How to tell a licensed casino from an unlicensed one
To tell a licensed casino from an unlicensed one, search the Gambling Commission's public register for the site's domain or account number and confirm the licence is active and covers that exact website. Then look for the safeguards every licensed British site must show, such as ID checks before play and no credit card deposits. This guide shows both checks and the warning signs.
By the Top Casino Bonus team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- The public register is the only reliable test: search the domain, not just the brand name.
- Licensed sites must verify your age and identity before you deposit or play, and can't take credit cards.
- Unlicensed sites sit outside GAMSTOP, the 10x wagering cap, ADR and UK fund-protection disclosure.
- If you've used an unlicensed site, stop depositing, add a bank gambling block and talk to the free National Gambling Helpline.
- Regulator for Great Britain
- Gambling Commission
- How to check
- Public register: name, domain or account number
- ID checks
- Before depositing or playing (since 7 May 2019)
- Credit cards
- Not accepted (since 14 April 2020)
- GAMSTOP
- Required for all licensed online operators since 31 March 2020
- Free help
- National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133, 24/7
How to tell a licensed casino from an unlicensed one: the quick test
Any business offering online gambling to people in Great Britain needs a licence from the Gambling Commission. A licensed casino can be based anywhere in the world, but it must hold that licence, follow the Commission's licence conditions and codes of practice and list its website on the public register. An unlicensed casino may look identical on the surface, which is why the check that counts happens off the site.
Three questions settle it in a couple of minutes:
- Does the site name a licence holder and a Gambling Commission account number in its footer or terms?
- Does the Commission's public register show that account as active, with this exact domain listed as active?
- Does the site behave like a licensed one: ID checks before play, a deposit limit prompt, no credit cards, GAMSTOP participation?
If any answer is no, treat the site as unlicensed for Great Britain until you can show otherwise. The rest of this guide explains each check, then what to do if you've already played somewhere that fails them.
What a Gambling Commission licence means for you
A licence isn't a badge of quality. It's a set of enforceable duties, backed by fines and the power to suspend or revoke. The difference shows up most when something goes wrong.
| Protection | Licensed for Great Britain | Unlicensed site |
|---|---|---|
| Age and identity checks before play | Required since 7 May 2019 | No UK requirement |
| Credit card ban | In force since 14 April 2020 | Not bound by it |
| GAMSTOP self-exclusion | Must participate since 31 March 2020 | Not covered |
| Bonus wagering | Capped at 10x the bonus since 19 January 2026 | No cap |
| Online slot stakes | £5 a spin (25+), £2 (18–24) | No limit |
| Complaints | 8-week process, then free independent ADR | No UK route |
| Customer funds | Protection level disclosed before your first deposit | No UK disclosure duty |
| Withdrawals | No option to reverse a withdrawal request | No such rule |
Each row is a rule with its own detail: see the credit card ban, age verification before play, customer funds protection and complaints and ADR rules. The legal basis for the whole system is the Gambling Act 2005.
Checking the Gambling Commission public register step by step
The Commission's public register (opens in a new tab) is free and doesn't need an account. It can be searched by business name, trading name, domain name or account number.
- Note the details. Copy the company name and account number from the site's footer or terms, and the exact web address in your browser bar.
- Search by account number first. Open the register's business search and enter the number. If nothing comes back, the number is wrong or invented.
- Check the status. The licence should read Active. Expired, Suspended, Revoked or Surrendered means it can't legally serve British customers.
- Check the activities. For a casino you'd expect a remote casino operating licence among the listed activities.
- Open the domain list. Confirm the exact address you're using appears and is marked Active. A look-alike spelling won't be there.
- Search the domain on its own. If the footer number points to a company whose list doesn't include this site, the footer may have been copied.
Our separate guide on how to check a casino licence has screen-by-screen detail, and the UKGC licence number glossary entry explains what the number is.
Reading a register entry correctly
A register entry holds more than a yes or no. The parts most useful to a player are the status, the domains and the regulatory actions.
| What you see | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Status: Active | The licence is in force | Carry on to the domain check |
| Status: Suspended | The operator must not offer gambling for now | Don't deposit |
| Status: Revoked, Expired or Surrendered | There is no current licence | Don't deposit |
| Domain: Active | The website is currently operated under this licence | A good sign |
| Domain: Inactive | The site is listed but not currently in use under this licence | Ask why the site is still open |
| Domain: White label | Another company runs the site's brand on this operator's licence | Normal; the licence holder is responsible |
| Regulatory actions | Past fines, settlements or conditions | Read the reasons |
One caveat from the Commission itself: trading names and domain names are supplied by the businesses, and it can't promise every entry is accurate. A matching entry is strong evidence, but a site that behaves unlike a licensed one deserves a second look. The Commission's own checks you can do to stay safe (opens in a new tab) also suggest checking the fund-protection level and complaints process.
