Gambling Commission

When it comes to real money gaming you need to wager with trusted, safe and legal operators.

Some gamblers use blacklisted casinos or non licensed gambling sites which have no regulations or licensing in place. You run the risk of winning large jackpots and not being paid out – with nowhere to register your complaint to.

In the United Kingdom, we have the UK Gambling Commission which creates strict rules and guidelines to all operators for player protection.

Check out to see whether you understood the importance of the UK Gambling Commission role in Great Britain?

What is the UK Gambling Commission?

The UK Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling and supervising gaming law in Great Britain.

The UKGC covers amusement arcades, betting, online bingo, online casinos, slot machines and lotteries.

The UK Gambling Commission check compliance is in order for licensing and regulation purposes. The mission statement set out from the gaming commission is:

“to keep crime out of gambling, to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and to protect children and vulnerable people”

UKGC Licensed Casinos

Players can find the list of UK licensed gambling sites under “Register of license holders” on www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.

If you want to see an in-depth list of UKGC licensed online casinos including their bonuses and reviews we have searched the internet to provide this.

Here are the most popular UKGC licensed casinos:

  • 32Red Casino

    32Red Logo
    UP TO £150 + 25 FREE SPINS

    18+. BeGambleAware.org. New accounts only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • 888 Casino

    888 Casino Logo
    88 FREE SPINS NO DEPOSIT + £100 WELCOME BONUS

    No Deposit Offer: New players with valid mobile number only • Claim in 48 hrs • 14 day expiry • Valid for selected games • Pre-1st deposit only: FS voucher winnings is uncapped, bonus wins & max redeemable amount for non-funded players capped at £100, excl. JP wins • Wager Bonus x1 – req. contributions vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Deposit Offer: 1st time depositor at 888casino only • £20 min deposit • Claim in 48 hrs • Valid for selected games • Bonus wins capped at £500, excl. JP wins • Pre-1st deposit only: Bonus wins & max redeemable amount capped at £100, excl. JP wins • 30x wagering – req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Payment method & country restrictions apply • Withdrawal terms, No Deposit Offer terms & Deposit Bonus Offer terms apply.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • The Sun Vegas

    The Sun Vegas Logo
    100% BONUS UP TO £300

    New Customers Only. 100% Deposit Match up to £300. Min deposit £10. 50x Wagering applies to the Bonus + Deposit amount, playable on selected slots only. Bonuses must be accepted within 72 hours and are valid for 30 days and wagering requirement must be completed in this time. Bonus amount can’t be withdrawn. Max bet restrictions apply. Not all games contribute equally to wagering requirements. Deposits made with Neteller and Skrill are not valid for this promotion. 18+ begambleaware.org. Full T&C apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • mFortune Casino

    mFortune casino Logo
    UP TO £10 FREE & 100 FREE SPINS

    18+. New players only. Up to £10 bonus credit available via Lobby Game. 7 day expiry. Up to 10 (20p) free spins (FS) a day on Super Win 7s for 10 days. £50 max withdrawal from bonuses without a deposit across all Intouch Games Accounts; mFortune, Mr Spin, Dr Slot, PocketWin, Casino2020, Bonus Boss, Jammy Monkey. Expires 00:00 daily. Min deposit £10. Up to 200% deposit match of first deposit awarded as bonus credit. Withdrawal of deposit excludes player. Max £100 awarded as bonus credit. Expires 30 days after registration. 40x wagering requirement for FS and bonuses. Wins paid as bonus credit. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Dream Vegas

    Dream Vegas Logo
    UP TO £300 + 150 BONUS SPINS

    18+. New players only. One offer per player. Max bonus bet £5. Offer: 100% bonus match on 1st deposit + bonus spins. Value of bonus & number of spins depend on deposit amount: £20-£100: max £100 bonus + 50 spins on selected games; £101-£200: max £200 bonus + 100 spins on selected games; or £200+: max £300 bonus + 150 spins on eligible NetEnt Games. Winnings from spins credited as bonus and capped at £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (35x deposit + bonus). Only bonus funds contribute to wagering requirement. Bonus funds expire within 30 days; bonus spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks apply. Terms Apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Unibet Casino

    Unibet Logo 2020
    DEPOSIT £10 GET A £40 BONUS

    18+ begambleaware.org. New Customers only. Minimum Deposit £10 and Get £40 in Casino Bonus Funds. Debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, new customers must opt in and claim offer within 24 hours and use within 30 days. See full terms. #Ad

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Pocketwin Casino

    Pocketwin Casino
    UP TO £10 + UP TO 200% DEPOSIT MATCH

    18+. New Players only. Up to £10 bonus credit available via Feature Game. 40x wagering requirement. 14 day expiry. Up to 200% deposit match of first deposit awarded as bonus credit. Max bonus £100. 30 day expiry. £50 Max withdrawal from bonus win. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • All British Casino

