A collection of slot and casino sites on lesser known and proprietary platforms – ideal if you’re looking for an independent slot site as a change from the likes of Aspire, Jumpman or Progress Play.
Dragonbet is a rather wonderful independent sportsbook and casino site that’s aimed at a Welsh audience but welcomes players from other parts of the UK.
- This promotion is for new customers only.
- Customers must be 18+
- The promotional period is 00:00 13/12/23 and is an ongoing promotion. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Star Sports is a well respected sportsbook site that has added casino and slots. The welcome offer consists entirely of spins on one of the very popular Big Bass slot games; there’s a wagering requirement but it is much lower than usual.
Wager a minimum £20 on slots and receive 50 Free Spins on BIG BASS SPLASH. This promotion is for new customers only. Customers must be 18+. Customers must be residents of the UK/IE. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Betdaq is a well respected sportsbook and exchange that has been around for more than 20 years. We’re now able to bring you a very nice No Wagering offer for the casino part of the site.
New UK & IE 18+ Customers only. Stake £25 on any eligible* slots games and get 75 free spins on Starburst. Promo code SPIN75 must be entered during registration. Offer only available to users who deposit via debit card or paypal. T&Cs Apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
The multiple award winning MrQ now offers an impressive array of slot games all of which can be played with no wagering requirements ever – a very far cry from the small selection it had at launch!
First deposit only. Min deposit & spend £20. Max 75 spins on Scarab Cash Megaways at 10p per spin. Spins credited upon spend of £20. 18+ Full T&Cs apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
PlanetSport Bet is a UK sportbook and casino with a new no wagering spins welcome offer. It’s one of only a few UK facing sites to have live casino games by Ezugi as well as the ever popular Evolution and Pragmatic Play.
New Casino customers only. 18+, UK & Ireland only. Deposit & bet £5+ cash on Gold Horsey Winner and get 50 x 10p free spins. To qualify, customers must use the promo code spins50 . *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
18+. New customers only. Register and deposit min. £10 for 100% first deposit match up to £100 (accept within 72hrs & wager 30x within 30 days) plus 50 free spins (accept within 72hrs & wager winnings 30x within 7 days). Bonus and Free Spins are playable on selected games only. Bonus can’t be withdrawn. Offer Ends 31/05/2024. Debit cards only. T&Cs apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Betfred Games has a great new welcome offer – but do note that you won’t be eligible if you’ve previously claimed a welcome offer anywhere else on the Betfred site.
New customers only. Register with code GAMES100. Deposit and stake £10 or more, within 7 days, on Slots at Betfred Games to receive 100 Free Spins on selected titles. Free Spins credited within 48 hours. Free Spins are valid for 7 days. E-Wallet & Card restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required. Full T&Cs apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
New UK based customers only. You must opt in (on registration form) & deposit £20+ via a debit card to qualify. Offer valid 7 days from registration. Welcome Bonus: 100% match up to £100 on 1st deposit. 50x wagering applies (as do weighting requirements). Free Spins: Awarded on Gold Blitz once you have staked £20 on any Games Global game. Spin value = 10p. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Full Terms apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
18+. Minimum Deposit £20, 40x Wagering in 7 days, Deposit played first, Max Bet £5, Max Win 5x the bonus amount, Certain games excluded, Spin value £0.10 each. Free Spins Available Within 24 Hours of Claiming The Bonus Deposit. Full T&Cs apply. Take time to think. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Spin and Win has been online for more than 10 years, and looks very different now to the way it did then! Be aware that the generous welcome offer is only valid on a specially curated selection of games.
When you hear “The Pools” you no doubt think of football, but the classic football pools is just one of the products on offer at this site, which has been brought up to date for 2023 with a fab new design. They’ve also got a very nice looking casino and slots area and a great welcome offer with low wagering requirements.
18+, UK residents only. Players must sign-up to thepools.com and make a first deposit of £10+ and Stake £10+ on casino slots. Deposit and Stake must be completed within 7 days of opening your account to qualify. On qualification of the promotion, you will receive Free Spins on ‘Bacon Banker.’ Qualifying players will have the Free Spins automatically credited to their account. The value of each Spin awarded as part of this promotion is £0.10 per spin. Any winnings from Free Spins will be added to your account. Free Spins will expire 5 days after being awarded. Available only once to each new customer. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
The Zodiac Casino welcome offer comes in the form of a £20 bonus to be used for 80 spins on the Mega Moolah jackpot slot at 25p a spin – a very generous offer but be aware that the wagering requirements are also supersize.
