Pros and Cons of Playing at EU Casino
There aren’t any clear pros or cons to playing at a casino in Europe compared to UK sites. Either way, any casino that accepts UK players must hold a UKGC licence. As long as the website is licensed and follows UK law, it’s just as safe as playing on a UK-based platform. Plus, once they have a licence, they usually put effort into tailoring their UK site for local users.
How We Evaluate European Casinos Online
Our evaluation of European casinos online in the UK is the same as any other casinos. Here are the main criteria.
We compare the slot collections, table games and live dealer tables that are available in casinos. For slots, we’d like to see at least 2k titles, 100 is the minimum for the live casino, and for table games a dozen for each classic game would be enough.
Welcome offer, its amount, wager, and other terms and conditions. Then we look at the promo for existing customers. All the terms should be transparent.
Some casinos in the UK offer about 10 or more options to make a deposit. We don’t think it’s necessary to have so many, but the more, the better. At least 6-7 payment methods, we want to see in the list of the casinos to be our tops.
A mobile app is always an advantage. It’s better if the casino has both — for iOS and Android.
Sometimes you don’t want even try a casino games, because the site isn’t working as it should. You feel uncomfortable and leave. So, usability of the sites and apps are also an important factor of our evaluation.
What Makes European Casinos Stand Out for UK Players
European casinos might have different games or promotions for their European clients. But as a UK player, you’ll be redirected to the UK version of the site, with a localised setup.
So, from a UK player’s perspective, the difference between EU and UK casinos comes down to where the company is registered. However, if the casino holds a UKGC licence, it operates under UK jurisdiction — regardless of its registration location.
In fact, most UK gambling sites are registered in Malta or Gibraltar. In the case of Malta, you’re playing on a European-based site. If that matters to you, simply pick a company from our selection — all of them are based in the EU and fully authorised to operate in the UK.
A Closer Look at European Online Casinos
Here are the top 3 EU casinos that accept UK players. The list was carefully curated by Legalcasino experts based on the evaluation system outlined above.
Try 2,900+ slots from over 40 providers at this UK and European casino. The live catalogue shines with around 200 tables, including 25+ exclusive ones. Alongside must-haves like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker, you’ll also find Sic Bo, Andar Bahar, and Dragon Tiger. A dedicated promotion highlights the strong focus on real dealer games.
- About 100 jackpot games
- Comprehensive Bingo page
- Poker room
- No demo play
- Slow withdrawals
This is a solid pick for slot fans – 3,700 slots from around 60 providers. The live casino section is decent with over 100 tables, which is about average for European casinos for UK players. There are also 60 RNG tables, including 30+ roulettes – that’s above average. A standout feature is the detailed game info available before you launch a game.
- Loyalty programme & Elite Club
- Demo play (after registration)
- Aviator & Keno
- 1.5% commission on withdrawals over £500
- x40 wagering for spins
You get access to 2,800 slots from 80 providers – a very diverse mix of game studios. Another highlight is the range of promos for regular players, with free spins from the weekly wheel and a couple of weekly cashback offers. Though, the live section is modest compared to other European casinos online, with around 50 titles — about the same as the number of software-driven tables.
- 80+ software providers
- Around 10 promotions
- Fast withdrawals
- No apps
- Wagering requirement x50
Regulations for European Gambling Sites Across Countries
There are many European casino regulators. The local governments usually set the strictest rules for player’s protection (first three). And so-called offshore zones are looser for the casinos (last two).
UK
United Kingdom Gambling Commission — UKGC: Strictest regulator, ensuring high player protection, responsible gambling measures, and financial transparency. Fines for non-compliance can reach millions of pounds, with some operators losing their licences entirely.
Denmark
Spillemyndigheden: Highly regulated market with a focus on responsible gambling and local player protection. Operators must integrate with Denmark’s ROFUS self-exclusion system, which prevents registered users from gambling nationwide.
Sweden
Spelinspektionen: Strict laws, including mandatory player limits and self-exclusion system (Spelpaus). Bonuses are tightly restricted—casinos can only offer a single welcome bonus per player, with no ongoing promotions.
Malta
Malta Gaming Authority — MGA: Popular for European operators, offering a balanced approach to regulation and tax benefits. MGA-licensed casinos can operate across multiple EU countries under mutual recognition agreements.
Cyprus
National Betting Authority — NBA: Mainly covers sports betting; online casinos often operate under other EU licences.
Available Bonuses at European Casinos
Making Deposits & Withdrawals at European Casinos Online
European online casinos in the UK offer you a wide diversity of payment options. Usually the minimum deposit is £10, and the minimum withdrawal is the same. Though, there are some exclusions. Here are the options you have to make deposits and withdrawals in casinos.
| Payment Method | Average Withdrawal Time | Average Withdrawal Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Visa/Mastercard | 2-3 working days | £10 |
| PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | 24 hours | £10-£20 |
| Trustly | Up to 5 working days | £5-£10 |
| Apple Pay | Up to 5 working days | £5-£10 |
| Bank Transfer | 1 — 5 days | £10 |
How to Join the Best European Online Casinos
The process of joining the best European online casinos is the same as in virtually all UK casinos. Here are the steps you should follow.
Choose a casino and click Sign Up or Join Now.
Enter your full name, address, postcode, phone number, date of birth, and email.
Upload a passport or driving licence, plus a utility bill or bank statement to confirm your address. Usually, it’s not necessary right away, but you must do it anyway when you want to withdraw your money.
Many UK casinos offer deposit and time limits for responsible gambling. Not mandatory, but we recommend doing it.
Once verified, add funds and start playing.
Top-Rated Games at European Casino Sites
The best European casino sites offer a game choice as wide as UK casinos, so the most popular games are all in place.
| Casino | Game | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| LeoVegas | Eye of Horus | Blueprint |
| NetBet | Immortal Romance | Games Global |
| 21Luckybet | Gonzo’s Quest | NetEnt |
| 666Casino | Book of Dead | Play ‘n GO |
| Casushi Casino | Bonanza | Big Time Gaming |
Responsible Gambling
In European casinos in the UK, the focus on responsible gambling is the same as in many other countries across the Europe.
In the UK, there are strict regulations to help players control their bankroll and behaviour. Setting deposit limits, loss limits, and session time reminders are necessary on every casino site. Self-exclusion tools like GAMSTOP allow you to block access to all licensed gambling sites. If someone experiences signs of addiction, organisations like GamCare, BeGambleAware, and the National Gambling Helpline offer confidential support and advice.
Legalcasino’s Expert Opinion
We can not find any important differences between casinos which have only a UKGC licence and those who have European licences too. Anyway, the strictest rules apply, and these are set by the UKGC.
Talking about the diversity of their offers, game collections are pretty great, bonuses are also not among the key differences. So, you can play in European casinos or others. As long as they are licensed by the UKGC, it is safe enough. All brands we recommend and review on our site have this licence.
FAQ
No, our research has shown two things: the majority of UK casinos also have a European licence; the presence of one or few licences is a fact that doesn’t affect game collections and other significant offers from a casino. You can pick any you like, not caring about how many licences they have, as long as the UKGC is among them.
Sometimes, but not necessarily. If an office is located in Malta, but the casino has UKGC licence, it means this casino is obligated to follow British laws. Thus, you, player, are protected.