Register of gambling premises
Premises Licenses relate to non-remote businesses and give permission for using facilities to operate as casinos (or for other gambling activity). Furthermore, the UK has specific regulations for remote gambling operators. An online casino must adhere to stringent gambling laws to obtain and keep its licence. A flat additional annual fee of £6,250 is payable for a licence that combines two of remote casino, bingo and virtual event betting. A flat additional annual fee of £5,000 is payable for a licence that combines two of remote casino, bingo and virtual event betting.
Calculation of table gambling areas and non-gambling areas
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.
Unlike the arcade sector, bingo clubs would not remove substantial numbers of tablets as these machines are primarily used for playing the game of bingo itself. As with the original consultation, Option 3 continued to be the preferred option for bingo operators. The supplementary consultation was shared with all of the initial respondents to the land-based gambling consultation who left contact information, and received 16 responses.
The higher end takes into consideration that some local authorities may need additional funding to carry out the full extent of administration of their gambling duties and gambling enforcement, such as the development of policy statements. We do not currently have sufficient evidence to inform an appropriate percentage increase to the current cap on licensing fees. Any fee increase must be linked to the cost to that particular local authority of carrying out its gambling functions. We recognise that the maximum for licensing authority fees has not been updated since 2007, during which time inflation has inevitably reduced its value. Some have expressed a desire to do more to apply local considerations in their areas when making licensing decisions. For example, existing powers, such as local policy statements, allow licensing authorities to account for factors such as public health and crime.
On 8 December 2020, the UK Government announced a long-awaited review of British gambling laws and a call for evidence to inform the potential extent of changes required to the Gambling Act 2005 in order to make the legislative framework “fit for the ‘digital age’”. In addition to the LCCP, the British regulator also publishes a large body of literature comprising regulatory advice, policies and guidance which licensees are expected to take account of.The financial regulation of gambling is set out mostly in the British Finance Acts and provides for various levels of duty upon different types of gambling. Local authorities (for Premises Licences).Sports/horse race betting (if regulated separately to other forms of betting)As above.As above.Fantasy betting (payment to back a ‘league’ or ‘portfolio’ selection over a period of time, for example in relation to sport)As above.As above.LotteriesLotteriesThe Gambling Commission.The Gambling Commission (for Operating Licences). This is the case even if you hold a licence in another jurisdiction. There are certain exemptions from holding an operating licence for small lotteries and small raffles run not for profit and for fundraising for societies, schools and clubs only.
Do you agree with the proposed (i) minimum gambling area; (ii) table gaming area; and (iii) non-gambling area requirements for 1968 Act casinos under the new regime? Only areas that comprise 12.5% of the minimum table gaming area can be taken into account when determining the total table gaming area for 1968 Act casinos that access the new machine entitlements. Amending the regulations so that Small 2005 Act casinos only need a minimum table gaming area of 250sqm, reduced from 500sqm. Maximum gambling area for 1968 Act casinos will be decided following responses to the consultation.
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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.
We do not view this as a necessary player protection for these lower stakes machines and we are conscious that it could impose a barrier to implementing direct debit card payments, particularly on machines such as crane grabs. We propose that Category D machines are not required to show net position or session time. Industry also stated that it is a different environment to online gambling where this information can be displayed at all times without impacting the customer’s privacy or influencing other player’s behaviours. In contrast, most industry responses were concerned that customers may use this information to incorrectly determine that a machine is due a pay-out and therefore could lead to people spending more on a machine.
Registers
The authority licenses operators that meet strict requirements related to player protection, responsible gaming, data security, and financial conduct. While a Curaçao license still does not permit legal access to UK players, it is a popular option for international operators looking for broad market coverage and crypto-friendly conditions. The new body was brought in to try to raise the standards of gambling operators in the jurisdiction and to try to rehabilitate the authority’s international reputation. The CGA can issue two main types of licenses, B2B for service providers and B2C for operators offering gambling directly to players. The Commission runs a structured complaints process for players who experience issues with AGCC-licensed operators, and it remains one of the more respected non-UK regulators in the industry. Established in 2000, the AGCC regulates online gambling for companies that have part of their operations based in Alderney but serve international markets.
Recent Legislative Changes
Should there be voluntary limits (the ability for customers to set time and monetary thresholds) on gaming machines accepting direct cashless payments? This standard applies to feasible B3 gaming machines and provides players with a 30 second cooling-off period once voluntary limits are hit. In order to slow the speed of direct cashless transactions and provide a break in play, the government proposes that there should be a minimum transaction time for players making direct cashless payment transactions on gaming machines. What should the maximum transaction value be for direct cashless payments on gaming machines?
