As Wales is part of the United Kingdom, its land-based and online casinos come under the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission (www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk). Compared to many other parts of the world, the gambling laws in the whole of the UK are quite liberal and players in Wales benefit from this. They also have the advantage of knowing that the online casino they are playing in is regulated and will have to adhere to the standards laid out by the commission or they will lose their operating license.
Not all the licensed online casinos are based in the UK, but to be allowed to operate in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or England, they have to be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Wales is no different from the three other UK countries in that online gambling is a popular pastime with a huge potential market. This does attract offshore companies to become licensed and offer their games to UK residents.
This means that regardless of if a person in Wales prefers sports betting, poker, slots, blackjack or any other games, they are all freely available.
Live Casino Games In Wales
One of the innovations that Welsh casino players have embraced is the live casino game. As long as they are over 18 years of age, sites such as www.mrgreen.com/en/live-casino welcome them as new members. With a live game, there is an online dealer who acts in just the same way as they would in a physical casino. Through the use of video and audio communication systems, you can see the dealer handle the cards, and hear any comments they make.
Players can even chat to the dealer and ask any questions they may have. As the Welsh are naturally very friendly people, this can make the playing experience much more fun for them.
The big difference between a live game and one where you are playing with online software is that all the action is in real time and happening where all players can see.
The Evolution Of Online Gambling In Wales
Gambling became legal in Wales and the rest of the UK in the 1960s, with some changes made to the laws in 2005, as per uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com. Many of the rules were put in place to protect minors and other vulnerable people. They have not changed much since them hence the laws being so liberal. Gambling was made legal so that some regulation could be put in place and to prevent people from losing money to unscrupulous bookmakers who stood on street corners.
The laws cover any form of gambling that is open to the public as players, and that includes the many thousands in Wales. As long as the age and licensing rules are abided by, there is not much else to affect the fun online casino experience.
Feature image: ‘Sports Betting’ – Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)