Public Register
The objective of providing customers with a genuine choice of higher and lower stake machines is understood in terms of providing a safeguard against increased gambling harm. Gaming machines account for a significant proportion of energy costs, a substantial number of which are sited by operators purely to meet the 80/20 rule. The Gambling Commission raised concerns that arcade and bingo venues have sought to maximise their number of Category B machines under the current rules by providing Category C and D gaming on tablets and in-fill machines. As outlined in the white paper, we strongly encourage operators to continue to improve player safety controls on Category B3 machines. Premises licence fees are collected by licensing authorities for applications and annual renewals to cover the cost of administration of their gambling duties and gambling enforcement. Currently, annual fees for 1968 Act casinos are between 65% and 90% of the annual fees that 2005 Act casinos in the equivalent fee category are required to pay.
New or inexperienced individuals who are not familiar with the casino industry or the law would struggle considerably to obtain these licences without proper guidance and independent legal advice. The cost of seeking the correct licences for the first time can be very high and there are ongoing fees to be paid once a gambling licence is in place. The licensing of casinos is perhaps the most complex aspect of licensing law in the UK due to the rarity of application and unique legal and technical know-how that is required. However, licences can be suspended or revoked where material is brought to the attention of the Gambling Commission or the licensing authority. Once either an operating or premises licence is in force, there is an annual fee to pay.
Only 4 of the 8 Small casino licences have been developed, one has since closed, and none offer the maximum allowance of 80 gaming machines as it would be impractical to site the necessary tables. Depending on the type of casino licence an operator holds, they are able to site a different number of gaming machines, and may be bound by other restrictions including a maximum machine-to-table ratio and limitations on their size and non-gambling area. We do not see this as being an issue for operators or manufacturers as it is already widely available on Category B gaming machines within all land-based gambling premises.
Therefore, the government’s position is to consult on what principles and player protections should be put in place to support any relaxation of the rules around playing gaming machines with a debit card. Permitting cashless in a targeted way, for example allowing debit cards to be used to pay for particular types of gaming machines or machines in certain types of venues, would not provide clarity on the principles and player protections required within a cashless framework. Over this same period, the weighted average weekly income from gaming machines for Landlord & Tenant pubs fell from around £215 to approximately £190, whilst for Managed pubs this fell from around £230 to approximately £180. Between 2019 and 2021, there was a decrease in the percentage of Landlord & Tenant pubs with gaming machines (from 60% to just over 40%), as well as a decrease in the percentage of Managed pubs with gaming machines (from 80% to around 65%).
However, if a casino has 600sqm of gambling space, it would only be required to have at least 250sqm of table gaming space. 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.
Requirements for Obtaining a UK Online Casino Licence
So you must tell us the date you plan to start trading (this will be a condition of your licence, if granted). If your casino is not operational, then subsequent annual fees will be reduced by 50 percent. Subsequent annual fees are due every year before the anniversary of the day your licence was issued. You can offer any of the games listed in our types and rules of casino games at a large casino.
Regular Reporting & Levy Payments
In response to these challenges, the white paper committed to changing the 80/20 rule to 50/50 to better meet the needs of industry and demands of customers. We welcome further evidence on the unmet consumer demand in the consultation response. The main theme that emerged from industry was that the current rule does not allow operators to meet consumer demand. A number of premises, particularly those located in motorway service stations, chose to retain their existing entitlements. Please upload any further evidence or any other information that should be considered as part of this consultation relating to casino measures. (Mandatory response)Increased revenue / No impact Decreased revenue / I don’t know
Only licensed operators may legally offer online casino play to UK players. A casino with a valid licence has agreed to rules on fairness, security, responsible gambling and player-fund protection, and can be investigated, fined or shut down if it breaks them. A UK Gambling Commission licence is the single most important thing to check before playing at any online casino. Every company that provides gambling services to UK customers must hold a UKGC operating licence. The Gambling Commission maintains a public register of all current operating licences and personal licences. The Commission’s preferred option would see an average 30% increase in annual operating licence fees.
For this, you non gamstop casinos can search the licence number on the business register. Now is the time to confirm that the licence is active and valid. You can then verify the details directly on the official licence register. When playing from the UK, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence is the one that matters. This is the most important detail needed to confirm the licence is valid.