Well-trained staff enhance player safety and align with casino staff regulations UK. From dealers to security personnel, employees must be trained and treated fairly, with compliance extending to workplace regulations and gambling-specific requirements. Non-compliant operators risk fines, reputational damage, or license revocation, underscoring the need for casino compliance. This involves checking government-issued IDs, utility bills, or bank statements, aligning with casino licensing requirements UK. KYC processes require casinos to verify a player’s identity, address, and age before allowing deposits or withdrawals. In 2025, new rules cap online slot stakes at £2 for players aged and £5 for those 25 and older, reflecting a push for responsible gambling.
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.
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.
Only tables for multi-player live gaming, operated by a casino dealer, will qualify for the purposes of this ratio. We do not intend on making any changes to when a gaming table will be treated as being ‘used’ for the purposes of the machine to table ratio as set out in the current Regulations. If you are an operator with more than one premises licence at the same location, do you intend to take up these new entitlements for each licence? Shown if Yes is selected Do you intend to site the maximum number of machines available to you? If you selected ‘No’, please provide an alternative proposal for gaming machine entitlements if you have one.
In any case, gambling remains a tax-free activity when it’s only treated as entertainment. Whether it’s a big or small problem depends on perspective, but the UKGC tackles it with highly effective regulations. Reports suggest that an estimated 2.5% of adults in the UK have experienced problem gambling. Your peace of mind matters, and we’re here to help you make informed choices for a secure and enjoyable gaming journey. We’ve done the legwork to ensure that your gaming experience is not only entertaining but also risk-free. So, the fastest options you can choose are e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, which allow same-day withdrawals.
“game cycle” means, for an online slots game, the period beginning with the initiation of a game casino not on gamstop by the individual and ending at the point at which all money staked during the game has been lost or all money won during the game has been delivered to or made available for collection by the individual as the case may be. (2) The condition is that, for an online slots game, the total amount which an individual may stake in relation to any game cycle may not exceed— Search by company name, trading name, domain or licence number. Northern Ireland has its own separate gambling legislation and is not covered by the Gambling Act 2005. If you believe an operator has breached licence conditions, you may also report concerns directly to the Gambling Commission.
- This view was most strongly argued by licensing authorities.
- We intend on keeping the same requirements for calculating non-gambling areas for both 2005 Act and 1968 Act casinos.
- Any more restrictive changes could potentially exacerbate the impact on places like seaside arcade economies by making these machines inaccessible to adults accompanied by children.
- With the exception of small society lottery permits, the power to grant operating licences lies exclusively with the Commission.
- These responses highlighted the low-risk nature of these machines.
- What impact would Options 1, 2 and 3 have on the product mix of Category B, C and D machines?
The majority of licensing authorities advocated for the maximum proposed premises fee increase of 30%. Following analysis, we propose to increase the maximum premises fees chargeable by licensing authorities by 15%. We received detailed evidence through the consultation process outlining the impacts which increased fees would have on both the ability of licensing authorities to undertake their duties, and the commercial pressures placed on operators. These fees are used on a cost recovery basis to enable licensing authorities to undertake their gambling enforcement and administrative duties. To ensure this, we outlined in the white paper our intention to increase the cap on the maximum chargeable premises fees which can be charged by licensing authorities. The government will make inviting, causing, or permitting under-18s to play ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines a criminal offence through a draft affirmative statutory instrument.
For casino products, this creates specific product design obligations. UKGC’s LCCP Social Responsibility Code 3.4.1 requires licensees to interact with customers showing signs of gambling-related harm. A long-established proprietary casino domain reflects years of continuous operation under a consistent ownership structure. Domain age is one of the lower-weighted components in Domain Score, but it reads differently for casino platforms. When a white-label casino carries WHOIS privacy and a recently registered domain, it can be harder to trace accountability back through the corporate chain. For white-label operations, WHOIS records sometimes reflect the platform provider rather than the licensed operator, or are obscured entirely.
These are subject to separate regulations, involving a two-stage application process, detailed below. The Gambling Commission’s guidance for licensing authorities. The flat additional annual fee payable for a licence that combines all three of these activities is £9.375. The flat additional annual fee payable for a licence that combines all three of these activities is £7,500. The flat additional application fee payable for a licence that combines all three of these activities is £3,140. The flat additional application fee payable for a licence that combines all three of these activities is £2,512.
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.