Welcome Offer is for New Customers Only. The 80 chances are credited as £20 welcome bonus and players can spin 80 times at £0.25 on the Mega Moolah progressive slot game. The minimum first deposit required is £1, for all subsequent deposits the minimum deposit is £10. A two hundred times wagering requirement applies on all bonuses and certain games contribute a different percentage to the wagering requirement. See full terms and conditions here. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
William Hill Vegas brings together all of William Hill’s non sports products under one virtual roof, with one of the best selections of slot games in the UK.
18+. Play Safe. New customers using Promo code M50 only. Opt in required. 1x per customer. Mining Pots of Gold only. Min £10 stake. Max 50 Free Spins at 10p per spin. Free Spins expire 24 hours from issue. Max redeemable £30. Eligibility rules, game, location, currency, payment-method restrictions and terms and conditions apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Betzone is a sportbook and casino which launched in 2021. The casino welcome offer awards cashback on specified losses, and it really is cash with no wagering requirements.
New customers or invitation only. Must join with promo code: BETZONESLOTS. Cashback available only for losses on selected games. This promotion is available to qualifying customers from 00:00 on 15/10/2023 – 23:59 on 31/12/2024. UK residents using debit card. Wagers are capped by individual game limit at either £5, £10 to £20 – see full terms for details per game. Max cashback £50. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
WinOMania is a slot and casino site which features a unique selection of titles that are exclusive to the site as well as lots of more familiar games – ideal if you are looking for a change from the usual slot games.
Space Casino is a UK facing online slot and casino site with a great No Wagering welcome offer. It’s got a sportsbook and virtual sports as well as slots and live casino games.
10 Spins each day for 7 days after 1st deposit and first £10 wager on slot games; Winnings credited as cash; Cash value 10p per spin; Spins are valid for 24hrs on selected games; 18+; T&Cs apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
If’ you’ve previously heard of PokerStars, you probably think of it as a specialist poker site rather than a slots site. If that’s the case, a pleasant surprise awaits you in the form of the PokerStars Casino!
New casino players only. Subject to account verification. For deposit offer min £10 deposit with code 'UK10'. Debit card only. Valid on selected Slots. 7-day expiry. Wagering requirements attached to clear bonus. Terms apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
New UK customers only. 125 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza (£0.10 per spin) credited after successful £10 deposit and £10 stake on Casino, Vegas or Live Casino. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full terms apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Parimatch has a long history as an international betting site. The UK version, which is operated by BetVictor, launched in October 2020 and we’re now able to bring you a rather special welcome offer for the casino part of the site – a must if you like crash games!
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and wager £5 on selected games within 15 days. Get a £20 Aviator Bonus, 40x wagering, expire in 30 days. max redeemable £500. Card and Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Mecca Games is a slot and casino site that takes its branding from one of the UK’s best known and most loved bingo brands. Usability and customer service are paramount.
18+. Available for new registered accounts only. Get up to 100 Free Spins (FS) immediately after complete registration locked (10p). Max win post wagering (WR): £10. 100% Bonus up to £200 for the 1st dep of min £10, received in as an instant Bonus format. Up to 100 Free Spins (FS) for a 2nd dep of £10+. Up to 100 FS for the 3rd dep of £10+.FS value: 10p. Wheel of Fortune (WOF) will appear as a pop-up. Available to claim for 7 days. Prize not guaranteed. Prizes and wins from free spins are credited to your Bonus Account, and available for 7 days. 30x wagering. Max win post Wagering: £100 per deposit bonus. Players who fail to select the bonus upon deposit are not eligible. Further T&C apply *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Captain Cooks Casino looks like it hasn’t changed one bit since it was launched back in the year 2000, and that goes for the HUGE welcome offer as well as the design.
Welcome Offer Is For New Customers Only. The Minimum First Deposit Required Is £5, For All Subsequent Deposits The Minimum Deposit Is £10. The 100 Chances Are Credited As A £25 Bonus And Players Can Wager 100 Times At £0.25 On The Mega Moolah Slot Machines. A Two Hundred Times Wagering Requirement Applies On All Bonuses And Certain Games Contribute A Different Percentage To The Wagering Requirement. See Full Terms And Conditions *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
Les Ambassadeurs Online is the online arm of the exceedingly classy – and award winning – Les Ambassadeurs Club in Mayfair, London. It’s now got a great new No Wagering welcome offer!
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At Best New Bingo Sites all of our reviews are completely honest and written by industry experts. We aim to present all our offers as transparently as possible with a full explanation of the terms and conditions. We receive commission from the sites we feature and this may affect how prominently they appear on our site and their position in our listings.
What is an independent casino and why should you try one? To understand what an independent casino is, let’s start with a bit about what it isn’t!
