Gambling in the UK

At one time gambling 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 gambling in the UK. Now it is possible to have a wager at any time of the day or night. Online gambling 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. Gambling 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 gambling, it is no wonder that gambling is thriving in the UK.

Most of the traditional household names such as Ladbrokes, William Hill, Paddy Power and Vernon’s now offer online gambling alongside their traditional business. Newer businesses such as Jackpot Joy, 32 red, Quicksilver, Spin and Win, and Tombola are also on their way to becoming household names. Even many existing companies have got in on the online gambling 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 gambling 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 gambling, 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 gambling. The rest of the world would do well to take a look at how the UK has embraced the online gambling revolution and legitimised it.

Author Pam H 

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