The gambling industry in the United Kingdom has experienced incredible growth over the past few years. As such, casino owners are planning to build and open more than a dozen Vegas type Casinos, or should we say, “Super Casinos” in the UK.
Before 2005, any new casino members had to wait a minimum of 24 hours before entering a casino. Now, you can enter any casino directly and play straight away in the United Kingdom.
However, there are still some rules for taking out a casino membership or paying casino games in the UK:
Membership and Identification
In most casinos in the United Kingdom, you can have direct admission or take out memberships, and play casino games straight away. However, some private casino clubs may not do this. They still require that you apply for the membership first, as per the rules before 2005.
As per the rules after 2007, you do not need to apply for membership. You must take admission. During registration, you need to give your name, your date of birth, and a digital photograph, which is taken on the spot. There is no need to take your ID/passport. Once you become a member of any casino, you are given a membership card. You will receive the card either straight away in your hands or by post. When you have a card, it is not required for you to take any ID/passport with you while visiting the casino regularly either.
Nevertheless, it is recommended that because there will be instances where your looks do not define your age, you need to keep a proof of identity, which states that your age is above 18 years, which is the minimum required age in the United Kingdom for gambling. And if you win a significant amount of money, such as >£1000, then they may ask for your ID at the cash counter for payment.
Gaming and Games
In the United Kingdom, casinos are open from 2 PM to 6 PM every day except Christmas Day. In some busy areas, casinos are open for a longer time, and some casinos are open for a shorter time and not every day. All casinos in the UK provide a variety of games and facilities, including food, drinks and toilets. The games include Blackjack, Craps/Dice, Roulette, Punto Banco, and Caribbean/Casino Stud Poker (also with progressive Jackpot).
Casino games such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat, etc. are known as banker’s games, and such games are of unequal chance. The nature of these games gives the advantage to the casino. This is called the “House Edge.” But the house edge applied in the UK casinos is one of the lowest in comparison to the other countries like the United States of America.
Stakes changes from casino to casino, so it is best to check the minimum bets of the casinos before getting a membership. In the UK, a £1 table minimum at Roulette means you can only bet £1 per spin on numbers. In blackjack, table minimums can vary from £3 to £25.
The gaming currency in most UK casinos is in GB pounds. Casinos in the UK generally accept all currencies. You can exchange currencies at the cash desk, and the prices are excellent. You can also pay using Debit/Credit card, cheque, bank drafts, etc. But payment by such methods is limited to a certain amount per account and per day.
Differences Between American and UK Casinos
Be it economics, medicine, science, entertainment and gambling, both America and the UK have contributed tremendously to our life. In the present time, online gambling has become famous all over the world day by day, and you can find some of the best live casino platforms that allow you to play American and UK casino games. However, there is a difference between American and UK casino games, which is discussed below.
Age
This is the most significant difference between USA and UK casinos. The minimum age to play live casino games is 21 years in the USA. Whereas in the UK, you must be 18 years old to do online gambling. This is the main reason why you find more youngsters in UK casinos compared to the USA.
Law and Taxes
America has different rules and regulations, depending on the region and state. According to the 2006 unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), It is illegal for any banks to transfer funds or process transactions from gambling sites. However, there are a few states such as New Jersey and Delaware in the USA that allow regulated gambling. If you are a US resident and win any casino games, then you must pay tax on your profit. However, if you are a UK citizen, then you do not need to pay any taxes on winnings.
On the other hand, online gambling is entirely legal in the UK. They offer online gaming in an ideal manner. There is a legal structure of gambling in the UK, and that’s why gambling is fully transparent and thriving in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, you do not need to pay any taxes on your winnings, which is the cherry on top.
Game Offering
According to a study, we found that the United Kingdom has a wide range of casino games, and they have many providers in the market. On the other hand, America has only a few types of casino games.
Bonuses
UK casinos offer excellent welcome bonuses to their users, whereas US casinos do not. United Kingdom casinos are miles ahead in terms of “free spins” and non-deposit bonuses. However, US players also get these bonuses while visiting the UK.
Atmosphere/Venue
The USA likes to do everything on a grander scale, and you can see the difference in casinos such as Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Greektown Casino resort in Detroit, and the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. You will feel more excitement in American casinos. On the other hand, in the UK casinos, you will find a calmer and more relaxing atmosphere, rather than a show. In both US and UK casinos, you will get a completely different vibe.
In addition to this, UK casinos can be over 50,000 square feet big, whereas US casinos are over 100,000 square feet.
Dress Code
There are some restrictions in the UK, such as no hats, sunglasses, or tracksuits. You can dress according to a smart casual dress code when entering UK casinos. If you are a guy, you need to wear trousers and a collared shirt along with smart shoes, if you are a woman, then a dress or blouse is permissible.
On the other hand, there is no restriction on dress codes in the USA. You can find all kinds of people walking through casinos. However, there are still some casinos in Las Vegas that have dress code restrictions. I personally loved the USA in this regard. A visit to the casino should be more like fun and not restricted.
Online Element
After the 2006 UIGEA act, USA players have found it difficult to take part in online gambling. The UK has well-structured and licensed online casinos, and the land based casinos in the UK can offer its users online gaming as well. The Grosvenor Casinos offer a £20 no deposit bonus when their members visit the Grosvenor Casino website. However, you will not find any bonuses in USA casinos as it’s illegal.
Opening Hours
Casinos in America are open 24/7, while in the UK, most casinos have an opening and closing time, and only a few of them open 24 hours.
Final Words
So, how do you feel about playing casino games in the UK? I have given you all the necessary information that you may need as a newbie in the UK to play any game at a casino in the United Kingdom. Kindly share your feedback about this post in the comments.