For many a year, London, and the United Kingdom in general, has been a hub of casino activity and one of the leading markets worldwide. Sure, the Big Smoke does not rival the likes of Las Vegas and modern-day casino utopias such as Macao, but the UK has enjoyed a rich, lengthy relationship with gambling which is reflected in the vast number of land-based casinos. In London alone, there are over twenty casinos, including the famous Hippodrome and Empire Casino right at the heart of the city.
Even over the last decade, London has been a solid base for the new-age of gamblers who are roaming around the virtual casino rooms on UK-licensed online casino operators. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), along with the UK government, have also held gambling high on its agenda, but in recent years, the online gambling landscape in the UK has undergone significant change, leading casino enthusiasts to believe that London might be regressing as one of the major players within the iGaming industry.
Recent Regulations Splitting Opinion
Due to the passion Brits hold for sports, online sports betting remains extremely popular and a large contributor to the iGaming revenue generated in the UK in 2024. A Gross Gambling Yield of £2.4 billion is a strong indicator of this popularity, but this number was dwarfed by online casino play (£4.4 billion).
With a greater focus on online casinos due to the larger revenue numbers, and the greater risk posed by online casino classics such as blackjack, roulette, poker, and slots, the UKGC made it their mission to crack down on potential issues stemming from online gambling such as addiction. As a result, regulations have been gradually introduced since 2019 to help players avoid the pitfalls of online gambling.
The first major call of action by the UKGC was to ban bonus buy slots on UK-licensed online casinos. The interactive feature that allows online slots players to invest more finance to trigger a bonus round and the potential to play with higher multipliers and win free spins was banned in 2019 and deemed “high risk” to the online casino community.
Such regulations and recent additions such as the age-dependent wagering limits imposed on online slots and “invisible background checks” introduced in 2024 have caused slight uproar from a group of players who believe that their playing freedoms are being impeded. As a result, many UK-based players have migrated to options like these non-UK slots to access online casino play with no boundaries. However, the majority have been supportive of the extra responsibility takenon and pro-active nature shown by the UKGC to clamp down on gambling dangers.
London still leading the way
Despite the dissenters to the recent regulations introduced, the UK and London remains one of the most lucrative hunting grounds for online casino players. Backed up by online sports betting and the rapidly emerging Esports, which held the most recent edition of the eChampions League in London in May 2024, iGaming still has a home in London.
Even with regards to the limitations placed on online slots games, London and the UK continue to be a major influence on other emerging markets, with the Netherlands following suit by banning bonus buy games. Sweden could also join the pair in doing similar. Whether it is offering high-quality, exciting games, setting the standards for other markets to follow, or playing host to global Esports competitions, London is still a hub for iGaming.
