Casino sites UK

There are two simple ways to check whether an online casino is licensed to operate in the UK.

The first is to search the UK Gambling Commission's public register, which is the official record of all businesses licensed to offer gambling services to UK customers. Alternatively, you can search for the casino on GamCheck, where we verify every listed website against the relevant regulator before adding it to our database.

If the casino doesn't appear on either the UK Gambling Commission register or GamCheck, you should treat it with extreme caution. A casino accepting UK players should hold a valid UK licence. You may also come across websites marked as 'Inactive', which means they were previously licensed but no longer offer gambling services to UK customers.

Another quick check is to look at the website's footer. Legitimate UK casinos will normally display the UK Gambling Commission logo alongside the name of the licensed operator and their licence number. However, you shouldn't rely on this alone. Fraudulent websites sometimes copy licence details from genuine operators to appear legitimate.

To verify the information, search the licence number on the UK Gambling Commission register and confirm that the casino's domain name is listed under that licence. This extra step only takes a minute and is one of the best ways to identify websites falsely claiming to be licensed.

In rare cases, a domain name may still appear on an active licence even though ownership of the domain has changed. If something doesn't look right, you can perform a WHOIS lookup to see when the domain was registered and compare this with historical snapshots on the Internet Archive. If the registration history doesn't match the casino's claimed history, it's safest to avoid the site.

Determining who owns an online casino isn't always straightforward. In the UK, licensed casinos are required to identify the company operating the website, but the ultimate owner of the brand may be a different business or parent company.

The company listed on the UK Gambling Commission licence is the operator. This is the business responsible for running the casino, meeting regulatory requirements and providing gambling services to customers. However, the casino brand itself may be owned by another company that manages the business, marketing and overall strategy.

One way to understand the relationship is by checking whether the casino operates under its own licence or as a white label. A white-label casino uses another company's gambling licence and platform to offer gambling services under its own brand. This allows businesses to launch a casino without obtaining their own licence or developing their own technology.

If a casino is listed on GamCheck as 'Active', it generally means the brand is operated under its own licence. If it is listed as 'White Label', the casino operates under another company's licence, with the licence holder responsible for the regulated gambling operation.

Every GamCheck profile identifies the licensed operator and, where available, the owner of the casino brand, helping you understand exactly who is behind the website before you sign up.

Before creating an account with an online casino, it's worth taking a few minutes to check the following:

• Licence: Confirm the casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This ensures it is authorised to accept UK customers and is subject to strict regulatory requirements for your safety.
• Welcome bonus: Read the bonus terms carefully, including the wagering requirements, minimum deposit, free spins value, expiry date and any maximum withdrawal limits.
• Customer reviews: See what other players are saying about the casino, particularly when it comes to withdrawals, customer support and account verification.
• Payment methods: Check that the casino supports your preferred deposit and withdrawal methods, and whether there are any fees or minimum withdrawal amounts.
• Games: Make sure the casino offers the games and software providers you're looking for. Not every casino works with the same game studios, so availability can vary significantly.

Finally, remember that you must be 18 or over and a UK resident to join a licensed UK online casino. You'll also need to verify your identity before you can play, typically by providing a valid photo ID and proof of address. Some operators may also ask you to complete additional verification checks, such as taking a selfie to confirm your identity.

GamCheck is designed to help players research licensed online casinos operating in the UK. While our database contains over 300 casino brands, not every website is included.

When GamCheck launched in 2025, we added all casinos that were actively licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Brands whose licences had already become inactive before launch were not included.

We also apply editorial judgement when deciding which casinos to list. Some operators launch large numbers of short-lived or near-identical casino brands that offer little to distinguish them from one another. Rather than listing every variation, we focus on brands that provide meaningful value to players and help keep our database relevant and easy to navigate.

If you're looking for a casino that isn't listed on GamCheck, it may be because it is no longer licensed, has launched very recently, or doesn't currently meet our inclusion criteria. If you believe we've missed a legitimate UK-licensed casino, please get in touch and we'll be happy to review it.

If you have a dispute with a UK-licensed online casino, you should first try to resolve the issue directly with the casino's customer support team. Keep copies of any emails, live chat transcripts and other correspondence, as these may be needed if the dispute is escalated.

If the casino is unable to resolve the matter, or you believe the outcome is unfair, you can refer the dispute to the casino's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider. Every UK-licensed online casino must appoint an independent ADR service approved by the UK Gambling Commission to handle eligible disputes between players and operators.

The casino will tell you which ADR provider it uses and explain how to submit a complaint. In most cases, the ADR will only consider your case after you've given the casino a reasonable opportunity to resolve the issue first.

If you're unhappy with how the casino has handled your complaint, you may also choose to leave an honest review describing your experience. While this isn't part of the formal dispute process, public feedback can help other players make informed decisions and may encourage the operator to investigate the matter further.