UK Gambling Licences

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)

The UK Gambling Commission is the independent statutory body responsible for regulating all commercial gambling in Great Britain. Established under the Gambling Act 2005, the UKGC issues operating licences to online casinos, sets standards for fair play and player protection, and enforces compliance.

Playing at a UKGC-licensed casino provides several important protections that are not available at unlicensed offshore sites:

• Player funds must be held separately from operator funds
• Fair game outcomes must be independently verified by approved testing houses
• Operators must provide responsible gambling tools including deposit limits and self-exclusion
• Complaints can be escalated to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers
• Credit card gambling is prohibited (since April 2020)

Why a UKGC Licence Matters

A current UKGC licence is the single most important factor when choosing an online casino as a UK player. The UKGC maintains a public register of all licensed operators, which you can search at gamblingcommission.gov.uk. ReviewsMoneyGames verifies licence status using this register before listing any operator.

GamStop — The National Self-Exclusion Scheme

GamStop is a free service that allows UK players to self-exclude from all UKGC-licensed gambling websites simultaneously. Once registered, your exclusion is applied across thousands of sites for the period you choose: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.

All casinos featured on ReviewsMoneyGames are fully GamStop integrated. This means that if you have self-excluded via GamStop, you will be blocked from these sites automatically.

• Register for GamStop at gamstop.co.uk
• Self-exclusion is free and takes effect within 24 hours
• You can choose your exclusion period: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years
• After your exclusion expires, you must actively re-register to resume play

Verifying a Casino Licence

To verify that an online casino holds a valid UKGC licence:

• Visit the UKGC Public Register
• Search for the operator by name or account number
• Check that the licence status shows as “Active”
• Note the licence type (Operating Licence) and permitted activities

Responsible Gambling Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing problems with gambling, please reach out to one of these organisations:

• BeGambleAware.org — information, advice, and support
• GamCare — free counselling and support
• GamStop — national self-exclusion scheme
• National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7)