Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2026 United Kingdom
The government will increase the maximum cap that licensing authorities can charge by 15% through a made negative statutory instrument. Premises licence fees in Scotland are set under different regulations and are therefore a matter of consideration for the Scottish Government. This change will be made in respect of licensing authorities in England and Wales. The second concern was the lack of transparency regarding the way in which fees are used by local authorities and a perception that local authority activities, such as premises visits, do not appear to be reflected by the level of fees currently paid. A key stated benefit was the ability to undertake more proactive engagement and enforcement activities with licensed premises. Licensing authorities highlighted numerous benefits which would be achieved by increasing the maximum chargeable premises fees by 30%.
- Arcades feature varied gaming machine types, each of which falls into a different category.
- There must be some notification that casinos are making a change to the number of machines and tables they are offering, even if this will not always trigger the need for a premises licence variation.
- Punters who bet more than £1,000 online in a 24-hour window will have to undergo an assessment, the regulator says.
- If you are a local authority/ licensing board, do you currently charge the maximum fees as set out in the Gambling Act 2005?
- A 50/50 ratio based on device types would therefore be likely to have a positive impact, allowing them to remove a number of energy intensive Category C cabinets.
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The LCCP imposes extensive obligations upon licensees in, amongst others, the fields of social responsibility, anti-money laundering and the prevention of terrorist financing, consumer fairness and transparency, responsible advertising and obligations to comply with various technical standards that apply in respect of both non-remote and remote forms of gambling. It is important to note that this instrument does not extend to Northern Ireland, where legislation based on the Gaming Act 1968 (namely the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (NI) Order 1985 (as amended by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022)) continues to apply. Local authorities (for Premises Licences).Sports/horse race betting (if regulated separately to other forms of betting)As above.As above.Fantasy betting (payment to back a ‘league’ or ‘portfolio’ selection over a period of time, for example in relation to sport)As above.As above.LotteriesLotteriesThe Gambling Commission.The Gambling Commission (for Operating Licences). It is free to use and one of the most effective responsible gambling tools available to UK players.
In particular, licensing authorities were concerned that the ‘aim to permit’ results in the granting of premises licences even when specific harms or risks have been identified. A report submitted to our call for evidence found that the 2005 Act casinos had generated some benefits to the local economy including regeneration, jobs and money paid to local authorities as part of the arrangement for the licence being awarded. Typically gaming machines are cabinets housing computer terminals, with either buttons or touch screens allowing customers to select different machine game types (e.g. B2 or B3 games).
Its proceeds will be ring-fenced for funding for research, education and treatment, including through the NHS. As it stands not all betting companies pay their fair share and some have paid as little as £1. The first statutory gambling operator levy will replace the current voluntary levy which is not fit for purpose.
With increased resources in due course, the Commission plans to invest in its data systems in order to better understand consumer behaviour and operator compliance. It is supported by existing powers in the Gambling Act for the Commission to make data requests as part of its regulatory activities. It has indicated, including in a speech by its Chief Executive to the GambleAware conference in 2021, that repeated failings are an aggravating factor and tougher action will be taken against repeat offenders.
Policies, procedures and controls will also need to be updated to address the risks identified in the risk assessment and to reflect the mitigations in place. Relevant risks may include (but are not limited to) cross-channel customer activity, payment methods and open loop payment processes. More information on the operating licences required is available in our guidance on the legislative changes. Casino operators are reminded that those wishing to utilise the new extended entitlements will need to inform the Commission under Licence Conditions and Code of Practice (LCCP) Ordinary Code Provision 8.1.1 (Information requirements). Real gamblers run Casinos.org.uk,and we have over 20 years of experience in real money gambling.
The responses received from the third sector also raised concerns about the potential for increased gambling-related harm to occur alongside greater numbers of Category B machines being made available. One operator, under both options, stated that it would increase the number of Category B cabinets machines by 2 to 3 per venue, while removing the vast number of smaller in-fill gaming machines. Evidence provided for Option 1 suggests that increases in Category B cabinet gaming machines would be moderate in the short-term. The arcade sector similarly reported that Option 1 and Option 3 would result in the removal of underused Category C and D machines, whilst Option 2 would have no impact or result in increased numbers of Category C and D gaming machines. This relates primarily to underused Category C and D gaming machines.
