Gambling and Licensing
Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission. This is done on behalf of the government’s department of Culture, Media and Sport under the Gambling act of 2005. They cover most gambling except spread betting and other forms of index betting – which falls under the financial conduct authority.
In order to open and run gambling services in the UK, one must apply for a license through the Gambling Commission and pay a registration fee. The commission has an online application process available in order to streamline the process. You can expect an operating license application to take around 16 weeks to process, assuming you have supplied all the correct information and documents. If the application is rejected due to incomplete information, your registration fee will be refunded and you will receive a letter explaining which documentation was missing. You will then have to re-register and include the missing documents.
What are the UK Gambling license types?
There are essentially three types of licenses issued in the UK, your proposed business activity will determine which license you will need to apply for, if not all them. The license are, an operating licence (from UKGC), a personal management licence (from UKGC), a personal functional licence (from UKGC) and you may require a premises licence (which would be issued by your local licensing authority).
NOTE: Local licensing authorities also provide gambling permits for pubs, clubs and other establishments for low-level gambling.
The following activities are covered by the licenses:
- Arcades
- Betting
- Bingo
- Casino
- Gambling software
- Gaming machines
- Lotteries
If you provide facilities for remote gambling (online or through other means), and advertise to consumers in Britain, you will need a licence from the Gambling Commission. It is important to note, that if you do not advertise to consumers in Britain, you do not need a UKGC license should someone from the UK choose to use your service, unsolicited.
Gambling and Licensing
Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission. This is done on behalf of the government’s department of Culture, Media and Sport under the Gambling act of 2005. They cover most gambling except spread betting and other forms of index betting – which falls under the financial conduct authority.
In order to open and run gambling services in the UK, one must apply for a license through the Gambling Commission and pay a registration fee. The commission has an online application process available in order to streamline the process. You can expect an operating license application to take around 16 weeks to process, assuming you have supplied all the correct information and documents. If the application is rejected due to incomplete information, your registration fee will be refunded and you will receive a letter explaining which documentation was missing. You will then have to re-register and include the missing documents.
What are the UK Gambling license types?
There are essentially three types of licenses issued in the UK, your proposed business activity will determine which license you will need to apply for, if not all them. The license are, an operating licence (from UKGC), a personal management licence (from UKGC), a personal functional licence (from UKGC) and you may require a premises licence (which would be issued by your local licensing authority).
NOTE: Local licensing authorities also provide gambling permits for pubs, clubs and other establishments for low-level gambling.
The following activities are covered by the licenses:
- Arcades
- Betting
- Bingo
- Casino
- Gambling software
- Gaming machines
- Lotteries
If you provide facilities for remote gambling (online or through other means), and advertise to consumers in Britain, you will need a licence from the Gambling Commission. It is important to note, that if you do not advertise to consumers in Britain, you do not need a UKGC license should someone from the UK choose to use your service, unsolicited.
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