A Guide to the Largest Online Casinos in Europe
Gaming in Europe has never been more dynamic. With hundreds of sites, all decorated with thousands of gambling games and lucrative bonuses, players are often left puzzled by the sheer diversity found at these virtual gambling halls.
So, if you are trying to enter the biggest online casinos in Europe, it cannot hurt to prepare ahead by learning about the ins and outs of European casino sites on the internet.
One thing you should remember is that, even when a casino is labelled as a European casino, it does not mean it is accessible from every country on the continent. Most countries have their respective gaming authorities in place, which often issue gaming licences and oversee gaming activities across the market. Therefore, please make sure to check whether the casino works in your country of residence specifically before joining. But on the other hand, many of Europe’s largest casinos online possess multiple licences and permits, so you are not very likely to run into such problems.
A List of the Main Factors for Large Casinos in the EU
What makes large European casinos the best? Better yet, what makes the largest casinos in Europe worthy of our list?
The first thing that most players think about when they talk about ‘the biggest online casinos in Europe’ are games. More specifically, the number of games. And while that is true to a certain extent, it’s far from being the only (or even the main) thing.
Here is a list of factors any large casino needs to complete to be considered the largest casino in Europe.
- Massive Game Portfolio
- Licencing & Certification
- Dedication to Responsible Gambling
- Multiplatform Accessibility
- Huge Offer of Payment Services
- Efficient Customer Support Services
The list is by no means definite, and there are other factors to think about whilst picking your new favourite gaming site. You can learn more about the main casino characteristics in our casino reviews guide where we explain how we rate and review casinos in full.
Massive Game Portfolio
Most punters visit gambling websites to play games, which is why the game catalogue is always at the forefront of every casino review at BestCasinos. Furthermore, when we talk about the largest casino websites in Europe, many take the number of games as the sole indicator of the casino’s ‘largeness’. And while we do consider games vital, they are not the only thing to look for at large gaming sites.
But if we are to set a minimum limit of games for a large casino, we’d say that a big casino is not to have fewer than 1,000 games to be included on our list here. In fact, as Europe is home to some of the biggest online casinos in the world, the limit can easily be moved to 2,000 or even 3,000 casino games. For other markets, the limit is different, as they are both smaller and therefore have fewer choices.
Licencing & Certification
Unlicenced casinos are never a good option, no matter the size of the lobby. Even if you encounter a gambling website with 2,000 games, please make sure it holds the necessary licencing needed to operate in your market. Playing at casinos with shady licences or worse, no licencing at all is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
Thankfully, Europe’s biggest online casinos are not only licenced by renowned gaming authorities, but they hold multiple permits at that. The reason why they often feature multiple licences is that EU markets often require specific licencing permits from corresponding institutions for market entry – like the UKGC for the UK, Spelinspektionen for Sweden, Spillemyndigheden for Denmark, etc. Europe’s main gambling authority is the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). Before you sign up at a gambling site, please ensure it’s allowed to offer gaming services in your country and owns an MGA permit.
Dedication to Responsible Gambling
Responsible gaming is not just a pledge to offer fair gaming conditions to the players. In fact, as online gambling reaches new levels of popularity, problem gaming is slowly becoming a bigger and bigger concern for players and organisations worldwide. That is why so many gaming authorities such as the MGA and the UKGC are spearheading numerous initiatives for protecting the players. They often include a set of new rules and guidelines which put tight constraints on the business dealings of gaming companies in respective markets.
As a result, a casino that cares about its players is almost sure to offer a selection of preventive measures and tools such as self-exclusion, deposit and bet limits and more. Helplines and counselling groups for players who are at risk are also part of the deal at a responsible gambling site. If safety is a concern of yours, you can check out the safest casinos online right here at BestCasinos.
Multiplatform Accessibility
Another important trait many large online casinos share is platform accessibility. As large operators have a massive audience and enjoy a lot of attention from players from all walks of life, it’s imperative that they have the means to accommodate all those players. Mobile gaming is slowly taking over as the number one choice for online gamblers, which means Europe’s biggest online casinos must keep pace with modern times.
As a result, many new sites launch with a mobile casino site option as the focus, while desktop casino gaming is slowly moving to the background. In fact, so many iGaming companies have assumed the mobile-first approach in game creation that many new casino games are built for mobile screens first, and only after being scaled to fit bigger screens such as desktops. There are two ways to enjoy gambling on mobile devices – either by visiting sites on mobile browsers or by downloading casino mobile apps.
Huge Offer of Payment Services
Games and bonuses are entertainment, but casino banking is business. And when we talk about business, there’s no room for jokes and scams. Even though casino payments might not seem like an important part of the puzzle, they are – and they hold a key role in the overall gaming experience for the players. Old-school gaming operators stuck in the past are quite rigorous with their banking offers. Most times, they offer only credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) and sometimes wire transfers, but modern times call for modern measures.
Brands focusing on growing their business serve a variety of casino banking options, including digital wallets, mobile banking, and instant e-banking transfers. Many even include cryptocurrency payments as well. There is also a better choice of withdrawal options, which are more complex than deposits because they include verification procedures and take longer to complete. Hence, having more options means you are more likely to get your money faster.
