UK Gambling Laws 2026 Rules Information & Guidance
Licensees should also consider to what extent data subject rights, such as the right to erasure and right not to be subject to automated decision-making, may not apply given the relevant lawful basisiv. Consider what personal data should be processed to achieve these outcomes2. Licensees should consider the requirements of their licence (for example, those requirements included at Annex A).
Introduction of an age limit on ‘cash-out’ slot-style Category D machines
The UKGC has introduced age-based online slot stake limits. Any operator offering gambling services to UK residents must hold a valid UKGC licence. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the independent regulatory body responsible for licensing and overseeing all commercial gambling in Great Britain. It is also worth noting that it is not illegal for UK residents to gamble at offshore casinos. We strongly recommend playing only at UKGC-licensed casinos. Report issues through the UKGC website at
They also said that there should not be a maximum transaction limit on Category D crane grab machines. For example, a person leaving a gaming machine to go to an ATM will be required to enter their PIN. 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.
The rise of digital gambling has triggered sweeping reforms—but until now, land-based casinos operated under softer guidelines, particularly when it came to machines. For converted casinos, however, there is an additional restriction on the number of betting machines relative to the size of the floor area of gambling area in that casino. Regulation 3 of these Regulations amends section 172(5)(b)(i) of the Gambling Act 2005 (c. 19) (“the Act”) to change how to calculate the number of gaming machines that may be made available for use in small casinos licensed under the Act. “extended converted casino premises” means premises in which gaming machines are made available for use in accordance with the extended gaming machine entitlement;
October 2025: deposit limits became a “front door” moment
The government has already indicated that it intends to examine radical new ways to mainstream and improve ADR across the economy for all types of disputes including consumer disputes, so it is no longer viewed as an ‘alternative’ to court but operates as an integrated part of the justice system. Most submissions called for a gambling ombudsman, though there were significant differences in proposals for how best to design a new system, its remit, powers and the specific details around the desired outcomes of the new arrangements. There may also be particular difficulties if the complainant is vulnerable due to gambling disorder or some other factor. This can be costly, time consuming and potentially inequitable given the resource disparities between the typical complainant and the gambling operator.
Changes to the regulatory framework for land-based casinos: draft secondary legislation
Licensees should also consider whether any other exemptions to data subject rights (such as those set out in Schedule 2 of the draft Bill) may apply. The processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party (except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data)5. Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contractiii. GDPR provides for a number of lawful circumstances which are designed to allow legitimate processing in circumstances where it may be not practical to acquire consent, and to ensure that public policy objectives (such as the reduction of problem gambling) are met.
Since 2018, the Gambling Commission has worked with stakeholders including training providers and the Home Office to emphasise legal requirements in training materials and guidance for the sector. The government expects the sector to prioritise and rapidly strengthen age verification procedures to ensure that children are properly safeguarded from illegal gambling through on-course bookmakers. For example in 2019, a test purchase operation at Royal Ascot found that 7 out of 17 bookmakers accepted bets from underage customers.
The Gambling Act 2005 provides for a range of licences to be granted to both non-remote (i.e., land-based) as well as remote businesses. On 8 December 2020, the UK Government announced a long-awaited review of British gambling laws and a call for evidence to inform the potential extent of changes required to the Gambling Act 2005 in order to make the legislative framework “fit for the ‘digital age’”. Gambling operators are subject to the advertising regulations of the UK Advertising Standards Authority and the industry of the British “Industry Group for Responsible Gambling”.
Processing of personal data will continue to be required in order to achieve compliance with a gambling licence. Where licensees have genuine well-founded concerns about GDPR, we are committed to working with industry to get the right outcome – one that safeguards personal data whilst also promoting the licensing objectives. GDPR should not be improperly used as an excuse to avoid taking steps which enable compliance with licence conditions, promote socially responsible gambling, and promote the licensing objectives. We take the view that GDPR is not intended to prevent operators from taking steps which are necessary in the public interest, or are necessary to comply with regulatory requirements under a gambling licence.
They argued that given they are not proposing to increase the level of prize, there would be no significant changes to the maths of the gambling offer for the player, but that it would allow a more varied customer experience. They also included a proposal for an ‘entertainment with prizes’ machine game which could have a longer game time and multiple stakes, which would also not be permitted by current stake and prize limits. This review will consider the effects of any legislative change following the Gambling Act Review and, where appropriate, will consolidate the progress made so far by the industry on a voluntary basis. Apps could be helpful in bringing in safer gambling controls to cashless payments, but we acknowledge this is most likely to be one option for payment, rather than the sites not on gamstop only alternative to cash. Operators have said that they believe that apps are useful in giving customers increased choice in payment type, but are not a fix-all solution due to their low take-up.
