The UK Gambling Commission: Best Casino Sites Licensed by the Regulator

If you came here looking for the best UKGC casinos, you’ve arrived at the right place. And maybe you only want to learn about the UKGC and how it regulates its licensees, we’ve also got you covered in this guide.

Among the numerous UK-licensed casinos, our experts have carefully made a list of the best options. We have also described all that you need to know about the UKGC, its policies, and how it protects you. Join us now as we unveil this exciting yet well-regulated world of UK-licensed casinos.

Brief History of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission

Established under the Gambling Act 2005, the UKGC is the organization responsible for overseeing all forms of gambling activities in the United Kingdom. Although founded in 2005, it resumed operations in 2007 after taking over control from the Gaming Board for Great Britain. In 2013, the National Lottery Commission also merged with the UKGC.

In November 2014, the commission took control of all online gambling activities in the UK. It stopped allowing casino sites from whitelisted jurisdictions to advertise their services in the UK. Since then, online casinos that wish to operate legally in the UK must own a license from the British Gambling Commission.

The major objectives of the commission are as follows:

• To prevent gambling from becoming a source of disorder or crime, being associated with disorder or crime, or being used to assist criminal activities
• To ensure that gambling is organized in a fair and transparent way
• To protect children and vulnerable adults from falling into the risks or being exploited by gambling.

While many other regulators also have similar objectives, the UKGC has proven over time to be very strict about it. Their constant upgrades to their operator’s guidelines and players’ protection policies prove their commitment to the objectives.

For example, in 2017, the commission updated its advertisement rules to further protect people below 18 years of age. All UKGC casinos cannot advertise with cartoon-like characters or any images that can attract children. Furthermore, bonus and promo advertisements must not be misleading in any way. They were banned from using the word “free” to describe bonus spins that were issued as a result of a deposit. Terms like “casino spins” or “extra spins” were permitted instead.

In May 2019, the UKGC AML guidance and players protection policies were also updated. Players will have to complete the verification procedure before they can start to play on the site. These and many other policies have earned the commission a reputation for being one of the most meticulous gambling authorities in the world.

Types of UKGC Gambling Licenses

According to the Gambling Act, these are the three types of licenses offered:

• Operating Licenses: Needed for brands or businesses that want to offer gambling services
• Personal Licenses: Required for individuals who work in the gambling industry, especially those who will operate the machines or handle money.
• Premises Licenses: Permits for physical locations to provide gambling services. This is for brick-and-mortar casinos, bingo halls, or arcade halls.

Any brand that wants to offer gambling services in the UK must acquire its operating license. However, the type of operating license depends on the forms of gambling the operator wants to offer.

These are the services you can get an online operating license for:

• Bingo
• Lotteries
• Pool betting
• Casino games
• General betting
• Gambling software
• Betting intermediary operations
• Gaming machine technical license

Reliability and Popularity of the United Kingdom Gambling License

If you’re wondering if you can trust casinos with a UK license, the answer is yes. As previously noted, the British Gambling Commission is one of the most stringent regulators in the world, so its licensed casinos are reliable. The commission ensures players' funds and details are safe, and that they enjoy fair gambling.

In terms of popularity, the UK Gambling jurisdiction is up there with Malta and Curacao. These three jurisdictions have the largest number of online casinos registered under them currently. However, the UK is the most rigorous among the three, followed closely by Malta. Curacao eGaming Authority is notably more relaxed compared to the other two.

Benefits of Playing at UK Licensed Casinos

There’s a multitude of advantages you’re set to experience when you play at UK-licensed casinos. The UKGC regulatory framework makes sure you are provided with a safe and reliable gaming experience. These are the benefits:

• Solid Player Protection Policies: The Gambling Commission prioritizes players’ safety above everything else. Rest assured that your details and funds are secure at UK-licensed casinos.
• Fair Gaming: All of the gambling sites regulated by the commission offer games from secure and licensed gaming providers. Thus, the outcomes of all game rounds are fair.
• Many Responsible Gambling Tools: The UKGC emphasizes strongly on responsible gambling, hence their casinos take it seriously. You’ll find all kinds of restriction tools at UK-licensed casinos, giving you more control over your spending and gaming time.
• Fair Bonuses: All British licensed casinos are required to be transparent in advertising their bonuses. All their terms and conditions are written in simple terms for everyone to understand.
• Withdrawals at Any Time: The best UKGC casinos allow you to withdraw your deposit balance and earnings at any time. This includes when you have a pending bonus. However, the casino reserves the right to cancel bonuses associated with a withdrawn deposit amount.
• Quick Player Verification: When you play at casinos licensed in other jurisdictions, it could take 24 hours or more to review your KYC documents. However, UK-licensed casinos review them within a few minutes or hours.
• Solid Dispute Resolution Service: As a result of their commitment to players' protection, the UKGC treats players’ complaints seriously.

