The UK Gambling Commission exists to protect players and ensure they can gamble safely. The organisation aims to make online casinos fair for everyone. They want these casinos to be responsible, safe, and crime-free. This way, all players can enjoy their visits. New slot sites must apply for a UKGC license if they wish to operate in the UK to UK players.
Types Of License
The UK Gambling Commission offers several types of licenses. Here are the different types of licenses:
- Bingo operating license
- Casino operating license
- General betting operating license
- Pool betting operating license
- Betting intermediary operating license
- Lottery operating license
Each casino product and service needs a specific license. This is why some online casinos have more licenses than others.
To get a license from the UK Gambling Commission, an online casino must answer some questions. They will ask who owns the company. They will want to know the applicant's role in the company. They will also check the financial history of both the owner and the applicant. Finally, they will see if there are enough funds for the online casino to run well.
Is the applicant trustworthy, and are other key people in the company trustworthy? Do the applicant and key people in the company have the right skills and experience? Can they manage an online casino effectively? Does anyone involved with the company have a criminal record?
Full Checks Carried Out
These questions help the commission gather important information about the casino. They will then decide if the casino should get a license.
Even if the commission gets good answers to all these questions, the online casino must still do several things to get a license. They must perform know-your-customer checks or KYCs. This is to make sure all customers are over 18. Customers must show an ID document, like a birth certificate or passport. They also need to confirm that their personal and financial information is correct. Usually, customers must provide a utility bill and a scanned copy of any cards they will use.
Online casinos will also do these checks. This ensures that people who choose to exclude themselves cannot register. It also helps to stop known criminals and fraudsters from signing up.
UKGC Changes to Responsible Gambling Tools
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has introduced new regulations to enhance responsible gambling measures. These changes were introduced in 2024 and 2025. They aim to protect players from gambling harm. They also promote safer gambling on online platforms. Here’s what you need to know about these updates:
Financial Vulnerability Checks
One of the key changes is the introduction of financial vulnerability checks. From August 2024, players depositing more than £500 in 30 days started to undergo “light-touch” checks. This threshold dropped to £150 per month in February 2025.
These checks help find customers who may be at risk of financial harm. This includes people facing bankruptcy or financial trouble. To find these vulnerabilities, operators must use public data, like bankruptcy orders or debt relief information. This is an important step in protecting players from possible financial harm while being respectful of their privacy.
The checks are made to be smooth. This means they won’t greatly disrupt players’ experience. The UK Gambling Commission also makes sure there are closed-loop policies in place. These policies state that you must withdraw at least that amount first when you make a deposit. You can only use a different payment method to withdraw your winnings after this. This is to prevent money laundering.
Banning Autoplay and Fast Spins
The UKGC is committed to reducing the intensity of play and potential harm. Therefore, autoplay features will be banned for all online gambling products by January 2025.
This comes after autoplay was removed from online slots in a previous update. Now, it applies to all online casino games. Also, a minimum spin speed of five seconds will be set for all games. This will slow the pace of play and give players more time to decide.
Stricter Marketing and Age Verification Rules
New rules around marketing are also coming into effect. From January 2025, players will have more control over the direct marketing they get. There will be clear opt-in requirements.
Age verification processes will become stricter. This will help protect those under 25 from accessing gambling sites. There will be more test purchases and tougher ID checks.
Self-Exclusion Enhancements
Self-exclusion options, like those offered by GAMSTOP, are important to the UKGC’s plan for promoting responsible gambling. Operators must take part in national self-exclusion schemes. More businesses, including those that accept bets by email or phone, must follow these rules by April 2024.
These new measures aim to protect vulnerable players while helping operators provide a good customer experience. Removing features like autoplay might frustrate some, but it’s a positive move for encouraging more mindful gaming habits. The financial vulnerability checks, in particular, are an important step forward, offering protection without making players feel overly monitored.
UK Gambling Commission Casino Complaints
The UK Gambling Commission makes sure that online casinos are safe and fair. However, it is not a customer service centre. You should only contact the UK Gambling Commission if you think an online casino is acting illegally. Make sure you have tried to solve the problem in other ways first. The commission only deals with issues related to a casino’s licensing.
If you have general queries about a casino or wish to make a complaint that has nothing to do with the casino’s licensing, you should not contact the UK Gambling Commission.
We have a useful article about ‘how to make a complaint to an online casino.’