Guidance to licensing authorities Casino premises
The UK Gambling Commission requires operators to contribute financially to organisations focused on research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm. The list of operators and personal licence holders who have had a regulatory sanction imposed on them is published on the site of the Gambling Commission. They also collaborate with other UK organisations and the police in cases where suspicious betting or gambling activities are detected. The list of responsibilities of the Gambling Commission includes work to ensure that licencees act in accordance with the requirements imposed by the Gambling Act 2005 and other related regulations and standards. Previously, an operator in one of the whitelisted gambling jurisdictions could advertise their services in Great Britain without requiring a separate licence from the Commission.
The only way to definitively check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed is to search the register yourself. The answer is always the same — the UKGC Public Register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk is the only authoritative source. Players often ask exactly where to go to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed. That is the complete process to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed — it is free, takes two minutes, and gives you the definitive answer directly from the regulator. The two-minute process to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed is a small investment of time for the peace of mind of knowing your money is legally protected. We recommend you check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed every time you visit a new site — even if you discovered the casino through a recommendation.
The Commission works alongside local licensing authorities, which are responsible for issuing premises licences for land-based gambling venues. Established under the Gambling Act 2005, the Commission oversees all commercial gambling in Great Britain — from high-street betting shops and land-based casinos to online slots, poker rooms, and sports betting exchanges. You can apply to us for a licence to provide casino games in a premises (non-remote) or online (remote). It requires remote gambling operators selling into the British market, whether based here or abroad, to hold a Commission licence to enable them to transact with British consumers. The legislative changes also introduced changes to gaming machine entitlements for converted casino premises. For casinos which exercise the extended entitlement and other larger converted casino premises, a new mandatory condition in paragraph 4 of Part 5 of Schedule 1 to the 2007 Regulations requires that the floor area of the gambling area is less than 1,500m².
Key Gambling Regulations That UK-Based Players Should Know
The premises licence issued by the licensing authority must be accompanied by a summary of the terms and conditions attaching to it. 429.The Secretary of State is given the power to make regulations which require an applicant for a premises licence to publish notice of his application, to give notice of it to responsible authorities and other people. Other sections in this Part describe the fee-setting powers relevant to premises licences. As responsible authorities they have particular rights to be involved and/or consulted in relation to applications for premises licences and other procedures under this Part. Unmet demand is not to be a criterion that a licensing authority is permitted to take into account when considering an application for a premises licence, and subsection (2) provides for this. Subsections (2) and (3) provide that a betting track may be subject to more than one premises licence, but that no more than one premises licence can operate in relation to any area of the track.
Not regarded as gaming where there is no prize offered in “money or money’s worth”. Fantasy betting (payment to back a ‘league’ or ‘portfolio’ selection over a period of time, for example in relation to sport) Sports/horse race betting (if regulated separately to other forms of betting)
It’s like this because it’s designed to protect players and maintain integrity across the whole of the gambling sector. Any casino wanting to operate legally in the UK must secure a license from this regulator, and doing this involves so much more than just completing a form. Wiggin extends its reach to the centre of European decision-making, maintaining a Brussels office that advocates for clients on various EU-related issues, including copyright, audio-visual regulations, data protection, competition policy, trade and e-commerce. The firm serves a diverse clientele, ranging from industry leaders in broadcast entertainment, music, sports and publishing to innovative platforms, content retailers, gaming and technology companies, as well as budding entrepreneurs. He is experienced in advising clients on regulatory compliance matters, licensing and product classification, seeking M&A regulatory approvals and cross-border jurisdictional risk. He advises many of the industry’s leading operators and suppliers, as well as start-up companies, investors and other leading law firms.
The government intends for operating and premises licence fees to be harmonised between 1968 Act casinos and Small 2005 Act casinos. This will help ensure that operators are operating within the regulations and enable licensing authorities to undertake appropriate licence checks. Currently, 1968 Act casinos are not required to have a table gaming area so the premises plan will need to be updated accordingly. It will not be possible for a licensee to rely on an ancillary remote betting licence, even where the SSBT offer is alongside a non-remote offer as the ancillary licence is bound to a betting premises licence.
