There are plenty of licensed casino options in the UK, many dozens in fact. Identifying which one pays out the most, would, you might think, be a top priority. However, this question is complex. Answering it requires assessing a few other important factors about online casinos. So, what can you look out for when it comes down to online casino payouts?
Well, safety, security and reputation are number one. Because a casino could offer all the biggest jackpot slots and crazy bonuses in the world, but if you have trouble actually getting your winnings, then what’s the point? The second is determining which game providers you believe pay out best (there’s no single answer). Then, rewards and bonuses, which, if done well, can really bring a casino into higher paying status. This piece will run through all of that, so you understand what a good online casino’s payouts are actually like, and then you can pick one for yourself.
Licensing, Regulation and Reputation are Key
There are, at the time of writing, 174 licensed casino operators in the UK. This number changes fairly often, as in any business, operators exit the market, and new ones enter. Finding a long-standing, well-known online casino is one way to ensure quality. New casinos do have their advantages, but they’re inherently a little riskier to play at than operators of known quantity.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is the regulator to look out for. Unregulated, international offshore casinos do exist. But if you want to be certain that you’ll get paid if you win – with legal recourse if there is a problem – then licensed operators are the only way to go.
The UKGC regularly steps in on player disputes and hasn’t been afraid to issue fines to operators for bad behaviour. The regulator also ensures that companies work only with licensed game providers that have independently verifiable payout rates (return-to-player, or RTP) and have been audited for fairness. This means you can trust that the games you play are exactly the same across different casinos.
Variance and Finding Game Providers that Fit the Bill
All of the above means it’s arguably more important to pick the right games than it is to pick a casino specifically. Casinos often have different game selections. Some reputable game providers to look out for, that also often come up on player forums, include:
- Evolution
- Hacksaw Gaming
- NoLimit City
- NetEnt
- Relax Gaming
- Play n Go
Note, there are far more options available, and that list misses out some of the very biggest names. Those are just a few highly-rated ones of recent years.
Although slots vary from any developer, they do tend towards specific styles. Some developers go for big jackpots, others have loads of possible paylines and symbols so they can make any one spin have a huge max win potential. Others lock the value away in bonus rounds for a few lucky players. The way the payouts are constructed is called variance.
A slot game that pays out smaller wins more frequently but has lower max win potential is low variance. A slot game that has more losing spins, on average, but instead packs big wins for lucky players who hit bonuses or rare combos, would be high variance.
Obviously payouts in live or virtual blackjack, roulette and other table games, are basically set as standard. However, you will find live casino games that add extra side bets, jackpots and other features to the casino classics, which can change up the win potential considerably.
Rewards and Bonuses Can Really Add Up
Once you’ve found some game providers that have payout structures you find entertaining and rewarding enough, bonuses and rewards are the cherry on the cake – and they can tip the scales into the very highest payout casinos.
One way to know which casinos have the best potential value bonuses is by looking for casinos with the best payouts on Casino.org. Here you’ll find all the information on the most highly-rated options by UK players, including what bonuses they offer – and you can compare them on one easy page. Simple.
Things to look out for, more than headline bonuses, are regular rewards. Daily free games, prize wheels, cashback, reward tiers – these can all make a casino payout more than another in the long run.
Of course, a big deposit match bonus will be front and centre. These can be valuable as well, but they are more variable and often have complex terms and conditions. Assessing casino bonuses is worthy of its own article entirely, and the options change constantly, so you should probably do your own research on that front. Just know that a casino with great rewards can make a difference when many UK operators have similar game collections.
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