Signs on the site that it's licensed for Great Britain
Licensed casinos have to build certain features into sign-up, payments and games. Their absence is a strong hint, even before you check the register.
| Area | Licensed for Great Britain | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up | Name, address and date of birth verified before you deposit or play | Play straight away with no checks |
| First deposit | Prompt to set a financial limit (since 31 October 2025) | No limit tools at all |
| Payment methods | Debit cards, e-wallets and bank payments; no credit cards | Credit cards accepted, or crypto only |
| Self-exclusion | Blocks you if you're registered with GAMSTOP | Advertises itself as outside GAMSTOP |
| Slots | No autoplay, at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo, stake limits | Autoplay, turbo spins, or stakes far above £5 |
| Terms | Complaints procedure, ADR provider named, fund-protection level stated | No complaints route or no company named |
Slots supplied to Great Britain also don't offer to sell you a bonus round, so a game with a feature-buy button is a sign you aren't playing the British version. More detail is on our pages about slot game design rules and online slot stake limits.
Warning signs of an unlicensed casino
Some signs are about what the site offers, others about how it talks to you. Any one of these is enough to stop and check the register:
- It says it's 'not on GAMSTOP' or welcomes people who have self-excluded. Licensed operators must take part in GAMSTOP.
- It accepts credit cards, either directly or through an e-wallet funded by one.
- It lets you deposit before checking your age and identity.
- Its promotions require wagering far above 10x the bonus, or mix casino and sports betting in one offer.
- Its footer shows only another country's licence and no Gambling Commission account number.
- There's no named company, no complaints procedure and no ADR provider.
- Messages push you to deposit quickly or to raise limits.
Unlicensed sites often lead with large offers because they aren't bound by the 10x cap. Our guide to offshore casino bonus risks explains why those offers tend to be worth less, not more. If a site has been promoted to you after you self-excluded, that's a red flag in itself; see GAMSTOP rules.
Other regulators, copied footers and familiar games
Many casinos hold several licences. A company may be licensed in Malta or Gibraltar for other markets and by the Gambling Commission for Great Britain. What matters for you is the British licence: any remote operator offering gambling to consumers in Britain needs one, wherever it's based. A footer that shows only an overseas licence, with no Commission account number, isn't enough. Footers can also vary by the country you're browsing from, so the register is the reliable record.
Recognisable games aren't proof either. In July 2026 the Commission announced that Evolution Malta Holding would pay £4.75m (opens in a new tab) after its games reached British players through unlicensed sites. A familiar live table or slot on an unfamiliar site tells you nothing about the operator's licence.
Copied branding is the other trap. A site can borrow a real casino's name, logo or account number. That's why step 5 of the register check, matching the exact domain, matters more than the name on the page.
What you lose at an unlicensed casino, in pounds
The cost of losing UK protections can be put in numbers. Take a £100 bonus. Under the UK cap, wagering can't exceed 10x, so the most a licensed casino can require is £1,000 of play; at a 4% house edge that costs about £40 on average. An unlicensed site offering the same £100 with 40x wagering asks for £4,000 of play, which costs about £160 on average, more than the bonus itself. Our 10x wagering cap page explains the rule.
Withdrawals are the second loss. A licensed casino must let you withdraw your deposit balance even while a bonus is active and can't offer to reverse a withdrawal request; see withdrawal rules. An unlicensed site can apply whatever rules it likes, and if it refuses to pay there is no free ADR provider to turn to and no British regulator to enforce a decision. Identity checks also differ: licensed sites must do KYC before you play, not as a reason to hold back winnings later.
Licensing if you live in Northern Ireland
The Gambling Act 2005 and the Commission's rules cover Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own law, the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (NI) Order 1985, amended in 2022, and no full framework for online gambling. Plans to regulate online gambling there stalled when the Assembly was dissolved in March 2022.
In practice, a site licensed by the Commission may still accept customers in Northern Ireland, but you shouldn't assume Commission protections apply to you there. Read the site's terms on eligible locations, and see our page on Northern Ireland gambling law.
If you've already used an unlicensed site
Don't add more money in the hope of getting existing funds out. These steps protect you first:
- Stop depositing. Remove saved card details from the site if you can.
- Ask to withdraw any balance, in writing, and keep copies of the request and replies.
- Turn on your bank's gambling block. The Commission lists banks offering one, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling; see its page on blocking gambling transactions (opens in a new tab) and our Monzo gambling block guide.
- Add blocking software. Tools such as Gamban block gambling sites on your devices, including ones outside GAMSTOP.
- Register with GAMSTOP for licensed sites, so a move back to licensed gambling is covered too; our guide on how to self-exclude explains the periods.
- Talk to someone. The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
Speak to your bank about any payment you think was taken wrongly, and you can tell the Gambling Commission about a site you believe is offering gambling to people in Britain without a licence.
Free support if gambling is becoming a worry
Looking for sites outside the licensed system, especially after self-excluding, is often a sign gambling has stopped being something you choose. Help is free and confidential:
- National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare: 0808 8020 133, 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp through GamCare's support page (opens in a new tab).
- NHS Wales Helpline: 0808 2819 265.
- NHS gambling clinics in England, including the National Problem Gambling Clinic, accept self-referrals.
