My casino guides explore the online casino options for UK players, giving you an insight into what operators offer in terms of gaming content, bonuses and promotions, banking methods, and much more.
They are designed to condense all the essential info into one convenient location to help you make faster assessments.
My aim in compiling this information is to help you navigate the wonderful world of online casinos and make informed decisions when picking a casino to fit your needs, whether e-wallet payments, specific gaming content, or casino promotions.
I’m on a mission to preserve the industry by giving you my honest opinions about the casinos operating in this country so you can avoid the dodgy ones and head straight for the best. Let’s check out my detailed casino guides to find out more.
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How to use our casino guides
Quite simply, the intended use of these casino guides is to help you find the best sites to play casino games online in the UK. Whether for you, that means containing specific content like Megaways slots or Evolution game show titles, or you just want to eliminate sites that don’t accept Apple Pay payments.
My aim is to keep the site up to date with fresh new reviews and casino guides as new operators continue to join the market. Plus, update existing content as the landscape continues to grow and change.
The key thing to remember when using casino guides is that they are designed to be tools to assist you and not gospel. Also, things change, so what is true today might not necessarily be true tomorrow.
Be conscientious and perform your own checks on things like bonus terms, fees, and content providers before committing to a new site.
Types of casino guides at Simon Says
The casino guides at Simon Says categorise different types of operators based on their standout features or unique offerings. For example, which casinos offer you the fastest access to your winnings or where to find casino promo offers that allow you to trial new games. The list is ever-growing, so check back regularly to see what’s new.
Simon Says: I’ve been in the industry for well over 20 years and have learned all the tricks in the book. This is what gives me the edge to write accurate assessments based on reputation and insider knowledge. But this doesn’t mean I have all the answers; you must make your own judgements, too. Especially when it comes to bonus terms and conditions. Read through them carefully and make realistic assessments of what is appropriate for you and your budget.
Simon’s 20-step casino review process
In each of my casino guides, I follow the same review process as I assess each aspect of an online casino’s offerings. This ensures consistency across these guides and gives you the best possible comparison.
- Licensing and regulation by the UKGC: I will repeat this point repeatedly: Stick to UK-licensed casinos to protect your consumer rights.
- Appropriate website encryption: The easiest way to tell is to look for the “https” at the start of the URL or look for the padlock icon in the address bar.
- Varied gaming content: Variety…spice…yada yada. We all want plenty of choices. And quality choices at that.
- Reputable game providers: Of course, it’s important that the games are from trustworthy providers with relevant regulations, so you know they’re fair to play.
- Demo slot availability: I love a good demo to get a feel for the game. Plus is a great wayto test the platform’s reliability—check if it bugs out or if there are loading issues.
- Platform reliability: As above. It’s important that the platform can handle the content, particularly if you like playing live games.
- Welcome bonus: If you’re signing up for a new account, you may as well get your money’s worth with some bonus funds of free spins.
- Ongoing promotions: I also like frequent and varied ongoing promotions that make it worth returning to the site for more. Free spins on the latest slot machines, reload bonuses when you top up your account, seasonal specials, bonus bets, the possibilities are endless.
- Fair terms & conditions: Reading the fine print is key. Don’t get caught out with high wagering or short validity periods.
- Rewards programs: Who doesn’t love being treated like a VIP? Being rewarded for your loyalty is a great perk, and I like to see generous rewards and accessible freebies.
- Gamification: The development of ‘gamification’ has been a revelation for online casinos. It bridges the gap between land-based and online to create a more social experience when you’re playing online with the added bonus of exciting prizes up for grabs.
- Mobile gameplay: Not only should mobile play be seamless, but if there’s no native app, the website should be fully responsive to different screen sizes so you don’t miss out on the quality of your gameplay.
- Banking options: See point 3 about variety. We all have our favourites, so it’s always a good sign when the operator caters to our many different needs as players.
- Withdrawals: I always look for any fees that may be incurred with certain withdrawal methods, whether you have to use the same one for deposits and withdrawals, and how long they anticipate the funds hitting your account.
- Transaction security: You cannot be too careful when entering personal information online—especially your debit card details.
- Customer service: It’s important that you can reach the support team when you need them—this is another reason why it pays to play at a UKGC-licensed site.
- Privacy policy: Read through to see what the operator intends to do with your data.
- Responsible gambling: It’s important that operators do their part to combat the potential negative effects of problem gambling and do what they can to protect their players.
- Reputation: This is a no-brainer. While ‘likes’ and fake reviews can be bought, there are some great sources of reliable content. And you can always ask your friends and fellow players.
- Overall user experience: From signup to navigation, the gameplay experience, communication and withdrawing your winnings. I like to give an overall assessment of the experience.
Tips for Simon’s casino guides
Despite my many years of industry experience and insider knowledge, I cannot accurately ascertain which sites are best for your specific needs. Each one of us is individual, with our own preferences and expectations from an operator.
The purpose of my casino guides is to provide you with the relevant information you need in an easy-to-digest format to help you make the decisions for yourself. Use my casino guides as a tool, a helping hand to help you understand the different types of casinos available, where their strengths lie, and what to look out for in assessing casinos for yourself.
My advice here is simple: read through my casino guides and the opinions of others; the more, the merrier, and use the information you learn to assess these sites against your own needs. You can use my 20-point assessment criteria for more guidance, but remember that nobody knows what’s best for you better than you.
Simon Says: If you’re short on time, write a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves before you start your search. Compare each site to quickly narrow down your options, and then you can read through the detailed reviews and guides of the best options for you.
Casino guides FAQs
How can I use a casino guide to pick the best casino website?
Casino guides are excellent tools to help you narrow down your options and quickly assess the best choices for you based on your needs. Use them as a tool in your arsenal, but it’s important to also do your own research before committing.
What information is assessed in a casino guide?
At Simon Says, I assess each operator against my 20-point review criteria, which you can read about above. These criteria include factors such as licensing, encryption, gaming content, and bonus terms and conditions.
Which are the best casino bonuses in the UK?
The best casino bonuses will depend on your needs. Read through my review of the best bonuses in UK casinos to help you assess which ones offer the rewards you’re looking for.
How do I claim a new casino bonus?
To claim a casino bonus, click on one of the links on this site to be taken directly to the operator’s sign-up page and follow the prompts. Be sure to read through the terms and conditions first, as they vary from site to site.