Information about the United Kingdom online gambling jurisdiction, licensing requirements, player complaints and dispute resolution process, and a sortable list of casinos licensed under this jurisdiction.
The United Kingdom currently leads the world in terms of both liberalising and regulating online gambling within their jurisdiction. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is responsible for vetting and licensing prospective online gambling operators. It enforces a variety of standards and rules designed to protect players while at the same time encouraging the industry to flourish.
While many of the world's online gambling hubs have had tumultuous pasts laced with political strife, the UK is an extremely solid nation. Britain is one of the world's leading countries from an economic standpoint, and they are also a major political power as well.
In an effort to create a centralised division for gambling, the UK set up the Gambling Commission under the Gambling Act of 2005. The UK Gambling Commission is already one of the strongest gaming organisations in the world.
All parties hoping to operate an online gambling business in the UK must submit applications to the Gambling Commission. After receiving an application, the commission will review it and decide if the company is fit to operate out of Britain. If an online casino wants to legally accept customers from the United Kingdom, it must hold a valid license to operate issued by the UKGC. Casinos that do not hold such a license are breaking the law if they allow UK customers, though there are some located in unregulated jurisdictions that continue to do so. Licensed online gaming operators are taxed at a rate of 15% of net gaming revenue.
There are a number of disclosure and player protection measures required to be implemented by UKGC licensed casinos. Players must have access to controls that allow them to limit their gambling activity on the site, such as deposits, wagers, or time spent on site. Casinos are also required to disclose the level of protection and segregation that they provide to player funds while they are held by the casino, and this information is usually found in the casino's terms and conditions. The guidelines list three tiers of protection:
The UK Gambling Commission no longer handles disputes between players and operators. Instead it has instituted a system where it licenses third parties to mediate and resolve disputes. These third parties are known as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers and their services are free of charge. If you have a complaint about a UKGC licensed casino that you cannot resolve via the casino's support department, you can contact one of the ADR providers listed here. If the ADR does not rule in your favour, you also have the option of going to court as gambling contracts are legally enforceable in the United Kingdom. Should you wish to contact the UKGC for other reasons, their contact details are here.
