Guidance to licensing authorities Primary legislation
5.—(1) The condition specified in this regulation is attached to each remote casino operating licence, including remote casino operating licences issued before this regulation comes into force. The SI has the effect of adding a new condition to all remote casino operating licences. Covers high street betting shops, casinos, bingo halls and adult gaming centres. Navigate our comprehensive database of Gambling Commission licensed operators, brands and licences If you run a 1968 Act casino, you should already have a premises licence from your local licensing authority. The agency regulates a wide range of services, including betting, lotteries, casinos, and digital gambling platforms.
Under this option, for every device with higher maximum staking there would be a lower maximum staking machine of equivalent size and nature available to customers. The same rule would apply to all other gaming machine device types. This is in addition to a 9 percent increase in the overall number of B3 machines, representing approximately 900 machines across the total AGC estate. Projections on the impact of this proposal for the AGC sector suggest there will be a 10 percent reduction in the number of Category C machines and a 20 percent reduction in the number of Category D games, in-fills, and tablets. The increase in Category B machines will enable bingo halls to better meet customer demand and will likely result in greater GGY.
If this proportion was representative across all casinos, then total casino sector GGY could increase by approximately £1.3 million. For example, 88% of casino customers also bet online on sports at least once a month. However, at this stage we do not know precisely what these costs will be, as we do not have any evidence on how casinos will respond to this. The policy could also encourage casinos to invest in broadcasting sport, both in broadcast rights and venue enhancement, which will have additional costs.
Securing a license also depends on a casino’s casino not on gamstop approach to player protection. Money laundering is a huge risk in the gambling industry, and the UKGC has strict anti-money laundering requirements. Should a casino collapse, customers mustn’t lose their deposits, and that’s why robust financial guarantees are a must. The Commission needs to be satisfied that all key figures are trustworthy and capable of running a gambling operation responsibly. This varies depending on the projected gross gambling yield (GGY).
They also highlighted the importance of card account verification given the potential for stolen debit cards to be used to make direct payments to gambling machines. They also stated that individual gambling businesses should be allowed to decide if they would like to update their systems to provide direct debit card payments as it would be a significant cost to businesses to update all machines to have this functionality. We expect that operators will ensure that Category C and D machines made available to meet the ratio are available for use and have genuine customer appeal. We received some responses which suggested that Option 1 would be preferable to Option 2(a) for ensuring that a genuine offer of Category C and D machines are made available to customers.
This question elicited the most detailed responses in this chapter from a wide variety of respondents. This proposal will help build a picture of the customer’s play and is already standard in betting shops. The Behavioural Insights Team highlighted some research they had undertaken on individuals’ experiences of gambling management tools.
Gaming machine changes
For example, if a casino has 400sqm of gambling space, it would be required to have at least 200sqm of table gaming space. For casinos that are 500sqm or larger, the table gaming area must be equal to or greater than 250sqm. We think that this will create greater equity between 1968 Act and Small 2005 Act casinos and should not have an effect on gambling-related harm as customers will still be offered a mixture of gambling and other non-gambling leisure activities.
Chapter 2: Machine allowance for arcades and bingo halls
Use our operators search to find the company by name, licence number or trading name. If you encounter an unlicensed gambling site targeting UK consumers, you may report it directly to the Gambling Commission. Unlicensed operators are illegal in Great Britain and offer no consumer protection. Only gamble with operators holding a valid Gambling Commission licence.
Please see the casino (host), bingo (host), general betting (host) (real events) or general betting (host) (virtual events) licences for further details. Some gambling software businesses provide facilities for remote gambling by making their games or betting content available to customers of other operators. Independent, hands-on reviews of UK Gambling Commission–licensed online casinos.
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.
Typically, the casino will match your deposit by a certain percentage up to a set amount. These are some of the best casino bonuses in the UK for their size. You can claim deposit bonuses on sign-up or when you reload your casino account. In the subsequent sections, you’ll learn about the common bonus types available at casino platforms. Whichever casino you choose to play at, you’ll definitely find games from top developers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play’n GO, and Big Time Gaming. It’s not the same as a land-based casino, but with HD live streaming and real professional dealers, that’s the closest experience you can get.
Reputable casinos often provide details about their license in the footer or a dedicated « About Us » or « Regulatory Information » section. You should be able to find the casino website’s name and information on whether the licence is active, inactive or white label. The UKGC maintains an up-to-date public register of all their licensed operators.
While it is acknowledged that the risk of gambling harm may increase somewhat following a transition to 50/50, the stipulation outlined in Option 2 would ensure that operators offer a balance of higher and lower stake gaming machines. Under the ‘available for use’ guidance, for the purpose of calculating the Category B machine entitlement in gambling premises, gaming machines should only be counted if they can be played simultaneously by different players without physical hindrance. Should the operating and premises licence fees that apply to 2005 Act casinos also apply to 1968 Act casinos that increase their gaming machine entitlements? Operating and premises licence fees for 1968 Act casinos that increase their gaming machine entitlement should match the operating and premises licence fees charged for 2005 Act casinos. These changes would only come into effect if 1968 Act casinos elect to make more than 20 gaming machines (including at least one Category B machine) available to the customer.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regulates gambling advertising, though LCCP breaches by licence holders are enforced by the Commission itself. The most recent significant RTS update came into effect on 17 January 2025, extending requirements previously applicable only to slots to a wider range of online casino products. The RTS set out the technical requirements for remote gambling systems and gambling software.
