Last updated: 9 June 2026
Before you deposit a penny, it pays to confirm that a casino is properly licensed to operate in Britain. Checking a gambling licence takes only a couple of minutes, yet it is the single most effective way to protect your money and your data. This guide walks you through exactly how to verify a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence, step by step.
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Why a gambling licence matters
In Great Britain, any operator that advertises or offers real-money gambling to consumers must hold a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. The UKGC is the statutory regulator created under the Gambling Act 2005, and it sets strict conditions that licensees must follow on everything from fairness to advertising to player safety.
Playing at a licensed site is not a minor technicality. A UKGC licence is your legal safety net: it gives you defined rights, recourse if something goes wrong, and the reassurance that the operator has been vetted and is being actively monitored. An unlicensed site offers none of these protections, and if it disappears with your balance, you have very little practical comeback.
What a UKGC licence guarantees
Holding a UK licence commits an operator to a long list of obligations under the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). For players, the most important guarantees include the following.
Protection of your funds
Licensed operators must keep customer funds separate from operating money and disclose the level of protection they offer. Ratings range from basic to medium to high, with “high” meaning customer funds are held in a trust account and would be protected as a priority if the business failed. You should be able to find this disclosure in the casino’s terms or banking pages.
Self-exclusion through GAMSTOP
Every UKGC-licensed online operator must be integrated with GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme. If you register with GAMSTOP, every licensed site is required to block you for your chosen period. A site that lets you play while you are self-excluded is, by definition, not complying with its licence.
Independent dispute resolution (ADR)
If you have a complaint you cannot resolve directly with the operator, a licensed site must point you to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider. This gives you a free, independent route to escalate disputes about transactions or account handling without going to court.
Fair and transparent games
Licensees must ensure games are fair, that random number generators are tested, and that terms and conditions are not misleading. They must also promote safer gambling, signpost support, and carry out checks designed to identify harm. For more on protecting yourself, see our guide to responsible gambling.
How to search the UKGC public register
The Gambling Commission maintains a free public register of every licensed business and individual. Anyone can search it, and it is the definitive source of truth, so never rely on a logo or a claim alone. Follow these steps.
- Go to the official UKGC website. Open your browser and navigate directly to gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Type the address yourself rather than following a link from the casino, so you know you are on the genuine regulator’s site.
- Open the public register. Look for the “Check a licence” or “Public register” section on the site. This is the searchable database of current and historic licensees.
- Search by business or trading name. Enter the operator’s company name or the brand name shown on the casino. You can often also search by the licence (account) number if the site displays one.
- Open the matching record. Click the result to view the full entry. Check that the business is shown as holding a current operating licence and that the status is active rather than surrendered, suspended or revoked.
- Review the activities and domains. The record lists which activities the operator is licensed for (for example, casino, bingo or betting) and the website domains the licence covers. Confirm that the site you are using appears in that list of approved domains.
If everything matches, the brand is genuinely licensed and the protections above apply. If you cannot find a record, treat that as a serious warning sign.
How to read the casino footer and cross-check
Licensed casinos are required to be transparent about who runs them, and the quickest place to look is the footer at the very bottom of the home page.
What to look for in the footer
- The name of the licensed company that operates the site, often followed by a registered company number and address.
- A statement that the operator is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission, frequently with an account or licence number.
- A clickable link to the operator’s entry on the UKGC register.
- Responsible-gambling signposting such as GAMSTOP, GamCare or BeGambleAware, plus an 18+ notice.
Cross-checking the details
Do not simply trust what the footer says. Take the company name and any licence number from the footer and look them up yourself on the public register, exactly as described above. The name on the site, the company on the register, and the licensed domains should all line up. A genuine link straight to the operator’s UKGC record makes this easy; a vague badge with no verifiable details does not.
Red flags of unlicensed and offshore sites
Some sites target UK players without holding a British licence, often operating from offshore jurisdictions. These are not legal to offer gambling to consumers in Great Britain, and they sit outside UK player protections. Watch for the following warning signs.
- No licensing information at all, or only a vague reference to an overseas regulator with no verifiable number.
- A licence number that does not appear on the UKGC public register, or that points to a different company or different domains.
- No GAMSTOP integration or active promotion of being a “non-GAMSTOP” casino, which is a clear sign the site is not UK-licensed.
- Missing dispute resolution details and no approved ADR provider named anywhere in the terms.
- High-pressure bonuses, unrealistic promises, or terms that are hard to find or read.
- Payment methods steered heavily toward cryptocurrency with little identity verification. If you are weighing up digital-currency sites, read our explainer on whether crypto casinos are legal in the UK before depositing.
What to do if a site is not listed
If you cannot find an operator on the public register, stop and reconsider before depositing or, if you already have an account, before adding more funds.
- Double-check your search. Try the trading name, the parent company name and the licence number separately, as the brand may trade under a different registered company.
- Look for the register link in the footer. A legitimate operator usually links directly to its own UKGC entry, which removes any doubt.
- Avoid depositing. If there is still no verifiable UK licence, the safest course is simply not to play there.
- Withdraw if you can. If you already have a balance on a site you now doubt, request a withdrawal of your funds.
- Report your concerns. You can report an unlicensed operator to the Gambling Commission, which investigates illegal gambling aimed at British consumers.
Taking two minutes to verify a licence is always worth it. A genuine UKGC licensee has been vetted, is monitored, and gives you real protections and a clear route to complain; an unlicensed site gives you none of that.
Frequently asked questions
Is checking a UK gambling licence really free?
Yes. The UK Gambling Commission’s public register is completely free to search and open to anyone. You do not need an account, and there is no charge to look up an operator, view its status or confirm which domains and activities its licence covers.
What is the difference between an operating licence and a personal licence?
An operating licence authorises a business to provide gambling facilities, such as running an online casino. A personal management licence is held by senior individuals responsible for key functions within that business. As a player, the operating licence is the one you most need to verify for the site you are using.
Does a UKGC licence mean my money is fully guaranteed?
Not automatically. A licence requires operators to disclose how they protect customer funds, rated from basic to high, but only the highest level holds your money in a separate trust. Always check the operator’s stated level of fund protection in its terms rather than assuming the maximum.
Are offshore casinos that accept UK players legal?
No. Any operator offering real-money gambling to consumers in Great Britain must hold a UKGC licence, regardless of where it is based. A site that targets UK players without a British licence is operating illegally and sits entirely outside UK player protections.
Where can I get help if gambling stops being fun?
Free, confidential support is available. You can talk to GamCare, visit BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org, or register with GAMSTOP to self-exclude from all licensed sites. Gambling should always be entertainment, never a way to make money. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.
