Products in licensed bingo premises
UK Casino Law 2026: Your 5 Player Rights
The legislative changes allow for betting to be offered as an activity in converted casino premises. The changes allow casinos that were already operating when the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) came into force, referred to as converted premises, to access new entitlements if certain conditions are met. These casinos all offer similar gaming offerings, and they also have their own casino membership, which Attempting to gamble underage is illegal under the Gambling Act 2005.Is it safe to play at UK online casinos?
This is consistent with the intention of the 2005 Act to create destination venues with a balanced offer of gaming products and other leisure activities. Data was provided for a London casino over a four-week period in October 2019 for carded play, which represented 45% of overall slots play. The second recommendation supports amending land-based controls to take account of changes in technology and consumer behaviour, ensuring that amendments include appropriate safeguards for consumers, avoid unintended consequences and have due regard to the original intentions of Parliament.
We do not want to restrict operators’ ability to use offers to attract new customers or retain existing ones, and acknowledge that ‘blunt’ measures in this area could unintentionally benefit the black market. The Gambling Commission will consult on setting higher standards for operators in obtaining all customers’ consent to direct marketing and promotional offers. A recent behavioural audit of 10 popular online operators also found that when a new account is created, half of the operators automatically sign the individual up to other brands or products owned by the operator’s parent company. There are already clear requirements that operators must seek informed and specific consent to send direct marketing to consumers, as well as requirements that direct marketing must not be sent to those who have self-excluded or are showing strong signs of harm. The combination of high re-wagering requirements and tight time limits to claim winnings poses clear risks in terms of creating a sense of urgency to gamble, incentivising high-intensity play and potentially gambling more than one had originally planned to.
Products in licensed bingo premises
Cryptocurrencies facilitate faster transactions, appealing to tech-savvy customers and ensuring smoother payment processes. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency add layers of transparency and security to the industry. Players seek convenient access, leading to the proliferation of apps and platforms offering seamless gaming experiences. Introducing stricter regulations, including meticulous age and identity verification, complicates compliance. Staying informed about these changes is crucial for adapting to the industry’s future dynamics. The evolving landscape of casino regulation in the UK presents significant changes and challenges for entrepreneurs and businesses not on gamstop in the sector.
Forty-two per cent expected a small increase in the supply and availability of other gambling products, while 41% expected either a small decrease or large decrease in the supply of other gambling products. Respondents had differing views on the impact on other gambling products. An examination of the responses shows that respondents were of the view that the maximum entitlement would apply per licence, with no restrictions on the overall maximum per physical location. Forty responses were received to this question, with 60% opposed to venues being able to hold multiple licences.
People aged 18 to 24 years old can be particularly vulnerable to gambling- related harm due to their financial or personal circumstances and continuing brain development resulting in generally lower impulsivity control. The Commission will also consult on extending the duty in LCCP to require test purchasing by small operators in fee categories A and B, to ensure all land-based venues are subject to the same age assurance processes. We will legislate to strengthen licensing authorities’ powers in alcohol licensed premises by making provisions within the Gambling Commission’s code of practice binding, when Parliamentary time allows. To further support effective age verification processes, the Gambling Commission will consult on moving from ‘Think 21’ to ‘Think 25’ in their ordinary code for all land-based licence holders. This will create a clear distinction between gambling products for adults and lower risk products for children (such as crane grabbers or coin pushers) which have non-cash prizes or operate completely differently. We will legislate to increase the minimum age to play cash-payout Category D slot machines to 18 years, reinforcing The British Amusement Catering Trade Association’s (Bacta) voluntary commitment.
The transition between casino and the small sportsbook section was instantaneous. Sign-up took under three minutes including ID upload, and the funds hit my balance instantly via Apple Pay. UKGC licence number sits in the footer, GAMSTOP integration is active, and affordability checks kick in at the legally mandated thresholds. Every review is based on real-money testing, with sub-ratings for game variety, user interface and banking. We score payout speed, game variety, bonus fairness, mobile experience, customer support, security, and responsible gambling tools, and re-test monthly to keep rankings current.
For example, 40% of online gamblers who had experienced mental health problems agreed they did not feel like they were spending real money online, compared to 26% of those with no experience of mental health problems. In 2015, just 23% of online gamblers had used a mobile phone to gamble online in the previous 4 weeks, compared to 50% in 2020. Perhaps more significant change has occurred underneath this wider channel shift, as new technologies have also reshaped where, when and how people gamble online. While the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remain to be seen, it seems likely that the shift towards online participation, as we have seen in many other sectors, will continue. In the year to December 2022, 18.6% of British adults had gambled online in the last four weeks, excluding National Lottery products, compared to 14.4% in the year to December 2018. This is because they offer a free entry route (for instance via ordinary post) or have a skill-based element.
