In early 2020, non gamstop casinos began to gain popularity. Britons could finally breathe a sigh of relief from local restrictions, take full advantage of bonuses and play without limits on overseas sites. But then a more serious threat emerged — Covid-19. It seemed that this viral epidemic would affect the gambling business for the worse, but it only worked to the advantage of online casinos.
The State of Online Casinos Before Covid
Virtual sites offering visitors the chance to gamble have been around for a long time. In some countries, entertainment is an official source of revenue for the state treasury. Somewhere, on the contrary, only underground institutions work and online casinos are ruthlessly blocked. In the UK, the gambling business is fully operating at the legislative level, but the government is in no hurry to unleash the local providers. Anyone who wants to open a gambling business is required to undergo rigorous vetting, be solvent and register their office within the country. Before the coronavirus, 20-30 new sites were opened in the country every year. Each one tried to please the customer by offering better bonus terms, new games, but everything was stymied by the restrictions spelled out in the UK gambling regulations.
The following types of gambling entertainment are available in the UK:
- Horse racing and greyhound racing;
- lottery;
- sports betting;
- slot machines, table games;
- bingo and scratch cards.
Kingdom residents can gamble, but are required to participate in the Gamestop system, which restricts each user’s options on the casino page. One cannot deposit more than the allotted amount, receive multiple bonuses, or play for more than a few hours a day. This system is designed to combat gambling addiction in those who cannot cope with it on their own.
Status in 2020 and 2021
No one was prepared for the storyline developing in 2020. The coronavirus infection spread effortlessly around the world, becoming a major threat along with the plague. Countries urgently began closing air links with each other and all events were cancelled, including Euro 2020, Eurovision and other global events. All land-based casinos were also closed. This was a real feast for the virtual sites, where thousands of new players rushed in. During 2020 and 2021, attendance at online casinos increased by 18-20%. In 2021, the churn was greater than in 2020, as the pandemic began to recede and many people wanted to get back into the game.
Foreign casinos that don’t operate a Gamestop system also played a big part in the influx of players during this time. These sites have no restrictions in terms of playing time, bonuses or withdrawals. Instead of a self-exclusion feature, responsible gaming operates. Also, many virtual casinos have sections warning of the harms of long gambling sessions.
Online casinos without gamestop can be played for money or for free, using a demo mode with virtual currency. A player does not even have to register to try out most of the entertainment. It is enough to run the model you like in the demo and use credits as bets. This will reveal the real payoff of the slot machine, to get new emotions from the game, as well as learn the intricacies of the gameplay and mechanics. Later, you can register and make your first bet for money, knowing the rules and features of the gameplay.
What to Expect from 2022?
Virtual casinos will continue to evolve, adding more slot machines, bonuses, registration methods and payment systems. Don’t expect the United Kingdom government to make concessions and remove restrictions. The self-exclusion feature will still be in place to combat gambling addiction. If you are just planning to join the gambling community, you can play on foreign sites too. They are usually just as safe and reliable, with an official license and payment systems, just operating under a different jurisdiction.
Find a reliable casino on your own or use special review sites, which have prepared a selection of the best sites. You can search by specific requests: quick registration, the game for money, great bonuses and more. Choosing a good site, do not forget about the activation of the welcome bonus. In some casinos, you can invite friends by participating in a referral system with rewards.
For the whole world, the year 2020 was a real nightmare. Many industries suffered huge losses, including the gambling industry. Online casinos have partially covered the losses, but it is still not enough. Just against the general backdrop, virtual entertainment became much more popular while the whole world sat in quarantine. In 2021, traffic to virtual sites continued to grow, but no longer at such a rapid pace. As for the future, humanity will still have to reckon with the coronavirus, so the re-lockdown scenario is not off the table.
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