Author: Jonathan Wilson
Last Updated: April 19, 2024
Independent Casinos UK (April 2024)
Independent casino sites are defined as casinos without related or ‘sister’ sites associated with them. This lack of connection to other sites means that independent casinos have a lot of variety and novelty between them. Independent online casinos are popular in the UK as they often have interesting game themes/branding and offer appealing promotions to increase the value a player gets from the money they deposit. They are also sometimes popular, as some casinos are not on GamStop, which is a draw for some looking to circumvent the restrictions of the service.
The new independent casinos UK market offers can also refer to casinos that are licensed overseas, such as in Curacao, which are not regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. So, any independent casino UK isn’t bound by the same strict regulations, often resulting in less information from their customers and a faster, simpler registration process.
List of Independent Casino Sites (2024):
- FreshBet
- SlotsNBets
- Anonym Bet
- GoldenBet
- Seven Casino
- NonStop casino
Brand New Independent Casino Sites UK
Our Top Picks – New Standalone Casinos UK
FreshBet
FreshBet is one of the long-standing independent online casinos UK gambling industry has, with a good reputation to go along with its veteran tenure. There are a lot of reasons why players choose this casino, with their comprehensive selection of games and 24/7 support being solid benefits. However, the star of the show for new customers is their welcome offer. A new customer will get a 100% bonus on their first deposit, up to £1500, which is a significant amount of ‘free’ money. For example, if you were to sign up and deposit £50, you would actually end up with £100 in your account. This, combined with the option to deposit popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, makes a tempting offer. The main drawback of using FreshBet is that the minimum deposit is £20, so it may not be suitable for players looking for cheap thrills.
SlotsNBets
This independent online casino UK offers a wide range of services and has various benefits for its existing and prospective players. Some examples of such benefits include 30% cashback on deposits, saving its users a large amount of money, and a live casino. For instance, a live casino is a popular preference by players as it creates a vivid environment with game peers and a unique atmosphere when playing games. It is entirely different from other versions of the games when a player makes decisions on their own. The site is supported on both desktop and mobile.
Moreover, it uses a 128-bit SSL encryption technology to protect the customer’s private information. SlotsNBets accepts several payment methods, like bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Customers using Bitcoin have an additional benefit in the form of rewards.
Anonym Bet
Anonym Bet was founded in 2021, so it is a relatively young independent online casino. Despite this, it has a wide array of benefits to draw players’ attention to its games. In addition to the incredible number of games to choose from, it has developed a sports betting section, which attracts more players. With a 300% welcome bonus on the first deposit and a minimum deposit of £25, there is still an opportunity to find a lot of free games available. The only real downside to this casino is that it has no mobile app or phone support, limiting the number of browser users that can play. Anonym Bet accepts several payment methods, including bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
GoldenBet
GoldenBet is one of the well-reviewed independent UK casinos not on Gamstop with a large player base. It offers a diverse catalog of games, including the option for live dealers for an increased sense of immersion. The site offers sports and esports betting for those looking for betting rather than games. It offers an unlimited 10% cashback on deposits and even has a loyalty program that gives exclusive offers for VIP players. For a smooth play experience, GoldenBet provides 24/7 support across email and live chat. The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, Astropay, and Interac for deposits.
Seven Casino
This long-standing independent casino online has over ten years of experience and attracts customers by offering a massive amount of benefits to its players. These benefits include an incredible 450% welcome package up to a whopping £7500 and a regular 10% cashback on deposits. If that wasn’t enough, Seven Casino even offers weekly bonuses, ensuring that your money goes as far as possible whilst you play your favorite games. They make use of games from only proven vendors, and the resulting high-quality software gives a reliable play experience that is free of crashes, cheating, and other issues.
NonStop Casino
A brand new independent casino, this site has a very simple registration process, making it quick and easy for new players to get started. Once registered, NonStop Casino offers a large variety of slot games alongside classic table games, and even offers live dealer games for those who like more human interaction. Players can choose between conventional payment methods like a selection of cryptocurrencies. When depositing, new players enjoy a welcome package of 950%, in addition to a 100% reload bonus. Fans of slots will also delight in the 100 free spins given as a reward for depositing £20.
Non-GamStop Casino
Considering the casino’s name, it is evident that it is one of the non Gamstop sites. Its exclusion from this list is an advantage for many players. Being a relatively new independent casino, Non-Gamstop Casino is nevertheless quickly rising in popularity thanks to its user-friendly interface, simple sign-up process, and quick deposit options like cryptocurrencies and bank cards. It offers a huge number of slots and live dealer games such as blackjack and baccarat. Moreover, the site even offers betting on sports and esports. The collection of winnings after the game is over is a straightforward process. Non-Gamstop Casino makes it quick and easy to withdraw your hard-earned winnings.
MyStake
MyStake is a completely independent casino that aims to not only attract new players but also retain them as satisfied customers with their benefits. For the former, new users can look forward to a generous welcome bonus of 150% up to £200 or 100% up to £1000 to help sink their teeth into the wide variety of games on offer. For the latter, the site offers a 10% loyalty cashback to reward repeat players. You can take all of that free money and play a huge selection of games, from traditional slots and bingo to more modern games like keno and digital poker.
