The UK Has Created A Competitive Gambling Marketplace
Gambling is one of the oldest hobbies in the world. Since ancient times, people have been playing games of chance and placing bets on sporting events. The earliest dice and gaming pieces date back to 5000 BCE. The earliest playing cards are over 1000 years old and the ones we know today with Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, and Spades date to roughly 1480 CE.
Over the centuries, gambling laws have fluctuated dramatically. One of the only constants has been legal betting on horse racing. Other forms of sports betting, casino games, and casinos themselves have been banned at various times. Since the start of the 21st century, online gambling has been the biggest point of discussion and legal debate.
The UK has a long and colourful history with gambling. During the 1930s and 40s, gambling was severely restricted. In the 1960s, these restrictions were gradually and steadily rolled back. The Gambling Commission was established by the Gambling Act of 2005. This Act shifted regulation to local authorities and paved the way for further legalisation. In recent years, the UK has embraced the online gambling market.
The UK has created a competitive gambling marketplace, leading to an incredibly strong industry. This article will explain some of the factors that have contributed to the success of the industry in the United Kingdom.
Licensing
Licensing is a central feature of a thriving gambling industry. A license provides players with a sense of security because it means that the casino they’re playing at is regulated by a government. This provides both the casino and the player with protections and oversight.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has been established as one of the most trusted regulatory agencies and licensing bodies in the world. In fact, most countries accept a UKGC license as fully valid. By establishing this level of trust and expertise, the UK has made itself a supportive base for casino brands.
Advertising
Advertising is an integral part of how consumers make their purchasing decisions. Advertising for online casinos and sportsbooks has become a contentious issue in many countries. Some countries have already banned sportsbook advertising during sporting events and other programs that children are likely to be watching.
The UK doesn’t have these kinds of restrictions on advertising for gambling sites. Gambling brands appreciate this freedom and take advantage of the opportunities this offers. It is common in the UK to see gambling advertisements on the television, displayed on athletes’ kits, as banners at stadiums, and on social media. This freedom to advertise contributes to the strong gambling market in the UK.
Bonuses
The casino bonus sites in the UKare equal to or better than the casino bonus sites in the rest of the world. One of the reasons why the gambling market in the UK is so successful is that they allow online casinos to offer a variety of bonuses.
Some countries have much stricter laws regarding bonuses, limiting online casinos’ ability to attract new customers. In Australia, for example, the National Consumer Protection Framework (NCPF) that was introduced in 2018 bans the offering of inducements. This means that online casinos cannot use welcome bonuses to encourage players to open an account.
In the UK, on the other hand, welcome bonuses are generally a key factor in how new customers decide where to open an account. These bonuses include free slot spins, deposit matching, and other perks. However, there have been some recent regulations to prevent these bonuses from becoming predatory.
Investment in responsible gambling measures
The unfortunate truth about gambling is that it has the potential to become a devastating addiction for many people. Gambling addiction can have massive financial consequences and can damage personal and professional relationships. In short, the societal costs of gambling addiction are high.
Many countries respond to rising levels of problematic gambling behaviours by implementing harsh regulations like total bans on advertising, aggressive public service messaging, and even by making gambling illegal. The reality is, however, that nothing is going to completely stop people from gambling.
What the UK has done has helped to contribute to the health of the gambling marketplace while still protecting its residents. The government tracks trends in gambling behaviours and then requires gambling service providers to implement tools to reduce harm.
There are many responsible gambling tools. Deposit limits, time outs, and self-exclusion are the three most widely used tools. They all limit in some ways the amount of money or time that a person can spend gambling. Most are designed to limit the likelihood that a player will develop a gambling addiction. One of the most interesting recent regulations is the banning on in-game celebrations of wins less than the value of the wager.
Implementing responsible gambling measures and offering their customers these tools may initially cost gambling brands but has a positive outcome in the long term. Happy players with healthy habits are more likely to remain customers for long periods of time. And since the House always wins, the casinos and sportsbooks will continue to be lucrative businesses.
Below are some of the leading online casinos that have flourished in the UK’s competitive gambling marketplace.
Duelz Casino
Duelz Casino has a unique medieval theme that is playful and engaging. Their games library has over 1,000 slot machine games, most of which are from leading developers. This includes an impressive selection of progressive jackpot games. They also have plenty of table games, including many live dealer games.
For deposits, Duelz accepts bank transfers, debit cards, Trustly, PayPal, Paysafecard, Neteller, Skrill, and MuchBetter. Withdrawals can be made with all these methods except for the Paysafecard. This is impressive since most online casinos are much more restrictive. Duelz has plenty of sister sites if the knights in shining armour theme isn’t your cup of tea.
Mr Vegas
The games library at Mr Vegas could compete with any casino on The Strip. It has over 5,000 games! Most of their games are slots but they also have one of the most impressive collections of live dealer games in the industry. If that somehow isn’t enough, Mr Vegas’ sister casino is Video Slots, which also has an ample library.
The Mr Vegas site could use a bit of an upgrade since it doesn’t look or feel as modern as many of its rivals. What it lacks in looks, it makes up for in security and customer support. Customer support can be reached by 24/7 live chat, email, and through phone callback request. They even have an option for snail mail communication!
MrQ Casino
MrQ is a new site, but its developers have obviously studied the market to create a high quality casino. One of the first things players notice is how easy to use and streamlined the website is. There is also an extensive FAQ section, so players can troubleshoot most minor issues on their own.
The games library at MrQ Casino is a good size, not so small that it gets boring and not so big that it’s hard to find what you want to play. There is no VIP program yet, but hopefully this will be added soon so that returning players are rewarded like new customers are.