A licence from the Gambling Commission brings rules on fairness, safer gambling and complaints. It takes a couple of minutes to check.
Key points
- Operators offering gambling to people in Great Britain need a licence from the Gambling Commission.
- You can check an operator’s name, licence and website domains on the Commission’s public register.
- Licensed operators must verify your age and identity, offer safer gambling tools and take part in GAMSTOP.
- Sites that advertise themselves as ‘not on GAMSTOP’ are not licensed to serve British players.
- Complaints go to the operator first, then to an independent dispute resolution service.
If you’re an adult in Great Britain and choose to gamble online, the single most important check is whether the operator is licensed by the Gambling Commission. A licence means the operator has to follow rules designed to protect you.
Why a licence matters
Licensed operators must, among other things:
- Verify your age and identity before you can deposit or gamble.
- Use games that have been independently tested for fairness.
- Offer safer gambling tools, such as deposit limits and time-outs.
- Take part in GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme.
- Have a complaints process and use an approved independent dispute resolution service.
How to check
- Look at the website footer. Licensed operators normally show their company name and licence details there.
- Search the public register on the Gambling Commission’s website for the company name or licence number.
- Check the website domain is listed against that licence. Some licences list many domains, and a copycat site may borrow a real company’s name.
Warning
Be wary of sites that advertise themselves as “not on GAMSTOP” or say they accept players who have self-excluded. They are not licensed to offer gambling to people in Great Britain, and you’d have little protection if something went wrong.
Other warning signs
- No company name, address or licence details.
- Pressure to deposit quickly or with unusual payment methods.
- Bonus offers that look too generous, with hidden or unclear terms.
- Poor reviews mentioning unpaid withdrawals or closed accounts.
If something goes wrong
- Complain to the operator using its complaints process, and keep copies of messages and screenshots.
- If it isn’t resolved, take your complaint to the operator’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider. This is free, and the operator should tell you which provider it uses.
- Report concerns about an operator’s conduct to the Gambling Commission.
Keep gambling in perspective
A licence protects you from unfair treatment, not from losing money. Gambling should only ever be entertainment with money you can afford to lose. Our guides to setting limits and self-exclusion explain the tools available, and if gambling is causing problems, see where to get help.
Questions answered
Does the Gambling Commission handle individual complaints?
No. It regulates operators but doesn’t resolve individual disputes. If the operator doesn’t settle your complaint, you can take it to its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider, which is free.
Is a licence from another country good enough?
Not for gambling in Great Britain. Operators serving British customers need a Gambling Commission licence, whatever other licences they hold.
What protections does a licence give me?
Licensed operators must follow rules on fair games, telling you how your funds are protected, age checks, safer gambling tools and complaints handling.
Can a licensed operator still treat me unfairly?
Problems can still happen, which is why the complaints and ADR process exists. You can also report concerns about an operator to the Gambling Commission.
18+ only. This guide is general information for adults in Great Britain, not encouragement to gamble. Gambling involves risk; only gamble with money you can afford to lose. For free, confidential support, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.