Before you sign up anywhere, it’s worth checking the UK casino licence. Only operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission can legally offer online gambling to people in Great Britain. The check is free, and it takes about two minutes.
This guide shows you where to find the licence details, how to search the official register and what to match. It also covers the warning signs of a site you should avoid.
1Why a UK casino licence matters
A licence means the operator has to follow the Gambling Commission’s rules. For players, that brings some important protections.
- Safer gambling tools. Licensed casinos must offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
- GAMSTOP. The free GAMSTOP scheme lets you block yourself from UK-licensed gambling sites and apps in one go.
- Fairer bonuses. Since January 2026, wagering on new casino bonuses is capped at 10x.
- Complaints. Licensed casinos must have a complaints process. If that fails, you can take an unresolved dispute to the independent service named in the casino’s terms.
- Clear information. When you open an account, a licensed business must tell you about its licence, its terms and how your money is protected.
By contrast, gambling with an operator that has no Commission licence is illegal in Great Britain. So none of these protections apply.
2Step 1: find the UK casino licence details on the site
Licensed businesses must show that they’re licensed. Usually, you’ll find the details in the footer at the bottom of every page.
Look for wording such as “licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number”, followed by a number. For example, the Buzz Bingo footer says that Buzz Bingo Digital Limited holds a licence under account number 57594. If a site shows more than one account number, it has more than one licence.
Make a note of the company name and the account number. You’ll need both for the next step.
3Step 2: search the Gambling Commission’s public register
Next, go to the UK Gambling Commission public register. You can search it by company name, account number or website name.
Each business record shows several useful details:
- the operator’s address
- its domain names and trading names
- its current licence status
- the activities it’s allowed to offer
- any regulatory action the Commission has taken
Keep in mind that a brand name and a company name are often different. For example, Rialto Casino is run by Rank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited. So the account number from the footer is usually the quickest and most reliable search.
The same check works for apps, too. According to the Commission, the company that owns a betting app or website must hold a licence. Therefore, find the operator’s name and account number for the app, then search the register in exactly the same way.
4Step 3: check the details match
Finding a record isn’t quite enough. The details also need to match the site you’re on.
- Status. The licence should show as active.
- Domain name. The exact web address should appear on the record. For example, the record for Rank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited, account 57924, lists rialtocasino.com as an active domain, alongside sister sites such as meccabingo.com and kittybingo.com.
- Activities. The licence should cover what you want to play. Buzz Bingo Digital Limited, for instance, holds remote bingo and casino licences.
- Regulatory action. If the register lists any, read it. Then decide whether you’re still comfortable using the site.
Big brands sometimes split their products across more than one company. For example, the register lists bet365.com under Hillside (UK Gaming) ENC for casino. Meanwhile, its sports betting licence sits with a separate company, Hillside (UK Sports) ENC. That’s normal, as long as each record is active.
5Warning signs of an unlicensed casino
Be wary if you spot any of the following:
- no Great Britain licence statement or account number in the footer
- an account number that isn’t on the register, or a web address that isn’t listed
- only a licence from another country, even though the site accepts UK players
- adverts that boast a site is “not on GAMSTOP”
- credit card deposits, which licensed UK operators can’t accept
A licence from elsewhere doesn’t cover British players. Rialto, for example, holds a Gibraltar licence for customers outside Great Britain, and a separate Commission licence for players here. If you think a site is operating illegally, you can report it to the Gambling Commission confidentially.
6A quick UK casino licence checklist
| Footer statement | Licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission, with an account number |
|---|---|
| Register status | Active |
| Domain names | Includes the exact web address you’re using |
| Activities | Covers the games you want to play |
| Regulatory action | None, or action you’ve read and understood |
7What a licence doesn’t tell you
A licence shows a casino is legal and regulated. However, it doesn’t tell you whether an offer is good value. So once you’ve checked the licence, read the offer’s small print too. Our guide on how to read casino bonus terms shows what to look for.
We only list operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission in our casino reviews, and each review links to the register so you can check for yourself. Before you play, it’s also worth setting a gambling budget.