UK Gambling License: Laws and Regulations in 2024
There were a small number of respondents who disagreed with the proposals, perceiving the current personal licensing regime to be adequate and well-functioning. Those respondents remarked that the existing regulation is already wide in scope and establishes a resilient licensing regime with extensive accountability of the personal licence holders under the Gambling Act 2005. The age limit set by the law for most players is 18 years, although the minimum age stipulated for buying a scratch ticket, a lottery ticket, or joining a wagering pool is 16 years.
This notice sets out how DCMS will use your personal data as part of our legal obligations with regard to data protection. As previously discussed, an optimal strategy to combat disassociation when gambling combines breaks in play with safer gambling messaging. GamCare, in collaboration with the BGC, Bingo Association, Bacta and other businesses, have developed a land-based industry code for the display of Safer Gambling information. This has been voluntarily adopted by BGC members and its objective is to improve consistency when displaying Safer Gambling information across the land-based sector.
- Each sector can be broken down into terms of what each represents, the brick-and-mortar options therein, legal gambling ages, etc.
- If you hold a remote licence, the gambling websites and apps you provide must show details about your licence and link to your public register licence information.
- The primary piece of legislation governing gambling activities is the Gambling Act 2005, which established the framework for licensing, regulation and control of gambling within the UK.
- You have rights over your personal data under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
- There will be stricter bet limits, while options like autoplay and turbo spin will likely be banned.
This includes increased funding for research into gambling behaviours and the effectiveness of intervention measures. This initiative is designed to ensure that gamblers have all the necessary information to make informed decisions about their gambling activities. As specialists in gambling law, we have put together this blog post to offer some insight into the most significant aspects of the UK gambling licence regulations in 2024, highlighting what you need to know. This is a condition of your licence under LCCP Condition 8 – Display of licensed status.
Regulations and Compliance for Online Gaming Operators
The following legislation and policies are also applicable to operating licence holders. The Gambling Act 2005 defines a casino as an arrangement whereby people are given an opportunity to participate in one or more casino games.
Technical Standards – Operators must demonstrate adherence to technical standards with measures in place to protect data privacy and transaction security. Customer Fund Protection – Operators must have measures in place to protect customer funds in case of insolvency. Financial Stability – Operators must demonstrate their financial stability, integrity, and ability to cover player winnings. Gambling businesses must adapt to these changes swiftly and effectively, while consumers should feel more secure in a better-regulated environment.
They can be purchased in person or online from approved online casinos in the UK. The Gambling Act 2014 has provisions for the licensed operation of gambling operators who advertise and offer remote casino facilities. DCMS is consulting on policy options for measures relating to the land-based gambling sector. For the purposes of personal data collected in the course of this consultation, DCMS is the data controller.
Draft SI: The Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order
Data provided by industry indicates that this option would achieve to a limited extent the objective of ensuring commercial flexibility. When combining the number of cabinets across the AGC and bingo hall sectors there is a surplus of Category C and D cabinets by comparison to Category B cabinets. Consequently, under Option 2 industry as a whole would have the flexibility to reduce the number of Category C and D machines and/or increase the overall number of Category B machines across the sector, saving energy and/or increasing overall GGY. Data provided by the Bingo Association, based on 60 percent of bingo halls, indicates that the number of Category B to Category C and D cabinets would remain largely unchanged from the current 80/20 regime.
Online gambling, also known as remote gambling, is considered legal in Great Britain if the operator possesses a licence from the UKGC. Gambling forms include but are not limited to the following venues online casinos with slots, table games, etc., online poker, online sports betting, lottery-style games, and online Bingo. You will need a premises licence to provide casino games to players in a non-remote setting. You will need to apply to the licensing authority the premises is located, to get a premises licence. The RTS provides technical requirements for remote casino operators like poker rooms and online casinos. Different aspects of gambling products are covered under this act including player fund protection, responsible gambling tools, and fairness.
