How to Check a UKGC Casino Licence

Two Minutes That Could Save You Real Money

Every UKGC-licensed casino appears on a public register maintained by the Gambling Commission. Checking that register before you deposit at a new casino takes less time than reading the welcome bonus terms — and it tells you something far more important. A licence on the register means the operator is legally accountable for how it handles your money, resolves disputes, and protects your data. No licence means none of those protections apply, and any money you deposit exists outside the regulatory framework that was designed to keep you safe.

New casinos appear frequently, and not all of them are licensed. Some operate under offshore jurisdictions with weaker oversight. Others display a UKGC logo without actually holding a valid licence. The only way to be certain is to verify the claim against the official source. This guide walks you through the verification process step by step, explains the different types of UKGC licences, decodes the status labels on the register, and tells you exactly what to do if you discover a casino is unlicensed.

Step-by-Step Licence Verification

Start at the casino’s website. Scroll to the footer and look for a licence number. UKGC-licensed casinos are required to display their licence number prominently, and most place it at the bottom of every page alongside the Gambling Commission’s logo. The licence number is typically a six-digit figure, sometimes preceded by the licence holder’s company name. Note down both the number and the company name.

Next, open the UK Gambling Commission’s public register. The URL is gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register, and the register is accessible from the homepage. The search function allows you to look up operators by name, licence number, or account number. Enter the company name or licence number you found on the casino’s footer.

The register will return a result if the entity holds an active licence. The listing shows the licensee’s legal name, trading names, the type of licence held, the activities covered, the licence status, and any conditions or regulatory actions attached. Compare the information on the register against what the casino displays on its website. The legal entity name on the register should match the operator named in the casino’s terms and conditions — these are not always the same as the casino’s brand name, particularly for white-label sites that operate under a licence held by their platform provider.

If the search returns no results, try alternative spellings or the parent company name. Some operators register under a holding company that differs from the trading name displayed on the casino. If you still find nothing, the casino may not hold a UKGC licence. Before drawing conclusions, check the casino’s terms and conditions for a section identifying the licence holder — this is legally required and should provide the exact entity name and licence number that appears on the register.

If the casino’s terms and conditions do not identify a UKGC licence holder, or if the entity named does not appear on the register, treat the site as unlicensed for UK players. The absence of verifiable licensing information is the single strongest red flag in online gambling, and no bonus or game selection justifies the risk of depositing at an unregulated site.

Types of UKGC Gambling Licences

The Gambling Commission issues several categories of licence, and understanding which type your casino holds clarifies the scope of its regulatory obligations.

A Remote Casino Operating Licence is the primary licence held by online casino operators serving UK players. It authorises the licensee to provide casino games — slots, table games, live dealer, and instant-win products — to customers located in Great Britain. This is the licence type that applies to the vast majority of new UK online casinos and the one you should expect to find when searching the register.

A Remote Betting Operating Licence covers betting activities such as sports betting and exchange wagering. Some operators hold both a casino and a betting licence if they offer both products, but the casino licence is the relevant one for casino play specifically. If a site only holds a betting licence, it is not authorised to offer casino games to UK players — a rare situation but one worth being aware of.

Software Licences are held by game providers and platform operators rather than player-facing casino brands. A software licence authorises the development, supply, and installation of gambling software. If you search for a white-label platform provider on the register, you may find a software licence rather than an operating licence. The operating licence will be held by either the platform company under a separate licence or by the individual brand’s parent company.

Personal Management Licences are held by individuals in senior positions at licensed gambling companies. These do not appear in a standard operator search and are not something players typically need to verify. They exist to ensure that key personnel — directors, compliance officers, and senior managers — have been individually vetted by the Commission. Their presence is a background assurance rather than a player-facing check.

What Each Licence Status Means

When you find an operator on the UKGC register, the licence status field tells you whether the licence is currently valid and operational. The possible statuses carry specific meanings that directly affect whether you should play at the site.

Active means the licence is current and the operator is authorised to provide gambling services to UK customers. This is the status you want to see. An active licence with no additional notes or conditions indicates that the operator is in good standing with the Commission.

Active with conditions means the licence is current but the Commission has attached specific requirements that the operator must meet. Conditions might relate to enhanced reporting obligations, restrictions on certain marketing activities, or requirements to implement additional player protection measures. A licence with conditions is still valid — you can play at the site — but the presence of conditions indicates that the Commission has identified areas where the operator needs closer oversight.

Suspended means the licence has been temporarily halted. A suspended licensee cannot legally operate or accept bets from UK customers while the suspension is in force. If you find a casino whose licence status is suspended, do not deposit. Suspension is a serious regulatory action that typically follows significant compliance failures.

Revoked means the licence has been permanently withdrawn. The operator has no authorisation to serve UK customers. Any casino displaying a revoked licence number is either operating illegally or has failed to update its website. Either scenario is a definitive reason to avoid the site.

Surrendered means the operator voluntarily gave up the licence, often because it is exiting the UK market or ceasing operations. A surrendered licence is no longer valid. If a casino’s licence status is surrendered, it should not be accepting UK players.

Lapsed means the licence expired and was not renewed. The practical effect is the same as a surrendered licence — the operator is not currently authorised. Treat lapsed licences the same way you would treat revoked or surrendered ones: do not play there.

What to Do If a Casino Is Unlicensed

If your search confirms that a casino does not hold a valid UKGC licence, the correct response is simple: do not register, do not deposit, and do not play. An unlicensed casino operating in the UK is doing so illegally, and you have no regulatory protection if something goes wrong. Your deposits are not ring-fenced from the operator’s business funds. You have no access to the Commission’s dispute resolution process. And the operator has no legal obligation to honour its own terms and conditions, pay out your winnings, or even keep your personal data secure.

If you have already deposited at a casino you now believe to be unlicensed, withdraw any remaining balance immediately using whatever method is available. Document your account activity, transaction history, and any communications with the operator. You can report the unlicensed casino to the Gambling Commission through the reporting function on their website. The Commission investigates reports of illegal gambling operations and has the authority to pursue enforcement action, including website blocking in collaboration with internet service providers.

Be wary of casinos that display a licence from a non-UK jurisdiction — such as Curacao, Malta, or Gibraltar — as their sole regulatory authority. While some of these jurisdictions have legitimate regulatory frameworks, none of them provide the same level of player protection that the UKGC mandates. A casino serving UK players must hold a UKGC licence regardless of any other licence it holds elsewhere. An offshore licence is not a substitute.

Finally, share what you found. If a casino comparison site or affiliate is promoting an unlicensed operator to UK players, that promotion may itself be in breach of UKGC advertising regulations. Reporting the promotion to the Commission helps protect other players who may not have checked the register themselves.

The Register Is Public for a Reason

The Gambling Commission maintains its public register precisely so that players like you can verify an operator’s credentials before trusting them with money. The tool is free, accessible, and takes less time than reading a bonus terms page. It exists because the Commission recognises that informed players are protected players, and that transparency is the first line of defence against unlicensed operators.

Make the licence check the first step of every new casino evaluation. Before you look at the games, before you read the bonus, before you explore the interface — confirm the licence. Everything else is secondary. A beautiful casino with no valid licence is a risk you should never take.