Not every online casino that appears in a search result is operating legally. Some hold valid licences from recognised regulators. Others display licensing badges that go nowhere, or claim authorisation from bodies that carry little real weight. Knowing how to tell the difference takes less than two minutes, and it’s worth doing before you deposit anything.
When you play at a casino online that holds a valid licence from a credible regulator, your funds sit in protected accounts, the games are independently verified for fairness, and you have access to formal dispute resolution if something goes wrong. None of that applies at an unlicensed site.
Start with the footer
Every legitimate UK-facing online casino is required to display its UK Gambling Commission licence number in the footer of the site. This is not optional. The UKGC logo should be visible and, critically, it should be clickable. Tapping or clicking it takes you directly to the operator’s entry on the UKGC Public Register. If the logo is a static image that does nothing, treat that as a red flag.
The licence number itself is a string of digits, usually accompanied by the legal name of the operating company. Note that the brand name you see on the site may differ from the operator’s registered legal name. That’s normal. What matters is that the details match what the UKGC register shows.
How to use the UKGC Public Register
The UKGC Public Register is freely available at gamblingcommission.gov.uk. You don’t need to create an account. Search using either the licence number from the site’s footer or the operator’s legal name.
The register will show you the licence status, the type of licence held, and when it was issued. It will also flag any regulatory action taken against the operator, including fines or sanctions. A site can hold a valid licence and still have a history of compliance failures. Checking the register tells you both.
What you’re looking for is a licence listed as active, covering the relevant activity type. For online casino games, that’s a remote casino operating licence.
What a genuine logo looks like
A legitimate UKGC logo is clear, properly formatted, and links directly to the register. A spoofed logo, or one copied from another operator’s site, will typically link nowhere, link to a generic UKGC homepage rather than the operator’s specific record, or display at unusually low resolution. Some unlicensed sites go further, fabricating licence numbers entirely. The register check catches this immediately.
Other licences to be aware of
The UKGC licence is the relevant standard for players based in Great Britain. Other credible regulators include the Malta Gaming Authority and the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. Sites licensed by bodies such as Curaçao eGaming operate under a lighter framework and carry fewer player protections, particularly around dispute resolution and fund security.
For Irish players, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is the relevant body following the establishment of a domestic licensing framework.
What a licence actually means for you
A UKGC-licensed operator must offer deposit limits, session timers, self-exclusion tools, and clear links to support services. Under rules introduced in 2025, online Slots carry a maximum stake of £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over. Bonus wagering requirements are capped at ten times the bonus amount. These protections only apply if the site is genuinely licensed.
If you have concerns about your gaming, GamCare and BeGambleAware both offer free, confidential support.
The licence check itself takes about two minutes. The UKGC register is the only source that counts.
