How to Check a Casino’s UKGC Licence in Two Minutes

Every online casino serving customers in Great Britain must hold a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. Most sites display the Commission’s logo somewhere near the footer. But a logo is just an image, and unlicensed operators have been known to copy it. Verifying the licence yourself takes about two minutes and is the single most important safety check you can make.

Step 1: Find the licence details

Scroll to the bottom of the casino’s homepage. A licensed operator will state the name of the company that holds the licence (often different from the casino brand), its licence or account number, and usually a link to the Commission’s register. If none of this appears, treat that as a red flag in itself.

Step 2: Search the public register

Go to the Gambling Commission’s website and open the public register of licensees. Search by the company name or the licence number from the footer. Do not follow a link from the casino to the register — type the address yourself. A fraudulent site can link to a legitimate register entry belonging to someone else.

Step 3: Match the details

On the register entry, confirm:

• Status — it should say “Active”. Suspended, surrendered or revoked licences are listed too.
• Activities — “Remote casino” should be included. A company may hold a betting licence but not a casino one.
• Domain names — the register lists the websites each licensee is permitted to operate. The site you’re on should appear there. This is the check that catches clones: the same company name with a domain that isn’t listed.

Step 4: Look at the regulatory history

Register entries record public regulatory actions such as fines and licence conditions. A past fine isn’t necessarily disqualifying — many large operators have them — but repeated failings in customer protection are worth weighing.

Why the licence matters in practice

A UKGC licence brings specific, enforceable protections:

• Segregation or protection of customer funds, with the level of protection disclosed.
• Mandatory age and identity verification before play.
• Access to safer gambling tools — deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion — and integration with GamStop.
• Fair-terms requirements on bonuses, including the 10x wagering cap.
• A route to an independent dispute resolution body if a complaint isn’t resolved.

Unlicensed sites can offer none of this. The Commission estimates more than a million British consumers use unlicensed platforms, often via search results or social media adverts. Such sites frequently delay or refuse withdrawals and have no obligation to honour anything.

Other signs worth noting

Beyond the register, look for: a clear terms and conditions page with a UK company address; safer-gambling links (GamCare, BeGambleAware, GamStop) in the footer; a published complaints procedure; and named test-house certification for games. None of these replaces the register check, but together they build a picture.

If something doesn’t add up

If the domain isn’t listed, the status isn’t active or the details don’t match, don’t deposit. You can report suspected unlicensed operators to the Gambling Commission directly.

Licensed casinos offer protections, but the games remain designed to return less than is staked. Set limits and treat play as entertainment.