Guidance to licensing authorities

Guidance to licensing authorities

The first one is that if you are building or running your own online casino, then you need to prove your own license is real and active. This will help you launch and confirm that your business model works with real players and real revenue. While a well-planned license ladder can help you prepare better for future markets instead of having to rebuild your licensing structure when the business is already growing. This structure works better than relying on a single license because different markets have different regulatory requirements, and a license that works well in one market might not be enough for another.

We received projections concerning GGY and the change in overall number of Category B, C and D gaming machines under Options 1, 2 and 3 from a range of stakeholders. This will ensure that Category C and D machines made available by operators have genuine customer appeal and/or are genuinely available for use, as opposed to being used as a means to increase the number of Category B cabinets a venue can site. The Gambling uk casinos not on gamstop Commission has raised concern that some of these machines appear to have been designed primarily to maximise the number of Category B cabinet machines which can be sited by an operator, rather than to provide a genuine lower stake gambling offer to customers. However, in recent years there has been a proliferation of space-saving in-fill and tablet gaming machines in arcade and bingo venues.

What is the safest online gambling licence?

The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement oversees all gambling activities in the state, which also include lotteries and horse racing, the latter of which is still very popular to this day. The government will increase the maximum cap that licensing authorities can charge by 15% through a made negative statutory instrument. As outlined in the consultation, the fees payable for gaming machine notifications and gaming machine permits are not in scope of this review. This change will be made in respect of licensing authorities in England and Wales.

Without a license, the operator cannot function in important gambling market jurisdictions. The availability of a casino license has a huge impact on the company’s name, trustworthiness, and credibility. Usually, licensing fees begin at approximately €5,000+ and fluctuate in line with the precise type of license. Usually, licensing fees in Belgium range from €10,000-€250,000 depending on license type and revenue band only. All gambling operations, lotteries, and online platforms are regulated by the single federal legislation under the jurisdiction of the GCGRA. Generally, the first-time start-up capital is within the range of $10,000-$15,000+ at the same time the processing duration depends on business structure and compliance level.

With a game library hosting more than 7,000 games, NetBet is a popular UK online casino for players looking for an extensive selection of games. Whether you’re looking for generous casino bonuses, a diverse range of games, fast withdrawals, or any other casino offering, bet365 is an all-around online casino for UK players. One of the biggest concerns for many online players is the range of convenient payment methods they can use at online casinos. The UK has many online casinos, which can be overwhelming when trying to find a trustworthy, UK-licensed platform that matches your preferences and playing style. The initial raft of changes took effect in January 2026 and applies to licensed gambling operators in Great Britain, but will have a wider impact on customers and account holders, marketing partners, and those responsible for compliance and risk. Any operator offering gambling services to UK customers (online casinos, bookmakers, poker rooms, lotteries) must obtain a UK casino license.

Where the licensing authority rejects an application for a licence, the applicant may appeal. Where the licence is refused, the licensing authority must give reasons for their decision. 436.Where the licensing authority determines to grant the licence, they must give reasons for the attachment or exclusion of any conditions. 435.Following the grant or rejection of a premises licence, the authority must notify the applicant, the Commission, any person who made representations, the police, and HM Customs and Excise of their decision as soon as reasonably practicable. The procedures vary, depending on whether representations have been made, and what the licensing authority proposes to do with regard to licence conditions. 429.The Secretary of State is given the power to make regulations which require an applicant for a premises licence to publish notice of his application, to give notice of it to responsible authorities and other people.

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On top of these fees, operators also need to maintain R$30 million in paid-in share capital and a R$5 million financial reserve. Brazil’s federal license, which is issued by the Secretaria de Premios e Apostas (SPA), has a fee of R$30 million, which is approx 5.85 million USD as of today; this fee is for a five-year term covering up to three brands. Besides licensing costs, Remote Gaming Duty also rose from 21% to 40% from 1st April 2026. The United Kingdom license also comes in Tier 1, but the license works completely differently.

• Those operators who obtained a prestigious Maltese license are on the UK Gambling Commission’s ‘white list’, which allows them to offer their services to British players.
• Clicking this link should take you directly to the casino’s profile on the UKGC Official Register, where you can verify the license number, trading names, and any conditions or sanctions in place.
• All reputable licensing authorities require operators to implement comprehensive anti-money laundering (AML) procedures to prevent criminal misuse of gambling platforms.
• The UKGC and MGA set high standards on player protections, fund segregation, and dispute resolution.

