An Introduction to Gambling Laws in UK: What You Need to Know

Edna Boykin
August 12, 2024

Players in the UK spend over $18.9 billion per year on online gambling. The UK gambling market is the second largest in Europe, constantly demanding updated regulatory measures to prevent criminal activities.

The UK has seen many gambling laws in the past, including the 1960 Betting and Gambling Act. A newer gambling authority emerged in 2007 called the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) that serves as a regulatory authority. For a more secure gambling industry, the UKGC launched the new ‘Tell us something in confidence’ in 2023 to prevent criminal and suspicious activities. But there is more to it than what meets the eye. Through this article, we aim to help our readers understand the UK’s regulatory environment and what forms of gambling are legally allowed in the country.

Is Gambling in the UK Legal & Regulated?

Several gambling laws in UK regulate gambling activities. Some of these include:

The Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 makes necessary changes in the gambling laws to cover the operation of online casinos and the new-gen gaming machines. It prevents common gambling harms like gambling crimes and financial issues. It makes sure the casinos operate transparently and protect children and vulnerable individuals from being exploited or harmed by gambling.

The Gambling Commission Licensing Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP)

The LCCP states the gambling requirements that operators need to fulfill to obtain and maintain official gambling licenses. It establishes important gambling laws for anti-money laundering, customer protection measures, and social responsibility practices.

The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014

The Gambling Act 2014 has provisions for the licensed operation of gambling operators who advertise and offer remote casino facilities. The act requires operators to sell into the UK market and hold a commission license to allow transactions without affecting the authority of other licensing authorities.

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. To operate legally in the UK, all lottery platforms must adhere to the rules and regulations of the National Lottery Act 1993.

The Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations

The regulations surrounding anti-money laundering in the UK require casinos to obtain and verify the identities of their customers. The verification procedure is then implemented for three reasons: to confirm and verify identities for AML, to verify whether they are of the legal gambling age, and to determine whether they are self-excluded from online gambling.

The Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (RTS)

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 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.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Codes

The self-regulatory ASA organization governs marketing and advertising activities of online casinos. UK casino operators need to comply with the ASA Codes to provide their products and services. The Codes impose restrictions on marketing, advertisements, and responsible gambling that target the vulnerable individuals.

Allowed Forms of Gambling in the UK

The primary forms of gambling in the United Kingdom are listed below.

Online Gambling

According to the UK online gambling laws, the best online casinos in UK need to be licensed by the Gambling Commission to operate legally and provide their range of services and products, including online casino games and poker rooms.

Casinos

UK gamblers can participate in legal gambling on the best online casino sites and land-based platforms with strong licensing and adherence to the UK online gambling laws.

Sports Betting

UK’s Sports betting has a long-standing narrative. The UK’s sports betting market offers various options for bettors, and many licensed platforms also provide valuable UK betting sign-up deals that enhance the overall betting experience. The implementation of the 1960 Act legalized many sportsbooks. This resulted in a rise of sports betting within the national borders. Added to this, Pool wagering on horse races was also monopolized by the Tote and now London is known for hosting more than 1000 sports betting shops.

Lotteries

Online casinos operated by the National Lottery in the UK hold lotteries for the citizens. Players must be of the legal gambling age for purchasing lottery tickets which is 16 or more.

Bingo

Bingo has different variants and is available in legal gambling formats in many online and land-based casinos in the UK.

Scratchcards

Scratch cards are legal only in the UK if players are 18. They can be purchased in person or online from approved online casinos in the UK.

Gaming Machines

Gaming machines are legal in the United Kingdom and encompass exciting slot machines and similar devices.

The Role of the UK Gambling Commission

The Gambling Act of 2005 was established to regulate the UK gambling industry and make provisions for the Gambling Commission, which oversees all forms of gambling, including national lottery, online casinos, and sportsbooks. However, it works with almost 400 licensing authorities to establish UK gambling laws in Scotland, England, and Wales.

The UK Gambling Commission provides five licenses for general betting, general betting limited, intermediary trading rooms, and pool betting – physical and remote. Tax rates are levied on gambling based on the form of gambling services offered. Therefore, we recommend our readers to research the tax rates before joining the gambling market.

Major Changes in UK Gambling Laws

Major changes have taken place in the UK Gambling Laws, some of which have been discussed below –

No Cards Accepted

Licensed casinos online strictly forbid credit cards like PayPal. No user will have the permission to make transactions by using their credit cards on the online casinos.

Age Verification

A recent study by licensed authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission found that underage gambling was on the rise. The gambling laws UK were subsequently changed to make the age verification process mandatory for casino operators at registration.

Free Services for Problem Gamblers

Only 3% of the UK gamblers suffering from gambling addiction are found to seek help. There are plenty of online resources available to the players in the UK who are struggling with problem gambling.

In addition to these, online casinos team up with some agencies like the Gambling Anonymous and GamCare that help problem gamblers.

Tell us Something in Confidence

This is where unwanted activities, for example, match-involvement, under-age betting, suspicious acts, and concerns on money laundering, and other activities that are not licensed and considered illegal can be reported through the “Tell Us Something In Confidence”.

Conclusion

First of all, it is crucial to know the UK gambling rules for any player or casino operator willing to venture into the UK online gambling industry. In this all-inclusive guide, we make it easier for you to learn about the main UK gambling laws and regulations defining the Gambling Act 2005, LCCP, Gambling Act 2014, National Lottery Act 1993, RTS, and ASA Code. Due to this, the nature of gambling keeps on changing; hence, the laws must be updated. Accordingly, the actions of players are very relevant and need to be driven by regulatory guidelines to ensure safe and responsible gaming.

FAQs

What is the minimum age requirement for gambling in the UK?

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.