Financial risk checks and affordability: what players should expect
The Commission’s continued close monitoring of licensees who enter into white label partnerships is unlikely to have new impacts on the sector, but will help ensure that the existing rules are followed and consumers are not put at risk. Gambling Commission enforcement against a major white label provider provides a wide-ranging example of the types of compliance risks which can emerge when licensees fail to maintain sufficient oversight and control of their white label partners. Social responsibility provision 1.1.2 (responsibility for third parties – all licences) makes clear that licensees are responsible for overseeing all third parties they contract with and ensuring they fully comply with the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice.
‘White label’ is not a statutory term, but it describes a commercial arrangement which has become more widespread in recent years whereby a licensee offers remote gambling under a brand provided by a third-party which does not itself hold a gambling operator licence. Nonetheless, ensuring customers are treated fairly and easily able to take action in their interest, including the exercise of legal entitlements, will be of clear benefit. Behavioural barriers and friction should only be used to keep customers safe, rather than dissuade customers from acting in their own interest or to frustrate the fulfilment of operators’ other obligations.
The high-end casinos are not distinct in legislation, and all have licences based on the 1968 Act; but their business model is very distinct in practice from that of most casinos in Great Britain and gaming machines contribute just 1% of their GGY compared with 20% to 30% in mainstream casinos. In support of its case for additional machines, the industry provided evidence that the current low availability of machines can in fact increase the risk of gambling-related harm, as customers play for longer on machines due to fear of losing their place. Gaming machines are permitted in a variety of locations, including casinos, licensed betting offices, licensed bingo premises, adult gaming centres and family entertainment centres and members clubs. Alcohol licensed premises, including pubs, are also able to offer two Category C and D gaming machines in reliance on their alcohol licence, or more if they apply to the licensing authority. Where casinos whose licence originates in the Gaming Act 1968 meet the requirements of a 2005 Act Small casino, including for size and non-gambling space, they will be eligible for the same gaming machine allowance and we will align fees and mandatory premises licence conditions as appropriate.
Removing the test purchasing exemption on small business will result in additional minor costs for smaller gambling operators. Making ‘Think 25’ an ordinary code expectation for Gambling Commission licensees will introduce consistency across the sector, discourage children from trying to take part illegally in gambling activities and reduce potential harm that might be caused by early exposure to age-restricted gambling products. We will continue to monitor industry’s progress on this issue and will legislate to make provisions within the Gambling Commission’s code of practice for alcohol licensed premises binding when Parliamentary time allows. Pre-2020 test purchasing pass rates were also very low for gambling in alcohol licensed premises (Figure 19).
In April 2023, significant changes to gambling regulations were proposed by the government, particularly targeting online slots. An investigation found that the companies failed to put in place effective safeguards to prevent consumers suffering gambling harm and against money laundering between November 2014 and October 2017. The list of operators and personal licence holders who have had a regulatory sanction imposed on them is published on the site of the Gambling Commission. They also collaborate with other UK organisations and the police in cases where suspicious betting or gambling activities are detected.
Such apps have so far only been rolled out for use on a relatively small proportion of gaming machines, principally in pubs. However, the advice is that the onus should be on industry to demonstrate how developments on cashless payments can be offered in a manner which does not increase the risk of gambling harm or gambling-related crime, such as money laundering. They also pointed to anecdotal evidence that indicates a decline in gaming machine usage in alcohol licensed premises by casual pub goers, who now pay by card but who previously might have played a machine using spare change. The original purpose of rules prohibiting the use of debit cards on gaming machines was to protect players. As well as supporting the recovery of those businesses which choose to offer betting, offering an alternative to betting on a phone while in a casino could lead to player protection benefits where the casino operators are better able to monitor all the customer’s activities while in their premises. In line with the intention of the 2005 Act to create casinos providing a range of gambling and non-gambling activities, we propose to permit sports betting in all casinos.
The UK Gambling Commission is the independent regulatory body responsible for licensing and overseeing all commercial gambling in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). Understanding UK gambling regulations is not just for industry professionals. The UK online gambling landscape has undergone its most significant transformation since the Gambling Act 2005. UKGC licence is current, responsible-gambling controls are properly placed, and affordability monitoring kicks in at the legally required thresholds. UKGC licence is current, the site uses GAMSTOP integration, and the responsible-gambling toolkit is properly in place. UKGC licence is current and responsible-gambling controls are properly placed.
