Gambling in the UK needs to be moderated and monitored to ensure it is safe for all. The UK Gambling Commission exists to provide this service and to ensure that all online casino experiences and other gambling experiences are the best they can be. It is the key regulatory organisation for ensuring that gambling in the UK is crime free, fair and open and vulnerable people and children are fully protected.
The Gambling Commission provides licenses in operators across the industry, including both land-based and online casinos.
Read MoreHistory and Law
Since 2005 when the Commission was founded, it has provided regulation for commercial gambling across the United Kingdom. It was first put in place as part of the Gambling Act 2005 and it works in partnership with different licensing authorities to ensure regulation is properly managed. The Gambling Commission has also had responsibility for the National Lottery Commission since 2013. The licensing and regulation via the UK Gambling Commission includes but is not limited to:
- Sports Betting
- Other kinds of betting
- Lotteries
- Land-based casinos
- Online bingo
- Bingo halls
- Gaming terminals and machines
- Online casino software and games
- Remote gambling such as telephone and television games
The Gambling Commission presides over almost all gambling in the UK but there are some notable exceptions and there are some areas it isn’t responsible for.
Responsibilities and Exceptions
Responsibilities
The UK Gambling Commission is committed to keeping gambling in the UK free of crime. It is also committed to ensuring any operator providing almost any kind of gambling works in a fair and open manner. It also ensures that children and vulnerable people are protected from the risks related to gambling.
The Commission is officially classed as a non-departmental public body and it is sponsored by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
It is wholly responsible for the licensing of gambling operators in the UK. It can also levy fines and revoke licences where necessary. It has a further responsibility on an advisory level at both national and local government level. It provides guidance and advice for any gambling-related issues and it has a good range of resources for people interested in gambling as well as those who feel they may have a problem with it.
The Gambling Commission only issues licences to operators whose remote gambling and online gambling equipment is located within the UK.
Exceptions
There are many things that the Gambling Commission cannot do and is not responsible for. To avoid any confusion, the Gambling Commission is not a watchdog and it is not responsible for consumer complaints about gambling operators. It is not a legal body and cannot advise on legal issues.
The Commission is not responsible for the regulation of spread betting; this is managed by the Financial Conduct Authority.
A key thing to remember from an online casino player’s perspective is that the UK Gambling Commission is not and does not regulate every casino site you come across. Some online casino players make the assumption that any online casino they are able to access from the UK is fair game, but this isn’t the truth so it is important to check every site you visit for a Gambling Commission licence.
Criticism
Since 2005 there have been several occasions where the Gambling Commission has come under fire from both official bodies and consumers. The two main areas where it has seen criticism are in fixed odds betting terminals and in relation to online casinos disappearing, without paying out winnings.
Fixed odds betting terminals have become a serious issue for problem gamblers and the Commission has been criticised for allowing them to spread so quickly. Whilst the spread of the machines can to administrative and logistical errors, when planning permission moved from the Commission to the local authorities, they still share a portion of the blame.
The issues around online casinos became most well known in the case of the sites BetButler and CanBet. Both sites closed down without paying out outstanding winnings to customers or allowing them to empty their accounts. The Commission was directly criticised as consumers wanted to know what failsafe measures were in place to protect British customers. This has resulted in the Commission adding to their wide range of online gambling guidance, advising players to check what happens should the casino close and their accounts shut down. By agreeing to the terms and conditions of a site you could potentially be forfeiting any winnings should the site close, so it’s important to be wary.
Advice from the Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission provides a wealth of information and guidance for people enjoying online gambling and other forms of gambling in the UK.
They are committed to ensuring gamblers in the UK feel safe and enjoy their experience and are able to remain within their means. They provide information on how to be safe when gambling and also have strict procedures in place for the protection of young and vulnerable people. They make very clear suggestions before anyone should gamble in anyway including:
- Always read the company terms and conditions of any gambling product before using it. This ensures you are making a fully informed decision before parting with any cash.
- Always check out the restrictions, wagering requirements and terms attached to specific bonuses or promotions.
- Be wary of offers which seem too good to be true.
- Always ensure you have a full understanding of what will happen should a company go bust. In light of the controversy in the past the Commission want all gamblers to fully check and agree with the terms of service should a company close down or go bust.
- Always ensure you are gambling for fun and enjoying the experience. You can set limits on deposits and the amount you spend online, for example, to ensure it remains fun and doesn’t become a problem.
- Guidance around the area of ‘self-exclusion’ which is recommended for individuals who have recognised they have a problem with gambling and need some time out.
- Providing direction and working in partnership with organisations focused on supporting problem gambling such as Gambler Aware, as well as measuring and monitoring the extent of the problem.
The Gambling Commission is a hugely valuable institution in the UK which ensures everyone who wants to gamble, online and in other ways, can do so and feel safe and secure at the same time.
