There’s been a lot of chatter lately about the influx of independent casinos hitting the online scene. Naturally, players are wary about what these sites are and whether they’re safe.
Most of the independent platforms you see are completely new to you – you’ve never encountered the brand before, so how do you know if it’s a trustworthy place to gamble?
Spoiler alert: independent casinos are generally safe, but there’s a lot to know before you pick one. It would be easy to join any of the independent casinos UK at NonGamStopOdds.com, yet you need to understand what these platforms are and some of the key attributes and features to be aware of.
How Do You Classify Independent Casinos?
Sometimes called standalone casinos, independent casinos are classified as gambling establishments existing alone without any corporate involvement from overseeing brands or operators. They are privately owned, so will usually deliver a more personable gaming experience for members.
The majority of casinos are not independent as they’re owned by big gambling companies. Some of the largest casinos and gambling sites in the UK and Europe are part of the same overarching company.
For example, what do all of these well-known brands have in common:
- Ladbrokes
- Coral
- Bwin
- BetMGM
- Gala Bingo
- Foxy Bingo
They are all owned by Entain Group, meaning none of these sites are classified as independent gambling brands.
Does that make sense? For a casino to be classed as independent, it needs to have private ownership without a big brand looming over its shoulder and making it part of a much larger family.
Key Features Of Independent Casinos vs Traditional Ones
So, what makes independent casino sites different from traditional ones (aside from the ownership side of things)? There’s logic to the argument that joining standalone casinos makes very little sense when you could pick one that’s owned by a company you already know is legit.
On the contrary, that argument misses out some crucial attributes of independent casinos that set them apart from the traditional ones:
More Flexible Customer Service
Branded casinos will normally share the same massive customer service team. For instance, if you contact someone in the Ladbrokes live chat, they’ll likely also be working on the Coral website. More to the point, these bigger casinos have to follow set procedures laid out by the guys at the top of the pyramid. It means they must do things a certain way and there’s never much flexibility.
By contrast, independent casinos can have more flexibility as they operate alone. The customer service teams only work for that casino, so there’s more leeway in what they can do for you. This could lead to things like getting new bonuses from customer support because you asked nicely or having them tweak the withdrawal terms to make your life easier. Independent operators aren’t confined to specific procedures or structures and this translates to a more flexible customer experience.
Different Payment Methods
Standard casino websites tend to offer the same payment methods – especially when they’re all under the same umbrella. It means dozens, possibly hundreds, of casinos will only let you use the following:
- Debit cards
- PayPal
- Trustly
- Bank Transfers
There’s barely any diversity here and you never see unique offerings like Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Independent sites are completely different. They do have unique payment methods and no two sites are the same. Some could offer credit cards and crypto while others strictly let you use e-wallets like Skrill or Neteller. As you navigate the world of independent casino sites, you see just how many payment methods are available. You get a broader choice, which makes your whole experience better as you can pick a site with the payment options you desire.
Unique Casino Games
Once more, another key drawback of standard casinos is their game libraries. You will see no difference in the games from one site to another when they’re owned by the same brand. It makes life a bit boring as you never get to play any cool and exciting new games.
Unless you visit an independent casino site!
Because these platforms stand on their own, they could develop games or introduce titles you don’t see anywhere else. Particularly if the casino is based overseas away from the country you usually pick casinos from. You may find lots of foreign games here that don’t exist on the normal sites you look at.
More Relaxed Gambling Regulations
Standalone casinos can pick and choose how they’re regulated. This lets them get licences from more lenient regulatory organisations, leading to a more relaxed experience for customers with hardly any built-in restrictions.
Much like the sites themselves, you get to be more independent while playing! Some of these casinos don’t have licences at all, so that’s something to watch for. It doesn’t mean they’re not legit brands, but having a license of any kind acts as another layer of security while you play.
Are Independent Casinos Safe?
Yes – but it depends on the casino you choose to visit.
We won’t lie, casinos owned by overseeing brands will be safer as it tends to be harder for these companies to get away with dodgy dealings. Independent brands can fly under the radar, so you may encounter a few unsafe establishments.
This doesn’t mean all independent casinos are unsafe; it just means you need to be more vigilant when picking where to game. Do plenty of research and pay close attention to reviews to see what experts/existing players say. This is the easiest way of pinpointing safe independent casinos, giving you nothing to worry about.
We hope this post has cleared up all the burning questions you might’ve had about independent casino sites. They look like any old casino, but the key difference lies in the ownership structure. Independent ones operate alone while most casinos are owned by a big brand that operates lots of them at once. If you want a different casino experience, maybe they’re right for you!