Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, online gambling is legal in the United Kingdom for individuals aged 18 and over, provided it is conducted with an operator that holds a valid license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). All casino operators featured on SpinScout.co.uk are licensed and regulated by the UKGC, ensuring they adhere to strict standards of fairness, security, and responsible gambling.

We take safety and trustworthiness very seriously. Our review process includes several checks:

  • UKGC Licensing: This is non-negotiable. Only UKGC-licensed casinos are considered.
  • Security Measures: We verify that casinos use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption to protect your personal and financial data.
  • Game Fairness: We look for evidence that games are regularly audited for fairness by independent testing agencies (e.g., eCOGRA, iTech Labs) to ensure Random Number Generators (RNGs) are working correctly.
  • Reputation: We consider the casino's history, player feedback, and overall reputation within the industry.
  • Responsible Gambling Commitment: We check for the availability of responsible gambling tools and clear policies.

You can learn more about our assessment criteria on our How We Rate page.

A welcome bonus is an incentive offered by online casinos to attract new players. Common types include:

  • Matched Deposit Bonus: The casino matches a percentage of your first deposit up to a certain amount (e.g., 100% up to £100).
  • Free Spins: You receive a number of free spins to use on specific slot games.
  • No Deposit Bonus: A small bonus (cash or free spins) given without requiring you to make a deposit first. These are rarer.

Welcome bonuses almost always come with terms and conditions, including wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and maximum win caps. It's crucial to read these terms carefully before claiming any bonus.

Wagering requirements (also known as playthrough or turnover requirements) specify the amount of money you must bet before you can withdraw any winnings derived from a bonus. They are usually expressed as a multiplier of the bonus amount, or sometimes the bonus plus deposit amount.

For example, if you receive a £10 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement, you must wager £10 x 35 = £350 before you can cash out any winnings from that bonus. Different games may contribute differently towards meeting these requirements (e.g., slots might contribute 100%, while table games contribute less or not at all). Always check the T&Cs.

SpinScout.co.uk is an affiliate marketing website. This means we partner with online casino operators and may earn a commission if you click on a link from our site and then sign up and play at that casino. This is at no extra cost to you. Our commercial relationships do not influence our reviews or rankings, which are based on our objective rating methodology. This affiliate model allows us to keep our content free for users and invest in providing high-quality, up-to-date information.

No, SpinScout.co.uk is completely free for all users. You do not need to pay any fees to access our comparisons, reviews, or guides.

Gambling should always be an enjoyable form of entertainment, not a way to make money or solve financial problems. Key principles of responsible gambling include:

  • Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
  • Set clear limits on how much time and money you spend gambling.
  • Never chase your losses.
  • Don't gamble when you are feeling stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol.
  • Take regular breaks.
  • Understand the games you are playing and the odds involved.

We provide more detailed information and resources on our Responsible Gambling page.

If you encounter any issues with an online casino (e.g., regarding your account, bonuses, payments, or game fairness), your first step should always be to contact the casino's customer support service directly. Reputable casinos have dedicated support teams to resolve player queries.

If you are unable to resolve the issue with the casino's support, you can escalate your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider. All UKGC-licensed casinos are required to offer access to an approved ADR service, which will provide an impartial adjudication. Details of the casino's ADR provider should be available in their terms and conditions or via their customer support.

While SpinScout.co.uk aims to list reputable casinos, we are an independent third-party affiliate and cannot directly intervene in disputes between players and casino operators.

We strive to keep all information on SpinScout.co.uk, particularly regarding bonus offers, casino features, and terms, as accurate and up-to-date as possible. The online casino industry is dynamic, so changes can occur frequently. We have processes in place to regularly review and verify the details we present. You can often see an "Updated to [date/time]" marker on our key pages like the homepage, indicating the freshness of the information.

Our star ratings are the result of a comprehensive evaluation process based on a set of predefined criteria. These criteria include factors like licensing, security, game variety, bonus quality, customer support, and mobile experience. While we strive for objectivity, any rating system inherently involves some degree of subjective assessment by our review team. We encourage you to read our How We Rate page to understand our methodology fully and to use our ratings as one tool among others when making your decision. Always consider your own preferences as well.