Are there any functions that local authorities/ licensing boards do not exercise at present, but could if fees were increased (e.g. a more proactive enforcement policy)? (Optional response)Yes / No / I don’t know If you are a local authority/ licensing board, do you currently charge the maximum fees as set out in the Gambling Act 2005?
According to data from Health Survey England from 2012 to 2018, 25.7% of those who played on slot (electronic gaming) machines were classified as at-risk gamblers. Should separate table gaming areas of 12.5% or more only be allowed to count towards the total table gaming area for 1968 Act casinos under the new regime? Which approach do you think should be taken in relation to the maximum gambling area for 1968 Act casinos? Should the minimum table gaming area for Small 2005 Act casinos be reduced to 250sqm?
We publish registers of licensed businesses, individuals, regulatory actions and premises. With our help, you can find new casinos, bonuses and offers, and learn about games, slots, and payment methods. Our experts test and review casino, betting, and bingo sites so you don’t play in a bodged-up joint that’s all mouth and no trousers. Bojoko is your home for all online gambling in the United Kingdom. You can tell if a casino has a UK licence by checking the bottom of the casino website. You can get bonuses on UK licensed casino sites with varying promotions.
Guidance for small businesses and sole traders running a gambling business. View guidance about what you need to tell us when you apply for a licence Guidance about the information we’ll ask for when applying for a licence. Find out how much it will cost to apply for a licence and ongoing annual fees. Information about the activities we licence, the fees you need to pay and when. If you want to complain about a gambling business or need further help please contact us.
- The flat additional annual fee payable for a licence that combines all three of these activities is £9.375.
- (Mandatory response) Yes / No / I don’t know
- What impact would Options 1, 2 and 3 have on the overall number of Category B, C and D gaming machines Please rank these options in order of preference, with 1 being your preferred option.
Casinos originally licensed under the 1968 Act are limited to a maximum of 20 gaming machines of Category B, C and D if at least one machine is Category B, or an unlimited number of Category C and D machines. The sectors which pay these fees are casinos, bingo halls and bingo-licensed arcades, adult gaming centres, family entertainment centres and betting shops. Unlike most commercial gambling, Category D gaming machines, which include coin pushers and crane grabs, are not restricted by age.
When you look for unlicensed casinos and casinos not on Gamstop, you are finding sites that are willing to break the rules. You should avoid non-UK licensed casinos, as they expose you to various risks. Coral is one of the most well-known UK-licensed casinos with a legendary reputation. The next UK licensed online casino we recommend is 21 Casino. All winnings from gambling in UK-regulated casinos are tax-free, while winnings from offshore sites carry the taxes of their origin country. You should choose a licensed online casino to ensure you are not left hanging if any problems arise.
This is the most important detail needed to confirm the licence is valid. The next step is to note the licence number. If this information is missing or unclear, it is a big enough sign to opt for a different casino. Don’t see the licensing information in the footer? They must adhere to strict regulations to protect British players.
Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
Feedback from engagement with operators has indicated that the sliding scale as proposed would benefit the majority of casinos, with over 80% of casinos estimated to benefit depending on how floor space is reconfigured. Forty responses were received to this question, with 60% opposed to venues being able to hold multiple licences. A sliding scale was proposed in the consultation which detailed potential requirements across (i) gambling space; (ii) table gaming space; (iii) non-gambling area; and (iv) machine to table ratio. All casinos will be allowed to offer betting, which was previously restricted to 2005 Act casinos. We will also permit a smaller increase in machines for venues that do not meet the size requirements, proportionate to their overall size and non-gambling area.
These regulations may, in particular, specify how conditions, including mandatory conditions specified by the Secretary of State, are to appear on the licence. The Secretary of State may make further regulations about the form and content of the licence. 411.Premises licences must include the information described in this section. Pool-betting on a track, by the track occupier, will require a pool betting operating licence to be held. Scottish Ministers will exercise a number of powers under this Part, prescribing procedures and fees for the premises licensing system in Scotland. All online gambling businesses must ask you to prove your age and identity before you gamble.
