When gambling online, you should be able to enjoy your favorite games without worrying about your safety and that of your funds. This is why we recommend playing at a UKGC casino. All gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission are audited regularly to ensure that they’re protecting players and their money.
On this page, you’ll find a complete guide on:
How the UKGC enforces regulation
Top casinos licensed by the UKGC
Safety measures at UK licensed casinos
Why you should avoid unlicensed casinos
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the authority that regulates gambling in Great Britain. This applies to most forms of gambling, including land based and the UK online casino market. Among other things, the UKGC is responsible for issuing licenses to casino operators. Both brick and mortar casinos and foreign online gambling sites need to apply for a license if they want to provide gambling services to players in the United Kingdom.
The UKGC’s work doesn’t stop there. Once casinos get their license, the commission monitors them to ensure they follow the guidelines. If a UKGC licensed casino breaches any of the rules, the commission can set penalties. This is usually done through hefty fines. If it’s a more serious issue, it can also temporarily suspend the operator’s license or completely revoke it. This is why the UKGC is known as one of the toughest licensing bodies around the world.
The main aim of the UKGC is to protect players, their wellbeing, and their money. It stamps out illegal gambling and investigates operators for any suspicious activities. The UKGC also raises awareness on gambling addiction. It ensures that all UKGC casinos provide information on how to gamble responsibly as well as tools to help players check their habits. Among other things, it also safeguards minors by cracking down on underage gambling.
With the rise of online gambling and its increased popularity, the United Kingdom decided to review its gambling laws. To reflect and adapt to the changes in the industry, the UK Gambling Commission was set up. This regulatory body oversees different kinds of gambling, such as real money slots, table games, sports betting, bingo, the lottery, and more.
We’ve outlined a brief timeline of UK Gambling Commission milestones below:
2005 - The UKGC is created under the Gambling Act.
2007 - Even though the Commission is established in 2005, it is only two years later that it comes fully into effect.
2013 - The National Lottery is now also regulated by the UKGC.
2014 - The Gambling Act is updated. Casinos that want to accept players from the United Kingdom have to obtain a UKGC license. This creates a list of legal UK casinos.
2018 - The UKGC states that previous responsible gaming guidelines are now requirements. Players must be able to see their gambling history, how much they’re depositing, and set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits.
2019 - New rules come into place around Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. There is an increased effort to address money laundering, fraud, and underage gambling.
2020 - Credit cards at land based and online casinos are banned, after the UKGC finds that a big percentage of problem gamblers use credit cards.
The best online casinos for UK players are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. It is against the law for operators to offer gambling services to British players if they don’t have a UKGC license. However, beyond this, UKGC licensed casinos have a lot of safety measures in place to protect gamblers, which is why you should join one of our top recommended sites.
We go through a number of security measures that you’ll find at a UKGC online casino below:
The top concern for players online is that their personal and financial information is somehow at risk. For a gambling site to obtain a UKGC license, it must prove that it stores your data carefully and has safeguards in place to prevent others from stealing it.
Something else that the UKGC checks for before issuing a license is that the online casino games aren’t rigged. The casino site must show that its games use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure results are random. Also, players need to be able to see the Return to Player (RTP) percentage for all games.
You should never be cheated out of your winnings, which is why UKGC licensed casinos have an obligation to add clear, simple, and complete bonus terms. If the casino uses advertising material such as promotional on-site banners, these must also include concise terms which then link to the full T&Cs.
To make sure your money isn’t misused, the UKGC requires all gambling sites to separate company funds from player funds. This means that the online casino should always have enough money to pay out your winnings. In some cases, this might also protect you if the operator goes bankrupt.
To prevent gambling addiction, a UKGC casino must offer responsible gambling resources to players. This can look like an informational page on gambling habits and how to gamble responsibly, problem gambling tests, and links to counselling organizations.
However, this isn’t enough. Gamblers should have an option to set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits. They should also be able to opt for a cool-off period or self-exclude from the casino if gambling starts interfering with their daily life.
Online gambling sites with a UKGC license need to appoint an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. If an online casino fails to resolve a complaint internally, they must bring this to the attention of an impartial third-party that will then weigh in on the dispute.
