United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) Licensed Casinos

UKGC License Details

Have you ever played in an online casino? If the answer is yes, then you probably heard about the UKGC before. This regulatory body is key in providing the best protection for all players. What makes UKGC different from the other gaming regulatory authorities is its strictness and prudence.

Thus, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission won't hesitate to penalize any online UKGC casino that doesn't follow the rules. They constantly monitor the casinos, follow the latest trends and work hard to enhance their work.

If a particular casino has a UKGC license, then this means that the UKGC provides its credibility. In other words, this eminent regulatory body is rigorous when it comes to licensing and fair gaming.

Another critical point is the games' randomness. check this, UKGC  has some exact and deep technical requirements that should be met, but also casino workers have to obtain knowledge about responsible gaming.

Moreover, Licensing is the only problem for online casinos that want to penetrate the local industry. The gambling industry is worth more than £14 billion per year.  So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that more and more casino operators are trying to tap into the profitable market. Both terrestrial and remote operators have to gain the approval of the UK Gambling Commission to serve the customers legitimately. At present, the regulator is home to more than 2600 gambling businesses. Among these,648 operate remotely.

The UKGC license is like the holy grail for many operators. It has become the emblem of trustworthiness. They ensure transparent and fair practices towards their customers. Casinos with UKGC licenses might never face a problem unless the regulations strictly prohibit gambling.

The Laws and Regulation of the United Kingdom for Online Casinos

The 2005 Gambling Act governs gambling in the United Kingdom. This streamlined the gambling system for the players from the very beginning. But the Act of Parliament has considerably altered the gambling regulations of the UK, including incorporating new safety protocols for disabled people and children. Sports betting has been one of the primary leisure activities in the UK for several years. Horse betting has been my favorite game for many decades.

A gambling company authorized in the Gambling Act has to follow the terms and laws of practice codes and licenses.

How Does an Online Casino Have to Apply for a UKGC License?

The first step to getting the approval of UKGC is to apply for the license. The good thing is if an online casino is interested, they can apply for it online through the official site of the licensing regulator.  The United Kingdom Gambling Commission can reject the received application through regular postal service or email. If you find the process t little confusing, there is a test application that you can take advantage of. This will help you understand how everything works.

If you can find your way around it, you have to delete the test and begin with the actual application process. However, before you apply for the license, you have to be sure that you are ready for the needed identity, financial, and policy documents before you can submit it along with the applications. It is crucial as the regulatory body can reject the application even if they find a document missing.

What Are the Application Fees for UKGC?

When you have to obtain a gambling license in the United Kingdom, you have to pay the application fee. The good thing is the said charges are much lower in comparison to the other regulators in the US jurisdictions. If you want, you can use the calculation engine provided on the site of UKGC to decide what amount they have to pay.

Thereafter, the UKGC is going to send confirmation letters along with their account number just within 7-days of receiving the documents. Usually, the assessment process takes 16 weeks.

In case your application has been approved, you will have to pay the annual fee within 30-days of the approval of UKGC. The regulator recommends online casino operators keep their permits in a safe place so that they can produce them when required.

UKGC License Validity 

The license to operate is valid for an indefinite period unless the casino declares insolvency or it is revoked or suspended by the commission. Sure, licensees have the choice to give their permits willingly if they don’t wish to operate on the UK market anymore.

However, the strict regulator requirements of the UK Gambling Commission have also caused many online casinos to step away from the UK gambling market.

Licensed and Tested Software of UKGC

There are mainly three main kinds of licenses that are issued in the United Kingdom. The grant includes the UKGC operating license, a personal functional license by UKGC, and a unique management license by UKGC. You might need a premises license too that is mainly issued by the local licensing authorities.

The activities that come under the UKGC license are,

• Betting
• Bingo
• Casino
• Arcades
• Lotteries
• Gambling Software
• Gaming Machines

Offering facilities to gamble in the UK can be acquired after securing gambling software from a supplier with a UKGC license. The operating license of the gambling software is needed if one has to supply, install, or manufacture gambling software that wonline casinos will useunder the UKGC license.

With UKGC, you can expect to get 100% tested and licensed software. This is done to eliminate discrepancies. Software technical standards and remote gambling don’t apply to software provided for offshore operators who don’t have a license from UKGC.

Does UKGC Have Anti-Money Laundering Policies?

When it comes to money laundering, UKGC has stringent policies. This is why it implements the Games top scheme in every online casino under it. The system updates the regulation related to money laundering to protect the players. No doubt, the UK has one of the strictest markets when it comes to gambling.

In 2018, the United Kingdom introduced stricter rules. In 2020 the regulations strengthened even more. So, the online casinos under the UKGC have been amending and reviewing the money risk assessments. To protect the customers, online casinos must follow the updated changes as per UKGC. Thus, casinos have time to adjust to the rules.

Nevertheless, the UKGC focuses on the ban of credit cards for gambling. As you can notice, we discussed the primary changes for anti-money laundering below.

• Focusing on policies and controls for the steps taken by the UKGC.
• Emphasizing taking the proper measures for preparing for the acceptance of new products and practices for checking and eliminating even minute money laundering risks.
• Taking measures to measure those agents that the operators use are aware of terrorist and anti-money laundering finances.

