Guidance to licensing authorities Casino premises licence conditions
The white paper proposed to reform the 80/20 rule in response to evidence that the current rule does not allow operators to adequately meet consumer demand, while still providing a balanced product offer to customers. Arcades and bingo premises are subject to an 80/20 rule which governs the balance of Category B (maximum £2 stake) and Category C or D machines in non gamstop these venues (up to a maximum £1 stake). With technological developments, land-based casinos have been able to introduce a greater range of customer protections and the experiences of applying these across each type of licence have provided insight on the likely impact of any proposed changes. Since the Gambling Act 2005, land-based casinos have operated under two licensing regimes with different requirements in terms of the type and volume of product they are able to offer, as well as venue size. 7.1.12 Mobile phones cannot be used whilst Gaming (whether at the gaming tables, electronic gaming tables, at or near any machines, or in our card rooms); Its goal is to reduce the prevalence of problem gambling, particularly among those who play online.
Making changes to your licence
Both limits took effect in January 2026 and apply only to online slot games. Under-25s — defined here as 18- to 24-year-olds — get a tighter £2 ceiling, on the regulator’s view that younger players are more exposed to fast-stake escalation. UKGC-licensed sites have to check date of birth and ID before any real-money play — not at the homepage door, but during registration and again at first withdrawal.
The best UK online casino sites will offer you a variety of games, betting options, payment modes, bonuses and much more, so as to make your betting experience enjoyable and exciting. The betting.co.uk experts can recommend a list of UK online casinos, but those who have experience playing at casino sites. Before we will suggest any of the top 50 online casinos at betting.co.uk, the casino sites must have been granted a licence to operate in the UK. When it comes to playing games at these online casinos, you need to find a library that is stacked with games that suit your playing and gambling needs. Real money casinos offer a wide range of games designed to cater for all kinds of online players.
Similarly, the benefits are likely to be greater for larger operators as they are more likely to have the physical space and financial ability to invest in new machines. The package is intended to modernise the rules that apply to casinos and to help the sector to grow, while ensuring that appropriate safeguards against gambling-related harm are in place. In 2025, stake limits were introduced for online slots, capping the amount players could wager per spin.
For casinos moving onto the new regime, section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005 should require operators to apply to the licensing authority to vary their premises licence. We agree that operators should be required to notify licensing authorities and the Gambling Commission if they decide to take-up the entitlement to additional gaming machines under the new regime. The majority of respondents (93%) agreed that operators should be required to notify licensing authorities and the Gambling Commission if they decide to take-up the entitlement to additional gaming machines under the new regime.
This empowers consumers with granular control over the gambling advertisements they receive. Prohibited elements include autoplay, player-led spin stops, simultaneous multi-game play, and false win celebrations where payouts are equal to or less than the stake. These initial checks use publicly available data and do not require sensitive personal information such as postcodes or employment details.
Online gambling, also known as remote gambling, is considered legal in Great Britain if the operator possesses a licence from the UKGC. In most cases, this definition applies to slots, otherwise known as fruit or jackpot machines. Pool betting is different in that there are more individual wagers in play.
We issue operating licences and personal licences; premises licences are issued by local licensing authorities. You can read more about the legal definition of casinos in Part 1 section 7 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab). The Gambling Act 2005 defines a casino as an arrangement whereby people are given an opportunity to participate in one or more casino games. All licensed operators must offer access to an ADR scheme — this is mandated under the 2026 rules.
(Mandatory response) A significant increase in ability to meet demand / A slight increase in ability to meet demand / No impact / A slight decrease in ability to meet demand / A significant decrease in ability to meet demand / I don’t know Anecdotal evidence suggests that for some individuals the option of attending physical bingo premises delivers substantial social benefits which would be lost if the sector is not supported. We welcome further evidence on this in the consultation response. Energy costs per machine will be estimated in the final stage impact assessment using an energy calculator. Player protections can be used to mitigate increases in the risk of gambling harm. A more detailed estimate of the impact for each option will be presented in the final stage impact assessment, once further data has been collected.
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We propose that an operator must notify the licensing authority of their intention to increase their number of gaming machines. What player protections could be adopted in casinos for those customers participating in sports betting? Should all 1968 Act casinos be permitted to offer sports betting, regardless of size? However, at this stage we do not know precisely what the GGY benefits will be, as we do not have any evidence on how casinos and players will respond to this proposal. Therefore, 1968 Act casinos are losing out on potential revenue that might otherwise have been generated if they were allowed to offer sports betting services.
- For example, if a casino had 300sqm of gambling space, its non-gambling area would need to be at least 150sqm.
- Consultation responses included views from industry, academics, treatment providers and individuals.
- When you are issued a licence, we will display the details of your licence on the register.
- Public concern about gambling harm is the second pressure.
Another important thing to remember is that every single UK casino we review at Betting.co.uk is licenced by the UKGC and Gamstop. Non Gamstop casinos operate offshore so the self exclusion plan does not apply to them. If you are excluded from casinos in the UK with a Gamstop casino, there is a way around it – although not recommended. Once you have self excluded you cannot use any UK casino, you will be banned from logging into your betting accounts or creating others. You can then play with a minimum of 10p per go to have an opportunity to win one of the Jackpots on offer.
Similarly, a centrally co-ordinated self-exclusion database (“GAMSTOP”) also allows customers to self-exclude from remote gambling offered by operators licensed by the Gambling Commission. For instance, since 28 February 2025, online gambling operators have been required to undertake a financial vulnerability check where a customer’s net spend exceeds £150 in a rolling 30-day period and, following the passing of secondary legislation, since May 2025 maximum stake limits per spin for online slot games are in place (£2 for those aged 18–24; £5 for those aged 25 and over). Free-to-play casino games with prizes are regulated by the Gambling Commission (licence required).
