Bonus1 reviews online casinos and brings you the latest bonuses and promotions. This guide is an introduction to online gambling in Europe, explaining the regulations and laws applicable to the various countries. Continue below to discover the right casino for your needs, and expert insights by our dedicated team.
List of legal EU online casinos
• NetBet
• Betfair
• Betsson
• 888casino
• bet365 Casino
We only work with legal casino sites in Europe. Our list is curated to include licensed gambling sites that have been rated highly by our experts and users. We regularly update our bonus list to bring you fresh deals and new opportunities.
Disclaimer: Bonus1 might receive an affiliate fee when you play at online casinos we advertise. Nonetheless, our assessment criteria and review process are never compromised by financial interests, and objectivity is maintained at all times.
European gambling laws
Europe consists of 44 countries, over half of which are part of the European Union. The EU has 27 member states based on the latest statistics by the UN, and each is governed by local laws. The same applies to land-based and digital gambling regulations, with the Court of Justice of the European Union mainly rubber-stamping them.
Most EU countries have legalized online gambling after assigning its regulation to a local authority. However, the specifics vary widely from one country to another. For instance, the UKGC has banned online casino VIP schemes, while Germany caps the monthly deposits of each player. Verification requirements, eligibility criteria, licensing, etc. fall within the rights of each local gambling authority.
European countries that haven’t yet legalized or outlawed interactive gambling are typically an open game for online casinos licensed by the MGA or the UKGC, which are by far the most prestigious iGaming authorities in Europe. On the other hand, other countries, like France, only consider legal casinos operators licensed by their national gambling authorities.
Official gambling bodies in Europe
Although online casinos aren’t legal in every European country, pretty much all have ongoing debates and plans about regulating gambling activities. Therefore, you’ll encounter several gambling authorities in the EU. Some of the most prominent ones include:
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- Autonomous Administration of the State Monopolies (Italy)
- Autorité Nationale des Jeux (France)
- Austrian Ministry of Finance
- Spillemyndigheden (Danish Gambling Authority)
- Gaming Control Authority under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania
- Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (Spain)
- Director General of the NRA (Bulgaria)
- Ministry of Finance Albania
- Hellenic Gaming Commission (Greece)
- Joint Gambling Authority (Germany)
- Gambling Division of the Government of Gibraltar
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Kansspelautoriteit (Netherlands)
- Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority
- Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal
- Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority)
- Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities of Hungary
- Romanian National Gambling Office
- UK Gambling Commission
Bonus1 experts only promote casinos licensed by the MGA and UKGC across all Europe, except in countries where a local license is a prerequisite. We never recommend offshore casinos to European players just because they support deposits and withdrawals in €.
How to spot legit casinos in Europe
The best way to stay safe while gambling is to only play at casinos we have approved. Our team follows a rigorous review process and an expert rating system to highlight the strong and weak areas of every online casino we promote. We do not even consider unlicensed or illegal casinos, so you can tick this box off when choosing a casino from our top-lists.
Areas we look at include bonuses and promotions, safety, transparency, reputation, company details, gaming options, wagering requirements, customer support, app performance, and user experience. Every area is carefully assessed across sub-categories and our reviewers put every feature of the casino to the test.
In reality, most European online casinos share similar elements:
• 4,000+ games
• First deposit bonus and a couple of weekly promotions for existing users
• Mobile compatibility
• Around-the-clock customer support through live chat or email
• SSL encryption
• Deposit limits and exclusion options
Areas that take a casino to the next level include native apps, no deposit bonuses, partnerships with 20+ iGaming studios, networked tournaments, progressive jackpots, phone support, and other extras.
One thing you should never neglect is to ensure the casino holds an official license from the body regulating online gambling sites in your country. For example, never play at UK online casinos that are not licensed by the UKGC.
European online casinos to avoid
The iGaming market is extremely saturated. Backyard casinos operating without an official license are all over the internet.
Telltale signs include support for cryptocurrencies, Curacao or other offshore iGaming licenses, hidden owners or managing companies with offices outside the country, obscure games that haven’t been tested by local commissions, and more. Our blacklist includes an ever-growing number of illegal online casinos you should avoid like the plague.
Having said that, some international online casinos hold a decent reputation among players and have operated without problems for years. Although we don’t work with any such gambling site, it is important to differentiate between online casinos that operate offshore but treat players with respect and pay without problems; and those that never respond to player requests, disappear when you file a withdrawal request, and constantly have you upload extra documents to pass verification.
So that we don’t ever compromise your safety, though, we exclude both categories and only deal with EU-licensed operators. If any problem arises with them, you can take the case to the licensing authority and reach a resolution without added stress.
Playing at European online casinos
You must be 18/21+ to begin playing at EU online casinos depending on your country. The first step is identifying a legit casino – don’t worry, we have you covered. Use our links to visit the official site. If we provide a promo code, copy/paste it into the registration form to unlock an exclusive bonus.
Signing up involves sharing a few personal and address information, such as your full name, age, home address, mobile number, etc. Online casinos ask for verification documents to double-check the information so that they don’t let underage or non-qualified users access their services.
When you complete the registration and verification procedure, you can visit the lobby on any desktop or mobile device. The majority of recommended casinos also have native apps for Android and iOS users. You can find links to the respective stores on their websites or search for them directly in your app store.
After you have spotted a game that interests you and are logged in, you must either activate a no deposit bonus or make a first-time deposit. Online casinos support a plethora of banking options with instant payment times; they include bank cards, online bank transfers, mobile wallets, digital wallets, and prepaid vouchers. The payment limits are flexible, too, so don’t stress about the amount of money you must commit to begin playing at online casinos.
