A Player's Guide To Online Casino

Welcome player.

When you think online casino gambling, what comes to mind? There's no avoiding the classic table games and live casino games, such as Live Poker, Live Roulette and Online Live Blackjack. These are, of course, a massive part of any casino. However, that's just the tip of the iceberg - and 21.co.uk will always have a far wider range of games on offer for you to play, including some of the most popular casino games in the UK. So here’s our guide to entering our online casino.

What is Online Casino?

An online casino is an online version of a traditional land-based (“brick and mortar”) casino that you can visit to play various types of gambling games. Thanks to modern technology, there are various types of online games available to players, from virtual ones to live dealer. The rise in smartphones and tablets has seen an increasing number of casino apps being developed so players can enter their online casino of choice at the tap of a button. The games offered by the majority of online casinos are blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, instant win games and slots. One major benefit of playing online is the variety of New Casino Bonuses constantly being offered.

Is Online Casino legal?

Participating in online gambling is completely legal in the UK, as long as you’re aged 18 or over. All UK online casinos must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission in order to provide gambling services and advertise these services to residents. Always check that an online casino carries a valid licence before depositing any funds.

Is it Safe to Play Online Casino?

Generally, playing games via an online casino is very safe. As long as you choose a fully licensed, reputable casino, you don’t have anything to worry about. Online casinos must undergo a great level of scrutiny in order to be granted a license by the UKGC.

What is the Safest Online Casino?

We can’t speak for every online casino, but what we can say is that 21.co.uk is a very safe place to play all of your favourite casino games online. Here at 21.co.uk, the safety of our players is our number one priority, which is why we have various safety measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of every member of our online casino. For example, before you can deposit any funds or even demo play one of our games, you are required to pass verification checks so we can confirm your identity and source of funds.

Do Online Casinos Cheat?

There’s always been a level of controversy surrounding online casino gaming. Many seem to believe that online casinos can and do cheat. This is untrue. All outcomes, regardless of what game you’re playing, are determined by a Random Number Generator. This means that every single spin on a slot game, is selected by a piece of software completely at random. The online casino which hosts the game does not have any influence over results, and does not possess the power to change them.

What are the Best Online Casino Games?

Every player has their own preferences when it comes to their choice of casino games, so it’s impossible to determine which are the “best” - it really depends on what type of player you are. Of course, there are some games which are more popular than others, which can be a factor when selecting a game to play. Some of our most popular slots are land-based adaptations you’d find on the casino floors of Las Vegas, as these classics provide a sense of nostalgia and “realism” that many people enjoy. If this sounds like your thing, we think you’ll love Book of Ra Deluxe and Cleopatra slot.

At 21.co.uk, we cater to a large volume of UK Live Casino players, who are looking to emulate the traditional table game experience online. From originals like Live Roulette to mind blowing variations such as Lightning Baccarat, we have all types of tables games covered. Expect both classic versions and quirky variants available to play around the clock. Many of our games have even won awards. Live Lightning Roulette snapped up the Product Innovation of the Year title at the Global Gaming Awards 2018 - with an electrifying art deco studio and huge Lucky Number multipliers, it’s not hard to see why.

How Do You Pick the Best Slot Machines?

As with any casino game, picking the best slot machine is all about individual preference. We house over 400 slot games here at 21.co.uk, and we believe every single one of them has a lot to offer our players. But with so many options available, how do you choose which one to play? Well, if you have a particular theme in mind, we’re bound to have a slot that fits the bill. Venture to distant lands that span ancient Egypt, Amazonian jungles and even kingdoms under the ocean. You may even find our favourite film in slot form thanks to Blueprint Gaming’s collection of movie-themed slots, which includes The Goonies slot and Anchorman slot. Looking for an abundance of bonus features? Then choose a slot with plenty of bonus action, like Top Cat slot or Wish Upon a Jackpot, for example. You can see which bonus rounds are featured in a particular game on the game information page, in the ‘Bonus’ panel near the top of the screen. If simple slots are more your speed, we also have some absolute classics in the form of retro, fruit-machine style games.

Think what it is you enjoy about an online slot. The theme? The bonus features? The realistic quality? Then have a browse through our collection - we think you’re sure to find your new favourite (or even an old favourite).

The Different Types of Online Casino Game Explained

Live Casino

If you want the convenience of an online casino, but love real time gameplay then live casino is the thing for you. Live Blackjack, for example, has you playing against an actual real, live dealer that you can see over TV quality video. You cannot get any closer to the true casino experience, but as it's still online casino, you have the flexibility and simplicity that playing online offers. Not to mention that many games have different variants and flexible settings so you can choose the experience that you want. Recently welcomed to our Live Casino selection are live game shows. Get a game show studio experience without the pressures of a roaring crowd in titles such as Monopoly Live and Deal or No Deal Live.

