British Pound Sterling Casinos
Few currencies are as iconic as the British pound sterling, with Queen Elizabeth’s head plastered onto each coin and note, famous slang terms such as fivers, tenners, quid, bob, and “notes”. However, it was not always this way. Britain did not decimalise and sort out its currency until the 1970s. Until then, over two dozen coins, denominations and terms were used. Today’s British pound sterling (£) or GBP currency is far less confusing.
British pound sterling (plural, pounds) takes its name to differentiate it from the many other “pound” currencies that exist in the Commonwealth of Nations, countries that were once a part of the British Empire. The pound (in some form) dates to Anglo-Saxon England when it was equated to 240 silver pence. Today, one pound is worth one hundred pence. This simple accounting system mirrors US dollars, euros, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, and many other currencies.
Casino List with GBP Currency
About British Pound Sterling in Gambling
The UK Gambling Commission has naturally made it mandatory for all British online casinos to feature GBP as their primary currency option. In fact, many do not accept other currencies. Naturally, there is nothing simpler for UK-based players than to deposit with GBP.
As Britain has one of the largest gambling populations (per capita) anywhere in the world, the British pound sterling gets a lot of action in the casino world. Moreover, most payment methods involved in the betting industry are geared up to accept British pound sterling from the off.
Which Countries Use British Pound Sterling?
The British pound sterling is not just an iconic currency. It is also the fourth most traded currency, after US dollars, euros, and Japanese yen. Various versions of this currency exist, most notably those based in British Overseas Territories. These are all set to a 1:1 exchange rate with the British pound sterling.
While it is possible (in theory) for players anywhere in the world to sign up to a UK or British online casino and deposit, wager and withdraw using British pound sterling, GBP gambling options are usually reserved for those players in countries or territories where the currency is dominant.
Territories that have their own version of GBP and that have exchange rates tied to British pound include:
- Great Britain
- Northern Ireland
- the Channel Islands of Jersey
- Guernsey
- the Isle of Man
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Saint Helena
- Ascension Island
Note that while British Overseas Territories, the British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Island, Turks, and Caicos Islands use US dollars, Anguilla and Montserrat use the East Caribbean dollar, and Bermuda uses their own Bermudian dollar. The Cayman Islands, Pitcairn Islands and Akrotiri and Dhekelia use the Cayman Islands dollar, New Zealand dollar, and euro, respectively, although it is not uncommon to see British pound sterling also accepted in some of these territories.
Online Gambling in Britain
Britain is one of the leading nations in the world when it comes to gambling. Not only does the country have an unrivalled number of high street bookmakers, arcades, casino, and bingo halls, it is also home to over two dozen casino game software providers, numerous payment providers, not to mention hundreds of the world’s best-regulated casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms and more.
The UK Gambling Commission is the driving force behind the heavily regulated UK gambling industry. Any casino that does not fit the bill will lose its license and given that such a huge percentage of the population gambles on a regular basis, the UK is one of the most lucrative markets for gambling companies.
Over 30% of Brits regularly take part in the National Lottery, and Brits spend (on average) £135 a year gambling. The industry turns over £14.5 billion a year, creating 100,000 jobs for workers in the country. Over £1.2 billion per year is donated to gambling addiction charities and groups to ensure that British residents and citizens can gamble in a safe environment.
Advantages and Benefits of Using GBP in Online Casinos
Opting to play in GBP online casinos is all about convenience, trust and most importantly, safety. It is often the case that international casinos, such as those licensed out of Curacao and Malta, will not permit GBP gameplay. There are always exceptions, of course. Instead, you’ll find that the greatest concentration of British pound sterling casinos are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and focus almost exclusively on players based in Britain.
On top of that, you get the added advantage of avoiding deposit, withdrawal, or conversion fees at British pound sterling casino sites.
How to Choose the Best GBP Casinos
We would not let you head off to try and find the best GBP casinos without first pointing you in the right direction. Our team knows precisely what it takes for a top British pound sterling casino to rise to the top, and they have shared that knowledge with you below:
- If you are playing in the UK, be sure to sign up at a UKGC licensed casino that accepts the British pound sterling. These are the only truly legal betting sites in the country.
- All UKGC licensed casinos are heavily regulated to ensure that they offer fair play, adhere to security and safety standards, and behave responsibly. We would opt for these casinos.
- No GBP online casino based in the UK should ever charge you for withdrawing your winnings. Moreover, there should be generous withdrawal caps and deposit caps that you can set yourself.
- British pound sterling online casinos often have limited payment methods, with some of the more spurious or less trusted offshore options excluded from these casinos.
- GBP casinos will typically feature hundreds, if not thousands of games from dozens of reputable providers, and these are all RNG certified. Moreover, it is not uncommon to find sports betting, poker, or bingo options at leading UK casino sites.
Popular Banking Methods with British Pound Sterling
UKGC licensed online casinos do not typically support a wealth of payment methods. There is not really any need to, as they only want players to use the most trusted options. Below, you will find some of the most widely available British pound sterling payment methods at UK casino sites:
- Debit cards such as Maestro and VISA
- Prepaid vouchers like Paysafecard
- E-Wallets such as PayPal (The UK is one of the few countries where PayPal is available)
- Pay-by-mobile options such as Boku
- Bank transfers
In the past, you used to be able to use credit cards and e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller to deposit at British casinos. These have gradually been removed from the market. These payment methods (alongside cryptocurrencies) can be used at GBP online casinos, but not those licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
