Criteria for Choosing the Best Online Casino in Europe

Our Top 10 Best Online Casinos in Europe

How do online casinos operate in Europe?

All online casinos in Europe fall into two categories. The first operate under local licenses issued by one of the many national regulators. The second are registered in various offshore jurisdictions and are authorized to provide their services worldwide.

Each European country regulates online gambling in its own way and tries to solve two problems at once: protect its citizens from possible gambling addiction issues and increase tax revenues from operators. As a result, legislation is constantly tightening almost everywhere.

Some countries limit deposit amounts or even prohibit the best European online casinos from offering welcome bonuses to new customers. Others impose strict restrictions on withdrawals and even on the speed at which a player is allowed to spin the slot reels.

There are also countries that, as a matter of principle, do not issue licenses to anyone to organize online gambling, maintaining a state monopoly. Therefore, most Europeans choose various offshore platforms, where there are no unnecessary restrictions and a much freer atmosphere.

International licences for European casinos

So, international licenses play a key role in your safety offshore. They determine the level of control, customer protection requirements, and financial regulation. And because their activities are aimed at gambling business owners rather than players, we also have access to European slots that are banned in many EU countries.

Offshore certificates can be divided into several groups. The Curacao Gaming Control Board and the Malta Gaming Authority have long been the most well-known. Malta is still considered the benchmark in the EU. But the MGA's requirements are strict and expensive, so only some of the best euro online casinos operate under its license. Curacao, on the other hand, used to be a popular choice. However, after the reform, regulation has become significantly stricter.

Against this backdrop, the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority has come to the fore. This license is now actively used by new European casinos thanks to its more favorable terms and transparent structure. However, it is important to take into account the official GEO-IP blocks for the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Spain. For you, this simply means that you will need to use a VPN.

The Gambling Supervision Commission (Isle of Man), Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and Nevis Online Gaming License deserve special attention. They are prestigious but niche.

How to choose a European online casino?

You need to approach selecting the best online casinos in Europe very responsibly, because you will be entrusting them not only with your personal data but also with your money. Therefore, you should start by assessing the site's security.

Be sure to check that the gambling establishment has a valid license from one of the well-known regulators. It does not matter which authority issued it, local or international. It is also worth checking whether the Euro casino's official website is reliable from a technical standpoint. It must have a valid SSL security certificate.

If the EU casino meets the key requirements, you can proceed to a more detailed analysis. Make sure the operator's library offers a wide selection of online gambling games across your favorite genres. Evaluate the convenience of payment solutions that can be used to make deposits and withdraw winnings.

Pay attention to the bonus program, but don't just focus on the size of the casino's offers. The wagering conditions are much more important.

It also doesn't hurt to evaluate the competence and responsiveness of customer support. Just ask a couple of questions, and you'll understand whether you can get quality and quick help in case of any real problems.

Lukas Meyer

Author at Raceways

Lukas Meyer is responsible for the editorial direction of the website. He defines content standards, supervises the preparation and verification of casino and bookmaker reviews, and ensures that information on licensing, RTP, bonuses and terms remains consistent, accurate and up to date.

Adrian Novak

Editor at Raceways

Adrian Novak conducts structured evaluations of online casinos and sports betting sites. His work focuses on game and market selection, bonus conditions, payment processing, platform functionality and mobile performance, providing readers with clear, comparable data for selecting suitable operators.