Modern Slot

Now if you're looking for a more expansive game, something with more features to enhance your play then 21.co.uk is the place to be. With a massive selection of varied games, any online casino worth its salt should have the right challenge for any player looking for any kind of experience. You have a 5 reel 3 row slot game with 50 paylines and a developed theme that a player might enjoy. Along with Wilds, Scatters and Free Spins, the game has a unique special feature that compliments the design of the game and so creates an immersive experience for the player - the Lock It feature takes the player to an alternate set of reels where they can collect Golden Hearts for a shot at winning big in this stylish slot. Games like this have very different themes, rewards and play styles so there's a lot to explore though 21.co.uk has an exemplary collection.

Jackpot Games

A number of games feature the Jackpot King Promotional Pot at 21.co.uk. The Jackpot King is triggered at random, and require you to collect 5 Golden Crowns, then you advance through a Cash Trail and if you make it to the Wheel King Bonus, you could win 1000x your stake in this popular offering! Genie Jackpots is one title that boasts a variety of bonus rounds alongside the Jackpot Progressive.

Instant Win

If you want something faster and simpler, then the 21.co.uk online casino has the perfect games for you - Instant Win. These games allow you to set a bet and win instantly, making for a faster experience. A great example is Scratch 4 Diamonds. For a £10 stake you get a scratchcard with 4 different games with the potential to win up to £250,000. The Scratch 4 series are available at 21.co.uk, with a range of games with different fixed stakes in order to best fit your play style.

Table Games

Casino Table games are one of the specialities of 21.co.uk and playing a table game in an online casino as opposed to an actual casino gives the player an advantage in that they can choose between a large range of variants. Here at 21.co.uk, Roulette can be played straight, but there's also Live, 3 Wheel, Monopoly, European, Key Bet, Double Bonus Spin and Triple Bonus Spin editions meaning you get to choose the game that you want at 21.co.uk.

That's a basic introduction to the world of online casino, but it's only the beginning. No matter what you're looking for, I'm sure you can find it as 21.co.uk is all about control - you can, like never before, customise the way you play.

Top 5 Online Casino Myths

1. It’s Easier to Count Cards Online

Wrong. It’s easy to see why some players may believe that counting cards is easily achieved in an online casino as opposed to a land-based one, as you don’t have security guards watching your every move. However, it’s actually impossible to count cards in an online blackjack game, as each card dealt is determined by a random number generator.

2. If You Lose, You Can Just Win Your Money Back

Online slots payout completely at random, and blackjack and roulette are games of chance. While it is possible that you may win the next round, nothing is ever guaranteed, and the house edge is against you. Don’t rely on the notion that it’s okay to lose, because you’re bound to gain it back later on. Set aside a bankroll before you play an online casino game, and don’t spend any more than you can afford to avoid getting sucked into this kind of scenario which will most likely only drain your wallet even more. Put entertainment at the forefront of your online casino experience - the purpose is to have a good time, not to win a certain amount of money. For more information and support surrounding responsible gambling, see our Safer Gambling page.

3. Strategies Lower the House Edge

You’ll often come across websites which claim that roulette and blackjack strategy can guarantee that you’ll win and walk away with a huge payout. Although that would be great, it’s just not true. Strategies are not designed to decrease the house edge, they’re designed to stop the house edge from increasing even further by making silly moves, like staking your entire bankroll on one number.

4. You Can Be “Due For a Win”

People often believe that if they’ve been playing the same game for a certain number of rounds, they must be on the cusp of a win. No matter what type of online casino game you’re playing, each outcome is an independent event. You are therefore not guaranteed to win whether it’s round one or round one or round twenty.

5. You’ll Trigger a Bonus After a Certain Number of Spins

While it’s true that different games have different levels of volatility and RTP (return to player) percentage, the chance of triggering a bonus is the same for every spin - it does not increase with every round you play. There’s no way to predict when a bonus will be triggered.

21.co.uk - a Premium Online Casino AND MORE!

We hope this guide to online casino has shed some light on the world of internet gambling, and that you know a little more than you did before about what online casino actually is. If you’re looking for a trustworthy online casino that offers a truly premium online casino experience, look no further than 21.co.uk. With a staggering range of slots and live casino games, as well as great sign-up and deposit bonuses, this online casino has been designed with the player in mind.