The stringent regulations imposed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission on all its licenced sites have led to the increasing popularity of independent sites among UK punters. Unlike their regulated counterparts, these operators don’t comply with stringent rules, allowing them to have more diverse and comprehensive offerings.
Many of these platforms are available, and you can explore all-new independent casinos in the UK using trustworthy resources. Once you find a gambling site that suits your preferences, simple registration and deposit grants you access to real money games and bonuses. Before then, you’ll learn everything there is to know about such operators, including their advantages and disadvantages, in this write-up.
What are Independent Casinos?
Independent casino sites are online gambling platforms that operate separately from major networks or brands. Unlike sites that are part of larger groups or franchises, these casinos maintain their own unique branding, gaming offerings, and management. They often strive to offer a distinct and personalised experience to their players.
What sets them apart from the crowd is their management system. Unlike Gamstop betting platforms, these operators aren’t licenced in the United Kingdom, so they aren’t subject to rigorous rules and regulations. They could be regulated in other renowned jurisdictions like Malta or Gibraltar or work completely on their own terms, implementing rules to ensure player safety.
Their exclusion from the responsible gambling scheme doesn’t make them less reliable. The best of these sites develop other measures to keep their users in check. They usually offer limit features, allowing players to restrict their deposit, win, and loss amounts on the platform.
What are their advantages?
Playing at standalone casinos comes with a long list of benefits, which we’ve explained in the following sections:
Casino Games
When you’re looking for how to find new gaming sites in the UK, you must consider the game collection. For independent sites, there’s usually a comprehensive and diverse selection. Players drawn to simple games can take their pick from hundreds of online slots, ranging from those with different themes to those with a variety of bonus features. They also cater to table game fans with variations of classic roulette, baccarat, and blackjack, as well as unique options like bingo and keno.
Credit score
One of the perks of using these platforms is that your gambling activities don’t reflect on your credit report. That’s because such sites support innovative payment methods that you can use for anonymous and more private gaming sessions. In contrast to debit cards and bank transfers, such gateways allow you to deposit and withdraw without reflecting on your bank statement. As long as you practice responsible gambling and play only with amounts you can afford to lose, you’ll enjoy casino gaming while retaining a healthy credit score.
Sport Coverage
Many independent casinos double as sportsbooks, allowing bettors to wager on sporting events. Like the casinos section, their sports betting offerings cover everything about entertainment, as they are comprehensive with odds for popular games like football and lesser-known options like e-sports. They offer betting options for upcoming and ongoing events. So, even if you prefer wagering on matches as they unfold, they have you covered. Their platforms might include live streaming and game trackers to monitor sports in real-time.
Payments
We noted that top independent casinos support innovative options, including credit cards and cryptocurrencies. With the former, you have better control over your gaming habits because your transactions are separate from your bank account. Credit cards are also common and easy to use for most players. On the other hand, with cryptocurrencies, you can remain anonymous on gambling sites. That’s because you don’t need to divulge personal or financial information to make payments.
Markets
For the sports betting sections, there are hundreds of markets. They also accept different types of bets, including simple wagers like singles and more complex options like parlays. This means that regardless of your betting approach, you can make the most of your sessions when gambling on these platforms. Their lines are usually competitive, especially for popular events on sports like football, horse racing, and tennis.
Big bonuses and promotions
Another advantage of independent casinos is their bonuses and promotions. Top operators have massive deals for new and existing players. These offers come in different forms: welcome promotions, matched deposit bonuses, which are a percentage of your deposit amount, cashback on your losses, and free bets. Some include VIP or loyalty programmes to reward players for their achievements on the site.
Are There Any Disadvantages When Betting on These Sites?
Non-Gamstop casinos, despite their advantages, have several downsides you must consider before signing up and playing games for real money. These include:
Non-Transparent Terms and Conditions
There’s a high chance of a standalone casino being a scam. Such operators have terms and conditions that are difficult to understand. Once you don’t fully comprehend these requirements, it’s easy for the operator to manipulate you into depositing on its platform.
Low-Quality Providers
The best casinos work with different studios to offer users several gaming options. However, not all partner with industry-leading providers. This means players are less likely to find all-time favourites and popular releases from well-known developers. So, before signing up on the platform, go through the game-making companies the casino works with to ensure they’re reliable.
Poor Customer Service
It’s not uncommon for players to have questions or problems when gambling online. However, once this happens, the customer service section is their first stop for getting assistance. Unfortunately, some operators neglect this aspect of their site, offering substandard support services. There might be no live chat feature, leaving players with only an email option, and responses via this communication channel could take hours.
High Wagering Requirements
Bonuses and promotions always have terms and conditions, and one of the most common is the wagering requirement. So, what are the wagering requirements? These are simply numbers that specify how many times you play through your deposit and, sometimes, bonus amounts.
Casinos impose these to prevent players from abusing bonuses. On the flip side, a few operators set very high requirements that are challenging to meet. This often prevents players from claiming bonuses, or they forfeit their bonus winnings if they have already accepted and used the offer.
Note that these downsides don’t apply to every independent casino. There are established operators with a track record of offering trustworthy and impressive services. They boast excellent customer service, reasonable terms and conditions, rewarding promotions, and much more. So, ensure that whatever casino you settle for scores highly in all ramifications before you sign up and deposit.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
