Guidance to licensing authorities Part 17: Casinos

In addition, there would be limited opportunities for operators to meet customer demand for Category B machines and increase GGY. It is possible that operators could use inaccessible tablets and in-fill machines to increase the overall number of Category B3 machines in their venues, undermining the principle of a balanced offer of higher and lower stake machines giving genuine choice to the customer. However, we are aware of the possibility that some operators may attempt to maximise their number of Category B cabinets above and beyond that intended by the 50/50 proposal by siting tablets which are not genuinely accessible or in-fill machines in their venues. We anticipate that our proposal to allow operators to increase their number of Category B machines to 50 percent will enable operators to better meet customer demand, and in turn minimise the likelihood of ‘available for use’ guidance being subverted. The Gambling Commission has expressed concern that operators currently seek to maximise Category B machine numbers by providing Category C and D games on inaccessible small tablets or via in-fill machines.

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.

Please see the casino (host), bingo (host), general betting (host) (real events) or general betting (host) (virtual events) licences for further details. Some gambling software businesses provide facilities for remote gambling by making their games or betting content available to customers of other operators. Independent, hands-on reviews of UK Gambling Commission–licensed online casinos.

• The majority of responses were in favour of mandatory limits being a required feature on machines accepting direct debit card payments.
• Do you perceive there to be any issue with allowing multiple casino licences in the same physical location if gaming machine entitlements are increased as proposed?
• Measures relating to casinos – one draft affirmative and one made negative statutory instrument.
• New paragraph 3 of Part 5 of Schedule 1 to the 2007 Regulations attaches additional mandatory conditions to converted casino premises licences that apply only if the holder decides to exercise the extended entitlement.
• Casino operators are reminded that those wishing to utilise the new extended entitlements will need to inform the Commission under Licence Conditions and Code of Practice (LCCP) Ordinary Code Provision 8.1.1 (Information requirements).

They must also participate in GAMSTOP self-exclusion and contribute to research, education and treatment of gambling harm. Search for the operator by name or licence number and confirm the licence status shows as “Active”. Established under the Gambling Act 2005, it ensures gambling is conducted fairly, openly, and free from crime. If you have a dispute with a licensed operator, you can escalate unresolved complaints to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution provider free of charge. All UKGC operators must allow you to set daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits.

We received a small number of responses from local authorities. Under Option 2(a), the Bingo Association has advised that 2 substantial multi-site bingo club operators and several single site operators would be disadvantaged by comparison to the current regime. Option 2(a) had more varied views across bingo operators. However, while Option 1 was the most common secondary option for many of these respondents in the original consultation, the majority of respondents to the supplementary consultation were supportive of Option 2(b) above Option 1. Another operator stated that both options could, over time, potentially lead to a 20% to 25% increase in Category B cabinets and would likely lead to the reduction of tablets and in-fills to at most a nominal level. The reason provided for this preference is that Options 2(a) and 2(b) would provide greater commercial flexibility over the long-term – with Option 2(b) providing the greater flexibility of the 2 options.

Casinos originally licensed under the 1968 Act are limited to a maximum of 20 gaming machines of Category B, C and D if at least one machine is Category B, or an unlimited number of Category C and D machines. The sectors which pay these fees are casinos, bingo halls and bingo-licensed arcades, adult gaming centres, family entertainment centres and betting shops. Unlike most commercial gambling, Category D gaming machines, which include coin pushers and crane grabs, are not restricted by age.

Licensing

It comes with legally binding conditions on fairness, security, player-fund protection and responsible gambling. Mismatched names, ‘suspended’ status, or no UKGC reference at all — combined with tell-tale features like credit card deposits or bonus buys — mean you’re on an unlicensed site with none of the protections this guide describes. Scroll to the casino’s footer and find the UK Gambling Commission logo with an account number. If the name on the register doesn’t match, the licence status isn’t current, or you can’t find an entry at all, treat that as a serious warning sign and don’t deposit.

Checking a casino’s current licence status is a simple way to confirm it is meeting those standards right now. 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. We’ll show you how to check a casino’s licence in 5 simple steps. That’s why you should only play at licensed casino sites.

Equipment technical requirements

The proposals outlined in this consultation to reform the 80/20 rule will again permit AGC and bingo premises to retain these legacy rights where the relevant premises licence was granted before 13 July 2011. Further information about premises licence fees are outlined in Chapter 5. The Gambling Commission will also need to be notified of an operator’s projected annual licence fee category based on GGY for the forthcoming licence period, so that the correct fees can be paid. Therefore, we are consulting on how best to allow casinos to move onto the new regime.

