Figure 1: Current rules on casinos for maximum number of Category B machines and the machine to table ratio

Remote gambling software licence

Premises licences are the third main category of licence (operating and personal licences being the other two) that will be issued under the Act. This includes betting shops, casinos, bingo premises and arcades. Separately, the Gambling Commission confirmed in our online games design response in 2021 and our remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS) that for remote slots it must be a minimum of 2.5 seconds from the time a game is started until the next game cycle can be commenced (RTS 14D). (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. Withdrawing from online casinos using PayPal and other e-wallets tend to be the fastest option, taking just a few hours. These reviews cover how to use each method and list the top online casinos for each option.

Casinos with multiple licences at the same physical location could site more than 80 machines under the new regime – it is not clear whether the current rules are clear enough to prevent this situation from arising in practice. It is our intention that these casinos can continue to operate under the existing regime, whereby they are permitted no more than 20 machines where at least one is of Category B (or they may elect to have any number of Category C or D machines instead). Each should have its own casino premises licence and its own principal entrance from a street, and it must not be possible to enter one of them from other gambling premises. Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Gambling Act 2005 (Mandatory and Default Conditions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 sets out a number of mandatory conditions that are attached to all casino premises licences. Currently, a number of 1968 Act casinos operate more than one premises licence at the same physical location. The number of gaming products that land-based casinos can provide will always be constrained by physical space in a way that online casinos are not, but this is made worse by the existing caps on numbers.

This is a necessary objective to help mitigate against gambling-related harm. We are particularly concerned that Option 1 may encourage new operators to enter the market with the specific intention of maximising their Category B cabinet offer in this way. Therefore, some respondents argued that Option 3 would be the most sensible long-term approach for securing safer gambling functionality and messaging across these venues. However, overall almost half of respondents from the arcade and bingo sector acknowledged casino not on gamstop that Option 3 posed a risk of increasing gambling-related harm. There was a general consensus across respondents that Option 3 presented the greatest risk of increasing rates of gambling-related harm. In considering gambling-related harm we were attuned to the various perspectives provided by respondents.

The lack of direct cashless payment methods on gaming machines contrasts with the cashless options that consumers have within the wider retail economy. As such, any change in the composition of gaming machines which results in a higher share of Category B machines will represent an uplift in GGY for operators. We will use the responses to this consultation as well as wider engagement with the sector to gather data to estimate the likely uptake of additional machines and removal of existing machines under each option. The rationale for considering this option is primarily to ensure that a truly balanced offer of gaming machines is available to customers following the loosening of restrictions from 80/20. As some of the differences between 1968 Act and Small 2005 Act casinos are brought in line, operating and premises licence fees and mandatory licence conditions should be harmonised accordingly. We propose that an operator must notify the licensing authority of their intention to increase their number of gaming machines.

Six guarantees you get at a licensed casino that you simply don’t at an unlicensed one. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the independent regulator for gambling in Great Britain, set up under the Gambling Act 2005. This guide explains exactly what a UKGC licence means, how to verify one in under a minute, and how to spot a site that doesn’t have one. We may earn commissions from operator sign-ups, at no cost to you. We may earn affiliate commissions when you click through links on this site.

An “economic crime levy” is payable by entities that are regulated for anti-money laundering purposes (currently only casinos in the UK) and which generate more than £10.2 million in UK revenue. It should be noted that in April 2025 HM Treasury opened a consultation (which closed on 21 July 2025) on a proposal to introduce a single remote gambling duty that would apply to all remote gambling activities targeting the UK. 15% of the commission charges charged by betting exchanges to users who are UK citizens Operating licences are generally indefinite, subject to paying annual fees.

Category C machines, which have a maximum stake of £1 and a maximum prize of £100, can only be played by adults in certain venues, such as pubs, betting shops, arcades and bingo halls. Firstly, it would split family groups, requiring adults who wish to play these machines to leave the group playing on non-gambling products. Industry responses highlighted that it is disproportionate to require that these machines be moved to an age-restricted area for 2 key reasons. For example, Bacta commented that ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines are substantially different from harder gambling slot machines, and are better described as fruit machines or amusement with prizes machines.

