Best & Worst Casinos Of 2021

From an online casino player perspective, 2021 has been a great year marked by an endless string of spectacular debuts and brilliant premieres. New operators joined the big-name brands in their endeavor to provide the ultimate gaming experience for punters in different corners of the world. Yet, we are still far from the idyllic picture of the industry without unethical business practices and unfair treatment of customers.

LCB has closely monitored all the developments, congratulating winners and giving a hand to less fortunate players who complained about the lack of cooperation from various sites. Now it’s time to share with you the results of our work represented by the list of the best and worst online casinos of 2021.

Let’s start with the Top 10 Best list.

#10 Lucky Tiger Casino

Launched in 2020, Lucky Tiger is still a fresh yet already well-established gambling venue, which is far from being just another one of RTG-powered websites. Besides an excellent assortment of premium slots that range from plain-vanilla 3-reelers to action-packed thrillers boosted by whopping Progressive Jackpots, this online casino also offers a decent choice of table games, video poker variants, and some of the best paying Live blackjack tables available on the market.

Patrons who prefer chatting with charming dealers rather than playing against a computer can enjoy both European and American roulette and No Commission Baccarat as well. The brand takes pride in its highly professional customer support, which is available not only by Live Chat but also by phone.

#9 Casino Brango

Another US-friendly website that was in high demand in 2021 is Casino Brango, a crypto-friendly establishment powered by Real Time Gaming. The place received very positive feedback from the vast majority of players for keeping high standards of customer service, facilitating fast and hassle-free transactions, and making every effort to supply patrons with numerous opportunities to get more bang for their money.

No deposit deals…

…cashback offers, and freerolls nicely complete the overall picture of a gracious host who wants to make sure everyone feels at home. The site was also one of the online casinos we put to the test last year and the smoothest BTC cashout received the same day just confirmed what we had known already – an excellent reputation of the place is well-deserved.

#8 888 Casino

One of the industry’s largest and most famed operators, 888 Casino certainly doesn’t need a special introduction, all the more so, it is licensed in nine different jurisdictions. A true iGaming veteran that made its debut on the scene back in 1997, this online casino boasts a host of exclusive slots you cannot find anywhere else - and a great bulk of them are packed with whopping prizes of network-wide progressive jackpots.

The brand is also known for its attractive promotions and favorable playthrough requirements for bonuses, which, by the way, are also available for all those who prefer playing live dealer games. Finally, there is a loyalty scheme with comp points and fantastic rewards for all, as well as truly ritzy benefits and privileges for high-rollers and other grandees who have been invited to join the Club.

#7 Liberty Slots

Another veteran of the online casino industry, in 2021, Liberty Slots marked its tenth anniversary – and in a big way, launching five $1,000 freerolls and offering a little sweet freebie to every customer. One of the most sought-after destinations for players from the USA, it has everything to please even the pickiest slot buffs thanks to a wealth of promotions, a variety of regular tournaments, and a crypto-friendly environment.

The site also boasts a six-tier loyalty scheme designed to make spinning even more fun, so if until now, this place has not been on your radar, it’s time to pay it a visit, all the more so, as a new player, you can additionally earn $3 LCB chips when making your first deposit.

#6 7Bit Casino

Optimized for crypto payments 7Bit Casino is one of the websites that feature gaming content from a great many software providers. But there is more to it than just an enormous number of all conceivable and inconceivable games – the brand is fully committed to fair play, offering Provably Fair titles and user-friendly policies.

Daily cashback…

…a hefty bunch of extra spins on a weekly basis, a great variety of races, and incentives for loyal members – add the off-the-charts assortment of online slots and live dealer tables, and you will get a ripper of an online casino. In case you were wondering, 7Bit didn’t escape the LCB magnifying glass and was successfully tested last August.

#5 Casino Extreme

Even though Casino Extreme is powered by a single software provider and cannot brag of one of those enormous game libraries, it is a hot ticket US-friendly online gambling destination.

What makes this website so popular?

