Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2026 United Kingdom
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. The data used in this section reflects activity from April to September 2019 and relates to a single session on a particular machine. 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 machines which is also below the maximum stake permitted on Category C machines.
- What impact would Options 1, 2 and 3 have on the overall number of Category B, C and D gaming machines?
- The UKGC is a strict licensor and regulator, meaning that licensed casinos must be provably safe.
- We only recommend legitimate and fully licensed online casinos, regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and other licensing regulators in British territories.
- 447.Part 10 of the Act defines a gaming machine, and gives the Secretary of State power to make rules about their categorisation and use or manufacture and supply.
- By submitting your responses via email you are agreeing to the terms outlined in the privacy notice.
For example, 88% of casino customers also bet online on sports at least once a month. However, at this stage we do not know precisely what these costs will be, as we do not have any evidence on how casinos will respond to this. The policy could also encourage casinos to invest in broadcasting sport, both in broadcast rights and venue enhancement, which will have additional costs.
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. 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.
Getting a licence
Personal Management Licences allow people to work in certain roles in a gambling business. Our online fees calculator can help you with understanding the amounts of your application, first annual and annual fees. The fees you need to pay depend on what you are applying for, and what your anticipated gross gambling yield (GGY) is. The Gambling Act 2005 defines a casino as an arrangement whereby people are given an opportunity to participate in one or more casino games. The white paper set out the government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector.
This section of the consultation received 46 responses, primarily from licensing authorities and gambling operators. The government will allow direct debit card payments on gaming machines through a made negative statutory instrument, which will also include some of the player protection measures outlined in this chapter, such as the account verification requirement for each transaction. We propose that the default limits for B1 machines are aligned to those machines in arcades, bingo halls and betting premises. The government proposes that mandatory limits must be included on gaming machines accepting cashless forms of payments. The government proposes that gaming machines accepting direct debit payments must allow customers to set time and monetary thresholds. The government proposes that the current deposit and committed payment limits should apply to direct cashless payments on gaming machines.
The application process begins online. This rule was introduced following the UK government’s gambling white paper and is aimed at reducing gambling-related harm. These changes focus on player protection, corporate accountability, and industry funding for gambling harm initiatives. The UK gambling industry is evolving, and 2025 has brought some of the most significant regulatory reforms in over a decade. Selecting the correct license type is essential because operating outside the scope of your license can lead to fines, enforcement action, or even license suspension.
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). A series of key proposals specifically relating to the land-based gambling sector were outlined in Chapter 6 of the White Paper, including measures to adjust outdated regulatory restrictions applying to the sector. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its gambling White Paper (opens in new tab) in April 2023, which set out the previous government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector. Google acts as data processor on our behalf, further information is available in Google Cloud Platform Service Specific Terms (opens in new tab) and Google’s Cloud Data Processing Addendum (opens in new tab).
The Gambling Act 2005 permits the advertising of gambling in all forms, provided that it is legal and there are adequate protections in place to prevent such advertisements undermining the licensing objectives. Local licensing authorities also provide lottery registrations and gambling permits for pubs, clubs and other establishments for low-level gambling. If your equipment is based in the UK or if you offer gambling to UK residents, you need a UK Gambling Commission licence. 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. In addition, where the business is based at premises, you will require a premises licence. He leads the firm’s cross-departmental alcohol and gaming licensing teams.
The SI has the effect of adding a new condition to all remote casino operating licences. No, only those online casinos and betting sites that hold the UKGC licence can promote their business in the UK. Find out how to comply with your anti-money laundering (AML) responsibilities if you’re operating a gambling business in the regulated sector (remote and non-remote casinos). The Act allows for casino premises licences to be varied, for example, a change to the layout plan, and also to be transferred from one party to another, although the incoming party would require to hold an operating licence.
A small casino under the 2005 Act (opens in new tab) has a minimum table gaming area of 500 square metres and a minimum non-gambling area of 250 square metres. 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. A flat additional annual fee of £4,687 is payable for a licence that combines two of game host (casino), game host (bingo) and betting host (virtual events only). A flat additional annual fee of £3,750 is payable for a licence that combines two of game host (casino), game host (bingo) and betting host (virtual events only). A flat additional application fee of £1,570 is payable for a licence that combines two of game host (casino), game host (bingo) and betting host (virtual events only). A flat additional application fee of £1,256 is payable for a licence that combines two of game host (casino), game host (bingo) and betting host (virtual events only).
427.These sections prescribe the procedure for making an application for a premises licence. 426.In addition to responsible authorities, a wider group of people may play a role in the premises licensing process under this Part. This is the case, for example, for a casino licence under Part II of the Gaming Act 1968 or a bookmaker’s permit under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963. 415.This section sets out the principles that licensing authorities should apply when exercising their premises licensing functions under this Part. Other sections in this Part give permission for particular kinds of premises licence to authorise more than one type of activity.
Pros and Cons of Verifying Operators’ Licenses in the UK
See how we rate the sites, how casino regulation works, how you can verify the licence yourself. Here you can find licensed casinos that are safe for British players. We help you find UK licensed casinos, including the latest sites launched with UK Gambling Commissions stamp of approval. Premises licence holders must also send us copies of applications to transfer or vary their premises licence(s), or apply for a reinstatement of any lapsed licence(s). When a premises licence or provisional statement is applied for, the applicant must send a copy to us.