There are probably more than a thousand online casinos and slot sites operating in the UK, but this doesn’t result in as much choice for players as you might think. That is because in 2024, network white label sites dominate the market. We’re talking Jumpman Slots, Grace Media, Progress PlayAspire, Dragonfish, Skill On Net and White Hat Gaming. Jumpman for example have around 250 domain names registered with the Gambling Commission and even though not all of them are active, that’s an awful lot of slot sites that are basically all the same as each other!
In a white label network like these, all of the sites operate under the same licence and have the same terms and conditions, and much of the management is done centrally even though they may all have different brand owners. This means that if there’s something you don’t like about one site, there’s very little point trying a different site on the same network as you will almost certainly encounter exactly the same problem again.
Don’t like any of these networks of white label sites? You need an independent casino!
Independent casinos have their own licence, their own terms and conditions, their own customer service arrangements and sometimes their own exclusive games. Truly independent slot sites that don’t share a platform with any other sites are pretty rare, however, and that’s because the operators of SUCCESSFUL independent casinos rarely stop at just one casino.
Small networks of house owned sites are essentially what happens when an independent operator decides to open more casinos. L&L Europe for example are what you’d call a medium sized independent; they have 9 UK facing casinos and although they did experiment with a white label arrangement for one (Hyper Casino) all of the rest of their brands are in house. Some very big operators including Gamesys (aka Bally’s) and Entain also fall into this category as they have their own proprietary platform, many exclusive games and a licence that covers all of their sites. Gamesys for example started more than 20 years ago with just one site Jackpotjoy – in 2024, they have 6 UK brands (and more internationally).
Apart from the obvious of trying to get away from a casino platform or licence you’ve had a bad experience with, what are the benefits of independent slot sites and house owned networks?
An independent slot site won’t necessarily have different games to a skin site; unless the platform provider also writes their own games all of the slots will be sourced from external providers and for the most part, everyone uses the same ones – NetEnt, Light & Wonder, Play’n’Go, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play etc. The differences arise when:
An operator writes most or all of their own games, as seen at the now defunct Intouch group of sites. You can’t get much more independent than that! Intouch didn’t even have all the same games at all of their sites – each site had a different selection.
An operator writes some of their own games and doesn’t let them be used on other sites. Gamesys are a prime example of this; titles such as Double Bubble, Wonderland and Secrets of the Phoenix can only be played at Gamesys sites like Rainbow Riches Casino but they also feature games from NetEnt, Microgaming, Novomatic, Evolution and many others. MrQ and Winomania also write some of their own games.
An operator or platform provider showcases games from an external provider that are not commonly found at UK sites. For example, L&L Europe sites such as Fun Casino have slot games by Amatic and Nolimit as well as a large selection of more familiar titles by Play ‘n’Go, SG, Blueprint, Microgaming, Net Ent etc.
Slot Games Return To Player
These days many slot games no longer have a fixed Return To Player, but are instead set up so the RTP can be selected from a range of possibilities by the casino (or, in the case of white label networks, by the casino platform provider). To find out what it is, you need to check the in-game help files before you play.
It’s not just new releases either – some extremely popular games including Starburst, Sweet Bonanza and 9 Masks of Fire have been re-engineered to work in this way and can now have different Return To Player depending on where you play them. Perhaps the most shocking example is Book of Dead; in 2024 this perennially popular game is available to play at award winning independent MrQ with its original RTP of 96.21%, but at one well known network of skins the very same game has RTP of just 87.25% and at two others, just 91.25%.
You can find more information about variable RTP on our best payout casinos page.
Player Promotions
At most networks of skins exactly the same promotions run at every site (yes Jumpman, I’m looking at you and your monthly prize draw with just one prize across all of those dozens of brands!). Trying out a casino or slot site on a different platform lets players sample innovative promotions like the daily free games at Gamesys sites and the tournaments at Videoslots, maximising entertainment value. And in the case of something like a leaderboard or prize draw at an independent casino, you’ll be competing against far fewer other players than on a white label network site.
Terms & Conditions
The underlying terms and conditions are normally the same at every site on a network of skins even if the welcome offer differs. Which games can and can’t be played with bonus, wagering requirements, bonus expiry, payment methods, fees and withdrawal processing times are just some of the things that are generally the same at every site on the same casino software platform.
As networks of skins all operate under the same licence, any Gambling Commission sanctions (such as the rather draconian affordability checks that were in force at Grace Media sites in 2022) will also apply to the entire network so again, the only way to avoid them is to find somewhere with a different licence to play at.
An independent casino or slot site on a proprietary platform will have its own terms and conditions.