As a matter of fact, this question is pretty easy to answer, one glance at the site’s page with promotions is enough to figure out the secret to success. Indeed, not many places can brag of such a bountiful bonus offering that apart from a broad variety of deposit-match deals also includes generous no deposit treats and cashback. Plus, this online casino is widely known for its superb customer service and lightning-speed withdrawals.

#4 King Billy Casino

Since its inception in 2017, King Billy Casino has always been among the top-rated gambling venues, therefore its appearance on the list of the best online casinos of 2021 comes as no surprise. Filled to the brim with all sorts of games, the site’s lobby is a feast for the eyes of every passionate gambler – no matter their style, preferences, or bankroll size. The latter, by the way, can be easily boosted with the help of bonuses and promos that do come in abundance.

King’s weekly extra spins…

…were the most popular campaign among the players last year, so no wonder, the site decided to carry on the tradition. Both new and existing customers are also provided numerous options to make the most of their play - cashback for all is just a tiny bit of what can be found in this crypto-friendly Kingdom.

#3 Bovada Casino

One of the most acclaimed online casinos that cater to US players, Bovada has been part of the industry since 2011. With a promise of “an experience like no other”, the brand offers a boutique collection of top-notch online slots and live tables, a plethora of incentives, and absolutely smooth and stress-free withdrawals.

Has LCB ever tested this place?

Actually, yes. LCB learned everything first-hand last February while testing this website in the framework of our From the Players for the Players project.

New customers can count on a hefty welcome offer intended to kickstart their play and prepare them for what is coming next – membership in the loyalty program that brings daily rewards and some awesome benefits for a truly ultimate gaming experience.

#2 BitDice Casino

Targeted at cryptocurrency enthusiasts, BitDice Casino is an advanced gambling platform that offers an immersive combination of traditional Vegas-style amusement and elements of social gaming. The venue’s crowded chat room and other engaging ground-breaking features are nicely complemented by a wealth of perks that range from lottery tickets and extra spins to mystery daily bonuses hidden inside the treasure chest.

The site boasts a rich library of online slots, table games, and live dealer titles, however, low wagering requirements are what really make players of all styles flock there. In addition to numerous rewarding contests and promotions, all registered members can take advantage of a multi-tier loyalty program – leveling up towards even better incentives is a big part of the plot.

#1 Tsars Casino

Established in 2020, Tsars Casino has quickly won the hearts of players worldwide, riding high in the charts of the best gambling websites. The place is known for a truly hassle-free experience, quick withdrawals, and generous bonuses, with wager-free Daily Rewards being firm favorites of all patrons.

Available in a dozen languages, it caters to the needs and whims of a wide international audience, providing a massive and diverse selection of games and a crypto-friendly environment. The site features a broad range of articles, which make a captivating read for all those who want to become well-versed in roulette, poker, and other popular casino classics, as well as for novices in the universe of digital assets.

Now, let’s take a look at the Top 10 Worst online casinos of 2021.

#10 El Royale Casino

Established in 2020 to cater to the needs and wants of US players, El Royale somehow failed to reach that lofty goal. From the very outset, players have been complaining about slow payments, unreasonably low cashout limits, and not very helpful customer support. The usual test performed by LCB experts revealed that there was still room for improvement, however, we were glad to notice that despite a lot of hassle with withdrawing money, we finally received the requested amount in full.

#9 EuroBets Casino

EuroBets ended up on the LCB’s warning list in March 2021 for mistreating players. The decision was based on multiple problems with cashouts, which remained unresolved even after numerous attempts of our agents to mediate. Complaints about slow payouts or no payments at all, especially when combined with the lack of license, are never a good sign, however, there’s nothing worse than completely indifferent customer support that doesn’t bother to write a reply.

In September…

…we gave this casino a second chance and deposited $200 there to have some fun and check out the situation. Unfortunately, it took us 18 days of annoying communication with the support team to withdraw $100, so judge for yourself.

