European Online Casinos

The best European online casinos offer generous bonuses and large jackpot prizes. Online gambling has a tremendous following throughout Europe. People in rural areas can enjoy their favorite casino games without traveling hours to the nearest casino.

Online gambling is legal, for the most part, in Europe thanks to the European Union that smiles upon online casinos and the money they bring to the European economy. The general principle of the European Union is that all EU members must conform to the same laws regarding online gambling, but separate country laws challenge this viewpoint making for hazy laws and regulations.

In addition, laws are constantly changing to try to end the confusion. In January 2010, Great Britain began looking at an overhaul of their tax laws regarding gambling winnings after two of the largest online sports-betting and gambling sites started looking for a tax-free country of operation. Before playing, it pays to read the FAQ sections for up-to-date legal requirements.

Best Online Casinos in Europe

Home of some of the world's greatest poker tournaments, best online casinos also offer online casino games. Enjoy table games, progressive slots, video poker and specialty favorites like Hi-Lo and Keno.

Silver Oak matches your first ten deposits up to a total $10,000. They offer dozens of slot, table, video poker and specialty games. One of the best features is their gift card option that allows you to deposit money without costly transaction fees.

Ladbrokes Casino has more than 450 online casino games. Try your hands at the Alice in Wonderland themed Mad Hatters Slot or enjoy movie-themed slots like Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword.

Spin Palace Flash Casino is considered one of the best European online casinos. They accept a number of payment methods and currencies including the CAD, USD, GBP, DKK, R and SEK. With dozens of slot, poker, arcade, table and specialty games, you'll enjoy sampling different games both online and on your mobile phone.

Rules Regarding European Online Casinos

Online gambling is legal in all of the United Kingdom and Ireland, usually allowing anyone 18 or older to play online. Countries allowing online gambling include:

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Austria
• Denmark
• Germany
• Italy
• Norway
• Sweden

While the European Union states online casinos are legal in the Netherlands, the Dutch Gaming Commission makes it illegal for residents to gamble online unless that online casino holds a Dutch license. This is only one of many examples demonstrating the messy legalities to online gambling.

Handling Deposits and Withdrawals at European Online Casinos

European online casinos generally accept Great Britain's Pound, Euros and the U.S. Dollar. You can check with the casino that most interests you to be certain, but you are usually safe using one of these currency forms. In addition, a handful of online casinos in Europe accept other currencies like the Kroner or the Franc.

Pay attention to the methods used for deposits and withdrawals. Each European online casino decides which methods to accept. Most take credit cards, but U.S. players may find their options limited. For example, Click2Pay, ECO, Moneybookers (skrill) and Neteller will not handle transfers or deposits to those living in the U.S.