We do not believe that a 10% increase is sufficient to future-proof licensing authority funding in line with the recovery of the land-based sector from the challenges of COVID-19 and rising energy prices in recent years. We believe this is particularly important within the wider context of the modernising measures we are taking to support land-based gambling operators. Premises licence fees in Scotland are set under different regulations and are therefore a matter of consideration for the Scottish Government.

Therefore, they argued that 30 seconds was too short a period and that a longer transaction time should be considered, alongside other safeguards for players, such as limiting the number of transactions a person can make before enforcing a break in play. The government proposes that the current deposit and committed payment limits should apply to direct cashless payments on gaming machines. This was a reflection of their overall position that cashless gaming should not be permitted on gaming machines. While this situation appears extremely unlikely, we do not see any reason for it not applying to this type of machine as they still carry risks, even if smaller than other forms of gambling on different machines. The government proposes that a maximum transaction limit of £100 should apply to all direct cashless payments made on gaming machines. As set out above, while chip and PIN could be used as a verification method, we would expect manufacturers and operators to adapt or make new machines that accept payments made by mobile devices which have some sort of biometric verification and meet the SCA standards.

Our online fees calculator can help you with understanding the amounts of your application, first annual and annual fees. The fees you need to pay depend on what you are applying for, and what your anticipated gross gambling yield (GGY) is. The white paper set out the government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector. Authorities actively pursue illegal operators through domain seizures, payment processor blacklisting, and criminal prosecution. Responsible gambling policies must address self-exclusion and underage prevention with flexible implementation.

You will not receive a physical copy of your licence from us but you can download a copy through our Manage and maintain your personal licence service. Upload your documents using the Apply for a personal licence service. If we ask for any additional information or supporting documents, you can submit these online. As part of our compliance processes, the Commission will be asked to provide evidence that the required consent has been freely obtained. Any information provided via the online services will be deleted in line with the Commission’s Privacy policy. If you consent to sharing the result of the eDBS, you can progress the application online and when submitted, the application will be processed in the via the automated service.

These jurisdictions typically provide solid player protections while maintaining operational flexibility for operators. UK and Malta offer comprehensive player protection but may restrict access to specific geographic markets or impose stricter verification requirements. Choosing where to gamble involves balancing regulatory protection with market access, as different jurisdictions offer distinct advantages and limitations that may affect your gambling experience. Effective regulation requires active enforcement, yet regulatory bodies vary dramatically in their oversight capabilities, resources, and willingness to take decisive action against non-compliant operators.

In 2024, the market generated over £15 billion in gross gambling yield (GGY), with remote (online) gambling accounting for more than half. Are you considering the launch of an online casino or sportsbook in the UK? Navigating the complex web of UK casino laws is essential for new operators aiming to succeed. Staff must be trained to spot these signs, and operators face fines or license loss for failing to report. Operators must also disclose Return to Player (RTP) percentages, so players know their odds. These measures ensure players gamble within their means, reducing addiction risks.

Currently, 1968 Act casinos are not required to have a table gaming area so the premises plan will need to be updated accordingly. We agree that operators should be required to notify licensing authorities and the Gambling Commission if they decide to take-up the entitlement to additional gaming machines under the new regime. The majority of respondents (93%) agreed that operators should be required to notify licensing authorities and the Gambling Commission if they decide to take-up the entitlement to additional gaming machines under the new regime. This measure will also bring greater consistency to the different licensing regimes and greater parity between online and land-based casinos. This is viewed as a more proportionate table gaming area compared to other floor space requirements, and will ensure parity with 1968 Act casinos.

Colombia has run its regulated online gambling market since 2016 through Coljuegos, which is the national gambling authority of the Republic of Colombia. Operating a fully licensed casino in Brazil is expensive because federal authorisation runs around R$30 million, alongside a required R$30 million in paid-in share capital, and it requires a local Brazilian entity with at least 20% Brazilian shareholding. The best way for those operators who want to target African markets in 2026 is combining a general offshore license like Curaçao or Anjouan with country-specific compliance work for each market they want to enter. Under the new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), online operators face much higher entry requirements, including a proposed security deposit of up to KSh 200 million.