#8 Club USA Casino

 Just as its name suggests, Club USA Casino is focused on players from the United States, offering them state-of-the-art slots and table games made by RTG. The website had been a pretty popular place to have fun until the change of management in 2016.

Since then, the number of player complaints has grown continuously, leading the brand towards the Blacklisted status. Bonuses that were claimed but never added, big wins that were never paid out, support agents who were neither helpful nor competent, infrequent payouts on various games – combined together, a good enough reason to stay away from this online casino.

#7 Crypto Thrills Casino

Despite its pretty enticing name, Crypto Thrills Casino provides more chills than thrills. The website has a solid history of unfair business practices and was included in our Worst Casinos List for 2020.

The test performed in March 2021 as part of From the Players to the Players project didn’t show any improvements – straight deposits still have to be wagered at least 10x (!) to make a withdrawal while the max bet requirement set by the casino is almost impossible to meet, especially when you are playing in BTC. Long story short, no gambling license, predatory terms, unresponsive support – find another place to deposit your hard-earned money.

#6 Pin-Up Casino

Delayed withdrawals, unresponsive customer support, and even pirated games – no wonder, Pin-Up Casino is on our list of the Worst Casinos of 2021. The problems started in 2016 when the site was found serving fake content, which was removed only two years later after numerous interventions by LCB. Pirated games are gone but a host of unresolved complaints are still here, marching through 2021 into the future.

Putting this online casino to test last February, we got an unpleasant cashout process that took ages (eight days for BTC) and unprofessional customer support. All in all, it looks like this place doesn’t strive to improve its performances, hence we can only admit, it obviously deserves the current status.

#5 Vesper Casino

A regular member of our Warning list, Vesper Casino first joined other troublemakers back in 2020 when caught hosting pirated NetEnt, Novomatic, and Aristocrat games. The aforementioned software providers were informed about the issue and Vesper removed some of the fake titles but numerous unresolved complaints didn’t let this website change the status. The year 2021 didn’t bring any changes and not enough cautious players continued to experience the same problems.

#4 BetSwagger Casino

Players generally love innovative ideas intended to spice up their gaming experience, however, “gambling with a twist” provided by BetSwagger Casino is just too much. Too tasteless X-rated content notwithstanding, this website is one of the leaders in terms of player complaints about very slow withdrawals, closure of the accounts without providing any reasons, failed chargeback requests, and poor (or no) communication with the support team.

In the year 2021, the practice continued, with more punters being banned instead of receiving their payments.

#3 22Bet Casino

Over twelve dozen software providers, an array of accepted currencies including numerous crypto options, and a low-roller friendly minimum deposit of just $1 – it’s hard to believe that such a great place is on the list of the worst online casinos. Well, even the largest library on earth cannot make up for unpaid winnings, which is the biggest issue with this website and the main reason for giving it a warning badge.

Judging by the feedback of players who despite all warnings still decided to deposit there, the unethical practice continued into 2021. 22Bet Casino has mastered the art of avoiding paying out players, asking them infinitely for new documents and delaying responses or simply accusing them of having multiple accounts.

#2 PornHub/PlayHub Casino

Another representative of the infamous PH Group, PornHub Casino has no shortage of serious issues reported by players. In 2021, this website was tested by LCB twice and the experiences were different, pointing out once again the inconsistent service provided by this venue. As for the most common complaints tied to the brand, the vast majority of them are about delayed withdrawals, refusal of payments, as well as not very friendly and unresponsive customer support.

#1 PH.Casino

The “winner” of last year's contest for the worst casino has managed to top our No Play leaderboard again. Not becausePH. Casino uses excessive nudity but because it uses nudity to trick patrons into believing that they play at a safe and fair place.

However, even chatting with the most attractive ladies cannot compensate for postponed withdrawals, poor customer service, suddenly banned accounts, and other unpleasant experiences so common across the “hot” PH brands. At the end of the day, online gambling is all about having fun, so none of the scam artists trying to play a dirty game can count on a warm welcome.