOGRA

Safe online casinos are proud to be and will often display their certificates in the footer. For example, if they are an eCOGRA member you will likely see this.

eCOGRA is an organisation that casinos volunteer to join. It ensures that RTP ranges are correct and that you are playing on a level playing field. If a casino displays this, it’s a good sign.

KYC – Know Your Customer

On the subject of security, don’t be alarmed when you are asked to verify your identity. All online casinos are required to request these.

This is to protect against fraud, underage betting, and anti-money laundering laws.

It is in your best interest to send your documents as quickly as possible. Casino providers are well equipped to store your documents and will verify you within around 48 hours.

Bonuses and Wagering Requirements

Many players looking to sign-up with a new online casino have been attracted by a welcome offer.

These bonuses tend to be highly appealing, offering great value. Not all that glitters is gold, however. There are a few points to consider.

In our reviews, we take a forensic approach to terms and conditions and will let you know if there is anything out of the ordinary.

Key terms

As a general rule, the following four terms will usually determine how safe a bonus is:

•  Wagering Requirement: Wagering requirements can be as high as 50x. This means that you would need to wager your bonus amount 50 times before you can request a withdraw. If you don’t feel like this is a number you can reach within the set time period, then it’s probably not worth taking the bonus
•  Game Contribution: Not all games are equal. Some will not count at all towards your wagering, while others will contribute less than 100%. Legit casinos will show these clearly on the terms page.
•  Time Limits: The average time limit to complete wagering requirements is around 21 days. In saying that, there are a few sites that ask for it to be completed in a shorter time frame – so pay attention to that.
•  Payment Methods: In order to be able to claim bonuses, you will need to deposit via an eligible deposit method. This should be stated in the key terms of any offer.

A legit casino should provide clear, concise, and easy to understand promotions. This is for both new offers and for existing players.

Deposit and Withdrawal

Being able to move your money from your casino account to you should be an easy process. In order to be able to do it effectively, you need to be able to use a payment method you’re comfortable with. The most common ways to deposit are:

• Debit cards: Generally this will be VISA as it is widely accepted. Bear in mind you cannot deposit with a credit card in the UK.
• e-wallet: These have become many casino players method of choice. The likes of PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are the most popular.
• Prepaid cards: Players can deposit via Paysafecard at a number of UK online casinos, but withdrawals are not always possible.
• Bank account: Fast Bank Transfer (FBT) is growing in popularity. It works in the same way as depositing via a debit card.

Each payment method has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important that you understand what those are before depositing. The main points to consider are:

• Deposit times: Instant is normal for most methods, with a bank transfer being the exception.
• Fees: Be mindful that some online casinos will charge for certain methods.
• Withdrawal times: This varies greatly. Some offer instant withdrawals, while others can take up to 7 working days.
• Limits: Limits can apply for both deposits and withdrawals with certain methods.

Safe online casinos will provide a good list of payment method options and our favourites include PayPal and Apple Pay.

These tend to provide efficient payments, while also keeping you eligible for bonuses (not always the case).

If you don’t see any payment method that you’re familiar with, then this should ring alarm bells. The best casinos partner with the best. We’ll let you know all you need to know about each method at every casino we review.

Game Selection

The number of games on a casino site can be an indication of how good it is.

A complete online casino will offer hundreds (possibly thousands) of slots, jackpot slots, table games, and a live casino.

Some online casinos will even provide slots unique to them, often supplied by top software providers.

For example, 888casino and Unibet both have a selection of slots designed specifically for them with unique bonus rounds.

RTP stands for return to player. This is a theoretically return so say the RTP 95%. In theory, the game pays out 95% back to players.

Of course, this is based on a wide range of data and doesn’t guarantee that you will get at least 95% of your stake back in winnings.

It’s all about luck. The closer a game is to 100% RTP, the higher chance you have of winning in a single game round.

We take a close look at how many games a site offers, including what providers they have listed to give you a good idea of what you can expect.

Live Casino

To be considered a complete casino, sites should provide a live casino. Players flock to live tables to enjoy the ‘real’ experience.

But are all live casinos equal? The answer is no. The best-rated ones tend to be hosted by Evolution Gaming or Netent.

This is partly due to the number of years they have been in service, but also the quality of the tables they offers. Experienced dealers and seamless HD streams take players as close to the real thing as possible.

Online casinos can hand-pick which tables it wants including what limits are available. The best usually have around 20 live tables at any given time. The tables will come in various forms of:

• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Baccarat
• Gameshow style

It’s also worth noting that live casino bonuses tend to be separate from the regular casino offer. This means you can take advantage of two promotions.

If you’re curious about how live casino works, then this could be a good way to get started.

Top Software Providers

Online casinos host slots games from a number of external suppliers who specialise in game development.

Much like with payments, the top sites pair with the top providers. You may be surprised with how many game suppliers there are, it’s a hugely competitive industry.

Game providers design slick games and take responsibility for the RTP percentage, and the maths behind the game.

In the UK slots are controlled by RNG (Random Number Generator) which ensures that the outcomes are random and fair for all players. Casino’s aren’t able to reward players with guaranteed wins (or losses).

