Register of gambling personal licences
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.
All UKGC-licensed operators are legally required to work with GAMSTOP, which means you’ll be blocked across every regulated gambling site in the UK. It legalised online gambling and introduced a framework that requires any operator offering services to British players to obtain a casino license from the UK Gambling Commission. The UKGC issues several types of licenses, covering activities such as sports betting, bingo, and casino gaming. The Commission requires all licensed operators to support responsible gaming practices. The Commission is responsible for issuing and enforcing gambling licenses for both online and land-based operators. UKGC-licensed casinos must provide clear complaints procedures and access to independent dispute resolution.
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.
The policy proposals set out in this government response are intended to modernise the land-based gambling sector and help it to thrive sustainably. The land-based gambling sector, unlike the online gambling sector, has faced significant challenges in recent years as a result of business inactivity during periods of COVID-19 restrictions. In September 2019, the Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) generated by remote gambling overtook that of land-based gambling for the first time (excluding lotteries). The white paper acknowledged that the emergence of new technology and the availability of online gambling since the Gambling Act 2005 came into force has substantially altered the gambling landscape. Measures relating to casinos - one draft affirmative and one made negative statutory instrument. By contrast, licensing authorities and respondents from the third sector tended to highlight the risk of increased gambling-related harm as a result of increasing commercial flexibility for businesses.
The stated aims of the Commission are to keep crime out of gambling, Ensure it is conducted in a fair and open manner and to protect the vulnerable. On receiving the application, we may make a representation to the local licensing authority about it. Details on the information that we require from licensing authorities.
The UKGC register is the best way to not only confirm that the licence exists, but also that it’s currently active and valid. Here, you should also be able to locate the relevant licence number of the operator. These operators are being held to the highest standards and must adhere to a rock solid regulatory framework. Established under the Gambling Act 2005, the UKGC is the governing body that is responsible for regulating every type of gambling in the UK. The UK has one of the most heavily regulated casino markets in the world and the sheer variety of platforms might feel overwhelming for newcomers. If you have a combination of different kinds of licence, you will get a discount on your annual fee.
Remote bingo game host operating licence The UK gambling landscape is evolving, with UK gambling laws 2025 introducing stricter measures. Adhering to UK casino employer laws fosters a fair and secure workplace. Health and safety rules also apply, requiring safe premises with proper lighting, ventilation, and emergency protocols. Staff learn to identify problem gambling behaviors, conduct KYC checks, and verify ages.
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.
However, where a converted casino premises seeks to utilise the extended gaming machines entitlement, it will need to vary its premises licence to show the table gaming area on the plan, whether or not there are changes to any other part of the premises used for gambling or the non-gambling area. In addition, Small 2005 Act casinos which take advantage of the new machine to table ratio, and/or the reduced minimum table gaming area, will also need to apply to their local licensing authority to vary their premises licence, given the changes in non-gambling and gambling areas. The changes made enable the holder of a converted casino premises licence relating to premises in England and Wales to make up to 80 gaming machines (including Category B gaming machines) available for use, provided a number of specified conditions are satisfied (“the extended entitlement”). Regulation 3 of these Regulations amends section 172(5)(b)(i) of the Gambling Act 2005 (c. 19) (“the Act”) to change how to calculate the number of gaming machines that may be made available for use in small casinos licensed under the Act. Its remit covers arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, slot machines and lotteries, as well as remote gambling, but not spread betting which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Only licensed operators may legally offer online casino casinos not on gamestop play to UK players. You'll see casinos advertising various licences, but for UK players only one guarantees full protection. If the licence number, operator name or responsible-gambling links do not match, treat the casino as high risk and check another verified option before depositing. A UKGC licensed casino should show a valid licence number, an operator name that matches the public register, clear terms, visible responsible-gambling tools and UK-facing support information. The Commission issues licences to gambling operators, can levy fines and revoke licences, and is tasked with investigating and prosecuting illegal gambling. It is also responsible for remote gambling which includes betting online, by telephone and other communication devices using the equipment, that offer or advertise services to the residents of Great Britain.
We look to deal with all aspects of gambling licensing both land-based and remote, acting for a number of the major international operators. To successfully operate in the betting and gaming industry you need to make sure that you have the correct licences in place. Next Steps When all the statutory instruments have been laid in the UK Parliament, the Commission will publish information on the overall intent of the statutory instruments, what the changes mean for operators of casino premises that intend to make use of the amended Regulations and how this process should be administered by licensing authorities when applications are received. One effect of the amendments made by 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.
Further staking opportunities could be offered within the same game cycle up to the value of £3 for a total staked per game cycle of £5.Scenario CA customer aged 19 stakes £2 on an online slot game. No other opportunities to stake can be offered until the game cycle has concluded as £5 is the maximum stake permitted for customers aged 25 and over.Scenario BA customer aged 27 stakes £2 on an online slot game. Scenario AA customer aged 27 stakes £5 on an online slot game.
Categories include land-based, online, and ancillary licenses (e.g., phone or email betting). Remote gambling licenses cover online operations. The draft Casinos Regulations form part of a package of interlinked statutory instruments which make changes to the regulatory framework for land-based casinos. Draft statutory instruments that form part of the package of measures that will change the regulatory framework for land-based casinos. Many such sites promote unlicensed operators or are influenced by commercial relationships rather than player interests.
A genuine UKGC logo should be clickable and lead you directly to the UKGC website, where you can view the casino's licensing details. Most importantly, by playing at UK-regulated casinos, you stay away from casino scams. Regulated casinos in the UK must provide efficient and easily accessible customer service. By choosing a licensed site, you also choose a casino that can help you if need be. Licensed operators are required to promote responsible gambling. You can read it to better understand the measures UK-regulated casinos have in place.
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.
This measure will also bring greater consistency to the different licensing regimes and greater parity between online and land-based casinos. These products do not count as gaming machines, but neither do they provide any of the benefits of a multiplayer table in contributing to a balanced mix or affording opportunities for social interaction. However, it is our intention to apply a fixed maximum of 80 gaming machines per physical location.
Where a regulator publishes a validator, paste the licence number in and read what comes back. Look for a licence or seal that links through to the issuing authority’s own validation tool, not just a static badge. If a site relies on an offshore licence, you can still sanity-check the claim, and it often does not survive the test. An offshore licence does not bring GamStop, does not require UK affordability checks, and does not give you access to a UK dispute-resolution route. These are real licensing regimes, but they are far lighter than the UK system.
Non-remote betting intermediary licence Non-remote general betting limited operating licence Non-remote general betting standard operating licence These are the types of gambling licences you will need to run your gambling business. By consulting the UKGC and legal experts, operators can build compliant, player-focused casinos that thrive in 2025 and beyond.
The majority of these responses came from industry operators. Twenty-two per cent of respondents stated that these machines should not be placed in age-restricted areas. The rationale most commonly expressed for the movement of these machines into age-restricted areas was to increase the effectiveness of staff monitoring.
This free service is mandatory for all remote licensees. Look for a statement such as "Licensed by the Gambling Commission" with an accompanying licence number. Follow these steps to confirm an operator holds a valid UKGC licence Always verify an operator's licence before depositing funds. Note that Northern Ireland has separate gambling legislation and is not within the Commission's jurisdiction. See which bonus structures are compliant and how new regulations protect British players.