Europe is a vast continent with loads of different online casinos. As such, it’s become highly common for punters to seek out European casinos when looking for fun games to play.
These sites come with lots of pros and cons – but here are five things to know before you try and join one:
#1 Some European Casinos Have Regional Restrictions
The big thing to know about European Casinos is their regional restrictions. Some sites in certain countries may only allow people living in that country to access and use them. Others will accept players from neighboring countries and a fair few will completely block UK players from joining.
Then, you have sites with open doors accepting anyone and everyone. For instance, this CasinoGam guide shows many EU casinos that accept UK players and players from all over the continent. The underlying theme is that you’ll encounter all sorts of regional restrictions and rules across different European casino sites.
Our advice is simple; message the casino’s customer support team asking if they accept members from your country. It’s the easiest way to find this out and ensures you don’t waste time accidentally signing up for a casino site you can’t technically use.
#2 Many Different Gambling Licences Are Available
A gambling licence ensures operators are regulated and abide by a set of rules. It keeps them in check, which means players benefit from better and safer services. European casinos can come without licences, but most of the best ones will have at least one or two licences allowing them to operate in different regions. The European Gaming & Betting Association reports that 27 out of 31 European countries now use multiple licences across their igaming operators.
Most people’s knowledge of gambling licences extends to the UK Gambling Commission – it’s the most widely known and is often in the news for its strict rules and regulations. This licence is solely required when an operator wants to register in the United Kingdom. A lot of EU casinos do this, but even more of them will obtain European licences instead. Common ones include:
- MGA Licence (Malta)
- Gibraltar Gambling Licence
- Alderney Gambling Licence
- Estonia Gambling Licence
- Lithuania Gambling Licence
Funnily enough, a big handful of European casinos will obtain a Curacao Licence from the Caribbean. While this licence isn’t handed out by a European governing body, it still makes the site legitimately regulated. Loads of operators choose this as it’s affordable and has some of the best rules for both players and companies.
Be aware of the different licences before you join as it can dictate your happiness when gaming. If you pick a site with a very strict gambling licence, it could stop you from wagering certain amounts of money, playing games at specific times or acquiring particular bonuses.
#3 You May Have To Use Specific Currencies
The obvious assumption is that all online casinos in Europe will use the Euro. Everyone thinks this currency is used throughout Europe, but only 25 countries use it as legal tender. There are 29 currencies in total across Europe and many of these might be used at different online casino websites.
Why is this important? Because it dictates the currency you’ll use when frequenting these sites. Gambling in Euros is one thing, but it’s completely different if you’re betting in ruble or krona. Exchange rates can fluctuate and it’s a lot harder to understand how much your money is worth when the currency is foreign to you.
The good news is that a good chunk of EU casinos will offer Euros as an option. Some go one step further and let you gamble in GBP. Our tip is to look for sites using your favourite currency. It makes life easier and can negate the need to deal with annoying exchange rates or conversion fees.
#4 Loads Of Payment Methods Can Be Chosen
European casinos are spread across a vast continent and this gives them a significant benefit: they can provide a massive choice of payment methods depending on which country they’re located in. Some of these options are:
- Credit/debit cards
- Direct bank transfers
- PayPal
- Neosurf
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Sofort
- MiFinity
In addition to all of these, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are highly likely to be offered. European casinos have embraced the crypto market and appreciate fans love using this as a payment method. Expect to see a good choice of coins to use when playing on these platforms.
#5 All Of Your Favourite Games Will Be Available
And what games will you play on these platforms? You’ll be happy to know all your favourite titles are available. Game developers aren’t unique to specific countries. Most of the big names you know and love are based in Europe and obtain licences across the continent to ensure their titles are available everywhere.
So, if you’re worried about having to play some niche European games you’ve never heard of, then don’t! Every EU casino has a long list of popular titles you’ll be well acquainted with and it’s a simple case of slipping back into your routine.
Why join European casinos? Their diversity offers much to be lauded and they can give you loads of funky bonuses or loyalty perks. Opening your eyes to an entire continent of online casinos means you’re getting more variety. This is always a good thing and the standard of igaming is generally very high.