Online Gambling Laws in the UK

Is gambling illegal or legal in the United Kingdom – that is the question. Whether you are browsing the topic on purpose, or it has suddenly occupied your mind at 3 am, – we have you covered with the answer.

The British gambling market grows every day, so it is no surprise that hundreds of people are interested in the UK Gambling Regulation Act 2005 and its edits. To help our visitors navigate the continually changing statutory environment, our experts have written a comprehensive guide to current gambling laws that are in force in the United Kingdom. Keep reading for details.

Is Gambling Legal in the UK?

Yes, both physical and online gambling presently have a regulated legal status in Great Britain. This applies to different forms of gambling: betting, gaming and lottery participation. To be more specific, UK residents are allowed to bet on slots, card games, sporting events and elections, scratch cards and bingo, as well as take part in National Lottery and private lotteries.

That said, remote activities of the discussed kind are legal only when offered by domestically licensed operators who pay taxes. UK gambling legislation regards offshore platforms as illegal and doesn’t protect punters who join unlicensed casinos (those regulated outside Great Britain). Although we don’t recommend considering such resources, punters don’t violate any rules if they decide to play there.

UK’s Main Legislation on Gambling

The British government has always been very serious about brick-and-mortar gambling in the country. The first document to set out laws and regulate the industry entered into force in 1960. But decades passed and Foggy Albion and the rest of the world faced an overwhelming boom of the internet, which gave rise to online gambling. There was an urgent need to update the provisions and tailor them to the flourishing digital era. That’s how the Gambling Act 2005, the current framework for gambling regulations in the UK, was born.

This legislative document and its 2014 and later amendments outline responsibilities, obligations, prohibitions and rules for regulatory bodies, iGaming operators and punters. Its main pursuits are to:

• fight all forms of fraudulent schemes and actions, e.g. money laundering;
• provide a safe and provably fair environment for every UK citizen;
• discourage kids and juveniles from all ways of real money play;
• online gambling laws stated in the Act protect vulnerable human beings from gambling addiction and financial ruin;
• describe what compulsory responsible gambling tools must be available on every site 24/7;
• explain sanctions and penalties for businesses that are not diligent.

Who Regulates Online Gambling in Great Britain

It is unlikely that new for savvies, but for rookies, the UK gambling regulation body is UKGC. The Gambling Commission was set up to make certain that casino, poker, lottery and sports operators adhere to all provisions listed in the Act 2005 and its amendments. This is the major governmental agency, it works to keep British punters safe and sound and confirm everything is above board.

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Duties of the UK Gambling Commission

The UKGC plays a central role in controlling remote casino activities in Great Britain. Its primary responsibilities are:

• check and approve operators or refuse to license them;
• set out rules and laws that gambling businesses must obey;
• support players who have issues with UK licence holders (regulated operators);
• manage user arguments and complaints about operators;
• deal with illegal gambling and fight cybercrimes like laundering of money;
• check if directed advertising standards are met and respected;
• verify that remote casinos with UKGC permission join the Gamstop scheme;
• charge fines and ban platforms that disregard laws or fail to follow them properly;
• block offshore websites (non-UK casinos, bookies or poker rooms) that serve punters from Britain.

New Gambling Laws for UK Market

Needless to say, the rise of virtual gambling and its potential dangers pushes the British government to revise and update industry regulations from time to time. Not only does this strengthen enforcement capacity, but it also helps make the environment safer, shield punters from fraud, prevent excessive losses and minimise risks of addiction development. Let’s see the latest edits to laws on gambling online in the United Kingdom:

Age & Identity Verification Rules

KYC checks are not new to desktop and mobile casino sites. These measures help avoid scenarios where underage youth get on board and engage in games of chance. In 2024, the UKGC tightened the associated rules and ordered iGaming operators to restrict deposits and demo mode play until the age and identity of a new client are confirmed.

Maximum Stake Limits in Slot Games

In September 2024, the UK’s online gambling laws levied a new rule regarding the upper stake threshold for virtual slot machines. If you are aged 18 to 24, your limit will be 2 pounds sterling per single spin. Brits aged 25+ are more lucky – their cap will be £5 per round. This step was done to mitigate the harm that might come young adults’ way.

Advertising Rules for Gambling Ads

This relatively new UK gambling legislation rule requires that ads coming from licence holders must not mislead British people about the potential risks of gaming. It also states that vulnerable individuals and children must be excluded from the target audience and not tempted to make a bet or receive casino bonuses. The ASA, which stands for Advertising Standards Authority, monitors this area.

‘Tell Us Something in Confidence’ Service 

Since late December 2023, users can anonymously report illegal gambling and fishy activity in the industry. Of course, there must be 100% proof (provided as documents or photos). So, for example, if you know about any criminal actions or some operator fixing matches, you can do a good deed and send a revealing email to the relevant UKGC department.

Legal Age to Gamble at UK Casinos

• Any UK resident who wishes to experience online gambling must be aged at least 18 years – that’s what the country’s law states. But, there are a few notable anomalies to this directive. Young people are permitted to purchase National Lottery tickets and scratchcards at the minimum age of 16.
• According to UK gambling laws, the same age limit (16 y.o.) works when it comes to football pools. Why? Because, in both cases, gambling carries a small financial risk compared to more regular forms. Plus, many lotteries are charity initiatives, where every ticket may fund health causes or have alternative objectives.
• Next to mention are private bets with parents, family and friends. There is no specific restriction on the appropriate age, so you can gamble at home even if you are 15, 14 or under. Gatherings like these should have no commercial purpose, otherwise, it will be law-breaking and regarded as a crime.

How to Know if Gambling Operator Is Legal

The best way to be sure you register and play on a properly regulated website that follows old and new gambling laws is to stick to Cardmates' ranking of the best UK casinos. Why? The first thing we look at while working on an expert review is whether the resource has a valid and active UKGC licence besides other permits (Malta, Sweden, Gibraltar, Curacao, etc.). The absence of a British licence automatically annuls our interest in the platform, and we move to the next band. All casinos we mention on our site are regulated in Great Britain, so you can be calm about your funds and personal details – they are in safe hands.

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Alternatively, everyone is able to distinguish a UKGC-approved casino from one that misses this permission and thus breaks the gambling laws that the UK introduces. Licensing information is generally provided at the bottom of the site (also known as a footer). There must be the number under which the operator has registered its services. Click it to be transferred to the original website of the Gambling Commission and make sure the licence is still valid. Sometimes, you’ll have to step it up and visit the casino’s Terms & Conditions page for this. That’s it!