After your casino balance is positive, simply click to launch a game, set your bet level, and have fun!
Features most European gambling sites share
The iGaming industry has been steadily developing since the 1990s. The original online casinos were powered by a single gaming studio, like Microgaming or RealTime Gaming, and supported credit card payments only. Of course, playing on the move was out of the question, and support took days to respond.
Today, the recommended online casinos provide an extremely high standard of service that guarantees the following:
• Safety: Digital gambling sites host important information players share with them, including banking and personal details. To approve an operator, they must safeguard those with advanced SSL encryption software as a minimum. A valid and active local iGaming license is another non-negotiable criterion a casino must meet.
• Transparency: The company behind the casino, terms of service, business address, founder, gambling help, and eligibility criteria must be clearly visible on the online casino site and easy to understand. If we spot unclear clauses or unfair rules, we lower the casino’s rating and raise caution.
• Bonuses: The welcome bonus or package must include a first (or more) deposit bonus that boosts your money at a 100% or higher rate. Free spins and no deposit bonuses also help achieve higher bonus ratings. Low wagering requirements, no max winning caps, high max bet, varied game eligibility, and reasonable qualifying deposit underpin the casino’s welcome bonus true value. Promos for existing users that casinos often extend are referral programs, VIP schemes, tournaments, reload bonuses, and weekly free spins. Regular cashback and birthday bonuses are other perks you might encounter.
• Games: The bare minimum is 1,000 online casino games. In most cases, the lobby is 90% packed with slot machines. Live and virtual table games, scratchcards, keno, jackpots, game shows, and instant-win games are also widely available. The quality of games and variety of features depends on the companies behind them. Top-rated casinos rent games from 20+ studios that are licensed to operate in the country; major brands include Big Time Gaming, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Games Global, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and Nolimit.
• Support: Live chat is the gold standard for casino customer support. Bots might initiate the dialog but access to real agents is a prerequisite for us. Email support, FAQs, a Help Center, and a contact form are the main alternatives to resolve problems or ask for help at casinos. Phone support is also provided by some online casinos, but not all.
• Compatibility: Most of our readers play casino games on mobile. All approved online casinos are fully compatible with smartphones and tablets, and the user experience is identical to the desktop or laptop casino. Native apps might also be available for installation via the website or by visiting the virtual app stores and searching for the casino brand.
• User Experience: All main categories are one-click away from the menu, the games can be filtered by provider or category, and access is instant via all devices and browsers. Registration, verification, and payments go through instantly or within 24 hours.
• Responsible Gaming: Deposit, spending, and loss limits with customizable settings can be manually activated. You have the option to take a break or self-exclude from the casino at any point. Casinos also include links to responsible gambling bodies and support groups.
Areas that help operators stand out from the crowd include a distinctive theme, competitive bonuses, lenient wagering requirements, unique payment options or limits, and above-board customer services. You should consult our casino reviews and pay attention to the aspects that matter most to you, knowing that Bonus1-approved operators universally provide the above features.
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European online casino news
Watch this space for the latest developments in the market. We never fail to share legal iGaming developments, major new game releases, gambling awards, and events. Staying on top of the latest happenings can help you discover new bonus opportunities and games with unique features while staying in the know about upcoming iGaming regulations.
Reviews of EU casinos
We work around the clock to review all legal online casinos in Europe and secure exclusive welcome bonuses for our readers. You can find our expertly written reviews of EU casinos by our local editorial team and see what they experienced playing there. Check back regularly to never miss out on new no deposit bonuses or time-sensitive contests.
Responsible gambling in Europe
Gambling responsibly goes beyond finding a safe and legal online casino. While most of our work revolves around this aspect, we regularly share posts to help you effectively manage your casino bankroll and stay in control of your gaming.
Further, the online casinos we promote, and our Responsible Gambling page, include links to local support groups and contacts for gambling help. To stay on top of your gaming, we recommend proactively utilizing deposit and session limits at gambling sites. Self-exclusion is the ultimate step to abstain from gambling. European players can also utilize the following responsible gambling bodies to manage their gaming or ask for help:
• EGBA
• GAMSTOP
• KETHEA
And more options are available in each country.
Frequently Asked Questions about online gambling in Europe
What is the minimum gambling age in Europe?
The minimum gambling age at EU online casinos ranges between 18 and 21 depending on the country.
Are online casinos legal in Europe?
Online casinos are regulated at a country level in Europe. Legal casinos must be licensed by the body responsible for regulating online gambling in each jurisdiction.
Who regulates gambling in Europe?
In Europe, every country has the right to set the legal parameters of online casinos as the assigned local gambling authorities see fit.
Are there any restrictions at EU online casinos?
Online casinos in Europe must abide by the laws set by each country to be legal. Most European countries require operators to apply for a license and renew it every year, they must partner with iGaming providers licensed in each country, and more. Geolocation and verification checks are essential at EU casino sites, too.
Which online casino has the best bonus for European players?
At Bonus1, we regularly update our list of online casino bonuses, and the best depends on your needs. Check out our reviews and see our expert assessment of every bonus at the operators we have tested.
How to verify my casino account?
Online casinos verify their players’ identities right after registration. You might need to upload a photo of your ID or Passport, an official document showing your registered address, a screenshot of the banking method used, a selfie, etc. You will usually be asked to share the above before your first withdrawal, depending on the operator and country.
What payment methods do European casinos support?
EU online casinos process transactions via debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, etc.), online bank transfers (standard, Trustly, Instant, etc.), prepaid cards, eWallets (Skrill, MuchBetter, PayPal), mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and more.