All casinos listed on UKVerifiedCasinos.uk are manually checked against this register as part of our editorial process. You can verify any casino’s licence status for free at the UKGC Public Register. In 2025 alone, the UKGC levied over £100 million in penalties against licensed operators for regulatory failures — demonstrating that the UK casino regulations 2026 carry real consequences. The UKGC has the power to issue fines, suspend licences, or revoke them entirely for operators that fail to comply. All seven casinos reviewed on this site comply with the current rules. Under the the casinos in our table, a £20 bonus now requires a maximum of £200 in wagering before you can withdraw.
We intend to place some restrictions on the number of SSBTs to avoid a scenario in which the product offering becomes unbalanced and a large number of these machines are sited in a relatively small gambling area. Where a machine is made available to take bets on virtual races, it is classified as a gaming machine and would therefore count towards the maximum permitted number of such machines. The authorisations required may include a remote betting operating licence (required if customers are to be able to bet via Self-Service Betting Terminals), as well as a non-remote betting operating licence. The white paper proposed that all casinos should have the ability to offer betting, should they wish to do so. Sportsbooks are also a common expectation for international visitors, and permitting betting in 1968 Act casinos would bring Britain’s casino product offering in line with other jurisdictions.
The Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines, developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, are a set of three principles developed after consideration of the evidence to help individuals manage their risk of gambling harm, modelled upon safer drinking guidelines. A chief concern for some respondents was that industry-led messaging could be undermined by a potential conflict of interest as gambling operators are simultaneously responsible for promoting their products and warning of the risks they could pose (which many argued they could not be trusted to do fully). Nonetheless, some submissions to the call for evidence argued that affiliate marketing presents particular risks in the gambling sector, mainly citing concerns that they are less compliant with the advertising rules than operators themselves. Given the established impacts of online advertising, especially on those at risk, it is essential that operators use advertising technology in ways which will mitigate rather than exacerbate harms. The CAP has now banned operators from presenting offers as entirely ‘risk free’, in light of research from GambleAware showing such terminology was especially likely to draw in those who are vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
In order to offer this, operators will be required to hold relevant operating licences from the Gambling Commission. The white paper set out the intention for all casinos to be able to include a sportsbook as part of their product offering. A further advantage would be allowing operators to create an experience which competes with international gaming jurisdictions, and elevates the reputation of Britain as a gaming destination for international gaming tourists. For example, it may lead to increased popularity/GGY of casinos which could have knock-on benefits to surrounding businesses or other sectors which are closely interlinked with it, for example the food and beverage or advertising sectors.
Please explain your answer, providing any supporting evidence where available. However, it should be noted that respondents were most likely to have spent their own money on types of gambling activity that are legal or do not feature age restricted products, such as penny pusher or claw grab arcade games. Bacta’s members make up approximately 70-80% of the market for family entertainment centres and adult gaming centres. We propose to move the industry’s voluntary commitment into legislation, making it an offence for a person to invite, cause or permit a child or young person to use ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style games. Further details on machine types and permitted locations can be found at Figure 11.
The vast majority (around 80%) of respondents with a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score of 0 reported that seeing gambling advertising never prompted them to spend money gambling when they were not otherwise planning to. Equally, higher-risk gamblers are more likely to report spending money as a result of seeing any form of advertising. These reforms will also benefit everyone who chooses to gamble, by giving every customer increased clarity and control over the communications that they receive, and ensuring that bonuses from operators are offered in a socially responsible fashion. The objective to protect vulnerable people from harm is at the heart of this Review and these proposals.
Although millions of people gamble safely every single day, the evidence shows that there is a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games. The evidence also points to a stronger link between gambling related harm and suicide among young adults. To counter the increased risk of significant harm and life-changing losses from online slot games, the Government will introduce a £5 stake limit for adults aged 25 and over.
