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UK · Online casinos guide

Are online casinos legal in the UK? Licences, stake limits and the rules

Yes, in Great Britain, with a casino operator licensed by the Gambling Commission under the Gambling Act 2005, for players 18 and over. Online slot stakes are capped at £5 a spin, or £2 if you're 18 to 24, slots can't spin faster than once every 2.5 seconds, and bonus wagering is capped at 10 times. Every licensed site must check your age before you play or deposit and take part in GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme.

By SafeBet.ai Research Team Updated 4 min read 13 sources

Key takeaways

  • Online casinos need a remote casino licence from the Gambling Commission; only the companies and web addresses on its public register are licensed, and offering or advertising unlicensed gambling to people in Great Britain is a criminal offence.
  • Online slot stakes are capped at £5 per spin, or £2 for players aged 18 to 24 (SI 2025/215), and since October 2021 slots have had no autoplay, no turbo spins and a minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin.
  • Since January 19, 2026, bonus wagering requirements are capped at 10 times, and a single promotion can't mix casino with betting, bingo or the lottery.
  • Every licensed site must verify your age and identity before you deposit or play, offer deposit limits from the start, and block you if you've signed up to GAMSTOP.
  • Credit cards can't be used to gamble, and players pay no tax on winnings.

The short answer

Online casinos are legal in Great Britain if they hold a remote casino operating licence from the Gambling Commission, the regulator set up by the Gambling Act 2005. You must be 18 or over. The Act covers England, Wales and Scotland; Northern Ireland isn’t covered by its licensing rules and has its own gambling law.

Every licensed company, and every web address its licences cover, is listed on the Commission’s public register. Providing gambling to people in Great Britain without a licence is an offence under section 33 of the Act, and advertising unlicensed gambling is an offence under section 330, each punishable by up to 51 weeks in prison or a fine. Our UK licence check searches the register for you.

The rules every licensed casino follows

Rule What it means for you Since
Slot stake limits £5 a spin at most (from April 9, 2025), or £2 if you’re 18 to 24 (from May 21, 2025) 2025
Slot design No autoplay, no turbo or “slam stop”, at least 2.5 seconds per spin, no celebrating a “win” that’s less than your stake October 31, 2021
Other casino games The same design rules, with at least 5 seconds per game round (except peer-to-peer poker) January 17, 2025
Age and identity Checked before you can deposit, play or even try free-play versions May 7, 2019
Deposit limits You’re prompted to set one when you sign up; declining takes a deliberate choice October 31, 2025
Financial vulnerability check A public-record check (for bankruptcy, CCJs and similar) once your deposits minus withdrawals pass £150 in 30 days February 28, 2025 (£150)
Credit cards Banned for gambling, including e-wallets funded by a credit card April 14, 2020
GAMSTOP Every licensed site must block players who self-exclude through it March 31, 2020

Bonuses

Bonuses are still allowed, but since January 19, 2026 the Commission’s rules cap wagering requirements at 10 times, and a single promotion can’t mix casino with betting, bingo or the lottery. A casino must show a bonus’s significant conditions up front, wherever it advertises it. We don’t list bonuses on our UK pages: our ranking compares the casinos themselves.

Who regulates what

  • The Gambling Commission licenses operators, sets the conditions they must follow (the LCCP and the remote technical standards) and publishes its fines and settlements on the public register.
  • The Advertising Standards Authority enforces the CAP Code, including the rule that gambling ads mustn’t strongly appeal to under-18s. The Commission makes compliance with the code a licence condition.
  • HMRC collects the operators’ duties: Remote Gaming Duty has been 40% of gaming profits since April 1, 2026.

The market

Online casino games are the biggest part of British online gambling: in the year to March 2026 they generated £5.7 billion of gross gambling yield, £4.8 billion of it from slots, out of £8.3 billion for online casino, betting and bingo combined, according to the Commission.

How to check a casino

  1. Find the company. A licensed site names the company behind it and its Gambling Commission account number, usually in the footer.
  2. Search the register. The company’s licence must be active, and the exact web address you’re using must be listed.
  3. Read its record. The register lists the Commission’s regulatory actions against licensees, such as fines and settlements.

