This guide compares selected jurisdictions; it is not a worldwide permission list. Use the Ksa’s official permission-checking guidance to reach the Kansspelwijzer, its authoritative overview of licences. Online gambling operators need a licence from the Kansspelautoriteit, or Ksa, to offer the relevant services in the Netherlands. Rules for a physical casino or betting premises can involve the autonomous community and should not be used as a shortcut for deciding online permission.
In cases where providers perform several types of gambling activities (e.g., casinos + gaming machines), they need to apply for separate licenses. The Gambling Commission issues operating and personal licenses, while local authorities issue premises licenses. Furthermore, the UK has specific regulations for remote gambling operators.
- Itregulates various forms of gambling, including online gambling, sports betting, casino gaming, lotteries, and others.
- Management employees, including those in charge of marketing, planning, IT, and compliance, must apply for a PML.
- Bob Goodlatte and Jon Kyl introduced bills to the Senate that would curb online gambling activities except for those that involved horse and dog races and state lotteries.
- The new online casinos guide covers what to look at when there is no track record, and independent casinos explains how smaller operators differ from the large groups in support and payment handling.
- Antigua has met British regulatory standards and has been added to the UK’s “white list”, which allows licensed Antiguan companies to advertise in the UK.
- The prize fund is 45% of revenue, with the remaining 15% going towards running costs and profits for the lottery organisers and ticket sellers.
- The British regulatory authorities have taken something of a global lead in the enforcement of regulation, particularly in relation to “source of wealth” and “proceeds of crime” omissions and also failures in social responsibility obligations owed by operators to players.
Publicans must also be vigilant in ensuring that their customers do not pass betting slips between each other but only bet for themselves. Betting syndicates, where several bettors pool their bets, may or may not be illegal, depending on the nature of the scheme. It is also legal for publicans to have pools coupons or other slips available, but not to take the bets themselves. It is legal to place bets via mobile phones from a pub, even through the pub’s wi-fi connection, but only for oneself, not for another. Six specific games, Pool, Cribbage, Darts, Bar billiards, Shove-halfpenny and Dominoes could be “played for small stakes on those parts of the premises open to the public”. Until the Gambling Act 2005, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 prohibited “betting and the passing of betting slips” in licensed premises, that is those licensed to sell alcohol.
- The General Betting Duty rates for general bets made in UK premises, horse and dog pool bets, financial spread bets and non-financial spread bets remain unchanged.
- Multi-operator self-exclusion schemes are in place to allow consumers to self-exclude from multiple gambling premises in Great Britain.
- This measure is expected overall to have a significant administrative impact on businesses providing gambling services in the UK.
- If satisfied that all licensing requirements have been met, the Commission will grant the relevant operating licence.
- Premises Licenses relate to non-remote businesses and give permission for using facilities to operate as casinos (or for other gambling activity).
- Player checks must be conducted before customers can deposit funds or engage in real-money gambling.
United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
The knock-on impact of the gambling White Paper on the horseracing industry will be minimal, but there will be a review into the current horserace betting levy to make certain racing continues to be appropriately funded for the future. The Gambling Commission will take a closer look at how bonuses are constructed and targeted to prevent them being used in harmful ways and its work will inform new rules to stop dangerous practices. Bonus offers, such as free bets or spins, can drive harmful behaviour and trigger people to spend more than they intended. The call for evidence showed that while millions of people enjoy an occasional basswin bet every year without issue, particular groups such as those suffering addiction and harm, are at greater risk from certain aggressive advertising practices. Only about three percent of the highest spending accounts will have more detailed checks, similar to those carried out when people buy products through online credit agencies or sign up to some mobile phone contracts. These checks will happen instantaneously, and will not impact gameplay, unless there are signs of financial harm where people may have declared bankruptcy, or are racking up debts to fund their gambling.
Top EU regulatory bodies for online casinos
While some offer full licenses to private operators, others reserve online casino games for state-run monopolies, and others ban online casinos outright. Online gambling involves any activity where something of value is wagered on an uncertain outcome—for example, online casinos, sportsbooks, lotteries, poker, slots, horse racing, and more. Last year, European online gambling revenue increased to nearly €48 billion ($55.6 billion) and is set to grow even more in 2025. It also provides support to ensure a high level of protection for consumers and vulnerable people, including minors. In some European jurisdictions, monopolistic regimes offering online gambling services have been established. We use our regulatory powers to take enforcement action if we find individuals or businesses failing to follow our rules and regulations.
Other countrywide lotteries do exist, but work by dividing the prizes and stakes strictly on a geographical basis into small areas and thus technically not becoming a national lottery. There could be no big national lottery until the Government established one, however. The total online gambling population in the UK is estimated at 2.1 million customers.
Who can apply?
Any person under 18 will not be allowed to gamble and it is an offence to invite or permit anyone under the age of 18 years to gamble. The Bill also set out guidelines stating that gambling will be unlawful in the UK unless granted a licence, permit or registration. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several Russian online casinos were accused of targeting Ukrainian customers in order to sell their data to Russian security services. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) regulates gambling in the Philippines including online gambling providing licenses to approved operators. In 2025, Alberta passed legislation that established a similar model, with its regulated market beginning on July 13, 2026.