If you are wondering if gambling is legal in UK, the answer is YES.
Everyone who offers gambling products to UK citizens is required to be licensed by the UK gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission.
The various types of online gambling available to British players are all regulated by The Gambling Comission (UKGC). It is a government agency to protect players, which monitors and blocks illegal sites and ensures that legal sites operate in a safe and secure manner.
All gambling companies must have a license from the UKGC in order to operate in the UK. However, this license is not easy to get. This commission is one of the most stringent licensing authorities.
To obtain a UK remote gambling license, gambling operators (online casinos) must provide extensive documentation to prove their suitability, and comply with strict regulations and practices.
Any gambling software (software providers) used by operators (online casinos) must be licensed, whether they have developed themselves or use a third parties.
If you need a help to get information about gambling in Great Britain and find support when you need it, then UKGC official website is right place for you.
The Gambling Commission
UKGC is a government agency who regulate most types of gambling in Great Britain, including The National Lottery in the UK. Gambling Comission agency license the individuals and businesses that offer gambling and provide them with advice and guidance. The Gambling Commission is an independent regulatory body that was established under the UK Gambling Act in 2005.
The UKGC is one of the most trusted, safe, secure, and reputable licensing institutions globally. It is proven by many of its licensed online casinos successfully operating on the UK market for long years without any problems or complaints.
You will be happy to know that when playing in online casinos license by the UKGC, your personal and financial information is properly protected.
What Does UKGC Licensing Guarantee
The mission of the UKGC is to protect consumers, keep crime out of gambling, and ensure that gambling is fair and open.
The main licensing objectives for The Gambling Commission:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime.
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
To accomplish these goals, the Gambling Commission licenses and regulates all gambling businesses in the UK, including online and offline casinos, lotteries, bookmakers, gambling software, slot machines, and Bingo halls.
What Happens to Your Money if a Gambling Business goes Bust
It is important to note that although online gambling businesses licensed by UKGC must keep customer funds in a separate account.
There is no guarantee that this will ensure that customers get any of their money back if the business runs into financial difficulties.
Any money in your account would be classed as part of the gambling company’s assets if it went bust.
What To Do if can't Withdraw Your Winnings
There are many reasons why you may not be able to withdraw winnings from your casino account.
You should complain directly to the gambling business and follow the complaints process to find out what the problem is.
If you're not happy with the outcome you may be able to escalate your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider. The gambling business should be able to tell you which ADR provider to use, and give you their contact details.
Fines by The Gambling Commission in the UK
The Gambling Commission has handed out several significant fines in recent years:
- Year 2022: They fined Sky Bet £1.17 million for sending promotional emails to customers who had self-excluded from gambling.
- Year 2022: The Gambling Commission issued a fine of £9.4m to gambling group 888 after an investigation discovered social responsibility and Money Laundering failings.
- Year 2020: Fined Sky Betting & Gaming £1 million for failing to properly handle customers who showed signs of gambling addiction.
- Year 2019: Fined MansionBet £350,000 for failing to protect vulnerable customers and prevent Money Laundering.
- Year 2018: UKGC fined William Hill £6.2 million for “systemic social responsibility and Money Laundering failures.”
Final Thoughts
Online casinos licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission is 100% safe and reliable to play at. The UKGC license is one of the safest, most trustworthy, secure, and reliable online casino licenses in today’s casino industry.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling-related problems, contact the National Gambling Helpline.
