How do I know if a gambling site is safe and licensed in the UK?

Every gambling site that legally operates in the UK must hold a remote operating licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). You can verify any site's licence by searching the UKGC public register using the operator's name, trading name, or licence number. Licensed sites are required to display their licence number in the footer or terms and conditions. Beyond the licence, check for SSL encryption (the padlock icon in your browser's address bar) and review the operator's fund protection level on the register — this tells you how your deposited funds are protected if the company becomes insolvent. The three tiers are basic (lowest protection), medium, and high (funds fully ring-fenced). If a site does not appear on the UKGC register, is not displaying a licence number, or offers credit card gambling (which has been banned in the UK since 2020), it is either unlicensed or operating in breach of its licence conditions. In either case, you have no regulatory protection and should not deposit.

Are my winnings from gambling taxable in the UK?

No. Gambling winnings are not taxable for individuals in the United Kingdom, and they have not been since the abolition of betting duty for consumers in 2001. It does not matter how large the amount is or how frequently you gamble — there is no income tax, capital gains tax, or any other personal tax obligation on gambling winnings in the UK. The tax burden falls entirely on operators, who pay remote gaming duty (21% of gross gambling yield for online operators) and general betting duty (15% of gross profits for retail bookmakers). The mandatory gambling levy, introduced in October 2025, adds an additional contribution from operators to fund research, prevention, and treatment of gambling harm. As a punter, every pound you win is yours to keep. This applies to all forms of legal gambling — sports betting, casino games, poker, bingo, and lottery winnings.

What happens to my money if a gambling site goes bust?

What happens depends on the operator's fund protection level, which is declared as part of their UKGC licence and visible on the Gambling Commission's public register. At the basic level, the operator keeps your funds in an account separate from its own operating funds, but in the event of insolvency you are treated as a general creditor — meaning your balance is not guaranteed and recovery depends on the insolvency proceedings. At the medium level, your funds are held in a trust account or by an independent third party under a formal agreement, giving you a stronger legal claim in insolvency. At the high level, your funds are fully ring-fenced in a protected trust, managed by an independent trustee — they are legally separate from the operator's business and would be returned to you in full even if the company collapsed entirely. Before depositing significant amounts on any site, check its fund protection tier on the UKGC register. The difference between basic and high protection is the difference between hoping for the best and having a legal guarantee.

Terms of Use for UK Casino Information

Updated: 13.10.2026

These Terms of Use apply to your access to and use of Gamblingsites-uk.com, available at gamblingsites-uk.com. Please read them before using the site. By accessing or using it, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, do not use the site.

1. About this site

Gamblingsites-uk.com is an informational website about online casinos and gambling services for people in the United Kingdom. We are not a casino, gambling operator, bookmaker, payment provider or gambling regulator. You cannot open a gambling account, place a bet or deposit money with us.

Information on the site may include casino descriptions, reviews, comparisons, news and links to third-party websites. We aim to make it useful and clear, but we do not guarantee that every item is complete, accurate or up to date. Terms, offers, features and availability on third-party services can change. Check the relevant operator’s own website and licence information before making a decision.

2. Age and eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use this site’s gambling-related information. Gambling in Great Britain is restricted to people aged 18 or over, subject to applicable law and the rules of the relevant gambling service. Do not use a gambling service unless you meet its age and eligibility requirements.

A gambling operator is responsible for verifying a customer’s age before allowing them to deposit funds into a gambling account. Our site does not perform that verification and cannot confirm that you are eligible to gamble.

3. Your decisions and responsibility

You are responsible for your own decisions about whether to visit a third-party site, register with an operator or gamble. Information on Gamblingsites-uk.com is general information, not financial, legal or gambling advice, and is not a recommendation that you gamble or use any particular service.

Gambling involves the risk of losing money. Only make decisions you can afford, and do not treat gambling as a way to earn income or recover losses. If gambling is causing you concern, consider using the responsible gambling tools offered by the relevant operator, including limits and self-exclusion, and seek appropriate support.

Rules and protections can depend on where you are and which operator you use. The UK Gambling Commission regulates most types of gambling in Great Britain. Check the operator’s licence details and the regulator’s public register where relevant. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority.

4. Affiliate links and third-party services

Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you follow one and take an action with a third-party service, we may receive a commission or other compensation, at no additional cost to you. This may affect how links are presented, but it does not change your responsibility to assess the service for yourself. We aim to identify commercial relationships clearly.

When you leave Gamblingsites-uk.com, the third party’s terms, privacy practices and rules apply. We do not control those services and are not responsible for their content, availability, transactions, offers or conduct. Review the third party’s terms and verify any offer directly with that provider before acting.

5. Gambling rules and safer gambling information

Rules applicable to gambling operators in Great Britain include restrictions on credit-card gambling payments, including certain payments routed through money service businesses and wallets that permit credit-card funds to be used for gambling. Remote operators must also make financial-limit controls accessible and prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit.

Online slot rules in Britain include a ban on autoplay, a minimum of 2.5 seconds between the start of one game cycle and the next, and stake limits per game cycle of £2 for people under 25 and £5 for people aged 25 or over. These are regulatory requirements for operators, not services provided by this site. Requirements may vary by product and may change; consult the relevant operator and regulator for current information.

UK Gambling Commission licensees must provide an internal complaints process and access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service. This site does not handle gambling account complaints or provide ADR. Contact the relevant operator for help with its service.

6. Acceptable use and intellectual property

Use the site lawfully and do not interfere with its operation, attempt unauthorised access, or misuse its content. Unless permitted by law or with our prior permission, you may not reproduce or republish substantial parts of the site’s content.

Content on Gamblingsites-uk.com is provided for personal, informational use. We may update, remove or change site material at any time.

7. Liability and changes to these terms

We provide the site and its content on an informational basis. To the extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude responsibility for losses arising from reliance on site content, use of third-party services, or inability to access the site. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.

We may revise these terms by publishing an updated version on this page. The version shown here applies from its publication. Your continued use of the site after an update means you accept the revised terms.

8. Governing law

These terms are intended to apply to use of the site in the United Kingdom, including Great Britain. They are subject to applicable UK law. If you have a question about these terms, use the contact details published on Gamblingsites-uk.com.