(Optional response) Open text box (Optional response)i) Monetary thresholds ii) Time thresholds Sliding scale However, the government believes that there could be benefits to harmonising these measures as part of direct cashless gambling. Breaks in play are designed to stop dissociation/disconnection from the world around them, with research suggesting that best practice is to combine breaks in play with responsible gambling messaging. (Optional response) Sliding scale
Non-remote gaming machine technical – full licence Non-remote linked licences gambling software The UKGC issues licenses for both physical (non-remote) and online (remote) casinos, each tailored to specific operations. This includes online gambling and high street casinos, as well as game developers and casino software makers. With fair gaming guaranteed, it’s obvious why players favour them over non-licensed casinos.
- While we anticipate that many casinos of a suitable size will take up the option to increase their gaming machine allowances under these proposals, we are aware that some casinos will not want to site more than 20 gaming machines.
- It was proposed that the requirements would form part of a new regime that operators would have the option of moving onto, taking up a new gaming machine entitlement under the new rules.
- Whether it’s a big or small problem depends on perspective, but the UKGC tackles it with highly effective regulations.
- That said, non-gambling services are generally carved out of this wide net – payment processing, marketing affiliates and other ancillary services such as fraud prevention and age verification are per se not regarded as “gambling”.
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By contrast, the largest estimated increase in annual GGY received from arcade operators was in the region of £10m. Bingo club responses ranged from no impact on GGY to small improvements in GGY, with the largest estimated increase in annual GGY being in the region of £4m. However, responses suggested that increases in GGY would be greater in the arcade sector than in the bingo club sector.
The government proposes that account verification should be required on each transaction, in line with the majority of responses to these questions. A response from an advocacy organisation opposed the introduction of direct debit card payments on the basis that there is evidence that cashless payments result in increased and unplanned spending when compared to cash. One betting shop operator was concerned that allowing direct debit card payments would minimise the interactions a customer has with betting shop staff as their current customer journey requires a certain level of interaction with a staff member. They stated that it would be an unnecessary and disproportionate burden for a low stake and low prize machine. Over 70% of responses also agreed that card account verification should be required on each transaction. The Commission will consult further on minimum transaction times, limit setting functionality, staff alerts, safer gambling messaging and the display of session time and net position.
The number of additional machines that a 1968 Act casino will be entitled to will be determined by the size of all three different areas that have been outlined above – the total gambling area, the table gaming area and the total non-gambling area. For 1968 Act casinos that access the new machine entitlements, we propose that the mandatory licence conditions remain aligned, so that only areas that comprise 12.5% of the minimum required table gaming area can be taken into account in determining the table gaming area. We will also amend the current inconsistency in the regulations which requires Small 2005 Act casinos to have a table gaming area of at least 500sqm (identical to their minimum overall gambling area) by reducing this requirement to 250sqm.
Some respondents also stated that there should be a difference depending on the category of machine, with higher limits for B1 machines. The majority of responses were in favour of mandatory limits being a required feature on machines accepting direct debit card payments. Vii) Category D machines (Optional response) While this situation appears extremely unlikely, we do not see any reason for it not applying to this type of machine as they still carry risks, even if smaller than other forms of gambling on different machines. As set out above, while chip and PIN could be used as a verification method, we would expect manufacturers and operators to adapt or make new machines that accept payments made by mobile devices which have some sort of biometric verification and meet the SCA standards.
We propose therefore that these machines are allowed to stay in unrestricted areas in licensed and unlicensed FECs, and other premises including but not limited to pubs and travelling fairs. If we required ‘cash-out’ slot-style Category D machines to be moved to age-restricted areas in licensed FECs, it is likely that operators would no longer site these machines. Unlicensed FECs are entitled to make only Category D machines available, once they have successfully applied for a permit from the licensing authority (local authority in England and Wales, licensing board in Scotland). As set out in the white paper, we believe that a more precautionary approach is justified for slot-style games which mirror the mechanics of adult-only gaming machines, particularly those which pay out cash. Currently, Category D machines have no age restrictions nor area restrictions in licensed/permitted premises.
Players often find offshore numbers return as expired, belonging to another company, or not licensed. Look for a licence seal that links to the issuing regulator’s own validation tool, then run the number through it. A genuine UK-licensed site states in its footer that the named business is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under an account number. If the brand does not appear, it is not licensed in Great Britain. You can look up a casino by business name, trading name, website domain or account number.
It is important to differentiate between unlicensed offshore casinos and international casino sites which have multiple licences. No, only those online casinos and betting sites that hold the UKGC licence can promote their business in the UK. Non-remote operating licences authorise land-based gambling activities and must be accompanied by a premises licence issued by the relevant local authority.
The white paper set out the government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector.
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.