The British remote gambling industry has grown rapidly in the past two decades. This is all thanks to the relaxation of iGaming laws in 2005 and the rise of online gambling.
The Gambling Act of 2005 legalized nearly all forms of online gaming in the country, from slot machines to sports betting. But no one thought iGaming would become an important economic boost for the government. How did this happen?
Hundreds of Safe Gambling Sites
Progressive gambling laws attract the best online casinos to the UK. Indeed, there are more than 1000 gambling sites in the country. Some of these platforms specialize in sports betting. Others offer casino games and bingo.
Together, iGaming operators serve millions of players in the UK. And they pay over £3 billion in taxes to the government. A wide variety of betting providers isn’t just beneficial to the government, though.
Every gambler wants to play at a safe and reliable online casino. Safe sites keep your data and money safe. They also provide fair games, payout when you win and offer efficient customer service.
That being said, online gambling sites are not created equal. If you would like to play slots and poker online, take a look at the best online casino reviews. Select a casino with your favourite payment methods, sweet bonuses and mobile support.
Creative Marketing and Advertising
Although the UK government supports gambling, not everyone feels the same. Online casinos and sportsbooks are always facing criticism and opposition from different groups.
To continue growing, gambling operators hire top-level marketing teams to create ingenious marketing ideas. Club sponsorships and player endorsements are a case in point.
Bookmakers advertise their brands on jerseys, inside the stadiums and with the help of players. Bookies pay roughly £50m per year in these partnerships. But they gain a lot in exposure and increased sales. Beyond sports endorsements, iGaming operators have a series of bonuses for both new and regular customers.
Bonuses boost a bettor’s bankroll, which is why gamblers love them. However, they also help bookies win more customers and revenues in the long term.
Liberal Online Gambling Laws
The UK has some of the most progressive online gambling laws in the country. It allows both sports betting and online casinos. You can also play bingo, the lottery and Fixed Odds Betting Machines (FOBTs).
Most countries legalize sports betting but not online casinos. In the US, states can legalize both sectors. However, more than half of states permit sports betting alone. Additionally, the majority of these states prohibit gambling for people under 21 years.
When it comes to taxes, the UK government deals with operators and not players. Gambling companies pay the HM Revenue & Customs 15% of their gross income as tax.
But players don’t need to pay taxes on their winnings. You could win £1000 or £10m. As long as you won the money legally, you do not need to pay taxes. Of course, this isn’t the case in other countries. In some US states, you pay up to 30% of your gambling winnings as tax.
A Full Range of Quality Games
Online gambling companies in the UK work with the best-in-class software providers to offer hundreds of high-quality games. From design to betting features, the slots and table games offered in the UK check every box of what makes a game interesting.
Good-looking slots attract a player’s attention. An intriguing storyline keeps the player hooked while a high-payout setting ensures the player plays the same slot over and over.
In the usual style, online casinos produce winners every now and then. The luckiest gambler in this era of iGaming is a Cheshire ex-soldier called Jon Heywood. In 2015, Heywood won £15m from an online slot, a world record at the time.
Although players often win money at online casinos, they lose money in the long term. According to the Guardian, remote gambling operators generate more than £4.5 billion in revenue, up from £800m in 2009. When you add physical casinos and sportsbooks, the amount climbs to£13 billion.
The Spirit of Innovation
Gambling sites in the UK lead the world in embracing technology and innovating features that make gaming more entertaining. For example, British casinos adopted mobile gaming early on.
Since then, every gambling site in Britain supports mobile gaming. It doesn’t matter if you use an iPhone or android device. If it’s a smart device, it can help you play slots and card games online.
Besides mobile gaming, casinos in the country also offer live gaming. Live casino gaming allows you to play games like blackjack and poker against fellow human opponents. You can see, talk and interact with your opponent in real time.
All you need is a smartphone or desktop,fast Internet and a clear camera. Also, you should use a casino that offers your favourite live casino games.
Another way online casinos in the UK attract players is by designing user-friendly websites. Not only do they design beautiful websites, but they also include friendly navigation features.
Think of filters that help players find specific slots. Then there’s a search engine and well-organized menu items. Importantly, modern gambling sites are fast, which helps lower a casino’s bounce rate and improve satisfaction.
The Rise of Mobile Gaming
Online gambling exploded during the rise of mobile gaming. This isn’t a coincidence. Before smartphones, you needed an expensive desktop computer to gamble online.
Smartphones lowered the barrier to entry into iGaming significantly. You can play an umpteenth number of casino games using a cheap android smartphone. And the best part: the experience will just be as amazing as using a laptop.
There was a time installing a gambling app on your smartphone was difficult. But this problem has since been solved. You see, Google and Apple Play Stores initially opposed gambling apps. And so, they would block these apps on their play stores.
Operators solved the problem by creating mobile web apps. Web apps run on browsers, so you don’t need to install them. Despite that, they work in the same way as native apps.
The post How online gambling is still one of Britain’s biggest economic boosts appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
