How to Check if a UK Casino is UKGC Licensed — 2026 Guide
Related guide: Find out whether casino winnings are taxed in the UK (spoiler: they’re tax-free).
Knowing how to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed means knowing how the UK licensing system records which operators hold a licence. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the statutory regulator for all gambling in Great Britain. Operators offering real-money gambling to people in Great Britain are required to hold a UKGC licence. In this guide, we explain how to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed, what the different licence types and statuses mean, and which UK rules apply to licensed operators in 2026.
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Step-by-Step: How to Check if a UK Casino is UKGC Licensed
The UKGC Public Register is the Commission’s own searchable record of licence holders, and a search takes around two minutes. Here is how the process works, step by step, when you check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed:
- Visit the UKGC Public Register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register. This is a free, publicly searchable database updated in real time by the UKGC.
- Search by operator name or website domain — type the casino name or website URL into the search box. You can also filter results by licence type.
- Select “Remote Operating Licence” from the filter dropdown to narrow results to online casinos only.
- Read the licence status column. The register shows statuses such as “Active”, “Revoked”, “Suspended” or “Surrendered”. Only an active licence permits the operator to take bets from people in Great Britain.
- Note the licence type. A Remote Casino Operating Licence authorises online slots, roulette, and blackjack. Other licence types do not cover casino games.
- Match the footer licence number. Every UKGC licensee must display its licence number in the website footer, and entering that number in the register search brings up the matching entry.
What It Means When a Casino is UKGC Licensed
A UKGC licence brings an operator under the Commission’s rules. These include requirements on player funds, independently tested games, dispute resolution through an approved ADR provider, and participation in the GamStop self-exclusion scheme.
When a casino is UKGC licensed, these requirements apply alongside mandatory responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs. For more on these rules, read our guide to UK casino regulations 2026.
Common Points of Confusion When Checking if a Casino is UKGC Licensed
These points often cause confusion when people check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed:
- Logo versus register entry — A UKGC-style logo on a website is a design element; the register entry is the Commission’s own record of the licence.
- Past versus current licences — A casino may have held a licence in the past that was later revoked or surrendered. The status field shows whether a licence is currently “Active”.
- Ignoring the licence type — A Remote Betting Licence does not authorise casino games. The licence type that covers online casino games is “Remote Casino Operating Licence”.
- Outdated information — Licence statuses change. The UKGC revoked or suspended multiple operator licences in 2025–2026 for non-compliance, so lists published elsewhere can fall out of date.
Licence Logos and Licence Numbers Explained
UKGC licensees typically show the Commission’s logo and their licence number in the website footer. A UKGC licence number is a long numeric string, and on many licensed sites clicking the UKGC logo links directly to that operator’s register entry.
2026 UKGC Licence Changes: What Players Need to Know
Following the UK Government’s Gambling White Paper (April 2023), UKGC licensing requirements were significantly strengthened in 2025–2026. Key changes include online slot stake limits of £5 from 9 April 2025 and £2 for 18–24-year-olds from 21 May 2025 (UKGC guidance), light-touch financial vulnerability checks on customers whose net deposits exceed £150 in a rolling 30-day period from 28 February 2025 (see our guide to casino affordability checks UK), and a 10x cap on bonus wagering requirements from 19 January 2026.
The ban on autoplay features on online slots is older: it has applied since 31 October 2021. Operators that fail to comply can face licence suspension or revocation.
How to Check if a Casino is UKGC Licensed: Licence Types Explained
For online casino play, the relevant licence is a Remote Casino Operating Licence. The UKGC issues different licence types for different gambling activities. A Remote Betting Licence or Remote Bingo Licence does not authorise casino games like slots, roulette, or blackjack, which is why the licence type shown when you check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed matters as much as the status.
Responsible Gambling Rules Under a UKGC Licence
A casino that is UKGC licensed must offer mandatory responsible gambling tools including deposit limits, loss limits, session limits, and cooling-off periods. All UKGC licensees must also participate in the GamStop self-exclusion UK scheme, which blocks you from all licensed sites simultaneously.
