Written By Heath Chesters
Don’t have time to read the full guide? We have prepared a handy summary for you!
At most online casinos, licencing information is displayed in the website footer. You may see the licensing authority’s logo or written details about the licence issuer and number.
Don’t see the licensing information in the footer? Don’t worry!
Sometimes, you may need to open the terms and conditions. You could also find licence details listed in the about us section, the help pages, or the responsible gambling page.
The next step is to note the licence number – the most important piece of information you need to verify is that the licence is valid.
Many online casinos have multiple licences. When playing from the UK, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence is the one that matters. The number could be displayed in one of two ways: a full number or a shorter version.
Taking the example of Coral:
Its long licence number is 054743-R-330863-012.
Its short version is 54743.
Many online casinos include a link to the regulator’s website. We advise you not to use this link. Instead, open the official UKGC website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. You can then check the licence details directly on the official licence register.
Are you on the authentic UKGC website? You can do a few quick checks to make sure.
The URL should start with https://. You can view the site information by clicking the icon at the start of the address bar. Also, double-check that the website address is spelt correctly.
Of course, you can simply click the link we provided above – it will take you directly to the official website.
Now is the time to confirm that the licence is active and valid. For this, you can search the licence number on the business register.
You can access the register of gambling businesses using this link: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register/businesses.
In the search bar, enter the short version of the licence number. The search will return the company details with a link to the corresponding page. Click the link and see if the licence status is “active”.
Open the casino website and check the data listed by the UKGC matches. Not all casino sites display all the data in their footer. You may need to open the full terms and conditions to cross-check the details.
You can check the following information:
Online gambling is strictly regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. It sets standards to keep gambling fair and open, crime-free, and to protect consumers from harm. These measures ensure player protection and safety.
An online casino must adhere to stringent criteria to obtain and keep its licence. The Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) set out the standards that all licensees must adhere to.
Here are the main requirements for holding a UKGC online casino licence:
Moving into the iGaming industry was a natural progression for Heath, initially focusing on sports betting content for major brands. Following a trip to Las Vegas, that interest evolved to embrace online casinos, using his journalism background to explore and study gambling and gaming in fascinating depth.