The United Kingdom and Germany are the top gambling markets while the Netherlands issue new legislation

Online casinos have been doing very well in the last few years, despite some of the economic problems that appeared along the way, and it is expected for the market to continue its growth. Although online gambling is popular around the world, the top two markets are now the United Kingdom and Germany; both of them recording significant player traffic as well as a variety of options.

Between 2010 and 2011, the number of gamblers playing online has increased by 32% and the online gaming section in the United Kingdom nowadays is 15% of its total internet market. Germany is not far behind with new players joining every day and it seems that social gaming is playing a big role in all of this.

Popular casino games

When it comes to casino games, slots have always been the most popular and since players switched to playing online, the possibilities have truly become limitless. There are so many variations and themes when it comes to online slots that every player can find something to suit his taste as well as his wallet. It is very easy to choose the odds you prefer which are determined by the number of reels and symbols but the most exciting games are the ones that offer a small fortune in progressive jackpots.

The best slot games online can all be found at one website. Here, players can learn about the latest additions to the long list of games, check out previews and find out how they can start playing; not to mention the option to check out the progressive jackpots in real time.

It is also possible to play for virtual currency and see how the games actually work. Of course, this will not generate real money prizes but it is still fun to see the symbols come up in various paylines which make it very easy to win with every spin. The option to play for free is very important if we consider the fact that there are quite a few software developers that offer unique versions of the games. These look different and have special features so it is always a good idea to first play for free and then invest money into them.

Mobile gaming

An important aspect of online casino games is that they can now be played from a mobile device from anywhere and at any time as long as there is an internet connection. This is a big factor that increases traffic, especially in Germany, and software developers are optimizing their games in order to make them accessible on all the common platforms. The great improvements made for smartphones and the fact that they are now affordable for general players makes it a very fast growing market and it is expected to become double by the year 2005.

Dutch gambling market

While UK and Germany have growing gambling markets, the situation is not the same in all of Europe. Recent news shows that the Dutch gambling market has been restricted and that unlicensed operators have been asked to withdraw. One of the biggest names on the internet, bwin.party digital entertainment, has recently decided to comply and stop offering their gambling services to Dutch citizens. The popular operator joins the list of almost 20 other companies that will now require a special license from the government in order to have access to the market.

The Netherlands Gambling Authority has issued this directive very recently and the big operators have chosen to comply in the hope that things will run a lot smoother when it comes time for them to get a license. It remains to be seen how the new legislation will affect online gambling in Europe.