Figure 1: Current rules on casinos for maximum number of Category B machines and the machine to table ratio

It was also raised that these machines can be converted to adapt a card reader for contactless payment, but adding a chip and pin device for every transaction in most cases would either not be technically feasible or cost effective. Respondents from the pub sector also raised issues with verification for each transaction on Category D crane grab machines. Overall, they would either prefer the current contactless payment restrictions to apply for debit card payments on machines or for chip and pin to only be required at the beginning of any session. While this option does not provide as great an increase in commercial flexibility as Option 3, Option 2(b) and, potentially for some operators, Option 1, the evidence received suggests that the vast majority of operators would benefit under this option. While not as liberalising as Option 3, responses from some operators indicated that increases in Category B cabinets would not be vastly different to projections provided for Option 3.

This means that many FEC operators do not currently have age-controlled areas and would have to invest in creating such an area for what is a low stake product. This view was most strongly argued by licensing authorities. We will also work with the relevant trade bodies and operators to understand the feasibility of implementing voluntary test purchasing to help understand whether operators are abiding by this new restriction. This is an important measure to create a clear distinction between gambling products for adults and lower risk products accessible to children (such as crane grabbers or coin pushers) which have non-cash prizes or are entirely unlike adult gambling products. The majority of responses were in favour of an age restriction.

“(1) This paragraph applies to all premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect.”; “larger converted casino premises” means premises in respect of which a converted casino premises licence has effect, and which— The Act requires the holders of operating licences to pay an annual fee for their licence, in advance. For operating and personal licences relevant details of the licence will be published in the public register8.

Player Safety

Operating licences are the primary authorisation required to provide gambling facilities in Great Britain. Apply to the Gambling Commission for a personal gambling licence or a gambling operating licence if you run or manage a gambling business. Guidance and information for complying with licence conditions and regulations for running a gambling business. Information and guidance about the licences we provide and the fees relating to gambling activities. You can apply online for a licence from us to provide casino activities. You will need to apply to the licensing authority the premises is located, to get a premises licence.

Personal Management Licences allow people to work in certain roles in a gambling business. 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 Gambling Act 2005 defines a casino as an arrangement whereby people are given an opportunity to participate in one or more casino games. The white paper set out the government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector.

By contrast, licensing authorities and respondents from the third sector tended to highlight the risk of increased gambling-related harm as a result of increasing commercial flexibility for businesses. In general, responses received from gambling industry respondents typically argued for the most liberalised position across the range of measures outlined in the consultation. We received 87 responses to the land-based gambling consultation.

KYC helps gambling operators prevent fraud, comply with AML regulations, and avoid hefty fines. Additionally, licensing is required even if a company’s online gambling operation is located in another country—so long as they provide services to gamblers in the UK. In cases when gambling providers operate both remotely and non-remotely, they need to hold both online and land-based licenses.

Who will your data be shared with?

Industry also stated that it is a different environment to online gambling where this information can be displayed at all times without impacting the customer’s privacy or influencing other player’s behaviours. In contrast, most industry responses were concerned that customers may use this information to incorrectly determine that a machine is due a pay-out and therefore could lead to people spending more on a machine. This work could then feed into the messaging that is displayed on machines.

This does not prevent the licensing authority imposing conditions on such matters under section 169, subject to any mandatory conditions which the Secretary of State may prescribe under section 167. Provision of facilities for bingo may not be made in a small casino, but the Secretary of State has power to repeal this restriction by order. The regulations will determine whether the banks of terminals count as a table in their own right.

• Real players know that gambling should be fun.
• The policy proposals set out in this government response are intended to modernise the land-based gambling sector and help it to thrive sustainably.
• We offer an array of resources to help you filter through all UK online casino from one sole list.
• On 29 March 2007, the House of Lords urged the Government to review plans for the super casino in Manchester.

Do you agree with the proposed (i) minimum gambling area; (ii) table gaming area; and (iii) non-gambling area requirements for 1968 Act casinos under the new regime? Only areas that comprise 12.5% of the minimum table gaming area can be taken into account when determining the total table gaming area for 1968 Act casinos that access the new machine entitlements. Amending the regulations so that Small 2005 Act casinos only need a minimum table gaming area of 250sqm, reduced from 500sqm. Maximum gambling area for 1968 Act casinos will be decided following responses to the consultation. Under the sliding scale proposal (Fig 3), this casino would only be entitled to 70 machines due to the size of its non-gambling area in this instance.

A ‘mixed session’ is a single session that takes place on games of different machine categories. These rates are lower than the majority of other gambling products, although remain above the at-risk and problem gambling rates for ‘any gambling activity’. These represent transition costs which are expected to be incurred in the first few years of implementation, with exact timescales depending on the option taken forward.