    All British Casino Logo
    100% WELCOME BONUS UP TO £100 + 10% CASHBACK

    New customers only, min deposit £20, wagering 35x, max bet £5 with bonus funds. Max bonus is 100% up to £100. No max cash out on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Cashback is cash with no restriction.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • 777 Casino

    777 Casino
    GET 77 FREE SPINS + UP TO £200 BONUS

    New players only • No Deposit Offer: Claim in 48 hrs • 14 day expiry • Free Spins (FS) wins credited as bonus & capped at £10, excl. JP win • Deposit Bonus Offer: FreePlay (FP) wins credited as bonus & capped at amount received, exc. JP win • Valid for selected games • Bonus wins capped at £500, excl. JP wins • Pre-1st deposit only: Bonus wins & max redeemable amount capped at £100, excl. JP wins • 50x wagering – req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Payment method & country restrictions apply • Withdrawal restrictions & T&Cs apply: No Deposit Offer & Deposit Offer.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Dream Jackpot

    Dream Jackpot
    50 BONUS SPINS

    18+. New players only. Min deposit £20. 1st deposit: 50 spins on Big Bass Bonanza. 35x wagering applies, within 21 days. Max wins from spins £100. Spins expire after 24 hours.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • PlayOJO Casino

    Play Ojo Logo
    50 FREE SPINS NO WAGERING

    First deposit only. 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead slot. Free Spin valued at £0.10. OJO’s Rewards and Game Play policy applies.

    Full T&C's Apply

Online Bingo Sites Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission

All UK bingo sites are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission to ensure bingo players’ protection.

Bingo players can find the list of UK licensed bingo companies under “Register of license holders” on www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.

Here are the most popular UKGC licensed bingo brands:

  • Buzz Bingo

    Buzz Bingo Logo
    GET £40 BONUS + 200 SPINS
    The well-respected Buzz Bingo is regulated and their license number is 2355 with UKGC. An award-winning trusted safe bingo site.

    Deposit & stake £10 Bingo get £30 bonus (x4 WR) + £10 Club voucher, &/or stake £10 slots get 200 x 10p Fire Blaze™ Blue Wizard Megaways™ spins (x20 WR). Use or add to balance to get both. 18+

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Costa Bingo

    Costa Bingo Logo
    DEPOSIT £10 PLAY WITH £40
    The trusted bingo site is licensed by the Great Britain Gambling Commission under licence number 39028.

    18+ new players only. Offer only valid on a player’s 1st deposit at Costa Bingo. Deposit min £10 to get 200% Bingo Bonus (max £200) + 20 Free Spins [FS] on Irish Luck. FS wins capped at max £2 real cash. To withdraw bingo bonus & related wins, wager 4x the amount of deposit + bonus funds. Deposit balance can be withdrawn at any time. General withdrawal restrictions.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Sun Bingo

    Sun Bingo Logo
    GET £50 FREE BINGO + 50 FREE SPINS
    VF2011 Limited is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under license number 45110.

    Until 31/12/21. New customers only. 18+ Deposit & spend £10 on Bingo to receive £50 Bingo Bonus & 50 Free Spins (selected slots only 20p per spin). Free Spins must be accepted within 48 hours, winnings have 30x wagering which must be wagered within this time. Bingo Bonus has 4x Wagering, bonus must be accepted & wagered within 7 days. 1 new player offer only. Deposits made with Neteller/Skrill/PayPal are not valid for this promotion. UK & ROI. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org. Please play responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • 888 Ladies

    888 Ladies Logo
    PLAY WITH £50 + 15 FREE SPINS
    888 Ladies is a trustworthy bingo site with license number 39028 regulated by the Gaming Commission in the United Kingdom.

    New players offer: New players only. Room access granted for 3 days after registration. Games play every 10 mins, 7am-10pm. A total of £888 in bingo bonuses [BB] available over 3 days. This is a shared game. If more than 1 winner, the JP will be shared. Non-Funded player balance capped at £100, exc. JP wins. Welcome offer: 1st depositors only. Min £10 deposit with code LADIESPIN, get 200% bingo bonus [BB] + 200% games bonus [GB] (max £100 per bonus) + 15 Free Spins [FS] on Fluffy Favourites. Must be claimed within 7 days; FS valid for 7 days once claimed. FS wins granted in GB after all FS are used; wins set at £4 GB. GB wins capped at £100, exc. jp win. GB valid on specific games only Wagering req. apply: 2x (deposit + BB funds) and 30x GB funds (vary by game); country restrictions apply.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Wink Bingo

    Wink Bingo Logo
    DEPOSIT £10 PLAY WITH £50
    Wink Bingo is a safe site with license number 39028 regulated by the UKGC in Great Britain.