Gone are the days when online casino players could spend hundreds of quid in a matter of minutes. The whole idea is to strictly limit how much cash can be lost on slot machines and to ensure people are not blowing through their bankroll very quickly. In this article, we’ll look at some of the new online gambling regulations for 2025.
If you’ve played online casino in the UK for any length of time, you’ll know the rulebook never truly sits still. £1 million is a hefty fine, but it is more of a statement to operators out there and showcases how serious the UKGC is about protecting consumers from problem gambling. Self-exclusion helps problem gamblers and allows them to request gambling operators to deny them service. A recent example of how much the UK takes this seriously can be seen with SkyBet, one of the largest online betting providers in the country. The UKGC does not go after individuals who are participating in illegal online gambling. Online gambling, also known as remote gambling, is considered legal in Great Britain if the operator possesses a licence from the UKGC.
Figure 3: Proposed sliding scale for 1968 Act casinos
Firstly, much of the available data on children being able to access age restricted forms of gambling comes from their own self-reporting which may be unreliable. However, evidence suggests that some children are still able to participate in gambling which they should be barred from. It should create a clear distinction between gambling products for adults and lower risk products for children which have non-cash prizes or (like a penny pusher) are entirely unlike an adult gambling product. Although we will consult further on the details of our proposal above, slot machines in FECs which are legally adult-only (Category C machines) are required to be in a segregated part of the venue to prevent children accessing those machines. Category D machines which do not pay out cash will not be subject to the increase in the minimum age to play. We welcome Bacta’s voluntary commitment, but to ensure all operators comply with it, we propose to move that requirement into legislation, making the legal minimum age to play cash-out Category D slot machine style games 18 years old.
We propose to align the lifting of the prohibition on direct debit card payments on gaming machines and the introduction of player protections within regulations with the Gambling Commission’s review of the Gaming Machine Technical Standards. Under the current rules, there is a risk that operators entering the market might use in-fills and tablets to account for the totality of their Category C and D offer while offering Category B machines exclusively on more popular cabinet machines. By contrast, Option 2(a) would likely increase the numbers of Category B cabinets in a similar proportion to Option 1, while safeguarding against the possible scenario in which Category B machines become the only cabinet gaming machines offered. The concern raised was that any variation of Option 2 would be damaging to tablet gaming machine manufacturers as this would likely lead to vast numbers of these machines being removed by operators. These responses primarily came from small businesses who supplied tablet gaming machines to the market.
Officials say two unlicensed premises in Doncaster were targeted a multi-agency operation. The bookmakers says it had ‘no choice’ after rises in gambling tax, national insurance and wages. A big test may come later this year, with indications that there may be a ban on gambling companies sponsoring the shirts of football and darts players. The Commission has already cracked down on one of the bookmakers’ cash cows, the fixed-odds betting terminal. The British public spent £2.2bn on online slot games in 2019, according to the Gambling Commission, and some estimates say the UK now accounts for 15% of these types of games. A Gambling Commission review from June 2025 found that satisfaction scores climbed 6 per cent among users who got richer risk alerts and detailed gameplay reports.
Rules on gaming machines in land-based venues
Some operators will benefit from both. This option balances our 2 key priorities, the first being to support arcade and bingo premises through increased commercial flexibility within the context of many businesses operating at a loss post-COVID-19. 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.
One operator-led submission to our call for evidence suggested that 25% of people reduced their gambling expenditure after setting a deposit limit, compared to 6% who increased their gambling. As outlined in section 1.1 above, online gamblers already have access to a range of tools to help them control their time and money spent gambling and there are rules governing their use (for instance deposit limit increases must take at least 24 hours to come into effect). Morgan Stanley and NERA Economic Consulting have respectively estimated a £2 fixed limit on online slots would reduce online slot GGY by 22% and 23%, but some of this could be displaced to other online gaming products.
The Casino Club Port Talbot in Wales – believed to be Britain’s first legal casino – was established in 1961 by gambling mogul George Alfred James. In July 2026, UK ministers began a crackdown on unlicensed casinos sponsoring sports teams. By introducing a new regulatory framework, the Gambling Act replaced outdated provisions from the Gaming Act of 1968, adapting to the evolving landscape of the gambling industry. The regulation of gambling in the UK underwent significant changes with the passage of the Gambling Act 2005, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of casino regulations.
