Play Responsibly

Guidance to licensing authorities Primary legislation

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.

Any 1968 Act casinos that wish to remain on the existing regime will be able to do so and are not required to adjust their product offering (unless they decide to take up the opportunity to offer facilities for betting). We will give further consideration to these casinos having the option of reverting back to the existing (current) regime, as this will be a decision unavailable to 2005 Act Small casinos. We also acknowledge concerns about an increased availability of machines potentially leading to greater opportunities for gambling-related harm.

To obtain a UK gambling license, you must pay initial fees, duties, and taxes. To obtain a gambling license in the UK, you must open a bank account in a UK-based bank. Obtaining this license allows its holder to conduct gambling business in the UK. The UK has several types of licenses related to operating a gambling business. Law & Trust offers professional assistance in obtaining a gambling license. UK legislation supports entrepreneurs engaged in the gambling sector.

In all these cases, UKGC rules require operators to act transparently and handle complaints by following published procedures. For example, a player may report unfair or confusing terms and conditions, such as very low betting limits or too many games being restricted. One of the most common reasons players complain is that a casino is claiming that the player has broken its terms or rules and is therefore withholding the player’s winnings. However, if that does not work, then players must provide documents such as a passport, driving licence, or utility bill.

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.

• 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.

The Gambling Act 2005 created a partnership between the Gambling Commission and 368 licensing authorities in England, Wales and Scotland for the regulation of land-based gambling. Licensing authorities have an important regulatory role alongside the Gambling Commission in licensing local premises. Please upload any further evidence or any other information that should be considered as part of this consultation relating to an age limit on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. Should it be a criminal offence for a person to invite, cause or permit children or young persons to play on these machines? What measures, if any, do you think venues should adopt to ensure that no under-18s play on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines if the age limit is introduced? Should ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines be required to move to age-restricted areas in venues?

As such, any change in the composition of gaming machines which results in a higher share of Category B machines will represent an uplift in GGY for operators. While we have no direct evidence on the rate of gambling harm for those participating on gaming machines in bingo and arcade venues specifically, we can use net expenditure and session length data to consider the possible risks of gambling harm. The rationale for considering this option is primarily to ensure that a truly balanced offer of gaming machines is available to customers following the loosening of restrictions from 80/20. We propose that an operator must notify the licensing authority of their intention to increase their number of gaming machines.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that for some individuals the option of attending physical bingo premises delivers substantial social benefits which would be lost if the sector is not supported. A healthier land-based gambling sector, able to compete on a more even basis with similar online gambling opportunities, is likely to support local employment opportunities, regeneration effects and contribute to business rates. We will use the responses to this consultation as well as wider engagement with the sector to gather data to estimate the likely change in machine configuration in bingo and arcade venues.

Play Responsibly

These are aimed at making sure all gambling is safe and fair, with the UK Gambling Commission overseeing all gambling activities within the UK. Here, you can use their search feature to look up the casino by name. First thing to do is to check the casino’s footer for the UKGC logo. This allows us to give you a balanced and transparent overview of each casino. The ratings are based on comprehensive UK casino reviews carried out by Bojoko’s casino experts. It offers games, ranging from slots to table games and live casino, from over 50 game suppliers.

UKGC vs MGA and other regulators

The five types of licences included within this are casino premises licences, bingo premises licences, adult gaming centre premises licences, family entertainment centre premises licences, and betting premises licences. For example, a licence for an FEC allows the operator to site an unlimited number of Category C and D gaming machines in premises which are open to all ages. So while debit cards can be used at casino tables, they still cannot be directly used as a form of payment on gaming machines in casinos.

The Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Tables in Casinos) (Definitions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Itregulates various forms of gambling, including online gambling, sports betting, casino gaming, lotteries, and others. Many online casinos have multiple licences. While we only ever recommend online casinos that adhere to UKGC regulations on our site, there are a few things you can do yourself to verify a brand’s licence and to keep yourself safe. To keep yourself safe and to keep your gaming experience enjoyable, we recommend that you only sign up and play at duly licensed online casinos. Fees for non-remote Casino 2005 Act operating licences have been based on annual gross gambling yield (GGY) rather than the type of premises licence. An existing Small 2005 Act casino wishes to utilise the new table to gaming machines ratio alongside a reduction in its minimum required table gaming area.

The Gambling Commission, however, has pointed to concerns that the industry is intentionally subverting the 80/20 rule for machine games and expressed doubt as to whether some machines represent a genuine commercial offer to customers. The Gambling Commission will also consult on appropriate player protections that should be required on these machines. In addition, we noted that some player safety improvements have been made to modern Category B3 machines which cannot easily be replicated on older machines, and that customers can and do play at lower stakes than the maximum on Category B3 machines. The white paper set out a detailed rationale for the need to reform the current 80/20 rule governing gaming machine allowances in AGCs and bingo halls. As a result, these venues will be entitled to choose between adopting any revised entitlement set down in legislation following this consultation or retaining the four Category B machine allowance for AGC premises and eight Category B machine allowance for bingo premises.