Advantages of Playing in a UKGC Licensed Casino

You will enjoy excellent benefits if you play in an online casino with a UKGC license. Let’s take a quick look at a few.

• Complete Player Protection

In addition, the casinos with UKGC licenses use modern technology to ensure that the customers' personal information and financial details stay protected at all times. Most casinos use 128-bit SSL encryption technology. It is robust protection against all types of cyberattacks that might risk disclosing the players' information.

• Random and Fair Game Results

Another crucial role played by the UKGC is that it ensures that all games that online casinos offer are random and fair. So, players can try out their favorite game without feeling that the casino is biased. Every game these casinos offer is tested independently for fairness by third-party laboratories, such as iTech Labs or eCOGRA. Moreover, the commission pays attention to the random number generator. This ascertains that the game results are lucky at all times. There is nothing that can influence the game’s outcome. Whether playing slots or roulette, you know the products are fair.

The casinos with licenses from UKGC have to specify the theoretical RTP of the games they are offering. RTP is the percentage of money gamblers are wagering and are returned in the form of wins. So, before you play, make sure that you check the RTP of the online casino.

• Operator Accountability

The license that UKGC provides covers the monitoring of gambling sites to ascertain that they are behaving responsibly at all times.

So, if any online casino operator is going against the law, it must be answerable to the UK Gambling Commission. The online gambling site can file a complaint if a player feels that it is being appropriately treated. After that, investigations can be done. Nevertheless, if you play in an online casino that doesn’t have a license, you will not be able to report the casino's wrongdoings.

Self-Exclusion According to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission

Some players develop gambling addiction and have an apparent necessity to protect themselves. So, according to the most rigorous and relevant iGaming regulator body UKGC. Therefore, players are encouraged and offered self-exclusion across all the modern online licensed gambling platforms.

All players can use the self-exclusion option. Also, they can forfeit the right to enter any game of luck for six months, thanks to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. You can now report the casino that will not respect the self-exclusion of players.

Can I reverse Self Exclusion?

Once Self-Exclusion is active, you will not be able to lift the ban or revoke the exclusion in any way or form. As a result, your account will be banned across all UKGC-licensed platforms. Therefore, any attempts to register and deposit will be deemed invalid.

How to use the self-exclusion?

To use this feature for free, you can go to GAMSTOP. This site can now actively exclude any player from all the UKGC licensed platforms. In addition, United Kingdom players can use this option, and as of the latest also, players from the Netherlands.

To find out more details about the self-exclusion option, please visit the official site of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission here.

• Separate Player Account

Before the regulator issues a license, it has to check the casino site's finances and structure to ensure that the gamblers' money is in a separate place from the account of the operator. It is an essential element for players and protects them in case the casino suffers bankruptcy. So, when you play at an online casino licensed by UKGC, you will know that your money will not be lost without a trace.

• Several Online Casinos to Choose from

You will not be at a loss for options when you search for an online casino under UKGC. There are thousands of casinos in the online gambling market, and some of the most reputable casinos have licenses from the UKGC. These online casinos also provide players access to a wide range of games. All the games come from top developers in the industry. Hence, you can have a fun time at these sites.

Disadvantages of Playing in a UKGC Licensed Casino

There are hardly any drawbacks to the UKGC license.

However, we are also recommending non UKGC licensed casinos where players will be able to try their luck. Please take into consideration that if you choose casino with another license, you will surely be safe, but each license has different regulations. We definitely recommend to read our reviews first and then you can decide if you want to play at non UKGC licensed casinos. 

Additionally, here is our top choice of casinos with another licenses: 

• Choose any of the 100 casinos with Curacao Licenses
• Some of the casinos on the Impressive list with Estonian License 
• Casinos with Canadian License (Kahnawake Gaming Commission)

Fees and Strict Rules

The strict regulation and fees of the UK Gambling Commission are one of the reasons several online casino operators have deterred the UKGC. However, this doesn’t really mean that just the unscrupulous are going away. Many small legit operators cannot sustain changes easily to cater to the demands within the given schedules. Hence, it has led to a market imbalance. It appears that only well-established, big brands benefit from it.

Credit Card Deposits Banned

Credit cards are one of the most popular ways to deposit at an online casino. It enables easy and quick transfers. It is another area where regulators of the UK seem to have stepped in. They have banned the use of credit cards online and in land-based casinos. Sure, you can use some other banking methods to deposit into your preferred online casino under UKGC, but you will not be able to access the most popular deposit method.

In case you are interested in casinos with a different license, please check this list with non UKGC licensed casinos.  

Bottom Line

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is strict regarding maintaining transparent and healthy gambling habits among the players. It has proved helpful for the pro gamblers who are ready to compromise their gambling habits and sign up for Gamstop. The scheme has significant benefits. Nevertheless, not gamblers have an addiction, and they should be able to play without Gamstop restrictions. This can be an issue with the UKGC license.

However, playing in a UKGC-licensed casino is highly secure. You know the details you are sharing with the site will not end up in the hands of the hackers. Moreover, the games available on these sites are fair and random. Several online casinos are operating under the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Hence, you will have no trouble finding an excellent place to play. But if you have to make payments through credit cards, you will have to look for a casino under another licensed provider.