Checking a Casino Licence

Checking a UK online casino licence is a vital precaution before play. Players can verify the operator’s status by cross-referencing the site’s licence claims and domain name with the Gambling Commission’s Public Register. An operator must have an active remote operating licence to offer legal online gambling to consumers in Great Britain.

Make sure the casino matches the Gambling Commission’s public records on all counts, as the Commission advises. For starters, check the casino’s own display of licence status.

How to check the website first

Before leaving the casino page, check a few key claims:

• The casino should say it is licensed in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission
• There should be a link to the Public Register
• The licence details shown, including the account number and activity permissions, should match the register
• The website domains listed in the licence details must match the URLs visited

The operator must have a current and active licence to offer online gaming legally. Its licence conditions require it to display this licence information clearly on its website. This helps to inform players of its licensing and regulation status.

If these details are not on the casino’s site, or do not match the Public Register, the player should not use that website.

How to use the Public Register

The Gambling Commission publishes licensee details on its Public Register. Players can search this by business name, trading name, domain name or the operator’s account number to verify a licence.

The register will show the licence’s status, which typically lists as Active, Expired, Suspended, Revoked, Pending, Surrendered, Lapsed or Forfeited. The entry also details the licence’s statutory address, trading names, and domain names associated with the business.

To search the register:

1. Go to the Gambling Commission’s Public Register.
2. Choose the “Businesses” tab
3. Enter a business name, trading name, domain or account number
4. Check the results against the casino’s website details

If the register shows a different name, or lists any domain that does not match the site played on, the operator should be avoided.

What licence status should mean

Licence statuses describe various stages of licensed operation. For players, the statuses link to different expectations of the operator.

• Active: The target status for players. The licence is current and the operator should be operating under this licence for the stated activity.
• Suspended: The licence is inactive. Don’t use this operator.
• Revoked: A previous licence that was removed. Don’t use this operator.
• Forfeited: The licence was surrendered before action could be taken against it. Don’t use this operator.
• Lapsed: A licence that expired and was not renewed. Don’t use this operator.
• Pending: The licence was applied for, but not yet issued. Don’t use it yet.
• Surrendered: The licence holder handed it in. Don’t use this operator.
• Expired: An out-of-date licence. Don’t use this operator.

An operator with an Expired, Lapsed, Forfeited, Suspended or Revoked licence cannot be treated as currently offering legal gambling. Players should treat a Pending licence with caution, as this shows the licence is not yet active.

Why the operator’s domain matters

The Public Register includes domain names listed by each operator.

When looking up the operator, check that every listed domain is one you expect to see and use on the site. If a domain is listed that was not expected, the player should not use it.

What to do if a complaint goes wrong

If a complaint against a casino is not resolved by the operator’s own process, the player should know the Commission says that operator must have an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider approved to take the case. This is a necessary condition of operating under a Commission licence.

18+. Gambling can be addictive: the National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133.