Gaming in the UK
At one time gaming was very much the domain of the rich and famous. Ordinary people rarely
visited casinos and with the exception of a game of bingo or two by the seaside or the odd spin of a fruit machine
in the local pub, most people did not gamble with any regularity. In the past few years this has changed and almost
every advert break after 9.00 PM at night shows an advert for one or other online casinos.
Online casinos have changed the face of gaming in the UK. Now it is possible to
have a wager at any time of the day or night. Online gaming sites do not close, registration is free and open to
everyone over the age of 18 and you do not have to travel or even leave the house in order to play. Whilst some
people may argue that this is not a good thing, it is clear that most people in the UK have welcomed this form of
entertainment. gaming is regulated in the UK and in order for casinos, poker sites, bingo halls and sports books to
be able to advertise in the UK they must appear on a government white list. This ensures that customers are
protected from rogue operators. Coupled with the fact that UK citizens do not pay tax on winnings from gaming, it
is no wonder that gaming is thriving in the UK.
Most of the traditional household names such as 888Casino, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Paddy Power and Vernon’s now
offer online gaming alongside their traditional business. Newer businesses such as Jackpot Joy, 32 red, Spin and
Win, and Tombola are also on their way to becoming household names. Even many existing companies have got in on
the online gaming boom such as Virgin, Sky and even Iceland and Butlin's have branched out into online
bingo.
UK residents have access to a wide range of casino deposit methods which make it extremely easy
to deposit and collect winnings online. All UK casinos accept credit and debit cards, and PayPal
is also a deposit option at many UK casinos. Ukash is a voucher based deposits system tailor made for UK residents.
It works in a similar way to topping up a mobile phone in that you purchase a voucher from a local store. This
makes it possible to deposit the online gaming sites without having a credit or debit card. Ewallet solutions such
as ClickandBuy, Click2Pay and Neteller also available to make deposits and receive winnings.
Unlike many countries in the world which have taken steps to limit gaming, the UK has taken
positive action to ensure that its citizens can gamble in a legal and safe environment. Despite the predictions of
many pessimists, there has not been a significant rise in problem gaming. The rest of the world would do well to
take a look at how the UK has embraced the online gaming revolution and legitimised it.
|