How UK Gambling Commission licensing works

The Gambling Commission regulates most commercial gambling in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005. If a casino wants to offer its games to people in England, Scotland or Wales, it needs a Commission licence. Here is what that licence means for you in practice.

Who needs a licence

Businesses that offer remote gambling — online or by phone — to people in Great Britain need a remote operating licence from the Commission. You can look up any licensee on the public register. Our guide to checking a licence walks you through it.

Websites like this one do not need a licence. We do not offer gambling or take bets; we publish information. The advertising rules still apply to what we publish, which is why you will not find claims of guaranteed wins or “risk-free” play here.

What a licence requires, in practice

Licensed operators must meet detailed conditions. Several affect you directly:

• Age and identity checks before you gamble. All online gambling businesses must verify your age and identity before you can gamble.
• No credit cards. Operators must not accept credit card payments for gambling, and must check that money coming from an e-wallet was not loaded from a credit card.
• Financial limits. Since 31 October 2025, operators must prompt new customers to set a financial limit at registration or first deposit, make limit tools easy to reach from the homepage and deposit pages, and apply a decrease immediately. Increases need a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours.
• Self-exclusion. Operators must offer their own self-exclusion and, for online gambling, take part in GAMSTOP.
• Fair terms and a complaints process. Terms must be clear and the operator must handle complaints within eight weeks, with access to an independent dispute resolution service.
• Bonus limits. Since 19 January 2026, wagering requirements on bonuses cannot exceed 10 times, and a single promotion cannot mix products such as casino and betting.
• Slot stake limits. Online slots are capped at £5 a spin, or £2 for customers aged 18 to 24.
• Telling you how your money is held. Operators must say whether customer funds are protected if they become insolvent, and since 31 October 2025 must remind you every six months if your funds are not protected.

What a licence does not do

• The Commission does not resolve individual complaints. It says plainly that it does not make decisions on disputes about gambling transactions. You complain to the operator first, then to an approved ADR provider.
• Your balance is not protected like a bank account. Money deposited with a gambling business is not covered by the Commission or government in the way personal bank accounts are. Check the operator’s statement on customer funds.
• A licence is not a recommendation. It is a minimum standard. You still need to read the terms and decide whether a site suits you.

Northern Ireland is different

Gambling is devolved in Northern Ireland. According to the Gambling Commission, its jurisdiction under the Gambling Act 2005 covers Great Britain — England, Scotland and Wales — and it has no powers to investigate or prosecute in Northern Ireland. Gambling there is governed by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, as amended in 2022.

Remote operators that advertise or offer gambling in Northern Ireland still need a Commission licence, but the Commission does not regulate that activity. The Advertising Standards Authority covers advertising across the whole UK. Because the protections differ, this site is written for players in Great Britain.

Licence numbers and group brands

One licence can cover many websites. All six brands we review, for example, are run by LeoVegas Gaming PLC under a single account (39198), with each site listed separately on the register. That matters if you self-exclude: excluding with one brand may also close your accounts with its sister sites, which LeoVegas says is the case for its UK brands.