    1st depositors only. Min £10 deposit, get 200% bingo bonus [BB] + 200% games bonus [GB] (max £100 per bonus). Must be claimed within 7 days. GB wins capped at £100, exc. PJP win. Wagering req. apply: 2x (deposit + BB funds) and 30x GB funds(vary by game).

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Gala Bingo

    Gala Bingo Logo
    £50 BINGO BONUS + 40 FREE SPINS
    Gala Bingo is a safe trusted company with license number 54743 regulated by the UKGC in Great Britain.

    18+. New online customers only. Min 1st deposit & spend £10 on Bingo tickets to get £50 Bingo bonus (4x wagering, valid 7 days, selected games)+ 40 Free Spins (£0.10 value each, valid 7 days, selected games). Players restrictions and T&Cs apply.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • PlayOJO 50 Free Bingo Tickets + 50 Free Spins

    Play Ojo Logo
    GET 50 BINGO TICKETS + 50 FREE SPINS
    Play OJO is a trusted legal bingo website with license number 39326 regulated by the UKGC in Great Britain.

    First deposit only. Min deposit £10. Free tickets valid for games up to 25p in Amigo Room. Free Spins worth 10p each, valid on Starburst slot. Excl. new players in N.I. Rewards and Game Play Policy applies.

    Full T&C's Apply

What does the Gambling Commission do?

The UK Gambling Commission issues licences to operators who want to run online casinos, slots and bingo websites.

The UKGC advisory board feedback to the government on gambling-related issues.

Any suspected illegal gambling is reported to the police through the Gaming Commission.

Who funds the Gambling Commission?

The UK Gambling Commission is publicly funded in the United Kingdom.

The UKGC is a not for profit organisation but licence fees from holders of operating and personal licences are required to pay to assist funding.

The license fees help minimise the funding needed from the Exchequer.

New Regulations

All online casinos that operate in the UK are soon going to be forced to sign up to Gamstop or risk losing their operating licences.

While rumours have been circulating about this change for a while now, we’re expecting it will be confirmed soon by the UKGC.

For British gamblers, only fully licensed online casinos regulated by UK Gambling Commission are legal to wager on.

Gambling Commission Complaints

If you have any concerns surrounding a gambling business then here is the complaints procedure:

The UKGC is trying to make the whole process clearer on how you can complain and raise a dispute.

Most Common Online Gambling Complaints

Here are the most common gambling complaints online:

  • Slow Payout Times – (failing to make payments that are legitimately owed to the player). Apply pressure to the gambling site — they need to do the right thing or suffer the consequences)
  • No-Pay Problems – (failing to make payments that are legitimately owed to the player). Apply pressure to the gambling site — they need to do the right thing or suffer the consequences)
  • Administrative Problems –  It is up to the player to prove the gambling is in error and these complaints are pretty rare
  • Connectivity Errors – Gambling sites have a term that says “not liable for technical errors or failures”. The better gambling operators will take care of their players if there are game errors or connectivity failures
  • KYC problems – KYC means “Know Your Customer”. The KYC process is the process of requesting documents and verifying identity. The best way to avoid “Know Your Customer” problems is to give the gambling site what they ask for.
  • Self-Exclusion Problems – Successful self-exclusion depends on the gamblers willingness to take responsibility for their actions. Put it in writing that you want to self-exclude and get the gambling site to acknowledge your request in writing.
  • Player Fraud – The whole gambling industry is riddled with player fraud so any problems you have is treated suspiciously above and this is why complaints can take a while to be resolved.

Fraudulent Cases

The most common complaints aren’t really complaints at all because usually includes some sort of fraud.

The gambling sector is riddled with scams and fraudulent cases.

Fraud is a big part of the online gambling scene where the player is knowingly trying to pull one over on the gambling site in order to gain an advantage.

Fraudulent cases include self-exclusion scams, bonus sharing schemes, illegal matched betting wagering, fake identification documents and much more.

Over 30% of complaints made are usually fraudulent which is why the complaints procedures can take a while to conclude.

Responsible Gambling

The UKGC like to promote responsible gambling and here are other resources that help:

The UK Gambling Commission presents laws related to gambling in making sure all operators market legally and allow self-exclusion.

Summary

Living in the UK you should definitely play in fully licensed online casinos.

All fully licensed casinos accept British players, GBP currency and more importantly have fair trading terms and conditions to abide by.

The added trust factor of knowing you are playing on a safe gambling site (whether that’s a bingo site, casino site or slot site) gives players peace of mind.

UKGC is known as the best within the iGaming authorities as they follow strict rules to operators and guaranteed player protection. There are other licensed casinos operating under its jurisdiction but we tend to promote the top operators approved and licensed by the UKGC organisation.

James has almost a decade of experience in the iGaming Industry. Winning several awards including "UK Casino Affiliate of the Year" he uses his experience to research the UK market to source the best bingo welcome bonuses, highest casino slots real money payouts and free spins sign up offers.