“extended converted casino premises” means premises in which gaming machines are made available for use in accordance with the extended gaming machine entitlement; The remote casino operating licence will be required (instead of an ancillary licence), in addition to a non-remote casino operating licence if you intend to link terminals located in one casino premises to gaming that takes place in another set of premises (for example, touch-bet roulette terminals in one casino linked to a roulette wheel in another casino). As well as an operating licence, an operator wishing to make gambling facilities available in a land-based environment (e.g., casino, betting shop, bingo hall or arcade centre) will also need to apply for a premises licence authorising that activity from the relevant local authority. Other than that, different types of gambling activity conducted by the same media can be combined – for example, a “remote” gambling operating licence might well have betting, gaming and software operation endorsed upon it. This is to enable trackside betting operators (also known as on-course bookmakers) with operating licences to benefit from the track premises licence held by the occupier of the track.
Yes, most UK online casinos work on mobile phones and tablets. Good UK online casinos should not withhold winnings without a valid reason, but delays can happen. Yes, licensed UK online casinos pay real money winnings. That being said, at Online-Casinos.co.uk, responsible gambling is a must when we review casinos.
For example, as previously highlighted, evidence provided by Bacta shows that the average stake placed on a Category B3 game is between £1.20 – £1.30, compared to 40p – 60p for a Category C machine. Under such circumstances, and given the relatively higher stakes and losses set out in the rationale for change, there is the potential for gambling-related harm to increase. Multi-staking category B cabinets provide customers with the choice of staking at different levels and therefore below the maximum stake permitted. However, over the longer term, some industry representatives have suggested that operators would likely further reduce their number of Category C and D cabinets in favour of multi-staking Category B cabinets. Unlike Option 1, it would be much more difficult for an operator to increase the number of B3 cabinets on their premises by increasing the number of Category C or D in-fills and tablets that they site. The equalising of these machine types may come at significant costs for some businesses.
These steps deter money laundering and protect against underage gambling, ensuring a secure environment for all players. Independent bodies like eCOGRA test RNGs and ensure games meet casino compliance standards. Tools like self-exclusion programs allow players to block themselves from gambling, while deposit and time limits help manage spending.
The list of responsibilities of the Gambling Commission includes work to ensure that licencees act in accordance casino not on gamstop with the requirements imposed by the Gambling Act 2005 and other related regulations and standards. Previously, an operator in one of the whitelisted gambling jurisdictions could advertise their services in Great Britain without requiring a separate licence from the Commission. Whilst, those operators who wish to advertise their services in England, Wales, or Scotland, but are based outside the country, have to obtain a licence from the Gambling Commission following the passage of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014. The Gambling Commission is an executive, non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for regulating gambling and supervising gaming law in Great Britain. All of the legal UK casino sites we recommend hold a valid UKGC licence and meet these requirements.
Casino games
Subsections (3) to (5) of section 172 of the Act make provision as to the number of gaming machines which may be made available for use in a casino by the holders of a licence issued under the 2005 Act. Non-remote operating licences authorise land-based gambling activities and must be accompanied by a premises licence issued by the relevant local authority. We use the data provided to maintain a register of premises licences, which we use to inform our compliance and enforcement work, and to monitor the licensing of premises nationally.
We are also proposing that this minimum transaction time applies to all machines. The vast majority of respondents agreed that there should be a minimum transaction time for customers making a cashless transaction on a gaming machine. Category D machines do not have a committed payment limit. The committed payment limits are £10 for Category B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines, and £5 for Category B4 and C machines. The deposit limits are currently set at £20 for Category B and C machines, and £2 for Category D machines. This could include looking at how customers interact with machines that accept cashless payments, how much they spend and the impact of different protections.
For example, one large arcade operator projected a 20% increase in the number of Category B gaming machines under Option 1, which corresponded to a projected medium increase in GGY. Option 3, which would remove the ratio entirely, was the only option which generated projections of increased operator GGY from bingo club operators, arcade operators, trade bodies and gaming machine manufacturers. We received projections concerning GGY and the change in overall number of Category B, C and D gaming machines under Options 1, 2 and 3 from a range of stakeholders.
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? Should the government introduce an age limit on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines to 18 and over?
Checking a casino’s current licence status is a simple way to confirm it is meeting those standards right now. Not all casino sites display all the data in their footer. Open the casino website and check that the data listed by the UKGC matches. You can learn more about this in our guide on how to protect your rights at an online casino. You could also find licence details listed in the about us section, the help pages, or the responsible gambling page. You may see the licensing authority’s logo or written details about the licence issuer and number.
As highlighted in Chapter 2 of the land-based gambling consultation, we are aware that Category B gaming machines on average result in greater customer losses per session than Category C and D gaming machines. However, some licensing authorities posited that rather than removing lower staking machines, gambling operators should be deploying novel solutions to saving energy, such as incorporating standby and sleep functions on machines which are not in use. However, even when accounting for device type (i.e. cabinet, in-fill or tablet), the responses suggest that Category C and D gaming machines generate less GGY than Category B machines. Industry responses suggested that the projected uplift in GGY under Options 1 and 3, and conversely, the decrease or no impact in GGY under Option 2, corresponds directly with the ability to site Category B gaming machines.
This does not prevent the licensing authority imposing conditions on such matters under section 169, subject to any mandatory conditions which the Secretary of State may prescribe under section 167. Provision of facilities for bingo may not be made in a small casino, but the Secretary of State has power to repeal this restriction by order. The regulations will determine whether the banks of terminals count as a table in their own right.
In order to obtain a casino premises licence, you must first be the holder of a casino operating licence. There is a high-level cap on the number of casino licences available throughout the UK, which is set down in regulations under the Gambling Act 2005. A casino operating licence allows the holder to provide casino gambling facilities. Some of these conditions apply to casino licences only, but some apply to all types of operating licence. Nigel Farage has made a safe gambling message for online-casinos.co.uk players. New casino premises licences issued under the Act will fall into one of two categories namely large casino premises licence or small casino premises licence.
