Casino sector guidance

Casinos must verify that all players are over 18, using robust age checks. To operate legally, every UK casino must secure UKGC licensing, a rigorous process designed to uphold industry standards. The Gambling Commission has published a new statistical research release,… The Government has introduced the Pedicabs (London) (Amendment) Regulations 2026,… The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its gambling white paper in April 2023, which set out the government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector.

• You will need to apply for an operating licence, before you apply for any premises licences.
• Applying for a UKGC license takes approximately 16 weeks and demands thorough documentation, including financial records, business plans, and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies.
• Depending on what you plan to provide, the Commission can grant you an operating licence for “remote” or “non-remote” operations.
• This is a condition of your licence under LCCP Condition 8 – Display of licensed status.
• The fees you need to pay depend on what you are applying for, and what your anticipated gross gambling yield (GGY) is.
• The UKGC’s online fee calculator helps estimate costs, making it easier to plan how to open a casino in the UK.

New regulation 5 attaches a condition to remote casino operating licences in relation to online slots games. (3) The first report must be published before the end of five years beginning with the day on which regulation 5 comes into force. 6.—(1) Regulation 5 does not apply for the period of six weeks beginning with the day on which regulation 5 comes into force (“the transitional period”). (3) Where this condition is attached to a remote casino operating licence which was issued before this regulation comes into force, the condition has effect from the date on which this regulation comes into force.

The LCCP outlines the requirements that all operating and personal licence holders must follow. You will need to apply to the licensing authority the premises is located, to get a premises licence. You can apply to us for a licence to provide casino games in a premises (non-remote) or online (remote). An operating licence allows you to provide gambling activities to customers in Great Britain. You can read more about the legal definition of casinos in Part 1 section 7 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab).

Legislation and Policies

• The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its white paper in April 2023.
• An operating license is mandatory for offering casino games like poker, blackjack, or slots, while a premises license is required for physical locations, granted by local authorities.
• Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item.
• Those licensees who want to utilise the new entitlements will have to apply to the relevant licensing authority to vary the premises licence, so the premises layout plan reflects changes in operation.
• (3) The first report must be published before the end of five years beginning with the day on which regulation 5 comes into force.

This document is published alongside this instrument and its Explanatory Memorandum on The condition is subject galleonbet to a transitional provision in new regulation 6. Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the 2007 Regulations to insert regulations 5 to 7 into the 2007 Regulations. (4) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.”. (4) In this regulation “game cycle”, “online slots game” and “stake” have the meanings given by regulation 5(5). “stake” means to pay or risk an amount in connection with an online slots game.