The 2014 Act changed the licensing requirements so that any company wishing to advertise gambling and take bets from consumers in England, Wales, or Scotland must hold a licence issued by the Gambling 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. For remote gambling, the Commission issues licences to those operators whose remote gambling equipment is located in the territory of Great Britain.
The primary benefit of this measure is increased GGY for casinos that take up additional gaming machines. Gambling operators must ensure that their supervision and monitoring of gaming machines enables them to meet the requirements of the Act and conditions of their licence. Data from the National Gambling Treatment Service shows that a relatively small proportion of patients report participating in gaming machines in casinos. Taken together, the three measures will determine the maximum number of gaming machines that casinos will be entitled to. The sector views an increase to this ratio as essential in order to ensure these casinos’ long term viability by allowing them to site more gaming machines, and this conclusion was reflected in the white paper. It has also meant that none of these casinos are able in practice to satisfy the current conditions which would allow them to offer the maximum number of gaming machines due to the amount of space they take up.
We do not believe that a 10% increase is sufficient to future-proof licensing authority funding in line with the recovery of the land-based sector from the challenges of COVID-19 and rising energy prices in recent years. Increased fees will enable licensing authorities to undertake more enforcement and engagement activities with licensed premises. We believe that on balance an increase to the maximum cap on premises licence fees by 15% is proportionate. A low number of premises visits may also be indicative of the lack of funding received by licensing authorities to fully undertake duties, such as inspections, alongside other administrative and enforcement functions. However, premises visits are only one aspect of a licensing authorities regulatory work. A number of these responses acknowledged the financial pressures placed on licensing authorities, which was reflected by the substantial number of industry responses that advocated for a 10% increase.
- We also received a small number of responses from gaming machine manufacturers and suppliers to the supplementary consultation.
- A series of key proposals specifically relating to the land-based gambling sector were outlined in the white paper, including measures to adjust outdated regulatory restrictions applying to the sector.
- Additionally, foreign operators from whitelisted gambling jurisdictions were required to pay a 15% point-of-consumption (POC) tax on gross profits.
- Although operators now have to jump through a few more hoops than they used to, the end result is a safer environment and, therefore, a more prosperous experience for everyone.
- Despite the restrictions highlighted on this page, the UK has some of the most relaxed gambling legislation in the world.
57% of men compared to 51% of women had participated in some gambling activity within the previous 12 months according to Health Survey England (2018). We will consider the case for measures proposed by the sector, such as including overseas races in the scope of the levy and/or increasing the overall level of contribution and/or basing the calculation on gross amount staked rather than GGY. The government has committed to review the horserace betting levy by 2024, and we are now starting that process. However, nothing in the Review affects the ability of operators to sponsor racing and the incentive to promote and differentiate their products will remain. NERA Economic Consulting, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) and other studies have assessed potential displacement effects of gambling reforms.
All gambling hosted by electronic means and available to persons in Great Britain must be licensed by the Gambling Commission. Since 28 February 2025, remote operators have been required to undertake financial vulnerability checks once a customer’s net spend exceeds £150 in a rolling 30-day period. It should be noted that in April 2025 HM Treasury opened a consultation (which closed on 21 July 2025) on a proposal to introduce a single remote gambling duty that would apply to all remote gambling activities targeting the UK.
However, as not all licensing authorities charge the maximum fee, this suggests that appropriate flexibility is possible within a cap. One submission stated a preference for a removal of nationally set fees, to a flexible system where local authorities can set fees in accordance with their costs (as happens with alcohol and taxi licensing). Some responses also suggested that more guidance, in particular relating to attaching licence conditions, would be helpful. There was some emphasis on cashless gambling and acknowledgement of arguments both against and in favour of allowing greater use of debit card payments. A key point was that only 8 of the 16 licences made available in 2005 have since been developed (with one having subsequently closed), which is in part attributed to licences not being allocated on the basis of customer demand. These submissions called for more powers to be delegated to ministers or the Gambling Commission so that machine games can more quickly adapt to future changes.
There is a higher prevalence of problem gambling among people with poor health, low life satisfaction and wellbeing scores, and the problem gambling rate is higher among more deprived groups than less deprived groups. However, there are limitations to all of these sources including incomplete coverage and lack of detailed information. In particular, it found men were more likely to be experiencing problem gambling than women and that 16 to 24-year-olds had the highest average PGSI score of any age group.