What to Look for in an iGaming Operator
Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, January 14, 2022
The iGaming market in the UK represents a vast fiscal entity, and one that was worth an estimated £5.9 billion according to the most recent figures. This represents a significant and lucrative industry, and one that now accounts for more than 40% of the overall gambling industry on these shores.
The marketplace is underpinned by a progressive and relatively open regulatory framework, and one that has created an incredibly competitive space that’s packed full of large and independent operators.
This can make choosing a viable and reputable online casino particularly difficult, but what are the key considerations when making your selection?
1. A License from the UKGC
Let’s start with the basics; as every online casino that you play at in the UK market must be fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Association (UKGC). This is a non-negotiable point of principle when comparing the marketplace, as operators that don’t have this should be treated with suspicion and avoided at all costs.
After all, this ensures that the operator in question has met the stringent and detailed licensing criteria laid out by the regulator, particularly in terms of fairness, return-to-player (RTP) rates and the way in which withdrawals are processed by companies. You can also rest assured that the operator is tested and reviewed regularly in terms of its vulnerable player safeguards and adherence to anti-money laundering rules, regardless of its status or standing in the marketplace.
You should be able to find the relevant licensing information on each operator’s website, often towards the bottom of the homepage. More specifically, the site’s unique license number and HQ address should be published in full, alongside any affiliations with responsible gambling organisations. This resource also enables to you to search specific casino brands and parent companies to determine their licensing credentials, providing you with insight and genuine peace of mind as a punter.
If this information isn’t accessible, you should consider seeking out another provider that’s far more transparent in terms of how it presents company data. Otherwise, you’ll risk putting your hard-earned money and personal information in the hands of hackers and similarly nefarious individuals.
2. The Payment Options Available
It’s important that you choose to play at a functional and accessible casino site, and one that offers a broad (and most importantly, relevant) range of payment options to players. Of course, the typical selection of payment methods available through the market has increased dramatically in recent years, even though the use of credit cards has been prohibited by the UKGC.
Before comparing the marketplace, however, you should look to determine precisely how you intend to deposit and withdraw money online. This will also require you to determine your daily, weekly or monthly bankroll limit, alongside the maximum transaction values allowed through each site.
Then consider the payment options that are most suitable for you, with a Visa debit card and PayPal account amongst the most viable methods for most players. Remember, in addition to specific deposit and withdrawal limits, some payment platforms charge a transaction fee to users, and this will potentially increase in line with the scale of your iGaming transactions.
It’s also important to note that some ewallets (namely Skrill and Neteller) are deliberately prohibited in the terms and conditions of specific welcome bonuses and similar promotions. More specifically, they’re outlined as being ineligible for qualifying deposits, so you’ll need to keep this in mind before making your choice.
When using PayPal, it’s also important to remember that this platform enables you to connect your profile to an active bank account or credit card. This allows you to combine multiple funding methods within a single interface, creating a much more convenient iGaming experience in the process.
With these specific criteria in mind, you can select a licensed casino operator that’s easy to use and capable of optimising your experience as an online gambler.
3. The Site’s RTP Rate
We’ve already touched on the notion of RTP rates, which effectively determine the average amount that a player can expect to recoup for every £1 wagered online. For example, if you access a slot game that’s medium variance in nature and delivers an RTP rate of 96%, you can expect to recoup some £96 for every £100 wagered online.
Interestingly, this varies from one casino operator and vertical to another, while it also fluctuates across different verticals including slots, table games, live casino platforms and even the cumulative payouts associated with virtual sportsbooks.
In the broader case of slots, high variance, progressive jackpot titles can carry RTP rates that are as low as 87%. Conversely, certified low variance slots see this value increase to 97% and beyond, optimising a player’s returns over time while also minimising the house edge that opposes them in real-time.
Clearly, not all games and verticals are created equal from the perspective of the RTP rate, so you’ll need to assess specific values for each site before making your final choice. You can assess both the site’s average RTP rate and the specific value for your favourite vertical, both of which should be published and available online (this is a requirement under the current guidance laid out by the UKGC). You can also use the house edge value to calculate a game’s RTP rate. More specifically, simply take a published house edge and subtract this from a value of 100%, and this will give you an insight that can further inform your decision as a punter!
Make no mistake; the RTP rates available can have a significant impact on your overall iGaming experience, so paying attention to these is absolutely imperative as a player and your ability to optimise returns and minimise potential losses over time.