Magic Win
This is a new independent non Gamstop casino site, but it’s quickly building a reputation and player base by constantly expanding its services. It supports several currencies and languages, making it very accessible for those outside of the UK. New players can take advantage of a 400% bonus up to £2000 across their first five deposits and an impressive 100 free spins on their slots games. Even when you’ve been playing for a while, Magic Win offers regular bonus promotions to keep long-standing customers interested in the platform. The casino has partnerships with reputable gambling software providers, including Microgaming and Apollo, to ensure the best experiences for players.
Winstler Casino
Another brand new independent casino not on Gamstop, Whistler was only recently founded in 2022. This site is known for its vast number of slot games from numerous famous slot providers, giving fans of that game so much variety that they’ll never be bored. However, they still offer an ample selection of other games, including live blackjack, roulette, and betting on sports. The welcome package is an astounding 600% up to £9500, letting players get straight into playing their favorite games for as long as their heart desires. Most major payment methods are supported for making deposits and withdrawals. The site makes it easy to view its various policies to ensure that the casino experience is fair and safe for the customer.
Features and Services
- Games: Independent non Gamstop casinos often have a more varied selection of games, giving players the chance to experience games from smaller, previously unknown-to-them game suppliers.
- Innovation: Standalone casinos with sites not on Gamstop are more able to show innovation as they are each unique. This can be expressed in their site design, their selection of games, or quality of life features for their customers.
- Individual bonuses: Their independence means that these casinos have very personalized bonuses for customers, rather than the same old welcome packages recycled repeatedly across different casinos.
- Faster registration: Independent casinos registered in countries outside of the UK with gambling sites not on Gamstop often have less strict regulations to adhere to, requiring less information and safety checks from the customer. This means that customers can register and get gambling faster whilst not having to divulge certain information they may not want to, such as providing the source of their income.
- Game libraries: Independent casino sites have a lot more variety from site to site in the games they offer. However, this can result in smaller libraries or missing notable games that you may be used to from larger companies.
- Unpredictable: Being a smaller company gives independent casinos the flexibility to make changes faster and more often than larger firms. This can be positive but can also lead to negative changes or simply prevent a casino from feeling familiar to the customer.
- Customer support: A smaller company means fewer employees, which makes it possible for an independent casino site’s customer support to be overwhelmed if its number of customers increases rapidly.
- Lack of regulation: If an independent casino is registered outside of the UKGC and is a UK casino not on Gamstop, then the customer is likely not to be protected to the same degree by regulations. In worst-case scenarios, the customer may not have a regulatory body to contact in case of a problem at all.
Payment Methods
The payment methods offered can be one of the determining factors for which independent online casino sites not on Gamstop you end up choosing. Here, we’ll break down the different types of payment methods that can be offered and their benefits:
Popular E-Wallets
Examples of this form of payment are Skrill and Wise, both of which allow you to maintain a balance that you can use to make payments via account information, card details, or directly through checkout. E-wallets are quick and easy to use whilst allowing you to separate your funds from your everyday bank account. It allows you to make instant deposits and same-day withdrawals in exchange for the fees that the service charges when moving funds. These e-wallets are one of the rarer forms of payment accepted by independent casinos, which may even accept cryptocurrency but not e-wallets.
Credit/Debit Cards
This payment option is one of the most popular because paying with a credit or a debit card has become a daily routine for millions of users for years. This means a player doesn’t need to create any additional accounts, can add extra layers of protection against fraud and breach of personal information, and offers to enjoy an advantage of any card-specific rewards provided by the bank that issued and serves a card. One of the examples of such cards is Visa. It offers its clients benefits like instant deposits and lenient minimum withdrawal and deposit limits. The most significant disadvantage of using this method is the relatively long, 24-72 hours, withdrawal time.
Prepaid Options
Prepaid options include cards that aren’t attached to a bank account but instead have a balance to be used. This balance is either a fixed/limited amount or reloadable by the user either online or in certain stores. They are available from a wide variety of suppliers, some of which can even be bought directly on Amazon. The benefits of this kind of payment method are keeping your gambling money separate from your other finances and lower risk if your payment details are somehow obtained by a malicious 3rd party. The downsides are that they often have expensive fees, and prepaid options are sometimes not eligible for promotional offers.
Bonuses and Promotions
One of the benefits of new independent casinos is the generous benefits they offer in comparison to chain casinos. These benefits come in different forms depending on the type of games you’re playing and whether or not you are a first-time customer of the casino.
Welcome Packages
New customers to independent UK casinos often benefit from a ‘welcome package’ of benefits. This usually takes effect after depositing a small amount of money, like £10, into your wallet but can also be tied to registering a payment method or playing your first game instead. These welcome packages often take the form of free credit in your wallet, free spins to use on slots, or free uses for other types of games. These types of benefits are often restricted to one user per household to avoid bad actors taking advantage of the new user rewards.