As the premier gambling law, it dictates the protocols for casinos, poker, sports betting, pools, lottery betting, etc. We have also considered a broad range of academic and other literature on gambling harm and gambling harm prevention, including material produced in other jurisdictions, and publications since the call for evidence period. In addition to the direct impact on the levy of a reduction in betting industry GGY, we have also assumed that there may be an impact on racing’s income from gambling sponsorship and media rights, as operators’ income is reduced. The horserace betting levy is paid by bookmakers based on 10% of GGY from customers in Great Britain, betting on races in Great Britain, whether online or in betting shops. A number of submissions to our call for evidence highlighted the relationship between horse racing and gambling, including the importance of the horserace betting levy for maintaining the sport.
Initially, checks will apply to customers depositing over £500 monthly, reduced to £150 by February 2025. The Gambling Commission will introduce financial vulnerability checks for safer gambling. Knowing the legal frameworks in both countries is crucial for operators and players alike to make informed decisions. Understanding these nuances is vital for navigating the complex UK casino landscape. The Gambling Commission, tasked with oversight, ensures gambling practices are fair and transparent, maintaining rigorous standards for compliance.
Where a casino has two premises licences, an operator is able to site 40 gaming machines in the same building; and where an operator has three licences, 60 gaming machines. In order to be entitled to an allowance of 80 gaming machines, 1968 Act casinos will need to comply with the same minimum requirements as a Small 2005 Act casino on gambling, table gaming and non-gambling area. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) oversees all gambling activities under the Gambling Act 2005, from land-based casinos and betting shops to lotteries and online gaming. To protect players, we only to list UK online casinos that are licensed and good standing with the UK gambling commission.
- The proposal is expected to contribute to customer enjoyment by better matching the demand and supply of machines, and to player protection by encouraging players to take breaks in the knowledge that it is much more likely a machine will be available if they want to return.
- Further details on machine types and permitted locations can be found at Figure 11.
- Regulation 9 also sets committed payment limits, money which cannot be refunded to the player once it is paid or transferred onto the machine’s credit or play meter.
- Given the number of legitimate sites, there isn’t really an incentive to visit rogue or otherwise unregulated casinos.
- We also received submissions from campaign groups and academic research highlighting the risks of cashless gambling and possible mitigations.
The customer demand for 40 gaming tables does not exist, which can mean that a number of tables are sited but never used. This clarifies that wholly automated gaming tables are not gaming tables for the purposes of section 172(3) to (5) of the Act. The Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Tables in Casinos) (Definitions) Regulations 2009 makes provision as to how references to “gaming tables” should be interpreted in this context. Please explain your answer, including any suggested changes to the regulatory framework where applicable. Casinos would not have the option of reverting back to their legacy rights under the existing regime, once they decide to increase their machine allowance in this way.
The classic offer — “bet £5 on football, receive 20 casino free spins” — is now a licence breach. The practice of bundling sports betting incentives with casino bonuses was banned outright. All UKGC-licensed casinos must now prompt every new customer to set a financial limit before their first deposit.
Licensees are required to provide the Commission on request with such information as the Commission may require about the use made of facilities provided in accordance with the licence, including … the licensee’s policies in relation to, and experiences of, problem gambling. In particular, licensees should have regard to their role in preventing crime (including money laundering offences and cheating at gambling) and consider to what extent this objective would be likely to be prejudiced by a request to erase data or restrict processing of personal data, for example. The Bill also includes a condition which allows processing of special category data where an individual is at risk and the processing is necessary for the purposes of protecting the mental or emotional well-being of an individual. Where processing of special category data or criminal offence data is required for the purposes of compliance with their licence obligations, licensees will wish to identify a legal basis which allows such processing. Licensees should note that more than one of the above bases may apply to some of the personal data they obtain (for instance, data obtained to ensure operators know their customers).
By contrast, the majority of gambling operators, across all sectors (bingo, arcade, casino and betting) advocated for either no increase or a small increase of 10%. Our proposal to introduce an age limit on these machines is a precautionary measure to protect children and young people from gambling-related harm. The government will allow direct debit card payments on gaming machines through a made negative statutory instrument, which will also include some of the player protection measures outlined in this chapter, such as the account verification requirement for each transaction. We propose that the default limits for B1 machines are aligned to those machines in arcades, bingo halls and betting premises. The government proposes that mandatory limits must be included on gaming machines accepting cashless forms of payments.
In addition to identifying a lawful basis for processing, operators will need to comply with other aspects of GDPR, such as any applicable requirements for transparency with data subjects, and safeguarding of personal data. If the decision making is based on the data subject’s explicit consent3. GDPR gives data subjects certain qualified rights in relation to their data, such as the “right to erasure” and “the right to prevent decisions being made solely based on the automated processing of data”.