Top 7 Providers in the UK

• Microgaming: One of the oldest providers, with over 30 years of experience. Top games include Mega Moolah
• Netent: A highly respected provider with hundreds of slots including Starburst and jackpot slots.
• Big Time Gaming: Large collection of slots such as White Rabbit and Bonanza
• Playn’Go: Book of Dead is one of the most popular slots of all-time, but the Swedish provider has many other great games to its name too.
• Quickspin: Provides high-quality slots such as Big Bad Wolf and looks set to grow in the coming years
• NYX Interactive: A reliable provider with some hits such as Tiki Treasure
• Yggdrasil: It is a software company that has grown in popularity in recent years with games such as Holmes and the Stolen Stones

You might find that you enjoy a certain provider. There are many fans of Netent slots who are happy to only play those. As it is so popular, you’ll likely find those games in all online casinos.

The best online casinos for software will support those big providers along with some smaller and upcoming ones too.

In our reviews, we’ll highlight what providers are on-site, and to what extent. So, if you do have a favourite it will be easy to find.

Safe Mobile and Apps

Any serious online casino will have a mobile site, and usually a dedicated app too. Players are turning to their mobile devices more and more, therefore, many sites have invested heavily in their mobile offering.

The interesting thing is that the desktop site doesn’t always match the mobile exactly. In some cases, the number of games may be reduced, and navigation can be slightly different too.

Websites need to be optimised for mobile so that explains the differences. A good mobile site will be easy to use, have the same features as a desktop, and a wide selection of games.

Platform

Picking the best online casino doesn’t have to mean it’s the best looking one, but it does help.

Platforms that are easy to understand, logically and pleasant on the eye tend to form the best sites.

A clear interface that is well sign-posted for the user can go a long way. In our reviews, we’ll highlight menu bars and unique features to let you know how the site navigation is.

It’s also interesting to note that some sites mobile version may be far superior to the desktop, and vice versa. This is where personal preference comes in too.

We should also point out that some sites can be hosted by third parties or as white labels. In fact, it is a common occurrence.

This isn’t something you need to worry about, but it is always good to know exactly where you’re playing.

Good Customer Service

Friendly customer support can make all the difference when an issue arises. It’s good to know that you can contact a well-trained agent in a number of ways.

We consider a good customer service key for rating out casinos.

Our preferred means of contacting sites is via live chat. Luckily in the UK, English is our main language. Because of that, we tend to be able to speak to support 24/7 with the best online casinos. Not all languages are supported around the clock.

As well as a well-informed agent, you want to be responded to in a reasonable time frame.

Typically, you’ll be answered within a few minutes on live chat, but could wait 24-48 hours to receive a response to your email

Some sites still offer phone support, which is handy if you’d rather speak to a person.

Furthermore, the likes of Paddy Power casino will even accept questions on social media platforms.

We compare customer support channels to other online casinos in our reviews, so you get an idea of what the customer service should be like.

How To Pick a Safe Online Casino

What Else to Look For

While the above outlines the key criteria we look at, each casino is a little different from the next. Therefore, there are more things to consider.

Not all online casinos prioritise the same things either meaning it really depends on what you as the player values most.

How Safe are New Online Casinos?

If a new casino holds a UKGC licence, then it should be as safe as an online casino that has been around for years.

In order to obtain the licence, new casinos will need to jump through a number of hoops to prove that their site is secure, they will have to meet the latest requirements and will be subject to strict checking.

An established brand does have the advantage of reputation and stability, but you shouldn’t be put off new casinos. In fact, they can often provide you with a very generous welcome offer. New sites will need to attract players and a good way to do this is with a top offer.

Our pick for a new casino is:

In our opinion, new sites open up more competition and give you more variety. We encourage you to look for new platforms as they could offer great bonuses for you.

Play Safe with our Top 7 Tips

Ok, so now you should be well equipped to know what to look for. It can seem like quite a lot of information that you need to think about. The key takeaways can be summarised with these 7 handy tips:

If you follow those rules, then you will enjoy safe play at online casinos. Remember, if something doesn’t feel right – it probably isn’t. It’s ok to trust your gut on these things too. If you’re not sure, don’t enter your details.

Other Review Sites

There is a lot of information regarding online casinos and it can be a difficult task to know what is real, and what is not.

We’ve covered a number of key areas we look at when analysing casinos, and reviews reflect our impartiality.

At legit, we seek to separate the good from the bad and let players know when something isn’t quite right. There are a number of pitfalls that you can fall into if you’re not equipped with the right information.

All of our reviews are written after hours of research and our writers are experts in the field. We know the do’s and don’t’s and aren’t afraid to point them out.

In our reviews, we cover the basics and take a deeper look into terms to fish out anything suspicious.

We provide reliable and independent reviews and you can be guaranteed that if we give a casino our seal of approval – it deserves it. Not all sites can ensure the same is true, but on legit you’ll find reviews that are:

Look out for sites promoting hundreds of offers or demanding that you register now. These sites can be dangerous. It’s important to look after your data online, and part of that is being armed with knowledge.

Pros and Cons of Online Casinos

We’ve said it a few times on this page, but we do give balanced reviews of everything. Online casinos have a great number of advantages over land-based casinos, but on the other hand, there are also disadvantages.

Furthermore, even the best gaming sites aren’t for everyone. Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Of course, online casinos are a little bit different from land-based ones, but they are easier to get to. Playing from the comfort of your own home in a live casino can almost match the experience.

It’s not very common to hear of a bonus being applied in a casino that is not online. We regard that as one of the top advantages that online casinos have.

There are pros and cons to everything. but overall, playing at an online casino can be just as much, if not more fun than visiting one.

Summary

Playing safely at an online casino is easy when you know what to look for. We hope this guide has been useful for you and will help you decide which online casinos you can trust.

It’s important to keep your details safe and to play responsibly. Always check for a licence – this is our biggest piece of advice.

Our top 7 tips could come in handy.