Winter has finally hit in full force in the UK.
Even though the days are starting to get longer, we’re dealing with rain, sleet, snow, and the general gloom of January.
Couple the cold and grey with the January blues and it’s the perfect time to look for a new hobby to keep your mind busy.
Online casinos are an entertaining hobby to provide some distraction while we wait for spring.
Playing at online casinos has rapidly become a popular hobby in the London, especially in the last five years. Video games have been hugely popular for decades.
Online casinos take the fun and excitement of video games but remove the need to dedicate a lot of time to them or learn any complicated skills.
Given that London is a “world city” – it is one of the global leaders in technology, gaming, and casino gaming marketing.
So, as it does in so many other industries, it sits at the top of the mountain, as a cornerstone of global growth.
Even if you already have an account with an online casino, it’s always smart to keep an eye out for new online casinos to play at.
Joining new sites allows you to take advantage of welcome offers, try new games, and discover if there are any special features or perks that you prefer.
Finding the best online casino sites doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process.
A casino guide like NewCasinos can streamline the process for you or at least give you a good place to start.
In this article, we’ll explain casino guides and how they work.
We’ll also provide some tips for what to look for when choosing an online casino and some examples of leading online casinos that have caught our attention already in 2025.
What are casino guides?
Casino guides are a valuable tool that has emerged out of the success of the iGaming industry.
These guides provide reviews of online casinos and games.
They also provide detailed information on payment methods, game types, bonuses, and everything else you need to know about online casinos in general.
When the UK Gambling Act 2005 was written into legislation, London quickly become the figurehead for the burgeoning sector.
It is a world leader in fashion, theatre, finance, and opulence, and with luxury casinos already a staple of nightlife in the Big Smoke, regulators were looking to use the English capital as a hub to springboard their casino gaming ideas into the vastness of the international market.
There are many casino guides today.
Some are international, while others have a limited regional focus.
Casino guides typically work through an affiliate system, so they are embedded in the industry and can share plenty of insider knowledge and expertise.
Readers should always look for a casino guide that is transparent about how they rate casinos.
A detailed explanation of the site’s rating system means the rankings are more likely to be fair and accurate.
NewCasinos is a prime example of a casino guide with a transparent rating system.
They rate casinos based on 12 factors: regulations and licensing, safety and security measures, game selection, user experience, mobile friendly, customer support, bonuses and promotions, payout speed, payment options, responsible gambling tools, transparency and fair play, and reputation.
The fact they have been able to grow to a multi-billion pound industry in the UK speaks volumes about the broad scope of high-quality options that are on the market, and while London is seen as an international hub, and certainly takes up the bulk of the market – it is a market that has spread right across the UK, and more recently, the US.
Reading a trusted casino guide like NewCasinos is the best way to start your search for a new online casino.
From there, you can consult gambling forums, read another guide for a second opinion or explore each casino’s site to get a feel for its vibe.
What to look for in an online casino
Not every online casino is the same.
They may all have a lot of overlap in terms of games, bonuses and the general service offered, but there are also plenty of distinguishing features.
As with any online industry, you also need to keep an eye out for scams.
Online casinos make a good front for scammers because they require users to submit personal information and make deposits.
The first thing to look for when choosing an online casino is what licenses it has.
You should only play at online casinos that are fully licensed in your region.
For casino gamers in London, that means finding online casinos that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Other respected licenses are issued by Malta, Gibraltar, and Ontario.
Next, verify that the site has adequate safety and security protocols in place.
The site should be encrypted using at least 128-bit SSL encryption to keep your private information safe.
While thinking about safety, check what responsible gambling tools the site offers.
You want to have the tools you need to keep gambling fun.
Deposit limits, reality checks, and time-outs are essential.
Once you’ve established that a site has all these must-haves covered, it’s time to consider the games, payment methods, and customer support options.
You want a good-sized games library with plenty of options for your favourite games.
There should be a range of payment methods from trusted providers and at least one way to contact customer support, such as email, phone, and/or live chat, and they should be efficient.
Below are some of the top new online casinos that have been recommended by the experts at NewCasinos.
Maybe one of these could become your new favourite place to play games during this long grey winter.
Casushi Casino
Casushi Casino has the tagline “the way we roll” and they definitely have a unique approach. From the neon letters to the burger icon for the menu, they keep things fun.
The site was launched in 2020 and has a UKGC license, and is a brand that has managed to attract an audience, even in a market that is as dense as varied as the London casino gaming sector.
They have over 750 games in their library, which isn’t huge but is enough to keep most players entertained.
Their main game providers are Betsoft, Big Time Gaming, and Evolution Gaming.
There is no mobile app for Casushi because the site is fully optimised for all devices.
Customer support can be reached by live chat or by email.
Bet UK
Bet UK was an established betting brand prior to moving into online casinos.
They’ve used that industry expertise to create one of the most user-friendly sites we’ve seen.
They have at least 2,000 games on offer with a focus on slots.
Bet UK is UKGC-licensed and their accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and bank transfer. While the company originally launched in 2010 in Manchester, they too have a strong position in the domestic market throughout the UK, and especially in London.
HotWins Casino
HotWins Casino is red hot because it is brand new.
The site was only launched in 2024 but has already spiced things up with players.
Their library has over 2,000 games from leading developers, including Games Global, NextGen, and 1×2 Gaming.
HotWins is UKGC-licensed.
They accept deposits by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, PayByPhone, Apple Pay, bank transfer, Paysafecard, Payz, Neteller, and Skrill.
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