Welcome Bonus 150% Bonus Up To £150 + 100 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 150% Bonus up to £150 & 100 Spins on Book of Dead. New Players Only 18+ (UK only). Minimum Deposit £20. Maximum Offer 150% Bonus up to £150 & 100 Spins on Book of Dead. Bonus & Spins winnings must be wagered 35x before withdrawal. Spins expire after 24hours. Promo Code BOOK100. Withdrawal terms apply. Valid until further notice. www.begambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply.   |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £300 + 150 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 100% bonus up to £300 plus up to 150 bonus spins on eligible Netent games on 1st deposit. 18+. New players only. One offer per player. Maximum bonus bet £5. Value of bonus & number of spins depend on deposit amount. Deposit £20-£100: maximum £100 bonus + 50 spins on selected games. Deposit £101-£200: maximum £200 bonus + 100 spins on selected games. Deposit £200+: maximum £300 bonus + 150 spins on eligible NetEnt Games. Winnings from spins credited as bonus and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds contribute to wagering requirement. Bonus funds expire within 30 days; bonus spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £250 + 100 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 100% Deposit Bonus up to £250 + 100 Spins. 18+. New players only. Minimum Deposit £20. Maximum Bonus Bet £5. Bonus offer is 100% of first deposit up to £250 and 100 Yoo Spins valid on Starburst, Book of Dead, Fire Joker, Gonzo's Quest, and Big Bass Bonanza respectively (first 20 credited immediately upon first deposit; rest credited at 07:00 GMT at 20/day). Spins must be used by 23:59 GMT of the day on which they are credited, any unused shall be removed. Winnings from each 20 spins set capped at £50 and credited as bonus funds. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering of bonus funds and deposit amount. Only your bonus funds contribute towards any wagering requirements. Bonus funds can only be used on slot games. Full Terms Apply. Play responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £200 + 200 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Exclusive Welcome offer 100% Match Bonus up to £200 plus 200 Bonus Spins on Book of Dead on 1st deposit. 18+. New players only. Minimum deposit £20. Max. bonus bet £5. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (40x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & terms apply. please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. |
|
Welcome Bonus 150% Bonus Up To £300 + 75 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Exclusive welcome offer 150% up to £300 bonus plus 75 Big Bass Bonanza spins on 1st deposit. 18+. new players only. Minimum deposit £20. Max. bonus bet £5. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (35x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & terms apply. please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £100 + 20 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 100% up to £100 and 20 Extra Spins on Big Bass Bonanza. New depositing players only. Minimum deposit: £20. Max. bonus: £100 + 20 Bonus Spins on Big Bass Bonanza. Offer valid on the first deposit. Winnings won with bonus spins that require a deposit have no wagering requirements. The match-up bonus that requires a deposit must be wagered 40x. Full terms apply. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £50 + 35 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome package 100% up to £50 and 110 Spins on Book of Dead, split over 3 deposits. 1st deposit 100% up to £50 and 35 spins. 18+ New players only. Minimum 1st deposit £10. Wagering requirement 35x. Spins are credited in specific games. Maximum winnings from free spins £100. Spins expire after 24 hours. Promotion available for 72 hours. Full terms apply. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £100 + 100 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Exclusive Welcome offer 100% up to £100 and 100 Extra Spins. New players only. 18+. Minimum deposit £20. Spins available for Book of Dead. Wagering requirements apply: 35x. Offer valid for 24hr. Full terms apply. Valid until 31/12/2024 |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £100 + 100 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | NEW IMPROVED Welcome offer 100% up to £100 + 100 Spins on Starburst. 18+. New players only. Welcome package over 1 deposit. Minimum deposit: £20. Wagering requirement: 40x. 100 spins are credited on: starburst. Spins expire after 24 hours. Maximum winnings from spins: £100. Full terms and conditions apply. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £300 + 60 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | 100% bonus up to £300 plus 60 extra spins on Eye of Horus on 1st deposit. 18+. New players only. Minimum deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £50 |
|
Visit | 100% match up to £50. 18+. New players only. Minimum deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% of your first deposit up to £50. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. BeGambleAware.org. Full terms apply. |
|
Welcome Bonus Deposit £20 and get 50 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead on 1st deposit. New players only. Minimum deposit £20. Wager from real balance first. 50x wagering the bonus. Contribution varies per game, selected games only. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus is valid for 30 Days from receipt and free spins for 7 days from issue. Maximum conversion 3x bonus amount or from free spins £20. Excluded Skrill & Neteller deposits. Withdrawal requests void all active pending bonuses. Full Terms apply. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £50 + 50 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 100% Bonus up to £50 and 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead. Bonus code SWIFT required. Automatically credited upon deposit. Cancellation can be requested. First Deposit Only. Max. Bonus £50. Maximum amount of Free Spins is 50. Game: Book of Dead, Spin Value: £0.10. WR of 30x Deposit + Bonus amount and 60x Free Spin winnings amount (only Slots count) within 30 days. Maximum bet is 10% (min £0.10) of the free spin winnings and bonus amount or £5 (lowest amount applies). Spins must be used and/or Bonus must be claimed before using deposited funds. Bonuses do not prevent withdrawing deposit balance. Deposit/Welcome Bonus can only be claimed once every 72 hours across all Casinos. Bonus Policy applies. #AD, 18+ only, Begambleaware.org, Full Terms apply |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £100 + 50 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | Welcome offer 100% bonus up to £100 and 50 bonus spins on Starburst. New players only. Minimum deposit £20. Wagering bonus 35x. Wagering bonus spins 35x. The winnings must be wagered within 21 days. Bonus T&C's apply. |
|
Welcome Bonus 100% Bonus Up To £300 + 50 Extra Spins |
|
Visit | 100% Welcome Bonus up to £300 and 50 Bonus Spins on Starburst on 1st deposit. 18+. New Players Only. Minimum deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 40x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. |