Customer Support Services
Last but not least, reputable casinos that hold the honour of being called the biggest online casinos in Europe also take care of their players. Care comes in many shapes and forms, but the most direct manifestation is the Customer Support team. Teams must be accessible 24/7 either through email, live chat, or phone. In the case of casinos in Europe, having a toll-free phone line is not a problem. In fact, many EU casinos have a phone line for players who prefer to speak with the operators.
However, casinos also rely on live chat as it provides a speedy response but still gives more privacy to the players. If you have an urgent matter, we recommend contacting the team via live chat. However, if your question is a bit more complex, sending an email might be a better solution. Plus, you can send an email anytime, and the teams will reply as soon as they see the mail (live chat is not live 24/7, there are limited working hours).
Most Popular Games at Europe’s Largest Casinos
Instead of asking what kind of games exist at the EU’s largest sites, it would be easier to list the kinds of games that are not on offer. Europe is a lush iGaming landscape with a strong focus on quality, and thanks to being almost oversaturated with content, it’s also highly competitive. Competition drives ingenuity, which is how we’ve come to have so many award-winning games across multiple game categories in the past few years.
Slots are the most popular category as most gamers identify as casual games. Video slots are a prime example of games of luck that require little to no effort, which is why there are so many of them on the market. Besides being easy to play, slots also offer incredible winning chances, with millions at play for aspiring punters. The only category with a bigger payout potential is progressive jackpot gaming, which falls under the genre of video slot games.
Besides slots, players also enjoy the classics. Fans of traditional gambling games such as roulette and blackjack get to experience their favourite table/card games both in RNG and Full HD mode, thanks to live casino games. Live dealer tables are the bridge between land-based gambling and online sites, which is perfect for those who crave the authenticity of casino halls but still want to preserve the virtual element.
Some of the most popular casino games frequently played at large casinos in Europe are:
For more information about popular casino games online, be sure to check out our numerous casino tutorials and guides!
Biggest Casino Bonuses in Europe
There are casino bonuses, and then there are big casino bonuses. One of the most used techniques by shady casinos is bonus entrapment, wherein sites use lucrative bonuses to lure in customers who are then locked in by impossible gambling requirements.
Therefore, the size of the bonus is not always the best criterion for picking good casino bonuses.
Thankfully, EU sites must abide by so many strict rules and guidelines – especially bonus rules, such as those in the UK – that getting scammed by an EU casino is easy to avoid. Just pick a bonus that offers what you want, be it chips, spins, or cash, and a fair playthrough.
The most popular type of bonus is the welcome bonus which often consists of cash and free spins but sometimes can be used for live casino games and even sports betting. Besides welcome packages, internet casinos also offer cashback deals, reload bonuses, refer-a-friend incentives, and even time-limited casino tournaments.
If you join a reputable site that’s been around for a long, there’s a great chance to get a loyalty club entry where you can play for comp points, VIP perks, and many other surprises.
Check out the three biggest and best online casino bonuses at EU sites.
Safest Payment Options at EU’s Biggest Casinos
Payments are important, we already talked about this. But what kind of casino banking are you to choose the next time you find yourself inside a lobby of a large EU casino?
European casinos are casinos working across multiple EU markets, which means they are very likely to offer exclusive, geo-restricted payment services available in certain markets only. This is great because it allows players from specific countries to use payment services they are used to, instead of having to rely on standard credit/debit cards they might not even be used in real life anymore.
Examples of such payments are Swish, Klarna, Boku, Interac, Siirto, GiroPay, and BankID.
When it comes to fees and processing times, the go-to rule is no fees, and get your cash as soon as possible. The speed of withdrawals has always been a problem, but newer services try to cut down the waiting time to a minimum. That’s why credit cards with a waiting time of 3-5 business days have become obsolete for many punters, with new punters switching to e-wallets and instant transfers.
Check out the 3 most common payment services at casinos in Europe.
Please note that our minimum deposit and withdrawal limits are subject to change depending on the casino. If the casino has a minimum deposit requirement of €20, then you will not be able to deposit less than that – the same goes for cashing out. The limits we noted are the most common at EU casinos, but sometimes the limits are different.
Trustly casinos are also known as Pay N Play casinos, or casinos where registration is not necessary to enjoy gambling games. Learn more about Pay N Play online casinos in our special guide.
Benefits of Playing at the Largest Casino Sites in Europe
Is playing at large casinos worthwhile? We think so, at least if you are playing in Europe.
Compared to niche sites with smaller content libraries, large online casinos offer a better game offer, more bonuses, and probably even more payment options. This all amounts to a better gaming experience overall as you get an abundance of content wrapped in safe playing conditions. All jokes aside, small casinos are not as safe as big brands, mostly because they are not working with big providers and are less likely to possess reliable gaming licences.
We are still big fans of niche content, and we quite enjoy playing at sites with offers tailored to perfection, but we cannot deny the appeal of big EU casino brands. They are more likely to protect you, and after so many years in the industry, we know that safety is the number one concern, not the size of the lobby.
Hence, if you want a safe adventure, don’t think twice – join one of the biggest casinos in Europe and enjoy thousands of games, free spins, free chips, and exclusive deals.
Pros
- Playing at reputable casinos with safe conditions
- Thousands of hot games and new releases
- Safe and fast payouts
Cons
- Offer can be too general, not tailored to specific player groups
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