Applicants for an operating licence are asked about their policies for ensuring that the licensing objectives will be adhered to. For operating licences this will include the resources likely to be available to carry out the licensed activities and the legitimacy of the source of the capital and revenue finance of the operation. Accordingly, the Commission will not normally grant operating licences involving such products. All UK licensed online casinos and sportsbooks are mandated to perform anti-money laundering checks, and mental and financial welfare checks on their customers. In general, it is illegal for the holder of a licence to sell alcohol to facilitate betting on the premises.
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 same principle would apply for in-fill machines and tablets. Based on the evidence provided, we believe that these machines have little customer appeal and are primarily made available as a space saving means of meeting the current 80/20 ratio.
- This will help ensure that operators are operating within the regulations and enable licensing authorities to undertake appropriate licence checks.
- It is based on your gross gambling yield.
- Therefore applicants must disclose relevant offences even if they would normally be spent and the Commission may refuse a licence on the grounds that the applicant (or a person relevant to the application) has a conviction for a ‘relevant offence’.
- The Secretary of State has issued a code of practice about the procedure to be followed by licensing authorities in making determinations at both stage one and stage two, and also about the matters authorities are to take into account in making such determinations.
Exempt venues will be prevented from increasing their gambling area further, from 16 May 2024. Those opposed to the reduction preferred a larger minimum table gaming area requirement in place such as 350sqm. Some respondents used this section of the consultation to further highlight their opposition to the minimum table gaming area requirement. This section of the consultation received 43 responses.
Option 2(b)
In England & Wales this is the local authority, whilst in Scotland this is dealt with by licensing boards. A working knowledge of this document is essential for anyone who wishes to operate a casino in the UK. Depending on the number of persons who would hold certain positions within the applicant organisation, there may be an additional requirement for them to hold their own personal licence.
Staff learn to identify problem gambling behaviors, conduct KYC checks, and verify ages. The UKGC’s License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) mandate training on responsible gambling, AML, and customer interactions. Running a casino involves managing staff under strict UK casino employer laws. Casino advertising is tightly regulated to protect consumers, with casino advertising rules enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Robust AML casino laws safeguard the industry’s integrity. Staff must be trained to spot these signs, and operators face fines or license loss for failing to report.
“(1) This paragraph applies to all premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect.”; “larger converted casino premises” means premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect, and which— The Act requires the holders of operating licences to pay an annual fee for their licence, in advance. For operating and personal licences relevant details of the licence will be published in the public register8.
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). An existing licensed 1968 Act casino operator wishes to make use of the new Regulations to provide SSBT facilities in its casino. The operator can do so without having to make an application to vary its OL (given that betting facilities are permitted by Regulation).
General guidance on who may be considered relevant is available on the Commission’s website and in regulations4. In considering an application the Commission has regard to the licensing objectives and whether they are likely to be compromised, and the suitability of an applicant to carry out the licensed activities. Guidance on the type of information required is included on our website and online application services. Those seeking a licence are required to submit an application form with the prescribed fee and supporting documentation.
Our experts test and review casino, betting, and bingo sites so you don’t play in a bodged-up joint that’s all mouth and no trousers. Bojoko is your home for all online gambling in the United Kingdom. The UKGC is a strict licensor and regulator, meaning that licensed casinos must be provably safe. You can tell if a casino has a UK licence by checking the bottom of the casino website. You can find UK licensed casinos by using reputable sources, such as Bojoko, which has casino experts who review and verify each casino personally. Having a valid UKGC gambling license is a requirement for operating a gambling website that allows British players to join.
The UK market is tightly regulated, but unlicensed and rogue operators do exist — particularly sites that target UK players without holding a valid UKGC licence. The casino arm is a solid complement to its sports betting product, offering a well-stocked slots section and a live casino lobby with popular table game variants. TalkSPORT BET Casino carries the credibility of the UK’s most listened-to sports radio station into the online gambling space. The integration between casino and sports betting is seamless, making it a strong all-rounder for players who enjoy both. The mobile app is polished and responsive, making it easy to switch between sports betting and casino play.
The additional annual cost per premises is an average across all premises types and in reality, will differ depending on the type of licence held. The additional annual cost per premises and the total additional annual funding for licensing authorities has been estimated using existing premises numbers. We believe it is appropriate to increase these fees so that local authorities can cover the costs of their gambling licensing and enforcement activity, and increase activity where needed. They are therefore essential for ensuring that licensing authorities can properly regulate gambling in their areas.