This is because under Section 7 of the Act, partially or wholly automated versions of casino games are still casino games. Applicants are responsible for notifying responsible authorities of applications relating to premises under Regulation 12 of the Gambling Act 2005 (premises licenses and provision statements) Regulations 2007. If the previous details are not provided, this may result in consideration of the application being delayed or even the application being rejected, although licensing authorities are reminded of good practice in seeking to remedy defects rather than rejecting applications outright. It is recommended that applicants make clear what changes are to be made to the layout and content of the gambling offer. If those changes are made in the future, then operators would be able to access these provisions after they come into effect. Regulation 3 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Mandatory and Default Conditions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (opens in new tab) requires the layout of the premises to be maintained in accordance with the plan.

Game integrity and player fund protection

Remote linked licences gaming machine technical Non-remote gaming machine technical – supplier licence Non-remote gaming machine technical – software operating licence

By choosing a UK-regulated casino, you truly do yourself a favour. Casinos that operate under the UKGC license offer a robust and secure gaming environment. This gives Brits plenty of options and displays how flexible the license can be. The way different casino sites do this varies from one brand to the next, which is why it’s smart to first understand the offer types. The latter is a good sign of trust, and if there is a UKGC licence in there as well, the site is especially good.

Respondents had differing views on the impact on other gambling products. Contrastingly, respondents from local government, campaign groups and academia were more cautious about any measures which could be seen as increasing the supply of gambling opportunities, due to links between rates of gambling participation and gambling-related harm. We will work with the relevant trade bodies and operators to understand the feasibility of this proposal and the frequency of any reporting to DCMS. This includes ensuring that appropriate safeguards against gambling-related harm are in place. In addition, operating costs have risen significantly over this period, especially as a result of rising energy costs, which have increased by over 225% for some operators.

If you are looking for a casino with a safe and fair gaming environment, these casinos are the choice for you as player safety and game fairness are never jeopardised. A statutory levy is now applied to all licensed operators to fund gambling research, education, and treatment services. From September 2025, online slot machines will be capped at a £5 maximum stake per spin. Companies that supply gambling software or provide essential support services to licensed operators must comply with these requirements.

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.

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 non gamestop casinos apply to direct cashless payments on gaming machines.

If a gambling company fails to comply with the regulations, it can face substantial fines from the Gambling Commission. All licensed operators must comply with the License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). Ancillary licenses apply to operators that provide telephone and email betting. The Commission has the authority to investigate and enforce regulations, impose penalties for non-compliance, and address concerns related to problem gambling. All of the legal UK casino sites we recommend hold a valid UKGC licence and meet these requirements.

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).

The first two matters are not, and cannot be, delegated to a licensing committee, and must be taken by the authority as a whole. 416.Under legislation repealed by this Act, it has been a requirement that the grant of certain gambling permissions should take account of whether there is unfulfilled demand for the facilities. The new licence for the track can only be granted at the same time as, or after, the original licence has been varied. 412.In Scotland, the powers of the Secretary of State in relation to the form of the licence are to be carried out by the Scottish Ministers. It also provides prosecution powers for licensing authorities in relation to their licensing functions.

Obtaining a UK licence requires extensive background checks, financial audits, technical testing, and ongoing compliance monitoring. The UKGC is widely considered one of the world’s most rigorous gambling regulators. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the government body that regulates commercial gambling in Great Britain. The statutory levy, financial vulnerability checks, online stake limits, and enhanced AML requirements introduced between 2024 and 2025 represent the most substantial expansion of operator obligations since the 2014 advertising reforms.

Affiliates are also coming under increased scrutiny (at least politically) and the links between gambling advertising and sport are likewise coming under increased political scrutiny. Where an operator is deemed to be seriously deficient, there is the possibility of a licence suspension and a small number of licensees have suffered licence suspensions. 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. Not regarded as gambling where the element of chance is no more than de minimis. Free-to-enter draws and betting competitions may be exempt if they meet conditions for free draws or prize competitions.

If you are a local authority/ licensing board, how many premises licences were live in your licensing area in the 22/23 financial year? The Gambling (Premises Licence Fees) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 established the maximum level of fees that local authorities in England and Wales can charge for gambling premises licences. A premises licence is required to operate a non-remote premises-based gambling business. To support their role, licensing authorities collect premises licence fees for applications and annual renewals to cover the cost of administration of their gambling duties and gambling enforcement.

However, it should be noted that respondents were most likely to have spent their own money on types of gambling activity that are legal or do not feature age restricted products, such as penny pusher or claw grab arcade games. Bacta’s members make up approximately 70-80% of the market for family entertainment centres and adult gaming centres. In addition, we would like to receive any evidence or information on best practice in these venues that could then be disseminated among operators. Further details on machine types and permitted locations can be found at Figure 11. Net position would be defined as the total of all deposits and winnings minus the sum of all losses since the start of the session, and both these proposals would align to the changes made to online game design by the Gambling Commission in 2021.