Live Casino Games
Live casinos have grown a lot in terms of popularity. In our older UK casino reviews, it wasn’t necessary to offer these games. Today, players actively search for live dealer games. Some even have a separate section specifically for their live casino.
As for the best live dealer games, again it comes down to the software provider. In most cases, this is none other than Evolution Gaming. They’re considered a necessity in our UK casino reviews. Another provider you should keep an eye on is Pragmatic Play. They have recently joined the live casino scene and look promising. We also look out for Netent Live in our casino reviews, but they do not provide a full range of live dealer games.
What we review in a Live Casino Lobby
Although we hate to admit it, most live casinos we review are identical. There are a handful of elements that can make one stand out from another. Below is a list of some of the things we look out for in our live casino reviews.
- Exclusive live dealer games
- Live casino promotions
- Live casino game tournaments
- HD streams
Many of our best UK casino reviews will include at least one element from the list above. For example, all Evolution Gaming tables can be streamed in HD. Bonuses for these games are harder to come by, but they do exist. We point out game contributions in the bonus section of a casino review as mentioned earlier on.
Mobile Casino Reviews – A UK Necessity
Being optimised for mobile is somewhat expected nowadays. Still, some do it better than others, which is why we have a mobile casino review section within our main UK reviews. A few years ago, not all games were available on portable devices but today that’s no longer the case.
We don’t use our casino reviews to point out the casino games available on mobile. Instead, we look at elements like usability. Today we are seeing a strain of mobile-first sites, particularly in our new casino reviews that we spoke about earlier on. These casinos are designed to look good on mobile-first, rather than desktop.
Game filters are particularly important on mobile. This is another area we take a look at in our casino reviews. Do they work well on smaller devices and how easy is browsing the lobby? We’ll look to answer these questions. Native apps are also starting to make more of an appearance in the UK. Our casino reviews even provide steps on how to download any iOS and Android apps.
Deposits & Withdrawals
Banking is an important part of our online casino reviews. To start playing with real money, you’ll have to make a deposit. Some casinos make it easier to do this than others. The first thing we look for in our best casino reviews is a transparent approach to payments. All information should be made available to both registered and unregistered users.
We use a casino review to examine the minimum deposit limits, withdrawal times per payment method as well as the weekly, monthly or even the daily withdrawal limits. All this is done to expose any terms that might restrict your gaming experience. For instance, a casino with high minimum withdrawal limits is something we try to avoid.
Payment Methods by Market
Most of our casino reviews highlight the likes of VISA, MasterCard as well as e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill. These are considered regular suspects. Then there are those region-specific methods that we point out.
In our UK casino reviews, for instance, accepting PayPal deposits and withdrawals is a necessity.
Customer Support Approach
We use our casino reviews as an opportunity to take the customer support system for a test spin. A casino needs to be contactable, ideally 24 hours a day. As transparent as they are, issues do arise and often they need to be resolved instantly. This is exactly why we cover the working hours of a casino’s customer service department in all of our online casino reviews.
We also take a look at the various channels. Our best UK casino reviews usually tick all of the boxes in this area. An online casino should be reachable across all major channels, including email, live chat and over the phone. FAQs are often overlooked but they too can be of help to your gaming experience.
In our experience, a few UK casinos don’t make their contact information accessible to all players. This is something we aim to point out in our casino reviews. We provide all of the contact information including the phone number and e-mail address.
Live Chat Overview
As a general rule, live chat tends to be the go-to customer support channel. If available, we always do a live chat test as part of our casino review. We look to see how helpful the agents are as well as the response time. No one wants to wait for hours to get some form of feedback.
Of course, we take into account the type of casino. In our new casino reviews for instance, where they are still building a player base, round the clock support is not always necessary. Casinos that target a wider audience, on the other hand, must make themselves available 24 hours a day. Each casino review is specific to the actual situation of the casino site.
Security – A Top Priority
Bonuses, games, methods – these are all ways for a casino to stand out. That said, all of them must pass the same test when it comes to security. Is a casino safe? This is something we aim to answer very early on in our casino reviews. We’ll split this up into separate sections according to what we look for.