The Commission updated its ‘available for use’ guidance to highlight that gaming machines should only be counted as being available for use if each machine can be played simultaneously by different players without physical hindrance. Arcades and bingo premises are subject to an 80/20 rule which governs the balance of Category B (maximum £2 stake) and Category C or D machines in these venues (up to a maximum £1 stake). Currently, no more than 20% of the total number of gaming machines on these premises can be Category B; the remaining machines must be of a lower category (i.e. C or D). The white paper proposed to reform the 80/20 rule in response to evidence that the current rule does not allow operators to adequately meet consumer demand, https://ninecasinoofficial.com/ while still providing a balanced product offer to customers. These changes would only come into effect if 1968 Act casinos elect to make more than 20 gaming machines (including at least one Category B machine) available to the customer. As above, 1968 Act casinos will retain the option of continuing to operate under the existing regime should they not wish to increase their machine allocations.
#7: Enhanced Licensing Requirements
We exist to safeguard players and the wider public by ensuring gambling is fair and safe. Several gambling terms are defined under GA 2005, requirements for licenses to carry out gambling, and lastly, prohibition of gambling operations. The RTS is also responsible to make sure that betting exchanges and fixed betting odds are provided with greater consistency and control. This is because gamblers may not always be aware of the dynamic gambling markets with changing odds. To operate legally in the UK, all lottery platforms must adhere to the rules and regulations of the National Lottery Act 1993. The National Lottery Act 1993 creates gambling regulations and a framework for the legal operation of the National Lottery in the UK.
Licensing authorities (local authorities in England and Wales and licensing boards in Scotland) are responsible for licensing gambling premises, in parallel with the Gambling Commission licensing of operators. They collect fees for applications and annual renewals to cover the costs of gambling licensing and enforcement (and the fees can only be used for such costs). The sectors which pay these fees are casinos, bingo halls and bingo-licensed arcades, adult gaming centres, family entertainment centres and betting shops. In England and Wales, a cap is set in secondary legislation on how much local authorities can charge, and this has not been changed since 2007.
By understanding the rules, players can make informed choices, and operators can maintain a safe gaming environment for everyone. The gambling laws UK were subsequently changed to make the age verification process mandatory for casino operators at registration. The UK Gambling Commission provides five licenses for general betting, general betting limited, intermediary trading rooms, and pool betting – physical and remote.
In order to ensure local authorities can continue to carry out their licensing and enforcement duties effectively, we are proposing to raise this cap by either 10%, 20% or 30%. We propose that an operator must notify the licensing authority of their intention to increase their number of gaming machines. The Gambling Commission will also need to be notified of an operator’s projected annual licence fee category based on GGY for the forthcoming licence period, so that the correct fees can be paid. If its gambling area is 500sqm or more, its non-gambling area must be equal to or greater than 250sqm. For example, if a casino had 300sqm of gambling space, its non-gambling area would need to be at least 150sqm.
Integrity and Competence – The integrity and competence of management are assessed to ensure no previous gambling violations. Business Location – Depending on the licence type applied for, businesses must be UK-based or at least have a registered UK address. Here’s a timeline that illustrates the steps taken by UK authorities to regulate gambling and its transition from restrictive policies to a more liberalised and regulated approach.
The rules governing the advertising and marketing of gambling services have been updated. There are now stricter limitations on advertising, especially in relation to how bonuses, free bets and ‘risk-free’ offers are promoted. You are required to tell us about certain things that happen in your business, these are dependent on the licences and activities you hold.
For example, as previously highlighted, evidence provided by Bacta shows that the average stake placed on a Category B3 game is between £1.20 – £1.30, compared to 40p – 60p for a Category C machine. The significant increase in energy bills for businesses has seriously impacted the sector, with the Bingo Association highlighting that 20 bingo halls have already announced closures this year, many of which cite energy costs as the primary driver. Gaming machines account for a significant proportion of energy costs, a substantial number of which are sited by operators purely to meet the 80/20 rule.