All UKGC online casinos must verify the identity of their players for a number of reasons. First off, this is done to protect the industry from money laundering. Players must also prove that they’re over 18 years old to gamble. These procedures are known as Know Your Customer (KYC checks).
The UK Gambling Commission has licensed over 1000 online casinos, so all types of players will find something to their liking. We list some top sites in the UK online casino market below, which not only have a UKGC license but also excel in game variety, trusted software providers, fair bonus offers, and secure payment methods.
Whether you’re looking for slots, progressive jackpots, table games, bingo, live dealer, or sports betting, you’ll find it all at William Hill. Besides being licensed to operate in the United Kingdom, William Hill also holds other reputable licenses from Malta and Gibraltar.
Casumo features 2000+ games from some of the best game makers around, including NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Novomatic, Play’n GO, and more. You’ll also receive points when playing on slots and live casino games, which you can then exchange for rewards.
Rizk offers weekly promotions, a variety of payment options, and fast withdrawals. In addition, an exclusive feature at this UKGC casino is the Wheel of Rizk. You’ll get points for playing in the casino, level up, and you can then spin the wheel for a chance to win prizes.
You’ll find 700+ real money slots and casino games at LeoVegas, from leading providers. An exclusive feature to this UKGC casino are its branded games, such as LeoVegas Megaways and Wild Mantra. What’s more, all new players can claim a no deposit bonus upon registration.
New players will get a generous match bonus, as well as free spins which you can use on a series of slots. Returning players also benefit from a number of promotions, including free spins, prize drops, tournaments, and live casino bonuses.
While it’s tempting to give in to huge bonus offers and other casino perks, you should always check if an online casino is licensed before jumping in. British players have an added advantage since the UK online casino market is well regulated, which means there are a lot of safe sites to choose from and options to gamble responsibly. Simply look out for the UKGC logo on the casino site footer, or else you can search for an operator on the UKGC’s website.
Have a look at how well you’re protected at a UKGC licensed casino when compared to an unlicensed site in our table below:
✅ If any UKGC guidelines or player rights are breached, online casinos are penalized.
✅ Provide a fair environment to players with RNG games and random outcomes.
✅ Encryption of your personal information and financial details is top-notch at UKGC licensed casinos.
✅ Wagering requirements are the standard x35-40, and bonus terms are clear and easy to understand as outlined by the UKGC.
✅ UKGC casinos online care about their reputation and know they have to answer to the UKGC if issues arise.
❌ Not accountable to a governing body, which means you probably won’t have player rights.
❌ No checks are done by third-party auditors to ensure the games are fair.
❌ If a casino site hasn’t invested in a reputable license, then it probably won’t have invested in top security measures either.
❌ Unreasonable bonus wagering requirements or constantly changing promotional terms to scam players.
❌ Shady casinos don’t usually stick around for long, just enough to pocket your money.
We should also note that there are reputable casinos licensed by other trusted bodies, such as MGA online casinos and Curaçao casinos. However, players from the United Kingdom should only gamble at UKGC licensed casinos. This is because a local gambling authority can do much more to protect you.
What does the UKGC do?
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the authority that regulates gambling in Great Britain. They also provide gambling licenses to casino operators who want to accept UK players.
Is it safe to play at a UKGC casino?
Yes, definitely. The UKGC is known as one of the strictest commissions in the gambling industry, and operators have to meet a very high standard to obtain a UKGC license.
How do I know if a casino is licensed by the UKGC?
Most online casinos place the UKGC logo on their site footer, and also add their licensing information there. If you want to confirm that a casino does have a UKGC license, you can search for the operator’s name or account number on the Gambling Commission’s website.
What are the advantages of playing at a UKGC casino?
The UKGC audits all the online casinos it licenses and penalizes operators if they breach any of its rules. Also, if you raise an issue with a UKGC licensed casino which isn’t properly handled or resolved, an appointed third-party will need to weigh in. What’s more, the UKGC is committed to fair and responsible gambling. Online casinos must conduct a number of checks and provide RG tools to players to be in line with the commission’s guidelines.
What’s the best UKGC licensed casino?
There are many UKGC online casinos to choose from, and we’ve listed the top ones on our page. Besides being safe to play at, we’ve checked that these sites offer a variety of games, great bonuses, and quick payment options.
