Make sure that the gambling business is licensed
We did not receive GGY estimates for the arcade sector, however, industry responses indicated that they anticipated greater GGY returns under Option 3 than under Option 1. The evidence provided by the bingo club sector was more varied, with some operators projecting a small increase in GGY (though substantially less than Option 1 would generate for some bingo club operators), whilst others projected a small decrease in GGY. Option 2 produced the most varied projections out of the 3 options considered.
UKGC vs MGA and other regulators
We would like to understand whether these types of protections are already available on these machines, or whether it would require investment in new machines or software. In addition, while customers could stake lower than the maximum on a multi-stake Category B machine, evidence suggests that on average players tend to stake more on Category B machines than Category C and D machines. These machines can also offer customers Category C or D content on the same device. For example, a customer could stake 50p on these casinos not on gamstop machines which is also below the maximum stake permitted on Category C machines. Industry trade bodies have provided evidence which suggests that the removal of the 80/20 rule would result in a large-scale reduction of tablets and in-fill machines, although the extent to which tablets will be removed will vary by operator.
A gambling business may ask you for a selfie if they think there may be fraudulent activity on your account. A customer cannot place a bet until they have been verified, so gambling businesses will verify customers as quickly as possible so that they can start gambling. If a gambling business can verify you electronically the process may be instant. We don’t say which types of information gambling businesses should ask for.
Overall, they would either prefer the current contactless payment restrictions to apply for debit card payments on machines or for chip and pin to only be required at the beginning of any session. While this option does not provide as great an increase in commercial flexibility as Option 3, Option 2(b) and, potentially for some operators, Option 1, the evidence received suggests that the vast majority of operators would benefit under this option. This option balances our 2 key priorities, the first being to support arcade and bingo premises through increased commercial flexibility within the context of many businesses operating at a loss post-COVID-19.
Securing UKGC licenses, prioritizing AML and responsible gambling, and staying updated on UK casino regulations are non-negotiable. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, casinos must implement strict AML casino laws to prevent illicit funds from entering the gambling ecosystem. Gaming machines and gambling software extract The UKGC is a strict licensor and regulator, meaning that licensed casinos must be provably safe.
A range of gambling activities are already authorised by the Act, by existing Regulations and some are further added by the new Regulations which came into force on 22 July 2025. The licence holder does not have to take any action other than make sure it adjusts its operation to deliver the changes included in the Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Tables in Casinos) (Definitions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab). The operator can do so without having to make an application to vary its OL (given that betting facilities are permitted by Regulation). More information on licence applications is available from the Commission’s webpage Operating Licences. Converted casino licensees are advised that those wishing to utilise the new extended entitlements will need to inform the Commission under the Licence Conditions and Code of Practice (LCCP) Ordinary Code Provision 8.1.1 (Information requirements).
View licence details, trading names and authorised domains for each operator. If gambling is harming you, free and confidential help is available now. One email a month on operator failures, licence changes and player rights.
Increased fees will enable licensing authorities to undertake more enforcement and engagement activities with licensed premises. This may include increasing staff numbers, with one licensing authority stating that it would consider dedicating one full-time resource to the enforcement of licensed premises. This was reflected by licensing authority responses in regards to how much the maximum premises fee should be raised by. The majority of respondents agreed that premises should adopt voluntary test purchasing as a way to monitor under-18s activity on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. In relation to measures that venues should adopt to ensure no under-18s play on these types of machines, responses included additional staff checks on customers, staff training and placing machines in visible areas near cash desks or prize bars. Our proposal to introduce an age limit on these machines is a precautionary measure to protect children and young people from gambling-related harm.
James verifies the licence of every casino CasinoReg reviews on the UK Gambling Commission public register. It takes under a minute and it’s the surest way to know a casino is genuinely licensed. No licence details in the footer; no entry on the UKGC public register; no GAMSTOP or safer-gambling tools; pressure to deposit quickly; vague or missing terms; and no clear company name or complaints process.
What player protections could be adopted in casinos for those customers participating in sports betting? If you are a casino licence operator, what impact is permitting sports betting expected to have on the Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) of your casino(s)? Should all 1968 Act casinos be permitted to offer sports betting, regardless of size? Therefore, 1968 Act casinos are losing out on potential revenue that might otherwise have been generated if they were allowed to offer sports betting services. Consumers (particularly international tourists) still bet on sporting events via mobile devices while in casinos, irrespective of whether sports betting is permitted or not.
Under Option 1, the vast majority of industry respondents projected that there would be an increase in GGY for arcade and bingo operators. A summary of these responses is outlined below. Licensing authority responses were predominantly in favour of Option 2, though a number restated their original position that the current 80/20 ratio should not be changed in the liberalising manner proposed. The majority of industry responses expressed a preference for either Option 1 or Option 3, and were strongly opposed to Option 2. This section of the consultation received 40 responses. Further details of proposed new operating licence fees will follow in due course.
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.
For non-remote betting facilities, this would be a non-remote general betting (standard) operating licence. The effect of the amendments made by Regulation 2 (of the 2025 Regulations) is to make it clear that only gaming tables controlled or operated by casino staff can qualify as a gaming table for the purposes of calculating gaming machine allowances. These Regulations extend to England, Wales and Scotland and apply to all gaming tables in casinos from 22 July 2025.
The UKGC actively publishes enforcement actions on its website, and multiple major operators had their licences suspended or revoked in 2025–2026 for breaching the new White Paper rules. All UKGC-licensed casinos must also participate in the GamStop self-exclusion UK scheme, which blocks you from all licensed sites simultaneously. Always verify the specific licence type when you check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed to make sure it covers the games you want to play. When you check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed for online play, confirm the operator holds a Remote Casino Operating Licence.
