Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?

Great Britain has a fully regulated remote and non-remote gambling licensing regime for both B2C and B2B providers Remote and non-remote gambling operations are licensed under the Gambling Act 2005. The Gambling Commission (GC) holds powers as the gambling regulator in Great Britain (GB), they licence, regulate, advise, and provide guidance to individuals and businesses that offer gambling in GB. The National Lottery is also under their remit. The GC represents the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). Northern Ireland has a separate gambling regime and is covered in a separate section. However the National Lottery regulation covers all of the UK (including Isle of Man) The Gambling Act 2005 defines 'gambling' as 'gaming', 'betting' and 'participating in a lottery'. Gaming is defined as playing a game of chance for a prize. A 'game of chance' includes: (a) a game that involves both an element of chance and an element of skill; (b) a game that involves an element of chance that can be eliminated by superlative skill; (c) a game that is presented as involving an element of chance but does not include a sport. The licensing regime distinguishes between Operating Licences (required to provide gambling facilities) and Personal Management Licences (PML) - required for individuals in specified management positions). Operating Licences are further subdivided by activity type: Casino, Bingo, General Betting (Standard and Limited), Pool Betting, Betting Intermediary, Gaming Machine General (for Adult Gaming Centres), Gaming Machine Technical (for suppliers), Gambling Software, Lottery (external lottery managers), and Remote Operating Licences for online activities. Additionally, there are limited exceptions to PML requirements for small scale operators (SSO), but this excludes casino operators. SSO exemption is calculated based on the number of key personnel with overall responsibility for the management functions qualifying positions (finance, IT, compliance, overall strategy, and marketing). An operator qualifies for SSO exemption if there are three key personnel with overall responsibility for the various management functions. However (as with the PML position) the person responsible for compliance cannot also hold the marketing or overall strategy function. Gambling Licenses continue until suspended, surrendered of revoke subject to payment of annual license fees. The PML continues for 5 years and must be then renewed. B2B suppliers require Gambling Software Operating Licences or Gaming Machine Technical Operating Licences depending on whether they supply remote or land-based products. B2C operators require Operating Licences specific to their gambling activities. The point of consumption regime means that any operator providing gambling services to GB consumers must hold a GB Operating Licence, regardless of where the operator is located. This applies to all remote gambling operators whose services are used in GB. This covers advertising to consumers in GB, which even includes a passive website accessible to GB based persons for the purposes of gambling - will trigger a requirement for a licence from the GC. In addition and irrespective of where the end customers are based, a requirement for a gambling license will be triggered by relevant presence in the GB where there’s deemed to be providing facilities for remote gambling (online or through other means) which includes gambling equipment and/or mind and management in the form of key personnel located in GB. Application process involves: (1) submission of detailed application forms with supporting documentation; (2) suitability assessment of corporate entities and key personnel including management controls, business plan and source of funding; (3) submissionof operating Policies and Procedures ; (4) payment of application fees; (5) determination by the GC typically within 16 weeks for straightforward applications. Key licence conditions include compliance with LCCP (Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice), AML obligations, responsible gambling requirements, and technical standards. Other Application timeframes The current application time scales are: • Change of control application: 12 weeks • Application to vary an operating licence: 8 weeks • Personal licence application: 8 weeks • Application to vary a personal licence: 2-4 weeks For more information see: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/what-you-need-to-send-us-when-you-apply-for-an-operating-licence Applications must all be made online by registering with the GC’s portal and then uploading information and documents in accordance with the type of licence applied for. This was recently updated and streamlined in December 2025 – as set out in this guide: https://mcusercontent.com/98b2fb542d2fef77a0dd47cc7/files/4c51e908-145e-4dee-62fc-27881901b165/Operator_Licence_Application_Changes_Information_Note.pdf For application portal see: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/guide/operating-licences Regulator ecosystem Regulator | Remit | Statutory basis Gambling Commission | Primary gambling regulator — licensing, compliance monitoring, enforcement, policy guidance for all gambling activities except spread betting. Supervisory Authority for AML compliance in the sector with HMRC acting as the national supervisory authority | Gambling Act 2005 Financial Conduct Authority | Regulates spread betting as a financial product; authorises spread betting firms | Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Advertising Standards Authority / CAP | Advertising content standards for gambling advertising — enforces CAP Code and BCAP Code | Self-regulatory codes endorsed by Ofcom (broadcast) and CMA (non-broadcast) Information Commissioner's Office | Data protection compliance for gambling operators handling customer personal data | Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR Competition and Markets Authority | Consumer protection enforcement, unfair terms, misleading practices | Consumer Rights Act 2015, Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 HM Revenue & Customs | Tax collection — Remote Gaming Duty, General Betting Duty, Pool Betting Duty, Lottery Duty | Finance Act (various), Gambling Taxes regulations Licence classes Licence type | Scope | B2C/B2B | Notes Remote and Non-Remote Casino Operating Licence | Online and landbased casino games including slots, table games, live dealer | B2C | Covers poker , backgammon and other games of mixed skill and chance Remote and non-remote Bingo Operating Licence | Online and landbased bingo games | B2C | Can be standalone or combined with other remote licences Remote and non-remote General Betting (Standard) Real Events Operating Licence | Online and landbased Fixed-odds betting on all real event types | B2C | Covers sports betting, esports betting, in-play betting, betting on lotteries – except national lottery Remote General Betting (Standard) Virtual Events Operating Licence | Online Fixed-odds betting on all virtual event types | B2C | Based on RnG generated results Remote and non remote Pool Betting Operating Licence | On-line and landbased Pool/pari-mutuel betting operations | B2C | Required for tote-style betting products, also covers commercial fantasy sports offerings Remote and non-remote Betting Intermediary Operating Licence | On-line and landbased Betting exchanges and intermediary platforms | B2C | Commission-based model rather than bookmaking risk Remote and non-remote Gambling Software Operating Licence | Development, manufacture, supply of gambling software for On-line and landbased gambling | B2B | Required for platform providers, game developers, RNG suppliers serving GB-licensed operators. Remote Gambling Host licences (casino, bingo , vittual events betting) are required with gambling software licences if the B2B provider uses their own infrastructure (rather than their B2C customer) Remote and Non-remote Gaming Machine Technical Operating Licence | Supply, installation, maintenance of gaming machines and associated software | B2B | For land-based gaming machine supply chain Remote Lottery Operating Licence | Society lotteries, external lottery management | B2C/B2B | External lottery managers require licence; society lotteries may register with local authority or GC depending on size Personal Management Licence | Individuals in specified management functions | Individual | Required for persons occupying qualifying positions in licensed operators Presence Requirements No local entity requirement; There are currently no server location or other infrastructure obligations in GB and there are also no data storage requirements under the current regulations. No need to have any staff of key persons in GB, apart from a GB address for service of official documentation