EU casinos that accept UK players
With UK Gambling Commission continuously tightening the rules and regulations, players are looking options elsewhere. EU online casinos that accept UK players would be the preferred option, but do they exist?
Are there European online casinos available that are not on GamStop?
EU licensed casinos don’t accept players from the United Kingdom
In short, no. Many European countries have regulated online gambling and only accept players that reside in that country. You can only play in the KSA online casinos (gaming authority in the Netherlands), if you reside in the Netherlands. And same goes for countries like Sweden, Germany, Spain and several other EU countries that have regulated online casinos.
There are of course Malta and Estonia, that have a bit more open policy practice in place. As both of these countries accept some players beyond their country borders. But neither of these two countries accept players from the UK. Unless they also have a valid UK license too.
So all EU online casinos would need to have at least two licenses in place. One within an EU country like Malta or Estonia and another one from the UK Gambling Commission. This combination would make them EU casino for uk players as well.
Case Malta (MGA licensed online casinos)
Malta and the UK share a long history — Malta was once a British colony and remains part of the Commonwealth. Today, both countries have strong ties, especially in business and law. But when it comes to online gambling, the rules are clear and separate.
Most online casinos in Malta are licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). It’s a well-respected license across Europe. However, if a Maltese casino wants to accept UK players, it also needs a license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
This is because UK law requires strict player protection standards, and only UKGC-licensed casinos can legally serve UK residents. Many Maltese casinos choose not to get this extra license, so they block UK users entirely.
Case Estonia (EMTA licensed online casinos)
While there are no similar history between the UK and Estonia, the answer is pretty similar.
Online casinos licensed in Estonia by the Tax and Customs Board (EMTA) are not allowed to accept UK players unless they also hold a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) license.
Even though Estonia has a respected regulatory system within the EU, UK law requires all gambling operators serving UK residents to be licensed by the UKGC. Without it, Estonian casinos must block UK users and cannot legally offer games, payments, or support to them.
Beware of “EU Casinos” That Aren’t Really European
If you’ve searched for online casinos from Europe that accept UK players, you’ve likely come across sites promoting so-called “Online casinos not on GamStop”.
But here’s the truth: most of these sites are misleading you.
The Reality Behind the “EU casinos that accept UK players”
Other casino affiliate sites may claim to list “European casinos” that accept UK players. But when you check the actual licensing of these casinos, you’ll notice something important: none of them hold a valid license in the EU.
Instead, these casinos are usually registered in Curacao or other offshore jurisdictions — not in countries like Malta, Estonia, Sweden, or any other EU member state. That means they are not regulated under EU gambling laws, and calling them “European” is simply false.
Why there aren’t EU casinos for UK players?
Legit EU-licensed casinos must follow strict rules about fairness, player safety, responsible gambling, and anti-money laundering. But many of these offshore casinos don’t offer the same level of protection — and they definitely don’t follow UK standards either (unless they also have a license in the UK).
Some even target vulnerable UK players who are self-excluded through GamStop, which is not only unethical, but potentially harmful. As these people generally have bad gambling habits. Casinos that accept players like these, aren’t accountable to EU or UK regulators. They operate on somewhat legal gray area.
Final verdict on EU casinos for UK players
There’s a lot of confusion online about so-called “EU casinos that accept UK players” — and sadly, much of it is caused by misleading websites. Despite the name, many of these casinos are not actually licensed in the EU. Most are based offshore, often in places like Curacao for example. And their operations don’t meet neither UK or EU regulatory standards.
Let’s be clear: If a casino does not hold a UK Gambling Commission license, it is not allowed to accept players from the UK, regardless of where it claims to be based. The term “EU casino” is often used loosely to make offshore sites sound more trustworthy than they really are.
At Gambling247.org, we only recommend UK online casinos that are fully licensed, legal, and safe for players in the United Kingdom. Anything less is not worth your time — or your money.