How to check a UK online casino is licensed

Last checked: 20 October 2026

Any online casino that accepts players in Great Britain must hold a licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). It takes about two minutes to confirm, and it is the most useful check you can make before you create an account or deposit.

Step 1: find the licence text in the footer

Scroll to the very bottom of the casino’s website. A licensed operator states which company runs the site and its Gambling Commission account number, usually in words like “licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number” followed by a number. If you cannot find this, treat it as a warning sign.

Step 2: look the company up on the public register

The Gambling Commission keeps a free public register of every business it licenses. You can search by company name, website name or account number. Do not rely on a logo or a badge alone, because anyone can copy an image. Check the register yourself.

Step 3: make sure the licence covers online casino

On the company’s register entry, look at the list of licensed activities. For an online casino you want to see a Remote Casino licence marked as active. A company can hold a licence for betting or bingo only, which does not allow it to run an online casino for UK players.

Step 4: check the website is listed under that licence

Open the company’s entry and look at its domain names. The casino’s web address should appear there as active. One licence holder can run many brands, and a brand can move from one company to another. When a domain is listed as inactive, it is no longer covered by that licence.

Step 5: read the regulatory actions

The register also shows regulatory actions the Commission has taken against a licence holder, such as fines or warnings. An action does not automatically mean a casino is unsafe, but you should open it and read what happened and when.

A licence held offshore is not a problem. A missing UK licence is.

Many UK licence holders are companies based in Gibraltar or Malta. That is normal. What matters is that the company holds a UK Gambling Commission licence for the activity it offers to UK players. A licence from another country on its own is not enough to serve people in Great Britain.

What a licence does and does not mean

• It means the operator must follow UK rules on fair games, protecting customer money, advertising and safer gambling tools.
• It does not mean the casino is the right choice for you. Bonuses, withdrawal times, game choice and customer service still differ, so read the terms before you deposit.

Found an unlicensed casino?

You can report it to the Gambling Commission through its website.

See how this works for real brands in our casino licence profiles.

Need help? If gambling is a problem for you or someone close to you, free confidential support is available 24 hours a day from GamCare on 0808 8020 133. You can block yourself from UK licensed online casinos at GAMSTOP. 18+ only.