The UK Gambling Commission – Duties, Regulations & Industry Statistics

We have said it a number of times and we won’t get tired of repeating it because it’s truly important – you should only play at licensed and regulated online casinos. But how do you know which ones those are? Besides, what does regulated mean in the casino world? In the UK, the superior organisation when it comes to safe gaming is the UK Gambling Commission. You’ve probably heard the name before but aren’t exactly sure what it really means. That’s why we’ve prepared this special review to explain everything you need to know about the UKGC. We’ll tell you what the company does and what its regulations are. We’ll teach you how to tell if a site is fully legal and what info the operators should provide

About

UKGC is one of the world’s leaders in gambling regulation and licensure, together with the Malta Gaming Authority, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, and the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. It is, however, the superior one in the UK. It is an executive public body which regulates most commercial gambling activities on the British Isles, including bingo, casinos, betting, arcades, gaming machine and software providers, lottery operators, and remote gambling. The UKGC is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport. Furthermore, it works in conjunction with licensing authorities and testing houses. It is important to remember two things about those who offer or advertise their gambling services to British citizens. First, their equipment should be based in Britain. Second, they need to be UKGC-regulated even if they have licences from other reputable organisations.

Historical Background

UKGC was established under the Gambling Act 2005 but only assumed its full powers two years later, in 2007. At first, it took over for the Gaming Board for Great Britain in regulating arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, slot machines and lotteries. Spread betting, though, was and still is under the jurisdiction of the Financial Conduct Authority. An important milestone in the history of the Commission was reached in October 2013 when the national lottery was added to its regulatory activity. That was achieved by making the National Lottery Commission a part of the Gambling Commission. A year later, the Gambling Act 2014 declared that any operator wishing advertise to potential British customers had to obtain an operating licence from the Commission.

One of its most prominent sectors of influence is remote gambling, which encompasses any gambling activity that is not tied to betting by being physically present. That means any betting conducted online, by telephone and other communication devices qualifies as remote gambling. However, the prerequisite of the equipment being British-based remains. An interesting fact is that remote gambling, as might be expected, is the fastest growing branch of gambling and will probably become stronger and more influential in the future.

What Does the UKGC Do?

The Commission is responsible for a number of activities which when put together make gambling in the UK safe and fair. That is vital for players and operators and anyone involved in gaming that’s why they take their job seriously. As a result, gaming on the British Isles has become an example for other markets to strive towards. If we have to differentiate between the many activities of the UKGC, here’s what it actually does:

• Permit: Together with the licensing agencies, they permit gambling to operators who comply with their stringent rules and regulations.
• Protect: They protect the citizens, especially those that can’t protect themselves – vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.
• Prevent: They prevent gambling from being associated in any way with crime, including leading to crime or using criminal activities in gaming.
• Ensure: They ensure that all gambling is fair, legal, and open. If one thing is certain, it is that wherever the UKGC seal is present, everything is transparent.

Not only does the Commission make sure others comply with its rules but they follow a strict set of rules themselves. For example, all their dealings, such as procedures, rules, and documents, are open to anyone who might be interested in reading them. Also, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, you can request information and it will be mailed to you. However, one can find many details on their website, which is also a great source for the latest news, including the status of operators, because they post operating licence terminations, compliance failings, and so on.

The Commission’s Regulations

The regulations of the Commission are of particular interest to everyone engaging in gambling. The UKGC regulates gambling in the public interest following the Gambling Act 2005. There are actually four parts – licensing, compliance, regulatory enforcement, and criminal enforcement. Though it puts an emphasis on prevention in the gambling industry by giving information about requirements and regulations and offering advice, the Commission would not think twice about taking regulatory action against a licensee. These actions include but are not limited to issuing a formal warning, suspending or revoking a licence, and imposing a financial penalty. It is within their power to declare a bet void and require refund. However, you cannot make a complaint to them directly if you think you’re the victim of an unfair casino operator. You should contact a dispute resolving organisation, such as IBAS instead.

UKGC-Regulated Casinos

All land-based and remote gambling operators as well as software providers that offer their services to people residing in Britain need to be regulated by the UKGC. That means that they have got all the necessary licences, including having passed the required technical standards, and provide annual audit reports of compliance. There are certain test houses that make sure the operators continue to fulfil the UKGC requirements after they have been issued a licence. While that is a must, there are still some casinos that dare provide illegal gambling, so you should be wise and play at the sites we have recommended to you. Those do not simply comply with the regulations for safety and fairness. They are the ultimate option for fair, entertaining, and profitable gaming.

What Info Should Operators Provide?

Did you know that casino operators are obliged to provide certain information? The Gambling Commission has made sure that the rights of UK customers are respected. Since providing them with information is part of that, the operators might face warnings, penalties, and even retrieval of their licence if they fail to do so. According to their licence terms, casinos are obliged to give you information regarding the following:

• Promotions: Promotional offers should come with clear and extensive definitions regarding what is expected of you in order to successfully claim it. The offer advert should either explain the terms or give a link to them.
• Terms and Conditions: The terms of the casino should be easily accessible on their website and should be written in plain words. They should also detail any relevant information. Finally, casinos are obliged to let you know in advance if they make major changes to the T&C.
• Rules of the Games: The casino operators should provide rules of the games they offer as the players have the right to know how to play the games. Sometimes they will also have to offer player’s guides to the games.
• Customer Funds: The casino sites should make it clear how the customers’ funds and credits are handled and what would happen with that sensitive information if the business becomes bankrupt.
• Licence Status: Sites don’t display the UKGC seal just so that they brag they are legal and regulated. They should actually provide a logo and a link to the UKGC website on any page that you can gamble on.
• Safe Gambling: Operators should provide information on how players can gamble safely. They should give players options to limit their time and money spent gaming. Also, they should have links to organisations promoting gambling awareness.
• Complaints & Disputes: The casinos are not be all, end all in any given situation and if a problem arises, customers should have the right to third-party mediator. That’s why sites should provide links to such dispute-handling organisations.

The Commission representatives and their partner organisations do their best to ensure all that information is available on the operators’ sites. However, if you can’t find it or think that it is put in wording that is ambiguous or in other ways unclear, you could help them out by contacting them and explaining what you have observed, experienced or what you consider a breech.

FAQ