UK Gambling License: Complete Application Guide & UKGC Requirements 2025 GamingCompliance
With the exception of small society lottery permits, the power to grant operating licences lies exclusively with the Commission. An operating licence is therefore required by any person who wishes to provide commercial ‘facilities for gambling’ in Great Britian. This Practice Note provides an overview of the gambling licensing regime in the UK. Premises licenses are issued by the licensing authority responsible for the area where the premises are located.
This will ensure that Category C and D machines made available by operators have genuine customer appeal and/or are genuinely available for use, as opposed to being used as a means to increase the number of Category B cabinets a venue can site. The Gambling Commission has raised concern that some of these machines appear to have been designed primarily to maximise the number of Category B cabinet machines which can be sited by an operator, rather than to provide a genuine lower stake gambling offer to customers. However, to mitigate against gambling-related harm, the reform of the rule also seeks to ensure that a genuine offer of lower staking Category C and D machines remain available for customers. Additionally, the reform seeks to allow operators to reduce their energy costs through the removal of unused but energy intensive Category C and D machines and/or increase GGY through increased numbers of higher yielding Category B machines. Some operators were keen to highlight the increasing cost burden for land-based casinos in other areas, but acknowledged the logic of applying consistency across regimes. However, we do not intend on changing any of the requirements placed on operators as we think that the current regulatory framework will ensure that licensing authorities and the Commission are notified when changes are proposed to premises under these circumstances.
These options supplanted their stated preference for Option 1 in the original consultation. The majority of responses received came from respondents within the bingo and arcade sectors. Do you have any additional insights or evidence relating to recent trends in GGY, profit and costs for bingo and AGC operators? The 2 additional options consulted were Option 2(a) and Option 2(b).
- The rationale most commonly expressed for the movement of these machines into age-restricted areas was to increase the effectiveness of staff monitoring.
- 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.
- Authorities should think carefully before entering into any agreements or arrangements with potential casino operators which might be perceived to affect their ability to exercise their stage two functions objectively and without having prejudged any of the issues.
- This requirement was intended to ensure a balanced offer of gaming products in 2005 Act casinos, which had a significantly higher gaming machine entitlement than 1968 Act casinos.
- It’s worth noting that for some casinos, one operator can run a number of different brands under the same licence, these are often called white label sister sites.
Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice
Indeed, we reviewed data that showed some operators, particularly in the bingo sector where tablets are in widespread use for playing bingo games, have significantly greater numbers of Category B cabinets than Category C and D cabinets. Bacta have argued, however, that the benefits to operators would not be as substantial as those outlined in Option 1. Data provided by industry indicates that this option would achieve to a limited extent the objective of ensuring commercial flexibility. Option 2 would likely remove any incentive for operators to not abide by ‘available for use’ guidance. This proposal outlined in Option 2 would require any such premises to have one Category C or D cabinet for each Category B cabinet it sites. As outlined, the Gambling Commission has expressed concern regarding the adherence of operators to ‘available for use’ guidance.
Some of the same size requirements for Small 2005 Act casinos will apply for 1968 Act casinos, should they increase their entitlement to gaming machines to more than 20 (including one or more Category B machines). This will ensure that casinos continue to offer a variety of gaming and non-gaming activities for customers while at the same time allowing a greater number of machines to be sited on the premises. The sector views an increase to this ratio as essential in order to ensure these casinos’ long term viability by allowing them to site more gaming machines, and this conclusion was reflected in the white paper. It has also meant that none of these casinos are able in practice to satisfy the current conditions which would allow them to offer the maximum number of gaming machines due to the amount of space they take up.
Although the data on mixed sessions creates some uncertainty, we conclude that overall, Category B machines lead to higher losses than Category C or D machines. This suggests a higher risk of unaffordable spending on Category B machines. On the other hand, the data shows that a substantially higher proportion of sessions on Category B machines ended in a loss over £200, compared to Category C, Category D and mixed machines. This suggests a relatively similar level of binge gambling across both machine categories. Data on session duration shows that, in general, players spend a similar amount of time on Category B machines as Category C and D machines.
View licence details, trading names and authorised domains. Before allowing any wagering, operators must confirm a player’s identity. These apply to staff members who perform key roles within gambling organizations. Granted by local councils, these allow physical locations to be used for gambling. Issued by the Gambling Commission, these are mandatory for businesses offering gambling services in the UK. The Gambling Act 2005 is the central legal framework governing gambling.
