Online Casinos: A Year in Review 2024 

In our online casinos year in review 2024, Comparasino boss Martyn Hannah takes a look back at some of the biggest events in the world of online casino over the past 12 months.

In 2024, we have seen a lot of changes to online casinos in the UK. As a player, you’ll have noticed some of these changes but others have taken place behind the scenes following amendments to the rules and regulations that online casinos must adhere to. 

This includes the rolling out of affordability checks and the introduction of stake limits on online slots with different limits for different player ages – more on this below. 

These changes in particular can be seen as having a negative impact on the experience you receive at the casino but a few months after their introduction it seems both have gone mostly unnoticed by the vast majority of players. 

On a more positive note, you will have noticed that the games available at online casinos are changing with more brands now stocking their lobbies with new formats like Crash, Mines, Plinko, Hi-Lo and Instant Wins. 

While slots and table games are still hugely popular, players are increasingly enjoying games similar to video and mobile games but with the chance to wager on the outcome. 

The Comparasino team is also pleased to have seen more new casino sites hitting the UK market over the past 12 months. 

There had been a bit of a slowdown in the first half of the year but from June onwards we’ve seen some really great brands launch to players. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key milestones from 2024. 

The introduction of affordability checks 

In February, the Gambling Commission, the body that licenses online casinos in the UK, announced a pilot scheme for the introduction of affordability checks. 

These checks are considered “light touch” so don’t interfere with your experience at the online casino. The pilot started in August with checks applied to players that spend £500 a month or more at a casino – although this will be reduced to £150 from February. 

The Gambling Commission is currently working with online casino operators and credit agencies to run the pilot program to see if these checks can be carried out without any interruptions to your play. If the program is a success, affordability checks will be made permanent. 

The idea behind these affordability checks is to prevent players from gambling more money than they can afford, but they have proved to be controversial with some saying that players should be able to determine what they can and can’t afford to spend on gambling themselves. 

I’m on the fence about it really. I think its up to the individual to decide how they spend their money but at the same time, I support the Gambling Commission in taking steps to protect the very small number of players at risk of problem gambling. 

Online slot stake limits come into force

I might be on the fence when it comes to affordability checks, but one thing I feel strongly about is the slot stake limit that has been brought into place this month (December). The limit has been set at £2 per spin for under 25s and £5 per spin for over 25s. 

For me, this is a step too far and while again being imposed under the premise of protecting players, it risks having a negative impact on your experience and could ultimately encourage you to play at unlicensed online casinos where these restrictions are not in place. 

That’s of course the opposite of what the Gambling Commission is trying to achieve – playing at unlicensed sites is incredibly risky as the casino has not had to prove that it meets the required standards when it comes to game fairness, protecting player funds and safe gaming.

For me, players should be able to decide how much they want to stake per spin. What do you think? 

The rise of crash games 

On to something more positive. Crash games. I absolutely love them, especially Aviator from SPRIBE. If you haven’t already, check out our interview with SPRIBE Co-founder Shalva Bukia to learn more about where the idea for the game came from. 

These games are fast paced and thrilling and appeal to players who enjoy big risk/big reward experiences. Aviator is the number one crash game in the world, but due to the popularity of the format, other studios are launching rival titles. 

As well as Crash games, online casinos are increasingly adding things like Mines, Hi-Lo, Hotline, Plinko and Instant Wins to their lobbies so there are tons of new formats and experiences for players in the UK to try. 

New online casinos hitting the market 

After months of very little action, we’re finally starting to see new online casinos launch in the UK once again. This includes brands like Slots Rush and most recently, MOGOBET. 

Why was there a drought at the start of the year? Because the companies that operate online casinos wanted to see what new requirements the Gambling Commission was going to impose – things like affordability checks and slot stake limits – before entering the market. 

Online casinos have to make a significant investment when launching their sites into a new market, and they didn’t want to do this if the changes would ultimately make the UK market unviable for them. 

The good news is that most seem comfortable with the rule changes that have been made and that’s why we are seeing new brands arrive on the scene. 

Comparasino is already aware of several new casinos due to launch in the first few months of 2025 and our readers will be the first to know when they go live. So if you haven’t already, create a Comparasino account so you don’t miss out. 

So there you have it – my year in review for online casinos in 2024. What have been your highlights, both bad and good?