To achieve this, we are consulting on options for amending the 80/20 rule to a new requirement that 50 percent of machines must be Category C or D. Arcades and bingo premises are subject to an 80/20 rule which governs the balance of Category B (maximum £2 stake) and Category C or D machines in these venues (up to a maximum £1 stake). With technological developments, land-based casinos have been able to introduce a greater range of customer protections and the experiences of applying these across each type of licence have provided insight on the likely impact of any proposed changes. Since the Gambling Act 2005, land-based casinos have operated under two licensing regimes with different requirements in terms of the type and volume of product they are able to offer, as well as venue size. KYC helps gambling operators prevent fraud, comply with AML regulations, and avoid hefty fines. Additionally, licensing is required even if a company’s online gambling operation is located in another country—so long as they provide services to gamblers in the UK.
On that basis, licensing authorities can request access to local risk assessments when no application to vary the premises licence has been made. Section 187(1)(a) is not applicable in this case because Regulations entitle them to offer betting on their casino premises. They have the appropriate OL requirements in place and will be providing betting facilities on their converted casino premises. The licensee can do this by making an application to vary their premises licence to the relevant licensing authority. Where an application to vary a premises licence is required, the licensing authority’s Statement of Principles may include more detailed guidance on what should be covered in the application. An application to vary a premises licence will be required where the licence holder wishes to take advantage of the new entitlements under the Regulations but there is already a condition attached to the premises licence by the licensing authority which prohibits the proposed change.
Why It Is Essential to Check if a Casino is UKGC Licensed
Should session time be visible at all times to the customer on machines accepting direct cashless payments? In order to help customers make informed decisions and keep track of spending, the government considers that the display of session time and session net position (£) should be mandatory on machines that accept direct cashless payments. Should there be mandatory limits (default limits for time and monetary thresholds) on machines accepting direct cashless payments? The Commission will conduct a future review of the gaming machine technical standards.
These conditions are ones which apply to a licence unless the licensing authority decides to exclude them (in which case the authority can impose alternative conditions relating to the same matter). Where the licensing authority rejects an application for a licence, the applicant may appeal. Where the licence is refused, the licensing authority must give reasons for their decision. 436.Where the licensing authority determines to grant the licence, they must give reasons for the attachment or exclusion of any conditions. 435.Following the grant or rejection of a premises licence, the authority must notify the applicant, the Commission, any person who made representations, the police, and HM Customs and Excise of their decision as soon as reasonably practicable. The procedures vary, depending on whether representations have been made, and what the licensing authority proposes to do with regard to licence conditions.
” and “can the premises only be accessed from any other gambling premises? Further detail on the different gambling and table gaming space requirements are outlined later in this chapter. Land-based casinos, which provide employment and contribute to the night-time leisure and tourism economy, were like other sectors of that economy severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Casino licences originate from two legislative regimes – the Gaming Act 1968 and the Gambling Act 2005. They collect fees for applications and annual renewals to cover the costs of gambling licensing and enforcement (and the fees can only be used for such costs). We do not propose that these machines should be required to be moved to an age-restricted area.
Substantial fines have been imposed, individuals have been sanctioned pursuant to their “personal management licences” and licences have been suspended. All gambling hosted by electronic means and available to persons in Great Britain must be licensed by the Gambling Commission. There is no restriction on the use of digital and casino not on gamstop virtual currencies as a payment method for gambling, though operators wishing to accept virtual currencies will need to demonstrate how any additional risks of them doing so are mitigated. Since 28 February 2025, remote operators have been required to undertake financial vulnerability checks once a customer’s net spend exceeds £150 in a rolling 30-day period.
The Commission has powers to grant, review and revoke licences, impose financial penalties, and prosecute illegal gambling operations. Register with GAMSTOP to self-exclude from all UKGC licensed online gambling sites for a period of your choosing. Suspended or revoked licences mean the operator is not currently authorised to provide gambling services. All UKGC licensed operators must display their licence number in the footer of their website. All gambling operators wishing to offer services to customers in Great Britain must hold the appropriate UKGC licence. Required for businesses providing gambling software, hosting services or technical infrastructure to licensed operators.
