Want to play the smart way this year? You’ll need to pick the perfect online casino. Web-based gaming is bigger and better than ever before, but it can be difficult to determine who is really the best among casino operators. Luckily, we’re here to help.

Read on to find out how you can tell whether a provider is really up to snuff, and discover all the casino qualities you need to play with ease and confidence in 2021.

Recognition for top online casinos

Did you know that online casino gaming generated a cool £3.2 billion in gross revenue in the 2019-2020 fiscal year? The numbers don’t lie and they only continue to climb higher as time goes on. With over 100 remote casino operators striving for greatness, you’ve certainly got options when it comes to online gaming. However, you should be mindful when choosing which provider to use.

All online casinos claim to be the best in the business, but not all of them can hold up under scrutiny. If you want to know how your operator of choice compares to the rest, it’s smart to find out if they’ve received outside evaluation and recognition for their platform. Industry authorities like the Gaming Intelligence Group and eGaming Review (EGR) present awards to the best iGaming operators around, and any provider who receives one of these honours is truly worth their weight in gold.

So, who makes the cut? To see one of these casinos in action, we can look to a provider that has received the stamp of approval from both parties by serving up savvy innovation, bold business strategies, and thrilling entertainment options.

Voted Best Casino Operator at both the 2020 Gaming Intelligence Awards and the 2019 EGR Operator Awards in London, 888 online casino has been verified time and again.

When you see this type of recognition for a provider, you can rest assured you’re looking at the cream of the casino crop. Anything less, and you may want to consider shopping around for a different operator. After all, these honours are bestowed specifically to separate the wheat from the chaff—and you want to play with a provider that can give you the most bountiful harvest possible when it comes to online gaming.

Quality service & customer appreciation

While accolades from those in the industry are important, they aren’t everything. Statistics show that 96% of consumers across the world consider customer service to be of great importance when choosing to stay loyal to a brand. The best casinos know this and they strive to keep users happy by offering a helping hand whenever necessary.

The best online venues offer 24/7 phone lines, live chat features, and open email communications at any hour you might be experiencing a problem. If you research a venue’s reputation before signing up, you’ll come out ahead if you do end up needing to use these services. And even if you don’t need them, you’ll feel more secure knowing they’re available.

Good customer service is essential not only because it helps with problem-solving, but also shows that a brand truly cares about you as a consumer. Quality service will extend beyond phone lines and emails to involve everyday aspects of the casino as well. Factor in elements like processing fees, security solutions, payout times, and even casino bonus programs while making your decision.

You shouldn’t be paying money to withdraw or deposit funds, and you shouldn’t have to wait too long to get your cash out. You should also be able to expect a few bonuses and extras for picking your specific provider. At the end of the day, there are many casinos to choose from. With all that competition around, your operator should reward you for using their services.

Finding the perfect casino for you

When choosing the perfect online casino, you shouldn’t neglect your own needs. Personal tastes can vary widely, and what’s ideal for someone else may not check every box on your list. You should examine a wide variety of factors, including your location, the games you like to play, and what sort of player you consider yourself to be.

In 2021 we could see some significant changes to gambling in the UK. The UK is already the largest regulated gambling market in Europe, and the UK Gambling Commission is in place to watch over bookmakers and gambling companies, to ensure compliance and transparency across the sector.

Since 2005, the UK’s gambling industry has been managed by The Gambling Act, but a new act is expected to replace this next year. Carl from Find Betting Sites has outlined what changes he expects to see in UK gambling in 2021.

The end of VIP schemes and loyalty points?

Much of the new gambling act’s focus to be introduced in 2021 will concentrate on protecting punters from financial difficulties. VIP schemes offered by bookmakers and online casinos are likely likely to be outlawed, as many studies have shown that gambling fraud is much more likely with VIP players. Moreover, there is some controversy around how to qualify for loyalty points with bookmakers, so new measures are expected to restrict bookies and casinos from issuing loyalty point schemes.

An increase in the use of responsible gambling tools?  

This is widely seen as a progressive measure, particularly for online accounts. There is expected to be further regulation around deposit limits, time limits, activity warnings, and loss limits. At present, such responsible gambling tools are optional to most gamblers. However, with the new regulation, it is likely that some of these tools will become mandatory, if not for all punters, then at least for those gambling with a certain amount of money.

Mandatory deposit protection for customer funds? 

Although deposit protection already forms part of the 2005 Gambling Act, the way it’s worded means that bookmakers don’t actually have to protect customers’ funds if they go bust. New regulations are predicted to enforce, as a minimum, that bookmakers and online gambling companies must ensure they have arrangements in place to reimburse customers if the company goes bust.

Online stake limits? 

At present, limits are already in place for games on physical fixed-odds betting terminals, a move that saw a lot of opposition from high street bookmakers who saw their profits significantly reduced as a result. It’s expected that new legislation will seek to implement similar restrictions to online betting games and could be as low as £2 per hand/spin, depending on the type of game being played. The stake limit will possibly go hand-in-hand with a daily limit imposed on a customer’s account, perhaps in the region of £100 per day. Such a move could be devastating for several online bookmakers, who rely heavily on online casinos’ revenue for their profits.

Changes to TV and sports advertising and sponsorship?  

In the past, many professional sports teams were sponsored by alcohol and tobacco companies before regulations were put in place to restrict this. Currently, ten premier league clubs and seventeen championship clubs are sponsored by betting companies. Given the number of sports now on TV, and with many young viewers watching, we may see restrictions introduced regarding how betting companies appear on sports kit.

Changes to the gambling levy? 

The UK gambling levy is currently voluntary and only applies to companies that sign up for it. The new legislation is most likely to make a gambling levy mandatory and use the funds generated from the levy to support people who may be addicted to gambling or who have been caused harm due to any type of gambling practice.

Whatever happens, with a new gambling act expected to be announced in 2021, we can expect significant changes to gambling in the UK.

A watering can that never empties of water is set to take British gardens by storm this summer.

The ingenious Never-Ending watering can runs on cordless Bluetooth technology, automatically refilling with water as you use it.

There will be no more trecking to and from the tap to refill your can while you water your beloved plants and shrubs.

Instead, just fill it up once, and away you go.

The watering can refills endlessly thanks to the Bluetooth connection using your WiFI signal and is perfect for anyone searching Amazon for the latest gardening gadgets.

It’s also ideal for any sized garden – or for as long as your WiFi signal stretches.

Manufacturers Water We Do Without You Ltd, of Felixstowe in Suffolk, say the signal might get weaker at the bottom of longer gardens.

Never-Ending watering can

Managing Director Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “The Never-Ending watering can will still work right at the bottom of the garden, but it will just take a little longer to refill as you go along.

“Even so, it saves you lots of time because you won’t need to lug the can up and down the garden to your house to refill it.”

Ms Fisher said the cordless Bluetooth watering can, which has a recommended retail price of £19.99, had been years in development.

“We are launching this week, just in time for the spring and summer growing months.

“It’s the new must-have gadget for every keen gardener.”

The Never-Ending can looks like any other watering can from the outside. Made of sturdy green plastic, it has a wide sprinkler head for maximum watering coverage.

Only a hi-tech digital chip in the base of the can distinguishes it from any other.

“It will last for years and work perfectly. There are no batteries, just never-ending water,” explained Ms Fisher.

Search for all the latest gardening gadgets on Amazon.

Buy a mug for a friend

It is the season for giving (it’s not, we just made that up), so why not gift one of our brilliant Suffolk Gazette mugs to someone you love? Browse the many mugs online at Dirty Old Goat – or buy direct from the lovely items below. Produced in Suffolk, fast delivery etc etc.