UKGC

What you should know about gambling in the UK (FAQ)

Who can play legally at casinos with a UK license?

Individuals who are at least 18 years of age and a resident of the UK can play in one of the casinos licensed by the Gambling Commission. However, individuals who are at least 16 years of age can play the National Lottery and scratchcards.

What can you play legally at casinos with UK license?

As indicated in the Gambling Act of 2005, players based in the UK can enjoy most types of casino games including online slots, card games, and lotteries. The specific type of games you can play will depend on the casino’s license. To check the types of games to play, you can click directly through the office’s public license register or you can verify with the Terms and Conditions for each product. Another option is to visually check the online casino’s homepage and look for the licensing details.

Where to go with complaints?

All casinos and gambling businesses regulated by the Commission are mandated to appoint an alternate dispute resolution body or ADR. The ADR is an independent organization that is tasked to accept and address your complaint. According to the regulations, a casino operator must pick its partner ADR from a list approved by the Commission. Here are a few things to remember: you can only go to an ADR if you have already complained to the operator, and your queries have been processed, and a decision has been rendered.

Where to go in case of addiction (for self or others)?

You can refer to the operator’s responsible tools and resources that can help you play within limits or address gambling addiction. For example, you can use Session Limits, Deposit Limits, or the Self Exclusion Tool. If you think you need help beyond these tools, you may contact one of the following organizations, as indicated below.

Responsible gambling and addiction

Contact one of the organizations below for help:

• BeGambleAware.org. This site offers advice on how to play responsibly.
• Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. The organization focuses on problem gamblers from England and Wales.
• The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation. Established in 1996, this group helps mainly Chinese-speaking players.
• GamCare. A registered charity that offers advice to problem gamblers.
• Gamblers Anonymous. This is a fellowship of players who joined and meet together to address problem gambling.

History of Regulation

The UK Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act of 2005. It assumed complete oversight of the industry in 2007 in regulating all forms of gambling including arcades, bingo, and lotteries, with the exception of spread betting. In October 2013, The National Lottery Commission became a part of the Gambling Commission, thus expanding its reach and supervisory coverage.

Reputation of the Gaming Authority

Together with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission is one of the most respected regulators in the industry. Most of the leading online casinos and gambling brands today operate with approval from the Commission. Gambling companies and sites like Betsson group, 888 Plc Group, 32Red, William Hill, and Ladbrokes Coral offer gambling services to UK customers under the guidance of the Commission. As a recognized industry leader, the Commission has scored a few milestones in its efforts to keep online gambling safe for everyone. Here are some of the interventions of the Commission:

The Commission fined the Camelot Group for failing to check and investigate a National Lottery ticket that was presented in 2009.

William Hill was fined £6.2 million for not protecting its players from money laundering.

It fined LeoVegas in May 2018 for the publication of misleading advertisements.

32Red was also fined £2 million for its failure to stop or at least guide a problem gambler.

These are just some of the many accomplishments of the Commission that are related to its efforts to regulate the industry. Today, it regularly updates its rules and regulations to reflect the current needs and requirements of all stakeholders involved.

Set up under the Gambling Act of 2005, the office works to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain in cooperation with licensing authorities. The Gambling Commission is the government’s primary arm in regulating different forms of gambling in the UK including the National Lottery. Also, it’s responsible for the regulation of remote gambling services that cater to UK players.