Our ranking of the best online casinos in the UK compares licensed casinos on payouts, games, apps and support.

Compare the 7 best online casinos in the UK Ranked on regulation, fees, features and payouts · BetMGM, Sky Vegas, LeoVegas and more See the ranking

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to play at online casinos in the UK?

Yes, in Great Britain, at casinos licensed by the Gambling Commission, if you're 18 or over. The Gambling Act 2005 covers England, Wales and Scotland; Northern Ireland has its own gambling law. Check any site with our UK licence check.

What is the maximum stake on online slots in the UK?

£5 per spin, or £2 if you're 18 to 24, under the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. The limits apply to every reel-based online slot at every licensed site.

Are casino bonuses still allowed in the UK?

Yes, but since January 19, 2026 a licensed casino can't require you to wager bonus funds more than 10 times before you can withdraw them, and it can't combine casino with betting, bingo or the lottery in one promotion. Its significant terms must be shown up front. We don't list bonuses on our UK pages.

Can I use a credit card at a UK online casino?

No. The Gambling Commission's licence conditions ban licensed operators from accepting payment for gambling by credit card, including through e-wallets funded by a credit card. Debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and bank transfers are common alternatives.

Do I pay tax on casino winnings in the UK?

No. HMRC's position is that gambling isn't a trade for the player, so winnings aren't taxed. The operator pays Remote Gaming Duty, 40% of its gaming profits since April 1, 2026. See gambling taxes in the UK.

Guide · 2 min Is sports betting legal in the UK? Licences, tax and the rules Yes. Sports betting is legal in Great Britain with operators licensed by the Gambling Commission, for adults 18 and over, online and in betting shops. Bookmakers need a remote general betting licence and betting exchanges a betting intermediary licence; both are listed with their web addresses on the Commission's public register. Bettors pay no tax on winnings: the bookmaker pays General Betting Duty, and a new 25% rate for online bets applies from April 1, 2027. Read Guide · 2 min Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in the UK? No. HMRC's position is that betting and gambling aren't a trade for the player, so winnings from casinos, bookmakers, exchanges and spread bets aren't taxed, and losses can't be deducted. Operators pay gambling duties instead: Remote Gaming Duty on online casino games rose from 21% to 40% of gaming profits on April 1, 2026, and a 25% rate of General Betting Duty applies to online bets, except on UK horse racing, from April 1, 2027. Read Guide · 2 min Where to get help for gambling problems in the UK Call the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, on 0808 8020 133: it's free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To block yourself from every online gambling site licensed in Great Britain at once, register with GAMSTOP for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years; it's free and can't be cancelled early. In England you can also refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic, and in a crisis Samaritans answer on 116 123. Read

Sources

We verify facts against primary sources (regulators, court records, operators’ own terms) wherever possible.

  1. Gambling Act 2005, sections 33, 65, 330 and 361 — legislation.gov.uk , up to date to 2026-10-22
  2. The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/215) — legislation.gov.uk , made 2025-02-25
  3. Online slots stake limit guidance — Gambling Commission , updated 2025-06-16
  4. New age and identity verification rules: changes to the LCCP from Tuesday 7 May — Gambling Commission , 2019-05-03
  5. Gambling on credit cards to be banned from April 2020 — Gambling Commission , accessed 2026-10-22
  6. Remote gambling and software technical standards: previous changes — Gambling Commission , updated 2026-09-30
  7. LCCP: previous changes — Gambling Commission , accessed 2026-10-22
  8. LCCP SR code 5.1.1: Rewards and bonuses — Gambling Commission , in force from 2026-01-19
  9. LCCP SR code 3.2.11: Access to gambling by children and young persons (remote) — Gambling Commission , accessed 2026-10-22
  10. LCCP licence condition 6.1.2: Use of credit cards — Gambling Commission , accessed 2026-10-22
  11. LCCP SR code 3.5.5: Multi-operator self-exclusion scheme — Gambling Commission , accessed 2026-10-22
  12. LCCP SR code 3.4.4: Financial vulnerability check — Gambling Commission , accessed 2026-10-22
  13. Industry statistics: April 2025 to March 2026 — Gambling Commission , 2026-09-17