Casino operators will be required to notify licensing authorities and the Gambling Commission if they decide to take-up their entitlement to additional gaming machines under the new regime. There must be some notification that casinos are making a change to the number of machines and tables they are offering, even if this will not always trigger the need for a premises licence variation. Under the new regime, it is quite possible that a casino would make material changes to its layout in order to site additional gaming machines, tables and potential positions for betting. For example, we do not think that it would be appropriate for a casino that has a gambling area of 280sqm and a table gaming and non-gambling area of 140sqm to be able to site 40 SSBTs alongside 25 gaming machines and at least five gaming tables. The primary benefit of this measure is increased GGY for casinos that take up additional gaming machines. Gambling operators must ensure that their supervision and monitoring of gaming machines enables them to meet the requirements of the Act and conditions of their licence.
What impact would Options 1, 2 and 3 have on the overall number of Category B, C and D gaming machines? We will use the responses to this consultation as well as wider engagement with the sector to gather data to estimate the likely uptake of additional machines and removal of existing machines under each option. Adherence to ‘available for use’ guidance is a key mechanism for ensuring a genuine balance of higher and lower stake gaming machines across arcade and bingo venues. The Commission updated its ‘available for use’ guidance to highlight that gaming machines should only be counted as being available for use if each machine can be played simultaneously by different players without physical hindrance.
The majority of responses stated that there should be the ability for customers to set voluntary limits on gaming machines accepting direct cashless payments. The vast majority of responses to the consultation agreed that card account verification should be required if direct debit card payments are permitted on gaming machines. We propose to align the lifting of the prohibition on direct debit card payments on gaming machines and the introduction of player protections within regulations with the Gambling Commission’s review of the Gaming Machine Technical Standards.
Unlicensed casinos offer no legal protection and may refuse payouts or misuse player data. By taking the time to understand how gambling regulation works and how to verify a casino’s license, you can be confident that you have a real chance of winning when gambling online. Paragraph 9.7 – Pre-2005 Act casinos with grandfather rights (converted casinos) are now permitted to offer betting, subject to The Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab) which limit the maximum number of separate betting positions. Paragraph 7.4 – Converted casinos are now permitted to offer betting, subject to The Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab) which limit the maximum number of separate betting positions. It is also recommended that, for clarity and to assist future inspections of the premises and administration of the licence, licensing authorities record in their decision the content of the application and particulars of what the authority has granted.
(6) The premises must contain a non-gambling area, the floor area of which is no less than the lesser of— (3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), in determining the floor area of the table gaming area, any number of separate areas within the premises may be taken into account. (2) The premises must contain a table gaming area, the floor area of which is no less than the lesser of— “(1) This paragraph applies to larger converted casino premises.”, and
Licensed operators must keep player funds separate from operating money and disclose the level of protection, so your balance is safeguarded. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the independent regulator for gambling in Great Britain, set up under the Gambling Act 2005. This guide explains exactly what a UKGC licence means, how to verify one in under a minute, and how to spot a site that doesn’t have one.
In England and Wales, the government sets a cap and licensing authorities have flexibility below that to set their fees. The maximum annual fee for an adult gaming centre (arcade) is £1,000 in England and Wales, and £700 in Scotland. For example, the maximum annual fee for a large casino is £10,000 in England and Wales, and £7,500 in Scotland. Licensing fees vary by premises type. Therefore, the proposals set out in this chapter will only apply to licensing authorities in England and Wales.
Licence activities
• Lobby areas and toilet facilities may be taken into account but the non-gambling area shall not consist exclusively of lobby areas and toilet facilities. • Facilities for gambling cannot be provided in the non-gambling area. An example of a wholly automated gaming table is an automatic roulette wheel into which the ball is inserted not by a human dealer but at regular intervals by the mechanism itself, and bets are placed at touch screen terminals.
Do you need a gambling license in the UK?
The interaction design of slot machines and table games creates specific compliance obligations that don’t apply to betting or bingo products in the same way. The LCCP sets out licence conditions and social responsibility codes that all licensees must follow, but some provisions hit casino operators with particular force. Every UK online casino listed here holds a Remote Casino Operating Licence from the UKGC, but licensing is only the starting point. If you manufacture gambling software, but also provide facilities for gambling only in circumstances in which you host those facilities through other operators’ platforms, then you may be eligible to hold a host operating licence. Remote gambling and software technical standards do not apply to the software you provide for overseas operators who are not licensed by the Gambling Commission.
The UK gambling industry is evolving, and 2025 has brought some of the most significant regulatory reforms in over a decade. Each license is tailored to specific business models and activities, whether online or land-based. Before applying, it is crucial to understand the different categories of gambling licenses offered by the UK Gambling Commission. The UK Gambling Commission regulates gambling under the Gambling Act 2005. But beyond legality, it signals trustworthiness and responsible gambling standards to players, investors, and other regulators. The UK remains one of the most competitive and tightly regulated gambling markets in the world.
