The Gambling Commission was established as a result of the Gambling Act of 2005. It is the responsibility of the Commission to oversee all aleatory endeavours, including online casinos. But perhaps they would have passed on the job if they had anticipated the massive growth of internet gambling.

In five short years, online gambling has grown to a billion pound industry with an estimated 1.5 million loyal UK users. One reason virtual casinos in the UK have been such a hit is that they offer free bonuses. What is a free casino bonus?

A free casino bonus is really nothing more than a shop virtual casinos offer as a way to attract new users. As you might expect, they aren't actually free. To receive this free gift, a user must first deposit a certain amount in his new casino account. The casino will then deposit the bonus to an account.

More often than not, a free bonus will be a specific amount or a simple percentage. On average, the casino will offer a ten percent bonus on the first 500 pounds deposited. A bonus that is based on a percentage is often used to encourage new members to deposit the maximum amount.

A word of warning: read the terms of service carefully. Most new casinos offer attractive bonuses on the initial deposit alone, while many of the more-established casinos offer smaller bonuses on each deposit. So, if you are a long-term virtual gambler, it may be better to join an established site.