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Gambling is one of the most popular pastimes in the UK and has been for decades. From horseracing to football accumulators and now online casinos, British punters enjoy a range of betting options.
Like the rest of the world, the UK has seen rapid growth in the online gambling sector. In fact, experts predict that the global online gambling industry will see annual growth of over 11% between now and 2026.
Sports betting remains the most popular form of online gambling in the UK, however casino games are consistently rising in usage across the board. With a greater and easier access now than ever before, many UK adults now enjoy playing online casino games in their spare time. Blackjack, slots, poker, and live dealer games are some of the most played online casino games.
Top UK online gambling start-ups
Bet365
The UK has produced some of the world’s most successful online casino start-ups, including bet365. Founded in 2001, the company has established itself as a leader in online gambling.
Much of this reputation was built in the sports betting sector, however bet365 has developed an excellent casino platform as well, with an engaging UX design. The company has also utilised innovative marketing campaigns and sponsorships tied to major sporting events.
William Hill
William Hill is another homegrown UK success story in the online casino industry, being one of the longest-running bookmakers from these shores. Having started up in 1934, the company operated as a brick-and-mortar bookies for many decades before moving into the digital realm in the 2000s.
Given the brand name William Hill had already established for itself, the move into online casino gaming was a relatively smooth one and the company was able to attract large portions of its current user base, as well as new customers.
Betfair
Betfair was founded in the UK but has become an international success, offering different betting options to punters through its Betting Exchange, wherein customers can bet against each other at prices they determine themselves.
Beyond this, the website also has a robust casino section with all the games you would expect to find.
32Red
32Red has quickly become one of the largest online casino suppliers in the UK, in part due to its smart acquisition of competitors such as Roxy Palace. The company also provides exclusive tie-in games to popular television shows like Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Attaching themselves to properties that already have enormous fan bases helps 32Red to grow its own audience and carve out a corner in what is an increasingly competitive landscape.
Setting up an online casino
Online casinos live and die with the user experience; if the format is not engaging, or it isn’t particularly user-friendly, then the start-up is going to struggle to find success. Investing in the right software is one of the most important first steps when developing an online casino start-up.
There are many different software suppliers available, but it’s best to do some research and discover which is best for your business plan and setup. You should also avoid trying to cut corners or save lots of money; it’s worth investing in software that will provide users with the best experience possible.
You’ll also need to know which casino games you’ll be offering to customers from the get-go, but also have a plan for adding further titles and updates as time goes on so that your product doesn’t become stale.
The range of games you offer needs to be diverse so that there is something for everyone, and you should also try to include live games as well. Having live streams of live dealers for players to play along with creates a much more immersive experience and is one of the leading features in the online casino industry today.
If possible, you should also consider setting up a sportsbook as well. Sports betting is tremendously popular and there is a huge audience to be tapped into there; by offering this service, you’ve got a direct pool of punters to target marketing for your online casino at.
Of course, to operate legally you’ll need a gaming licence and the process for obtaining one of these will differ depending on where your base of operations is. It can sometimes take a few months to jump through all the relevant hoops and ensure you’re up to code, so it’s best to plan ahead and get this done early.
From there, all you need is to develop a secure payment method for customers to use on your site and you’re good to go. You’ll need plenty of marketing and advertising to get things off the ground, as well.
Setting up an online casino tends to come with lower costs and certainly less time and work than developing a land-based one, which is why the market has become so competitive. New suppliers are constantly entering the industry, meaning all companies need to ensure they’re offering something unique and worthwhile to customers.
This is, usually, good news for punters as it means there are always promotions, offers and new initiatives being released. For those starting up an online casino, it presents an opportunity to develop something that truly stands out.
