UK Gambling License: Laws and Regulations

The UK gambling regulations are strict when it comes to AML and licensing procedures, and Sumsub explains how gambling businesses can maintain their compliance and avoid fines in the UK.

Considered to be the second-largest gambling market across Europe, yearly gambling in Great Britain constitutes fully £14 billion ($18.9 billion). Considerably, with such a big industry, industry regulations would continually be reviewed and updated to inhibit any criminal activities.

The UK's enduring concern for the safety of their gambling industry remains. In December 2023, the Gambling Commission launched a new 'Tell us something in confidence' service to allow reports of anything criminal or suspicious in the gambling industry.

To help you understand the changes in the gambling regulations across the UK, we've prepared a complete guide to the gambling rules of the UK.

For those in search of dependable gambling options, numerous gamers will look to trusted slot sites for a level of safety and fairness in the gaming experience.

Is gambling legal and regulated in the UK?

Yes, gambling is legal and regulated in the UK.

The Gambling Commission of Great Britain is the main man when it comes to gambling regulation in the UK.

This includes online gambling, sports betting, casino gaming, lotteries, and a few others. They also ensure that operators operate within the codes of conduct agreed to by these operators to guarantee fairness, integrity, and transparency, only providing licenses to those who fulfill the set requirements.

The Commission possesses the authority to investigate and enforce regulations, impose penalties for illegal acts, and address concerns regarding problem gambling.

In addition to this, remote gambling operators in the UK are subject to specific regulations, meaning that they are required to apply for a Gambling Commission license so as to legally offer their services to any person residing in the UK.

Who’s affected?

According to the GA, the following activities and products fall under gambling regulations:

  • Arcades—these consist of adult and family arcades;
  • Bettings—these include all types of “bets,” either on live events or virtual ones. These can be an outcome of an event, the possibility of something to take place, and if something is true or not. Betting intermediaries are also supposed to get licensed;
  • Bingo—these include online and in-person bingo games;
  • Casinos—these include all online and physical ones that operate in the UK. The licensing requirements differ depending on the size of a casino;
  • Lotteries—these consist of societal, private, and national lotteries. The national lottery is regulated separately from the other ones;
  • Gaming machines—these include fruit machines, betting terminals, slots, and many other types of machines;
  • Gambling software—these allow users to gamble remotely.

What types of licenses are there?

In the UK, there are three types of gambling licenses: operating, personal, and premises. The Gambling Commission issues operating and personal licenses, while local authorities issue premises licenses.

Operating Licenses

To offer these types of services identified above, gambling businesses need an operating license. If an operator carries out different kinds of gambling activities (for instance, casino games + gaming machines), they must apply for different licenses.

Types of operating licenses in reference to online, land-based, and ancillary licenses could be clusters as such. Ancillary licenses could be applied to those entering the gambling business providing telephone and email betting. In case of gambling providers operating both online and offline, both online and land-based licenses are mandatory.

In addition, licensing is required even if the online gambling operation is run outside the country, provided that their services are directed to gamblers in the UK.

Premises Licenses

A premises license applies to non-remote businesses and allows their use as casinos (or to conduct other gambling activities). Premises licenses are sought through a local authority.

Who can apply?

Any person or a group of people can, regardless of their location, apply; the applicant must always be over 18 years of age. The application has to mention precisely which activities it intends to do under the license. Completed application forms can either be sent to the website of the Gambling Commission.

Operating License Requirements

The Gambling Commission evaluates applicants from the following perspectives:

  • The identity of the applicant and people relevant to the applicant;
  • Financial statements that ensure the possibility to carry on the business after being licensed;
  • Honesty and trustworthiness;
  • The applicant’s experience, expertise, qualifications, and history;
  • The applicant’s criminal record.