We propose to move the voluntary commitment into legislation, introducing a legal age limit of 18 on Category D ‘cash-out’ slot-style machines. In order to future proof the gaming machine industry and adapt to modern payment technologies, we are seeking views on a range of player protections that will ensure players can use modern payment methods whilst mitigating the risk of harm. Without intervention, there is a risk that machines could become obsolete as we move towards a “cashless” society. The white paper proposed to reform the 80/20 rule in response to evidence that the current rule does not allow operators to adequately meet consumer demand, while still providing a balanced product offer to customers.

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.

However, we recognise that a minority of customers do experience gambling-related harm and that it is necessary to have safeguards in place to protect customers. In April 2023, DCMS published its white paper on gambling setting out the government’s plans for bringing the regulation of the gambling sector into the digital age. Increasing the maximum cap that licensing authorities can charge – made negative statutory instrument. The majority of these respondents argued for measures which tended to be more restrictive of the gambling products available within the land-based sector.

A premises licence issued by a local licensing authority will however continue to authorise either a ‘small’ or a ‘large’ 2005 Act (opens in new tab) Casino premises. While other regulators may appear on gambling sites, only a casino license UK guarantees legal access for British players. Choosing a UKGC-licensed casino is the only way to guarantee your safety when playing online. Before signing up at any online casino, it’s important to make sure the site is properly licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

Sixty-seven per cent of respondents to this chapter of the consultation stated that ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines should be required to move to an age-restricted area. The government’s position is to proceed with the introduction of an age limit on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. The vast majority of respondents (96%) stated that the government should introduce an age limit on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines of 18 and over. This chapter of the consultation received 46 responses, mainly from licensing authorities and industry. The consultation asked the following questions on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. However, we will not mandate that these machines be moved into age-restricted areas as we do not believe that it is proportionate, considering the lower risk posed by these types of 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.

These included provisions which entitle any AGC or bingo premises licences granted before 13 July 2011 to retain their existing entitlements of Category B gaming machines (four for AGC premises and eight for bingo premises) notwithstanding the new 80/20 rule. Do you agree with the proposal that 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? This amendment will mean that 1968 Act casinos that meet the same size requirements of Small 2005 Act casinos (subject to our final position on maximum size of gambling space) will be entitled to 80 gaming machines. From data provided by industry, we understand that there are eight 1968 Act casinos that have a gambling area of casino not on gamstop 1500sqm or over, and a similar number that are close to 1500sqm and which could be expanded if they decide to site more gaming machines and tables. In order for a 1968 Act casino to be entitled to 80 gaming machines, we propose that it must have a gambling area of at least 500sqm, the same minimum requirement for Small 2005 Act 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 means the UK safer-gambling rules do not bind it, GamStop self-exclusion does not reach it, and the UK complaints and dispute-resolution route is not available to you for that site. A licence badge that is a flat image with no working link to the regulator is unverifiable by design. A number that cannot be verified at source is not evidence of a licence; it is just a number printed on a page. Players regularly find that an offshore number returns as expired, as belonging to a different company, or as not licensed at all when run through the issuer’s own checker.

• The first two matters are not, and cannot be, delegated to a licensing committee, and must be taken by the authority as a whole.
• Navigating the complex web of UK casino laws is essential for new operators aiming to succeed.
• There are over 2,500 games, ranging from slots to table, jackpot, and live casino games.
• The next UK licensed online casino we recommend is 21 Casino.

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.

This consultation relates to land-based gambling provided to customers in Great Britain, by operators who are consequently required to hold the appropriate licence from the Gambling Commission. The government is considering raising maximum licence fees for gambling premises. If you are a local authority/ licensing board, how many premises licence applications did you receive in the 22/23 financial year? We expect that wider benefits will arise from the increase in oversight and enforcement activity by licensing authorities of gambling premises in their area and are seeking further information to better understand these benefits. The primary cost of this measure is the additional costs incurred by gambling operators resulting from the increased licensing fees.

We explain the legal position in detail in our guide to whether non-GamStop casinos are legal in the UK. Common examples are licences issued in Curacao, Anjouan or other offshore jurisdictions. The single most reliable check is the UK Gambling Commission’s public register, which lists every business licensed to offer gambling to people in Great Britain. If you are worried that a casino is not properly licensed, you can usually find out in a few minutes.