- Gamblers Anonymous runs peer-support meetings.
- GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) blocks you from all licensed British gambling sites and apps for 6 months to 5 years.
Our safer gambling hub brings these together with tools such as deposit limits and the self-exclusion options licensed sites must offer. For more on how the licensed system works, browse our casino guides.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an online casino is licensed in the UK?
Search the Gambling Commission's public register. Take the account number and company name from the casino's footer or terms, search the register, and confirm the licence status is Active. Then open the entry's list of domains and check that the exact web address you're using appears as Active. If the number doesn't exist, the licence isn't active or the domain isn't listed, treat the site as unlicensed for Great Britain. The check is free and takes a few minutes. Our guide to how to check a casino licence shows each screen.
Where do I find a casino's UKGC account number?
Licensed casinos are expected to show their licence details, including the Gambling Commission account number, in the website or app footer, and the company name usually appears in the terms and conditions too. The number is a short string of digits that matches a business entry on the public register. If a footer shows only an overseas licence, or no number at all, search the register by domain instead. The UKGC licence number glossary entry explains what to look for.
Are casinos not on GAMSTOP licensed?
Not for Great Britain. Every online operator licensed by the Gambling Commission has had to take part in GAMSTOP since 31 March 2020, so a site that advertises itself as 'not on GAMSTOP' is operating outside the British licensing system. That means none of the UK protections apply there: no credit card ban, no 10x wagering cap and no access to free independent dispute resolution. If you've self-excluded and are looking at such sites, please talk to the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. See our GAMSTOP rules page.
Is a licence from Malta or another country enough?
Not for gambling in Great Britain. Any business offering remote gambling to consumers in Britain needs a Gambling Commission licence, wherever it is based. Many legitimate operators hold several licences, so an overseas licence alongside a Commission one is normal, but an overseas licence on its own doesn't bring British rules such as GAMSTOP participation, the credit card ban or the 10x wagering cap. Always look for the Commission account number and check it on the register. Our Gambling Act 2005 page explains the licensing requirement.
Can I get my money back from an unlicensed casino?
It can be difficult. Unlicensed sites aren't bound by the Commission's complaints rules, don't have to offer free alternative dispute resolution and can't be ordered to pay by a British ADR provider. Ask for a withdrawal in writing and keep every reply, and speak to your bank about your options for any payments you're concerned about. Don't deposit more to try to release a balance. Licensed sites must let you withdraw your deposit balance at any time; see our withdrawal rules page for what you're entitled to there.
Why do unlicensed casinos accept credit cards?
Because the ban doesn't reach them. Since 14 April 2020, businesses licensed by the Gambling Commission haven't been allowed to accept credit card payments for gambling, including card payments routed through e-wallets. Sites outside the licensing system aren't bound by that rule, so accepting credit cards is a common sign a site isn't licensed for Great Britain. Gambling on credit adds borrowing costs to gambling losses, which is why the ban exists. Our page answering can I use a credit card at a casino explains more.
What does 'white label' mean on the public register?
A white label is a website run under another company's Gambling Commission licence. The brand you see may belong to one business while the licence, and the legal responsibility for the site, sit with the operator whose register entry lists that domain as 'White label'. This arrangement is common and legitimate. What matters is that the domain appears on an active licence; the licence holder must then apply every rule, from ID checks to GAMSTOP, on that site. Our guide to how to check a casino licence shows where domains are listed.
Does a licence mean my deposits are protected if the casino goes bust?
Not necessarily. Licensed casinos must tell you, before your first deposit is used, how well customer funds are protected: not protected, medium protection or high protection. With no protection, your balance counts as a company asset in an insolvency; with high protection, funds are held in a separate account controlled by an independent trustee and checked by an auditor. Since 31 October 2025, casinos rating funds as not protected must remind customers every six months. See our customer funds protection page.
Do unlicensed casinos check your identity?
They may or may not; nothing in British rules makes them. Licensed casinos must verify your name, address and date of birth before you can deposit or gamble, a rule in force since 7 May 2019, and they can't use a withdrawal request as the moment to ask for information they could have asked for earlier. Being able to play straight away without any checks is one of the clearest warning signs of an unlicensed site. Our KYC rules page explains what licensed sites must ask for and when.
Can a licensed casino lose its licence?
Yes. The Gambling Commission can suspend or revoke a licence as well as impose fines and extra conditions, and the public register shows a licence's status as Active, Expired, Suspended, Revoked or Surrendered. A site whose licence isn't Active shouldn't be taking bets from people in Great Britain. That's why it's worth checking the register again if you return to a site after a long gap, rather than relying on an earlier check. Our page on who regulates casino bonuses explains the Commission's role.
Related pages
Sources
- Public register (opens in a new tab)
- Checks you can do to stay safe (opens in a new tab)
- Evolution Malta Holding Limited to pay £4.75m (opens in a new tab)
- Block gambling payments with your bank (opens in a new tab)
- Control your gambling | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- Chat to us now - GamCare (opens in a new tab)