Licences
How to check a UK gambling licence
Two minutes on the public register tells you who runs a site and whether it may serve you.
Reviewed by the Slate Casino Review editors
Why
A licence is the first thing to check
It is illegal to offer gambling to people in Great Britain without a licence from the Gambling Commission. A licence brings duties with it: age and identity checks, deposit limits, self-exclusion, rules on how offers are worded, and a route to an independent dispute service. An unlicensed site gives you none of that.
Brand names change and some brands run on another company's licence, so the name on the website is not enough. The register shows who is actually responsible.
Steps
Checking the register, step by step
- Find the licence statement. A licensed site says near its footer which company runs it and that it is licensed by the Gambling Commission, usually with an account number.
- Search the register. Open the public register (opens in a new tab) and search by account number, company name or trading name.
- Read the status. It should say Active. Surrendered, revoked or expired licences stay on the register, so the status matters more than the listing.
- Match the domain. The entry lists the website addresses the licence holder uses. The address in your browser should be among them.
- Check the activity. Casino, betting and bingo are separate activities on a licence. A casino site should hold a casino activity.
Then
What a licence does not tell you
A licence says a company may offer gambling in Great Britain and must follow the rules. It does not say an offer is good value or that gambling is a sensible way to spend money. Read the terms, set a limit and keep stakes to what you can afford.
If you have a dispute with a licensed operator, complain to the operator first. If that fails, each operator must name an approved alternative dispute resolution service, which is free to you.
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