How Casino.Org Helps Educate Players

It used to be so simple

It used to be so simple, or maybe that is just how it looks through rose-tinted spectacles. 

If you wanted to play the slots, you went to the local pub or arcade and played the fruit machines they had. If you were lucky, there might be a couple of machines to choose from. 

If you wanted to play blackjack or roulette, you needed to dress up smart and head for your nearest casino. Or maybe you made a special weekend of it and took yourself off to a casino resort. 

Betting was basically a choice between the horses and the dogs, with maybe some football thrown in for good measure. To place a bet, you went to your nearest high street ‘turf accountant’ or got some live action at the race course and put a bet on at the trackside.

While those options are still available, there is so much more on offer.

How to choose

How things have changed. Not only has UK betting been liberalised and regulated, but we have also seen an explosion in online casinos, slot sites, and every imaginable betting and gambling option. As recently as June 2024, the UK Gambling Commission made a slew of recommendations to the government to update the 2005 Gambling Act to bring it up to date.

“It can be a bit of a minefield for a casual or even more serious gambler these days”, writes William Macmaster from Casino.org. 

“There is simply so much choice that people can be overwhelmed. How do they know where to find the best experience for them? Some sites have thousands of games, and hundreds are all vying for the customers’ attention. Each online casino and sportsbook tries to shout the loudest in a crowded space. This might be with flashy, prominent advertising featuring well-known faces, or through direct messaging and social media with unbelievable offers to tempt people to open an account and play on a particular site”.

He goes on to say,

“There are sign-up bonuses, welcome bonuses, no deposit bonuses and loyalty bonuses in all shapes and guises. The online platforms constantly update their offers and games libraries and create new, exciting propositions for their customers. It can be quite difficult for gamblers to know where it is best to play, what sites are reputable, and which are not. The last thing a player wants to do is find out after the event that what looked like a legitimate site was a scam site.”

Just because it has a license does not mean it is good

“And even some licensed sites are not up to Casino.org’s high standards. We try to educate online gamblers so that they know what to look out for before opening an account and risking their hard-earned cash. We even have a section telling customers which sites to avoid. We are not afraid of calling out sites that do not perform to the expected standard.”

“Unlike many affiliate platforms, we genuinely review all the sites and games, and they are measured against our 25-point review scheme. We have been developing, refining and recalibrating our review process for over 20 years to ensure players can rapidly assess whether a site is good to play on or one to avoid.”

Data-driven review process

“We offer players a topline review and marks out of five. For some people, this is all the information they require. Others who like to find out more can read extensive feedback from the data collected. Rather than going on gut feel, Casino.org offers data-driven recommendations and a consistent approach to ranking one site against another”.

William says that they do not leave anything to chance,

“We do not take the casinos’ word for it. Our reviewers are players themselves, and they try out every part of the site. This includes setting up an account, placing deposits, trying different payment methods and validating the bonuses. Then we have to do the tough part of our job and play all the games – well, someone has to do it!  We stress-test the sites to see how good they are. We always check them out on different screen sizes, on mobile browsers and apps too.”

Remember those handy exam notes?

“We read the small print, so the customer has all the information at their fingertips. You could think of us as the Brodies Notes or BBC Bitesize of the online casino world. If you have a question to ask, we have probably found the answer.”

Macmaster is an Associate Gaming Specialist, so he has plenty of tips and tricks to help people get the best out of their online gambling experience. For example, he says, 

“I am keen to remind UK punters to verify their account as soon as they join a new casino. It only takes a few moments but can save loads of time down the line. Having your account verified means you will not need to be waiting around when you want to make a withdrawal.”

“Another important point for UK gamblers to remember is the Gambling Commission does not allow for gambling to be paid for using cryptocurrencies or credit cards. It should be an instant red flag if you find online casinos accepting either of these payment options. The casino will not be licensed and should automatically be avoided. This can be part of the problem with a growing industry like the one we see in the UK, new casinos pop up every day, hence why you need someone to help filter out the bad from the good” writes William Macmaster.

Fun and responsible gambling

He concludes,

“Sometimes it might feel as if the Regulator and Gambling Commission want to take away the fun of gambling, but nothing could be further from the truth. The aim is to ensure that gamblers are protected from unscrupulous operators and have an entertaining time. Any new casino operator has to obtain a license to operate through them, and part of this process is to make sure the site has adequate measures in place to ensure players avoid any potential gambling harm. The advice is to set yourself a budget before embarking on a gambling session, never borrow to try and win back losses and to take frequent breaks.”

As with so many things in life, learning can be great fun. When we stop wanting to find out more and educate ourselves, we close down all sorts of potential in our lives.