UK players should also be aware of casino affordability checks UK operators must conduct under 2026 rules. Together, the licensing rules and the affordability check rules set out your rights as a UK player. You can also learn about what is RTP in slots and check our guide to the best PayPal casino UK sites.
How UKVerifiedCasinos Covers Casinos
UKVerifiedCasinos.uk is an information site. Our casino pages cover bonuses, payment methods, withdrawal times and games. Licence records are held by the regulator itself: the Commission’s register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register is free to search and is the source used when people check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed.
Quick Reference: What Applies When a Casino is UKGC Licensed
Here is a quick summary of the main requirements that apply once a casino is UKGC licensed:
| Feature | Under a UKGC Licence |
|---|---|
| Can legally accept UK players | ✓ Yes |
| Segregated player funds | ✓ Required |
| Fair game testing | ✓ Mandatory |
| GamStop[1] self-exclusion | ✓ Must participate |
| Dispute resolution (ADR) | ✓ Available free |
| £5 slot stake limit | ✓ Enforced |
| Affordability checks | ✓ Required by law |
Each row reflects a requirement in the UKGC licensing framework, which sets out the conditions every licensed operator must meet when offering gambling in Great Britain.
How Often Does the Status of a UKGC Licensed Casino Change?
A licence status is not permanent: the Commission can suspend or revoke a licence, and operators can surrender one. The UKGC actively publishes enforcement actions on its website, and multiple major operators had their licences suspended or revoked in 2025–2026 for breaching the new White Paper rules.
The register reflects the current position, so the status it shows on any given day is the regulator’s own record at that time.
Summary: How to Check if a Casino is UKGC Licensed
To summarise how to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed: the UKGC Public Register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register can be searched by casino name, and each entry shows the licence status (such as Active) and the licence type (such as Remote Casino Operating Licence). The search is free and takes around two minutes.
A UKGC licence comes with requirements covering player funds, game testing, dispute resolution and participation in GamStop self-exclusion. For newly launched sites, see our new casino guide.
Key Facts: How to Check if a Casino is UKGC Licensed
Players often ask where licence information comes from when they check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed. The UKGC Public Register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk is the regulator’s own record of licence holders. Here are the key facts about how to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed:
- The UKGC Public Register is free and publicly accessible — anyone can check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed at any time.
- A licence status of “Active” confirms the casino can legally accept real-money bets from UK residents.
- Licence type must be “Remote Casino Operating Licence” — other licence types do not cover online casino games.
- An operator that does not appear on the register does not hold a UKGC licence.
- The process to check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed takes under two minutes.
In short, the register shows whether an operator holds a UKGC licence, what that licence covers and whether it is currently active. Our own casino pages focus on bonuses, payments and games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I check if a UK casino is UKGC licensed?
A: The UKGC Public Register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register can be searched by casino name or domain. Each entry shows the licence status (such as Active) and the licence type (such as Remote Casino Operating Licence).
Q: What does a UKGC licence require of a casino?
A: Licensed operators must meet the UKGC’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, which cover areas such as ADR dispute resolution, GamStop participation, age and identity checks, and stake limits on online slots.
Q: Is it illegal to play at an unlicensed casino in the UK?
A: It is not illegal for a UK player to gamble at an unlicensed site, but it is illegal for that site to offer gambling services to UK customers without a UKGC licence.
Q: Where can I find the UKGC licence number on a casino website?
A: UKGC licensees must display their licence number in the website footer, usually next to the UKGC logo. The same number appears in the operator’s entry at gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register.
See also: our guide to fast withdrawal casinos UK — real payout times measured from withdrawal request to bank.
For an overview of UK licensing alongside the casinos we cover, see our UKGC Licensed Casinos UK 2026 guide.
Quick UKGC licensed casino overview
A UKGC licensed casino displays its licence number and operator name, its terms, responsible-gambling tools and UK-facing support information.
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