Responsible gambling measures, internal controls, and risk management procedures form a core part of the compliance review. Regulators assess how the gambling business operates in practice. While specific licensing conditions vary by jurisdiction, regulators generally apply comparable principles aimed at ensuring lawful, fair, and responsible gambling activity. European countries such as Germany and Sweden are closed to unlicensed sites.

However, in the long term, a license is not just a formality, but a strategic asset, one that the stability and development of your business depends on. Many novice operators don’t see the need for a license, given the complexity and high cost of the application process. Without one, the activities of an online casino or bookmaker are considered illegal, and the organizer can be subject to punishments ranging from fines to jail time.

Protecting children is one of the three licensing objectives, so the rules go beyond a simple age gate. But for any real-money casino or betting activity, 18 is the firm threshold. The legal age for almost all gambling in the UK is 18. Anti-money-laundering (AML) law binds every UK gambling operator, principally the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations.

We will work with the relevant trade bodies and operators to understand the feasibility of this proposal and the frequency of any reporting to DCMS. To ensure that this is enforced we will make it a criminal offence to invite, cause or permit someone under the age of 18 to use these machines. The Gambling Commission will also consult on a number of player protection measures that may be included in their Gaming Machine Technical Standards to ensure that appropriate frictions are in place when direct debit card payments are used. Key player protections include account verification on each transaction and a transaction limit of £100. This includes ensuring that appropriate safeguards against gambling-related harm are in place. The policy proposals set out in this government response are intended to modernise the land-based gambling sector and help it to thrive sustainably.

The wider scoring model is explained in how CasinoIndex ranks online casinos. A strongly licensed casino may score lower when payment behavior, support or complaint handling is consistently weak. Two casinos can operate under similar regulatory frameworks and still provide very different real-money experiences. This does not prove that every licensed casino behaves well. Licensed casinos answer to a regulatory framework. This does not mean every licensed casino is automatically excellent.

We display this license clearly on the casino card for every operator that carries it. The New Jersey DGE covers one of the most established regulated online gambling markets in the United States. It requires operators to maintain segregated player funds and participate in formal dispute resolution. We cover which dispute resolution provider each MGA-licensed operator uses in the Safety section of the relevant review. It is a legitimate and widely held license that allows operators to serve most international markets. Below are the licensing authorities most commonly held by operators on this site.

Dual-licensed casinos that hold both UKGC and MGA licences are particularly strong. The Malta Gaming Authority is one of the most respected gambling regulators in the world and the most widely held licence among European-facing online casinos. Before this reform, it was common to see wagering requirements of 30x, 40x, or even higher at UK-licensed sites — effectively making bonus winnings unwithdrawable for most players. A casino licence isn’t just a badge on a website — it’s a legally binding agreement between the operator and the regulating authority that governs how the casino must treat its players.

At LiveScore, we have thoroughly reviewed and tested the best online casinos for UK players, all licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). A B2C online gambling license allows operators to legally offer games and betting services directly to players. Malta and the UK remain the two most recognized licenses for reaching European players, alongside Gibraltar and the Isle of Man for operators who want strong regulatory credibility without necessarily needing full EU market access.

To ensure this, we outlined in the white paper our intention to increase the cap on the maximum chargeable premises fees which can be charged by licensing authorities. The majority of respondents agreed that premises should adopt voluntary test purchasing as a way to monitor under-18s activity on ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. Our proposal to introduce an age limit on these machines is a precautionary measure to protect children and young people from gambling-related harm. Secondly, it would be costly as most family entertainment centres (FECs) are unlicensed and do not offer Category C products. Firstly, it would split family groups, requiring adults who wish to play these machines to leave the group playing on non-gambling products.

Non-remote gaming machine technical – full licence Non-remote linked licences gambling software Remote casino game host operating licence Non-remote 2005 Act casino operating licence Non-remote 1968 Act casino operating licence Paragraph 9.7 – Pre-2005 Act casinos with grandfather rights (converted casinos) are now permitted to offer betting, subject to The Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab) which limit the maximum number of separate betting positions.