Customer Service
It’s common with networks of skins for the customer service to be handled centrally, so if you’ve had a poor experience with customer service at a slot site that’s part of one of these networks and want to find a new place to play, another site on the same platform isn’t going to cut it. At an independent slot site, you’re definitely not going to end up having to deal with the same team again and you’re very likely to get a more personal service.
Cutting out the middleman
White label sites are a bit like franchises. The owner of the site wants a cut and so does the platform provider and this means that inevitably, players are going to get squeezed to extract two sets of profits instead of just one. This could come out in the form of few and/or substandard player promotions at the skin sites or – as we have already seen – in the form of lower Return to Player on slot games.
It’s possible that the UK Gambling Act Review will put further restrictions on white label sites which will very likely lead to players being squeezed even more. The White Paper which was published in April 2023 includes this passage:
‘White label’ describes a commercial arrangement whereby a licensee offers remote gambling under a brand provided by a third party which does not itself hold a remote gambling licence. While the risks are not fundamental to such arrangements and licensees are rightly held to account, there have been examples of non-compliance associated with these arrangements. The Gambling Commission will consolidate and reinforce expectations for operators on contracting with third parties, including white labels.
Play at an independent casino and you’ll be dealing directly with the operator.
Disadvantages of Independent Casinos
Fewer Games
Some independent slot sites have a smaller range of games than white label network sites, as bigger organisations are generally in a better position to negotiate with games providers.
Less Choice Of Payment Methods
Independent casinos also tend to have a smaller range of deposit methods. This could be down to negotiating power or simply not having the resources to manage lots of different payment options.
Security
Smaller operators, historically, have been more likely to go out of business and may have a lower standard of funds protection so if they do shut down and you have money in your account you may not necessarily get it all back (to avoid this look for slot sites with medium or high funds protection; you can find this information in all our reviews). When a white label shuts down, on the other hand, the network licence holder will return your funds (and possibly invite you to sign up at another site on the same network).
Stability
Independents are also more likely to stop operating in the UK and concentrate on other markets with less regulation to worry about. Over the last couple of years Novibet, Fansbet and Energy Casino have all decided to exit the UK market, while others have been pushed. BGO and Genesis Global are examples of independents that eventually ceased trading after having licensing issues with the Gambling Commission. They weren’t tiny independents either – BGO had 5 casino brands and Genesis had 15.
Rogue Casinos
If you aren’t careful when searching for independent casinos, you might inadvertently sign up at one that isn’t licensed in the UK (needless to say you won’t find any of these on Best New Bingo Sites!). Unlicensed casinos have NO player protection and there’s NO redress if you are unable to withdraw winnings.
You can avoid illegal offshore casinos very easily, though, with one simple precaution; all UK licensed online casinos are required to have a Gambling Commission logo or link in the footer of their website which links to their register entry at the Gambling Commission. We make it even easier to check by including the UK licence reference number and link to the Gambling Commission register entry in all our reviews.
Independent Casinos – The Future
Independent slot sites are extremely popular with our users because they offer an appealing and genuine alternative to the large casino networks. There’s clearly a place in the UK market for them. The more stringent UK gambling regulation gets, however, the higher the barrier to entrance becomes for new licensees – so depending on how the post White Paper consultations that are currently taking place work out, we may see fewer brand new independent casinos than we have in the past.
Sue Dawson has been writing about (and playing) online bingo and slots since 2013, putting her unique spin on everything. She has written pieces for iGaming industry news sites, appeared on panels at industry events and on podcasts, helped to judge industry awards and is a member of industry think tank Ampersand Plus.
Automatically credited upon deposit. Cancellation can be requested. First Deposit Only. Min. deposit: £10. Game: Book of Dead, Spin Value: £0.10. WR 60x free spin winnings amount (only Slots count) within 30 days. Max bet is 10% (min £0.10) of the free spin winnings amount or £5 (lowest amount applies). Spins must be used and/or Bonus must be claimed before using deposited funds. First Deposit/Welcome Bonus can only be claimed once every 72 hours across all Casinos. Bonuses do not prevent withdrawing deposit balance. Bonus Policy applies. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and wager £5 on selected games within 15 days. Get a £20 Aviator Bonus, 40x wagering, expire in 30 days. max redeemable £500. Card and Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
18+. New Bingo players only. Deposit required. Spend £5 or more on Bingo tickets to get a £25 Bingo bonus. 2x wagering requirements apply to bonus. Accept bonus within 14 days. Bonus valid for 30 days. Certain deposit types excluded. Player restrictions and T&Cs apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad
New UK customers only. 125 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza (£0.10 per spin) credited after successful £10 deposit and £10 stake on Casino, Vegas or Live Casino. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full terms apply. *18+ BeGambleAware.org Please play responsibly #ad