Reload and Cashback Offers
This bonus is used to encourage non Gamstop casino UK customers to keep their wallets topped up with money, as you’re more likely to play more if you already have money ready. The way this benefit works can vary. Some independent casinos will offer a fixed reward, for example, get £5 free when you top up £10. Others will instead offer a percentage but have a cap in place, so the total reward cannot go too high.
Free Spins
A very common benefit to give out is a number of free spins for slots-style games. This benefit can be given for a wide array of reasons, but the most common include welcome offers for new first-time customers, seasonal promotions like Christmas, and birthday rewards.
Game Variety at Standalone Casinos
It’s common for brand new independent casino sites not to offer the sheer number of games other online casinos do. Still, the games offered are often more curated for the player’s enjoyment, and there is still a decent number to choose from, which fall into the following three categories:
Slots
The digital equivalent of the brightly lit, coin-spewing machines physical casinos are famous for, this type of game is a pillar of online casinos. Slots games can have a wide variety of themes, different numbers of reels, and can offer payouts that progressively grow to larger amounts rather than paying out at once. Visually these games can have very impressive graphics, including animations and special effects, often with audio effects to enhance the experience. However, some games may instead choose a more simplified look, trying to encapsulate the classic slots experience some customers may have strong nostalgia for.
Table Games
This category encompasses all other games you would expect to find in a traditional casino. Common examples of table games on independent online casinos include blackjack, roulette, and poker. There are usually different versions of each game, such as three card and Texas hold’em for poker or American and French roulette. Some sites may offer table games where there are multiple ‘seats’ at the table where other users can participate in the same game at the same time. This can increase immersion and give a sense of camaraderie and competition between customers.
Live Dealer
Live dealer games are table games where a live stream is incorporated into the game interface, allowing a person to act as a dealer in real-time to potentially thousands of players simultaneously. By having a real person speaking and drawing cards or dropping a roulette ball, there is potentially a higher level of engagement between the player and the game. Using a live dealer can also give a social aspect to the games, allowing the player to feel some human interaction even if they aren’t able to actually communicate with the dealer directly.
Licensing and Security
Do independent casinos need to be licensed?
Yes, it’s illegal to operate a casino without a license, even if it is an online one. The license doesn’t need to be issued by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) in the UK, however, with some standalone casino sites instead being licensed in territories like Curacao. If a casino is licensed outside of the UK, then they are not regulated by the UKGC.
What happens if you use an unlicensed/unregulated casino?
Potentially nothing out of the ordinary. You can play and win as you normally would on any other casino site. The risk comes from if something goes wrong, such as not being able to cash out your winnings. As the casino is not under the regulation of the UKGC, you will have to deal with the casino directly or pursue legal action independently.
Are there any benefits to using unlicensed/unregulated casinos?
Yes, as they are not regulated by the UKGC, these independent casinos are not required to carry out Know your Customer (KYC) checks to establish things like source of income. This results in a much faster and simpler registration process, which most people will enjoy, whilst not requiring so much information from the customer, which some people may be hesitant to give to a company.
Should players take any precautions when using an unlicensed/unregulated casino?
It’s advised that any customers wanting to use this kind of casino carefully consider the risk involved and take steps to mitigate it. To do this, a customer could use an e-wallet or prepaid payment option that is devoted to solely being used at these casinos, as well as use a virtual private network (VPN) to help protect private information.
How to Choose a Safe Independent Casino
To choose an independent casino that is safe to play with, you should always check that it has the following:
- A license issued by the UKGC should be shown with the verification in the ‘footer’ (the bottom) of the webpage.
- If the casino isn’t licensed with the UKGC, check what country it is licensed in and what their gambling regulations are.
- The site uses SSL encryption to make sure your personal and financial information is safe. You can check this by making sure the URL starts with https or by clicking the padlock symbol in the address bar of your browser.
- Ensure that the site offers trusted payment options that you are familiar with, such as Visa and Google Pay.
- Check a 3rd party website, such as TrustPilot or a dedicated casino review site, for reviews to see if users report having any issues with the casino.
- Be familiar with the different methods of contacting the casino in case of any issues and check what hours they are available and how fast they claim to respond. For example, an email for complaints that promises a reply within 72 hours.
FAQ’s
Are independent casinos safe and legal to play at?
It’s safe and legal to play at independent casinos as long as they are regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Make sure to check for the certificate at the bottom of the page and that the site uses SSL encryption.
Are all independent casinos licensed and regulated by the UKGC?
No, it is illegal to operate a gambling platform in the UK unless it has a license, but this can be fine from another country. If an independent casino does not have a license at all from any country, you should avoid doing business with them and report them to the UKGC.
What should I do if I have a problem with an independent casino?
If you want to make a complaint, you should first try to resolve the issue with the casino. If this does not work, then contact the UK Gambling Commission to make a formal complaint. If the casino is not licensed with the UKGC, check if the country they are registered with has a gambling regulator you can contact. As a final resort, you can seek legal counsel from a solicitor if you are unable to withdraw your funds.