The Process of Obtaining a United Kingdom Casino License

Any operator wishing to get a UK gambling license must work hard to meet all the strict requirements of the UKGC. The commission leaves no stone unturned when scrutinizing potential licensees. The application process is thorough and detailed.

Firstly, the applicants need to specify the kind of gambling the brand intends to operate. After that, they must provide a UK address where they’ll get the necessary documents.

After the submission, the UKGC reviews the applying brands in the following areas:

• Finances
• Integrity
• Criminality
• Competence
• Identify and Ownership

Player Protection at the UKGC

Members at UKGC casino sites enjoy more protection than those at non-UK-licensed casinos. All UKGC licensees are required to put everything in place to protect their players’ data and financial information. The commission also ensures that its casinos offer games from reputable providers who have their games tested and certified for fairness.

Furthermore, gambling sites with a UK license are required to keep players’ funds separately from the operation funds. This is to ensure that the operators always have money to pay winnings and that players can withdraw money at any time.

To prevent underage gambling, players in the UK are required to verify their age and identity immediately after signup. Otherwise, they can’t bet with real money, play demo games, claim bonuses, deposit money, or receive emails about bonuses.

Another policy the British Gambling Commission introduced to protect vulnerable players is the ban on credit cards. This ensures that people with gambling problems cannot play games on credit.

Most importantly, the responsible gambling policies of British casinos are the most comprehensive. At many non-UKGC licensed casinos, you’ll mostly find only self-exclusion and deposit limits. At the best UKGC casinos, you’ll find various restriction tools available. These include deposit limits, time limits, reality checks, wagering limits, cooling off, loss limits, and self-exclusion.

Finally, the iGaming authority makes it very easy for players to verify if a casino truly holds a UKGC license. You can simply head to the Gambling Commission’s website and search the casino or operator’s name.

Online casinos that violate the UKGC policies risk being sanctioned or losing their license. Hence, operators strive to adhere strictly to the regulator’s rules.

Dispute Resolution and Players’ Complaints at the UK Gambling Commission

The UKGC is always available to mediate between their licensed casinos and players. On their site, you’ll find a detailed FAQ section, providing you with details on what to do. These usually include ensuring you have tried to reach a resolution with the casino support department or their alternative dispute resolution provider. After trying everything else, you can then reach the commission to make your complaint.

Here’s the UK Gambling Commission contact info:

• Phone Number: 0121 230 6655
• Phone Number (for players outside the UK): +44 121 230 6655
• Email: info@gamblingcommission.go.uk

The phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Drawbacks of Playing at Online Casinos with the UKGC License

The stringent policies of the UKGC also bring many disadvantages to players. You do not enjoy many of the features available at non-UK licensed casinos. We have listed some of the downsides of UKGC casino sites below:

• Verification Must Be Done at Signup: Immediately after signing up, you must verify your identity and age before you can do any other thing. This could take up to thirty minutes or a few hours. As a result, you can’t start playing for real money instantly at UKGC iGaming websites.
• No Demo Games for Guests: You are not allowed to play demo casino games at any site in the UK. To play for free, you must have registered and verified your account at a casino. This makes it impossible for players to test casino games before creating an account.
• Bonuses are not Usually Huge: Compared to casinos licensed in other jurisdictions, the bonuses at UK-licensed sites are not so generous. Furthermore, there are few promotions and rarely VIP rewards.
• Limited Game Selection: Casino operators are unable to offer games from providers not permitted in the UK. This reduces the number of games you can access at these sites.
• Slow Withdrawals: Cashout processing can be relatively slow due to strict verification processes and the UKGC AML guidance. There are no instant cashouts. It usually takes up to 24 hours for casinos to review your request.
• Strict License Acquisition Process: Operators looking to enter the UK iGaming market have to follow a more thorough process compared to other jurisdictions. There are also many limitations, such as game providers and payment methods.

Conclusion

Due to the solid policies of the UKGC, the United Kingdom has a flourishing and safe iGaming market today. When you play at UK-licensed casinos, you can be certain that your details are safe and funds are protected. What’s more, you also get to play high-quality games that have been certified as fair by independent auditors. In addition, promo terms at UKGC gambling sites are always fair and written in clear language.

It’s also important to mention that there are many limitations you may face at British licensed gambling sites. The lack of numerous promos, the inability to play demo games as guests, and smaller collections of games top the list. However, all of these policies were designed to protect you and help you enjoy gambling at all times.

If you stay in the UK, we encourage you to play at casinos licensed by the commission. Our experts have managed to identify the best UKGC casinos with the widest selection of games and plenty of bonuses. Feel free to explore our platform and choose suitable UK-licensed casinos. Those outside of the UK are free to explore casinos licensed in other jurisdictions. In all you do, remember to play safely at all times. We wish you the best of luck in your gambling adventure.