The Fundamentals
Before being listed on our website, all of our casino reviews must pass the basic criteria. By this, we mean essentials including the casino’s licence. This will vary according to the feature market, but as far as UK casinos go, the UKGC is the only accepted licensing body in the region.
Part of our casino reviews involves giving details on how easy this information is to access.
An SSL certificate is another necessity of any online casino that we list. They must also provide a privacy policy as well as clearly outlined terms and conditions. If a casino does not provide all of this information, we recommend staying away. This is what our online casino reviews are for afterall!
Responsible Gambling
The promotion of Responsible Gambling is essential for the industry. We have seen a lot of work being done by licensing bodies like the UKGC, to ensure this. Seeing that BeGambleAware logo has become synonymous with safe and reliable online casinos. Other organisations you can expect to come across in our UK casino reviews include GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous.
It’s no longer enough to link out to the relevant support agencies, all casinos must have a dedicated responsible gambling page. They must provide all the relevant information as well as tools that can help vulnerable players. Some of our best casino reviews have gone to the efforts of setting up a dedicated website. This goes to show just how vital responsible gambling is.
Other Certification
Although not always a necessity, independent audits help to build integrity. The third party auditor eCogra, for instance, helps to ensure game fairness. Sure, it’s a somewhat assumed topic, but players always value casinos that provide more details. If you check back to any of our best UK casino reviews, the majority will hold their seal or one from a similar company like iTech Labs. The better ones will actually link out to the specific audit certificates.
There's a point when basic security features do not add more value. This is why we also take a look at awards in our casino reviews. Getting the popular vote, such as by winning an EGR can say a lot about a casino site. One shouldn’t make an assumption based solely on this, but that’s what the rest of our casino review is for.
Casino Reviews Beyond the UK
Our main focus at Casinocountdown are our UK casino reviews. But you may have already noticed that we also list gaming sites from other regions. This isn't just a case of different licences, players from other areas of the world have individual tastes too.
Casino games are one area where you can expect to see these differences. Casino sites in Australia, for instance, are subject to certain restrictions. We see alternative software providers in this particular region, the likes of IGTech and Betsoft Gaming. Another example are our Thailand casino reviews where you'll come across names like SA Gaming and Asia Gaming. These Asian live casino providers are also big in other markets including casino sites in Malaysia.
We also mentioned region-specific payment methods earlier on. Interac, iDebit and INSTADEBIT, for instance, are popular with casino players from Canada. Then there’s Australia and the popular voucher style option, Neosurf. We are also starting to see a surge in casinos that accept bitcoin. They allow players to remain anonymous and are particularly popular in Asian markets.
Always Read the Casino Review
A casino review is there to give you all the information you need. You’d think that getting the details directly from the operator would be easier. Unfortunately, some casino sites hide their terms, and this is exactly why our casino reviews can help.
We’re a team of gaming experts who share a passion for online casinos. We’re here to deliver the facts as well as our unbiased opinion. If you’re looking to join a casino, we always suggest reading the review beforehand. Our list of the best casino reviews in the UK could definitely be a good start.
UK Casino Reviews FAQs
What is the most trusted online casino?
Any of our UK casino reviews must
abide by the fundamental security measures before getting the green light from us. You can rest assured that all of the ones listed on the page are safe. We do, however, suggest checking back to
our list of the best casino reviews for the top-rated options.
How do you know if an online casino is legit?
There are certain elements that you must look for to ensure that an online casino is legit. A
UKGC casino licence is always the first place to start. Of course, there are many other aspects but we point this out in
our security section on this page.
Why should I trust your casino reviews?
Our team of experts have
reviewed over 300 online casinos. We promise to base our ratings on the facts. If you have your doubts, you can always refer back to the operator. We also provide more details about
how we go about our casino reviews on this page.
Is it safe to claim a no deposit bonus?
It depends. As mentioned earlier on, you need to keep an eye out for bonus terms when claiming any offers. When it comes to the no deposit kind, this is even more crucial. No deposit bonus policies can be even more restrictive with terms like wagering and maximum cashout limits due to changes in UKGC regulations. Check back to our no deposit promotions page for a list of UK casino reviews with these type of offers.