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.
There are currently only three Small 2005 Act casinos in operation from the eight licences available. 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. The government is proposing to operate two regimes for 1968 Act casinos whereby they can either operate under the existing rules with no increase to their gaming machine allowance or they can take up their new gaming machine entitlements under the new rules. Casinos with multiple licences at the same physical location could site more than 80 machines under the new regime – it is not clear whether the current rules are clear enough to prevent this situation from arising in practice. The implications for operating and premises licence fees, bringing 1968 Act casinos in line with existing fee scales for 2005 Act casinos, are also discussed later in this chapter. It is our intention that these casinos can continue to operate under the existing regime, whereby they are permitted no more than 20 machines where at least one is of Category B (or they may elect to have any number of Category C or D machines instead).
Spotting Fake Licence Logos — The Complete Checklist
Here, you’ll find the key criteria you should look for in a casino site, along with some expert suggestions. Still, you may find some no-deposit bonuses if you search a large number of casino sites. You’ll also find daily and monthly cashback offers depending on which casino platform you join.On many platforms, your weekly cashback percentage depends on your loyalty tier. Most operators offer cashbacks on a weekly basis, so you get back a portion of your lost wagers during the week.
Our team of experts have compiled this guide to help you further understand The UK Gambling Commission and how it benefits your casino experience. Casinos licensed by the UKGC (Gambling Commission) are known for their strict adherence to high-quality regulatory standards. It is based on your gross gambling yield. The statutory levy is a mandatory payment that funds research, education, and treatment related to gambling harm. For small operators, fees start at £4,224, with higher annual fees for bigger operators.
If a non-gambling area is to become used for gambling, then that change would require a premises licence variation. The Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences and Provisional Statements) Regulations 2007 (opens in new tab) requires applications for a premises licence to include a scale plan, which shows the gambling and non-gambling areas. For other scenarios, and in deciding whether an application to vary a premises licence is necessary, licence holders and licensing authorities should have regard to the following.
Why Should You Play at Licensed Casino Sites?
- The primary cost of this measure is the additional costs incurred by gambling operators resulting from the increased licensing fees.
- For example, 88% of casino customers also bet online on sports at least once a month.
- The responses received from the third sector also raised concerns about the potential for increased gambling-related harm to occur alongside greater numbers of Category B machines being made available.
- Search by company name, trading name, domain or licence number.
- 2This condition only applies to converted casinos that choose to exercise the extended entitlement.
Casinos that have failed to comply face licence suspension or revocation — another reason why it is always worth checking how to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed before you play. Key changes include a £5 maximum stake limit on online slots, mandatory casino affordability checks UK operators must conduct at defined loss thresholds, a ban on autoplay features, and a 10x cap on bonus wagering requirements. The only reliable way to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed is to look up the operator’s licence number on the official UKGC register. Some rogue casinos display a UKGC-style logo without holding a genuine licence. Unlicensed casinos may withhold winnings or refuse withdrawals, leaving you with no legal recourse whatsoever. Knowing how to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed is the single most important step before you deposit at any online casino.
Licensed casinos offer a wide range of games from reputable suppliers, and the regulations weed out less reputable providers. UK casinos are required to offer various tools and resources to promote responsible gambling. These casinos must follow strict regulations regarding player security, from financial information to the fairness of games. The gambling authority upholds some of the strictest standards in the world, from the quality of UK casinos to player protection. While UK-regulated casinos have strict regulations, the range of games they can offer is extensive. This makes sure that new online casinos in the UK generally maintain high standards.
Bacta currently operates a voluntary age restriction on these machines for all of its members. We believe it is appropriate to make inviting, causing, or permitting under-18s to play ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines a criminal offence. Eighty-two per cent of respondents agreed that it should be a criminal offence for a person to invite, cause or permit children or young persons to play on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. While some of the other proposals put forward to ensure no under-18s play these types of machines were sensible, we do not think it is proportionate to mandate any of these measures due to the lower risk nature of this product. While the majority of responses stated that this measure would be beneficial, a number of licensing authorities caveated their responses by stating that voluntary commitments are limited due to the lack of consequences conditioned upon poor performance. On balance, we do not believe that it is proportionate to mandate that ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines be moved to age-restricted areas.
You can also learn about what is RTP in slots and check our guide to the best PayPal casino UK sites for your verified casino shortlist. Understanding both the licence verification process and the affordability check rules gives you full visibility of your rights as a UK player. A Remote Betting Licence or Remote Bingo Licence does not authorise casino games like slots, roulette, or blackjack.
Under the scenario outlined in Option 2, it is anticipated that a genuine balance and choice of higher and lower stake machines would be achieved across venues. It would also provide greater flexibility in determining the make-up of their machines and potentially lead to the removal of machines, such as tablets and in-fills, that are infrequently played. Consequently, under Option 2 industry as a whole would have the flexibility to reduce the number of Category C and D machines and/or increase the overall number of Category B machines across the sector, saving energy and/or increasing overall GGY. Consequently, it would deter operators from offering tablets and in-fill devices as a way to increase the number of Category B cabinets on their premises.
Looks are the cheapest thing for an unlicensed operator to buy. Our overview of your rights when a casino is not on GamStop sets out what is realistic. The absence of a UK licence narrows the easy routes; it does not always close every door. It does not automatically mean you have no options if you have already lost money.
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.
We think that this 30 second transaction time, coupled with the other player protection measures that we are proposing, should ensure that the use of direct debit cards on a machine has a similar level of friction to playing with cash. Following 30 seconds, the player would be able to start depositing money onto the machine. We would suggest that the 30 second period should start from when the machine has read the card and approved the payment.
