Player protection
UK licensing and what it actually guarantees
A UKGC licence is the non-negotiable baseline for every operator we compare. Here is what that licence requires — and what it does not.
The UK Gambling Commission's role
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) regulates commercial gambling in Great Britain. Operators serving UK customers remotely must hold a licence covering the products they offer — casino, bingo, betting or combinations thereof. The public register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk lists active licence holders and any regulatory actions.
What licensed operators must do
- Verify customer age and identity before allowing play
- Segregate player funds from operating money
- Offer safer gambling tools: limits, self-exclusion, reality checks
- Participate in GamStop for online self-exclusion
- Use tested random number generators for digital games
- Market responsibly — no targeting minors or implying guaranteed wins
What a licence does not mean
Licensing ensures minimum standards; it is not a promise that you will win or that every operator feels the same to use. Catalogue depth, app quality and support responsiveness still vary — which is why we compare those factors separately on the homepage table.
Checking an operator yourself
Scroll to the footer of any UK site. Licensed operators display their licence number and a link to the UKGC register. Cross-check the company name matches the brand you think you are joining — some groups run multiple skins under one licence holder.
If something goes wrong
Contact the operator first through their complaints procedure. Unresolved disputes may go to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution provider listed on the UKGC site. For problem gambling, GamCare and BeGambleAware operate independently of operators.