Remote gaming machine technical – full licence Non-remote 2005 Act casino operating licence Non-remote 1968 Act casino operating licence Non-remote pool betting operating licence
The Commission’s published Advice to Government recognised this area as a potential example whereby it would be appropriate for requirements to be placed in the Commission’s regulatory framework rather than within the 2005 Act or in regulations. We believe these measures strike an appropriate balance between regulation applicable to modern payment methods, consumer benefits and protection of the licensing objectives. To support the bingo club sector further we will consider exploring the use of primary legislation to provide a clear distinction between bingo clubs and arcade premises. Some operators will benefit from both.
It is anticipated that under the Crime and Policing Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in February 2025, the Commission will be granted yet further powers to more quickly and effectively take action against illegal gambling websites. The usual pattern of regulatory enforcement is for the regulator to instigate a review of the operating licence in question, with the consequences described above. Have fines, licence revocations or other sanctions been enforced in your jurisdiction? Alternatively, there are exceptions in the legislation for low-level or private gambling. Operators are increasingly expected to understand the affordability of the gambling undertaken by their players, particularly where players are high spenders.
If a site lists credit card providers as deposit options, that is fraudulent. If the licence number doesn’t have a matching result on the UKGC public register, that’s one of the biggest red flags. The UKGC logo that appears in the footer of the casino site should take you directly to the operator’s info on the public register when you click on it. Here are some of the most common red flags that should cause you to pause and double check the brand’s licensing before you sign up.
For instance, the Commission has demonstrated a willingness to initially engage with those that operate (without a licence) offerings that have hints of licensable products before requesting that such entity either apply for and obtain a licence or prevent consumers in Great Britain from accessing such offering, whilst making clear that to continue doing so may amount to an offence under the Gambling Act 2005. The casino not on gamstop British regulatory authorities have taken something of a global lead in the enforcement of regulation, particularly in relation to “source of wealth” and “proceeds of crime” omissions and also failures in social responsibility obligations owed by operators to players. 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”.
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive overview of the gambling industry and online casinos in the UK, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their level of experience, can access invaluable insights. This is a dedicated UK casino comparison page, built to help you evaluate legal, UKGC-licensed online casinos based on key features like UKGC License, UK specific bonuses and more. Here you will find all UKGC licensed online casinos currently available in the UK. It is noted that, for the casino sector, this proposal will be taken forward in the context of plans to harmonise the operating and premises licence fees between 1968 Act casinos and 2005 Act Small casinos. As part of the increase in premises fees, industry responses highlighted that they would like to see licensing authorities invest in further staff training to increase knowledge and understanding of gambling legislation, which in their view, would improve engagement.
(Mandatory response) Yes / No / I don’t know (Mandatory response)Yes / No / I don’t know / Not applicable (Optional response)Open text box (Mandatory response)Yes / No / I don’t know
We intend to place some restrictions on the number of SSBTs to avoid a scenario in which the product offering becomes unbalanced and a large number of these machines are sited in a relatively small gambling area. Where a machine is made available to take bets on virtual races, it is classified as a gaming machine and would therefore count towards the maximum permitted number of such machines. The authorisations required may include a remote betting operating licence (required if customers are to be able to bet via Self-Service Betting Terminals), as well as a non-remote betting operating licence. In order to offer this, operators will be required to hold relevant operating licences from the Gambling Commission. The white paper proposed that all casinos should have the ability to offer betting, should they wish to do so.
Sumsub explains how gambling businesses can stay compliant and avoid fines in the UK. Moving into the iGaming industry was a natural progression for Heath, initially focusing on sports betting content for major brands. In the most serious cases, a licence can be suspended or revoked. Gambling operators that breach these conditions can face fines, compliance audits, and regulatory monitoring. It sets standards to keep gambling fair and open, crime-free, and to protect consumers from harm. Online gambling is strictly regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
For example, if a casino had 300sqm of gambling space, its non-gambling area would need to be at least 150sqm. We are mindful of ensuring fairness between 1968 Act and 2005 Act casinos but also to those casinos that are currently operating. Option (3) would not impact any 1968 Act casinos and would give these casinos greater flexibility in the layout of their venues. We are unable to easily increase the maximum size of Small 2005 Act casinos as the legislation requires that Small and Large casinos are classified distinctly, so an overlap between the two categories would be problematic. However, as outlined in our proposals below, there are some difficulties in mirroring the exact restrictions that apply to Small 2005 Act casinos for 1968 Act casinos.