However, responses suggested that increases in GGY would be greater in the arcade sector than in the bingo club sector. Under Option 1, the vast majority of industry respondents projected that there would be an increase in GGY for arcade and bingo operators. A summary of these responses is outlined below. Licensing authority responses were predominantly in favour of Option 2, though a number restated their original position that the current 80/20 ratio should not be changed in the liberalising manner proposed. The majority of industry responses expressed a preference for either Option 1 or Option 3, and were strongly opposed to Option 2. This section of the consultation received 40 responses.
Licensing fees vary by premises type. The Gambling Act 2005 created a partnership between the Gambling Commission and 368 licensing authorities in England, Wales and Scotland for the regulation of land-based gambling. Licensing authorities have an important regulatory role alongside the Gambling Commission in licensing local premises. Bacta’s members make up approximately 70-80% of the market for family entertainment centres and adult gaming centres. In addition, we would like to receive any evidence or information on best practice in these venues that could then be disseminated among operators.
It was proposed that the requirements would form part of a new regime that operators would have the option of moving onto, taking up a new gaming machine entitlement under the new rules. A sliding scale was proposed in the consultation which detailed potential requirements across (i) gambling space; (ii) table gaming space; (iii) non-gambling area; and (iv) machine to table ratio. We will also permit a smaller increase in machines for venues that do not meet the size requirements, proportionate to their overall size and non-gambling area. This response provides non-remote gambling operators with clear notice of our intention to introduce the measures set out within this government response.
Operators must display elapsed session time and net spend at regular intervals. Minimum five-second spin time on online slots. Bonus terms simplified, bonus values often reduced in response.
Brexit therefore did not create passporting recognition of EU gambling licences into Great Britain, because UK licensing was never based on mutual recognition. The government duty change document sets out the 2027 remote betting duty plan as part of broader gambling duty reforms. HMRC administers multiple gambling duties, levied on operators’ gross profits (stakes received less prizes paid out) or stakes, depending on the regime.
Gambling operators are required to ensure clients don’t lose more than the specified amounts of money for the sake of their mental well-being. It deals with research, publication, licensing, and enforcement of gambling rules and regulations. This non-departmental public body works for the Culture Media and Sport docket to regulate individuals and businesses providing gambling in the UK. Nonetheless, here are some of the most important gambling rules in the UK that need to be at your fingertips.
(Mandatory response)Yes / No / I don’t know Casinos would not have the option of reverting back to their legacy rights under the existing regime, once they decide to increase their machine allowance in this way. Ensuring that regulation of land-based and online sectors is more equitable will assist recovery and enable the sector to remain viable. Data was also provided on the increase in session times at busy periods in a 1968 Act casino, compared to a 2005 Act casino of comparable size.
It is also worth noting that it is not illegal for UK residents to gamble at offshore casinos. Report issues through the UKGC website at If the casino fails to resolve your complaint within 8 weeks, or if you are unsatisfied with their response, you can escalate the matter to the casino’s designated ADR provider. This applies to all forms of online and offline gambling. It has been illegal to use credit cards for gambling transactions at UKGC-licensed operators since 14 April 2020. Common ADR providers used by UK casinos include eCOGRA, IBAS (Independent Betting Adjudication Service), and the Gambling Commission’s own ADR scheme.
6.4 For regulatory purposes, we may also request information and documentary evidence relating to the source of customers’ funds which may be used for gaming transactions. To complete these checks, Experian may screen your details against their databases (public or otherwise) to verify your identity and to aid in the assessment of financial vulnerability. 6.2 ID Scan is in operation at our Stratford Casino Premises, and Facial Recognition Technology at all of our casino Premises (please see our dedicated Facial Recognition FAQs). 6.1 You agree and confirm Our continuing rights to require You to produce suitable identification, including a photographic image being taken and retained by Us, either before admittance, or as we otherwise see fit from time to time, including for Customer Due Diligence purposes where your play meets or exceeds threshold levels and for Enhanced Due Diligence purposes as applicable. “Gaming” means gambling as permitted and licensed by UK law and regulation.
It doesn’t matter what your game of choice is, the games are life-like and gives players great chances to win real money. Amazing Bacarrat delivers a premium live casino experience that is catered for experienced players and even newcomers. Playing live casino game variations allows players to get a taste of what it would be like to play in a real-life bricks and mortar casino. Online casino sites like to promote their slot games, but live casino table games are also a very popular part of what they do. Part of that is true because a lot of the casinos will have the same slot games titles and casino table games, as well as the same payment methods. The ease in which you can play casino games and place bets on your phone is the main reason it has become so popular over the years.
Licensees should also consider to what extent data subject rights, such as the right to erasure and right not to be subject to automated decision-making, may not apply given the relevant lawful basis. Continue to obtain and retain information which is sufficient to satisfy them that underage gambling is not taking place2. Operators should take into account that we may need to obtain such data even after an account has closed in order to establish whether or not a licensee has complied with its regulatory obligations. Licensees should consider what retention period is necessary for any data obtained and processed for self-exclusion or anti-money laundering purposes (whether also obtained for other purposes). Licensees should also consider to what extent data subject rights, such as the right to erasure and right not to be subject to automated decision-making, may not apply given the relevant lawful basisiv. Consider what personal data should be processed to achieve these outcomes2.