Notwithstanding U.S. players (see our U.S. Casinos page), most online gamblers elsewhere in the world are welcome to open a real money betting account at a Euro/UK Casino. There certainly are many out there to choose from, thus making such a choice potentially difficult. Furthermore, there are several factors to consider between otherwise adequate online casinos, depending on what you seek from your online gambling experience. Rest assured, here at Online Casino VP, we have taken great care in weeding out the good from the bad, and the best from the good. We have been reviewing online casinos since the nineties (when the first online casino ever came to be), and know what to look for in a safe and fair UK and Euro Casino. According to our Online Casino Reviews Guidelines (link to Online Casino Guide page), the following list of gaming destinations comprise our top choices - each delivering audited average payout percentages above 96%, excellent promotions and bonuses, superior customer service and a variety of secure online banking options. For more information regarding the history of the European/UK online gambling scene, including timely updates, please read further.

If it were not for the UK gambling industry, the online betting industry may very well still be a largely misunderstood pastime floating in a grey area of quasi-regulation. And while the industry was never entirely lacking of regulation (gambling regulatory jurisdictions in Antigua Barbuda and Kahnawake have been around since the early days of internet betting), the fact of the matter is that with UK legalization, the online gambling industry has become a legitimate and powerful global industry.  In essence, the United Kingdom has become the first global leader to embrace regulation and to set a precedent on just how effective regulation can be, not only for the players and operators, but also for the government itself.

Contrary to what non-proponents of gambling regulation predicted, gambling activities were actually down from previous years since liberalized gambling regulation was adopted in 2005 and the UK Gambling Commission was formed. According to the 1999 and 2007 Gambling Prevalence Studies (the next study is scheduled for publication in 2010), 68% of the British population had participated in gambling activities in 2007, as opposed to 72% of the population in 1999. One-third of these figures strictly accounts for gambling activity at the National Lottery draw. And while more Brits are trying new forms of wagering, simply because there are more forms of wagering available, overall gambling activity has not spiked. Only 6% of those adults who participated in gambling activities did so on the internet, with 4% of this figure accounting for sports betting at online bookmakers. In other words, no more than 3% of UK adults who engaged in a gambling activity in 2007, did so at online casinos or poker rooms (source: UK Gambling Commission).

The Commission, which replaced the Gaming Board of Great Britain in October 2005, is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Primarily funded with licensing fees, the Commission is charged with regulating casinos, betting (track and sports), gaming machines such as slots, video poker and betting terminals, remote wagering (online casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks, bingo rooms, skill gaming) and lotteries (spread betting and the National Lottery do not fall under the Commission's domain). The Commission's three primary responsibilities include the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, keeping crime out of gambling and ensuring all gambling activities are conducted fairly and transparently by licensed operators.

In order for an operator to obtain a remote gaming license, the operator must be in compliance on several fronts. Besides the obvious requirement of maintaining a fairness-accredited facility, gaming operators are required to hold a minimum of cash reserves for covering player accounts. These figures are based on maximum bet values imposed for each casino game, and are determined according to a mathematical formula - the details of which can be viewed via the Commission's website. For larger operations, the Commission requires that senior management apply for personal licenses, while certain individuals involved with specific occupational functions need apply as well.

The UK Gambling Commission has the power to initiate criminal investigations, make criminal charges and impose heavy fines on operators for misconduct or cheating. Management is closely monitored at all times. A good example is the provision requiring that the Commission receive notice any time a single shareholder of a licensed operation obtains more than 3% of the company's stock. The Commission is also empowered to conduct announced and unannounced inspections of operational facilities. As for software providers, they too are required to apply for a license. Only theirs is a Remote Gambling Software license.

In regards to software fairness, the Commission has whitelisted eleven different testing facilities, which use sophisticated processes to ensure gaming software platforms are inherently fair and produce unpredictable hand results. These facilities include Technical Systems Testing (TST), Gaming Associates, BMM Testlabs of South Africa, Gaming Laboratories International, iTech Labs, Vizuri Limited, N Mi Certin BV, Slovenian Institute of Quality and Metrology, GLI Europe/Austria and Cast Ltd. The Commission has also whitelisted five other regulatory jurisdictions outside the European Economic Area. These include Malta, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Alderney and Tasmania.

The UK Gambling Commission can be reached at their website: gamblingcommission.gov.uk; or by email at: info [at] gamblingcommission.gov.uk

They are located at the following: Victoria Square House; Victoria Square; Birmingham B2 4BP; Telephone: 0121 230 6500