While this is certainly a reasonable belief to hold, the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for spread betting. Many British bettors incorrectly assume that spread betting is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. All gambling business must use an approved alternate dispute resolution body to handle unresolved player complaints. The Commission offers guides on gambling safety, consumer rights, and other pertinent topics.
Of particular concern, we have heard that some operators offer ‘fast roulette’ with very rapid spin speeds (comparable to slots) which increases the frequency of betting and therefore the intensity of the gambling experience. Additionally, we recognise the broader risks posed by individuals seeking to gamble online using another person’s details, and that this could undermine harm detection, self-exclusion and legal age restrictions. We recognise that identity theft or stealing funds is a criminal matter, and the evidence we received, including from a police organisation, demonstrated the significant harm this can and does inflict on both the gambler and affected others. There may also be regulatory risks in several critical areas, including financial risk assessments, anti-money laundering compliance, and the prevention of illegal underage gambling. People experiencing problem gambling are more likely to use multiple online accounts and circumvent account restrictions by moving to another operator, so we expect any enhanced protections to have particular relevance for limiting the harm suffered by this group.
The firm’s commitment to excellence is underscored by its numerous accolades, including awards for ‘Future of Legal Services’ and ‘Best Use of Technology.’ The firm has also consistently received recognition as the UK Copyright Firm of the Year by Managing Intellectual Property and achieved top-tier rankings in media and entertainment by Chambers and Partners. The firm has established several spin-off ventures and solutions that leverage its expertise in media, technology and IP, including Incopro, Overmorrow, Curio, Kritic, Viewfinder, Wiggin Data Services and IR35 Manager. Wiggin distinguishes itself by anticipating future trends and their potential impact on clients’ businesses.The firm has successfully campaigned for significant industry changes, such as the extension of the UK Film Tax Credit and mitigation of the impact of IR35 changes on the media sector. Wiggin is a UK-based full-service law firm, headquartered in London, with a dedicated focus on media, technology and intellectual property (IP) matters. It is also worth noting that, in recent months, the Gambling Commission issued an “Industry Warning Notice” to those B2B operators that it has licensed after observing that certain games developed by such licensees appear accessible to British consumers on B2C websites that are not licensed by the Commission.
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) was created under casinos not on gamestop the Gambling Act 2005 and assumed authority over all commercial gambling in the UK in 2007. Casino Club Port Talbot in Wales is believed to have been the first legal casino in the UK. Gambling first came under state regulation in the 1400s, when authorities restricted betting on horse races and other sports to the nobility, while the poor were limited to dice games. Gambling has been a part of British culture for centuries and nowadays, nearly all forms of gambling are legal and fully regulated across the United Kingdom.
Gambling Commission Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice already contain requirements in both the land-based and online sectors that information about the odds of winning is disclosed to players of certain games at the point of purchase. We recognise that expanding adtech targeting commitments to paid-for space may make it harder to reach some potential customers but paid-for online advertising will still be permitted alongside many other routes to attracting customers, such as broadcast or appropriately targeted social media advertising. For those who are struggling with harmful gambling, we want to make it as straightforward as possible to opt out of gambling content and advertising, and to close the gaps that mean that individuals who have self-excluded can still be targeted by gambling ads. Children’s advertising exposure and their ability to engage with operators’ content should decrease at the same time as the most recent reforms to the CAP code reduce the potential appeal of gambling content to children. We believe these proposals will result in an online advertising environment that is safer for children and vulnerable people, while still allowing operators to continue to engage with key audiences.
Help and support
If gambling is causing you concern, visit our responsible gambling UK guide for support resources. If a casino breaches the rules and you are affected, complain to the casino first. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the sole statutory body responsible for enforcing all UK casino regulations 2026. The table below shows the most significant rule changes introduced by the our tested operators compared to the previous framework. For the best current offers, visit our best casino bonuses UK page, or check no deposit bonus UK deals that comply with the new rules.
We support allowing trials of linked gaming machines in venues other than casinos, where prizes could accrue from machines linked in a community. The government is also concerned by the low pass rates in test purchasing for racecourses and gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises, which are both significantly lower than at other land-based venues. This would provide licensing authorities with greater powers in respect of gaming machine entitlements in premises with alcohol licences, in the event of underage gambling.
All casinos listed on Accord Global hold active UKGC licences. The UK government has increased Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) from 21% to 40% of gross gambling yield for online operators. UKGC-licensed casinos can no longer offer autoplay functionality or turbo-spin (accelerated spin) features on online slots.
