How to Check an Online Casino Licence

Checking an online casino licence is more than finding a regulator logo in the footer. A meaningful check connects the exact website domain to the legal company that operates it, confirms the current licence status, and shows which gambling activities the licence actually covers.

This guide explains the process for people in Great Britain. It does not certify or recommend any individual casino. Licensing information and website ownership can change, so repeat the checks before opening an account or depositing money.

Why licence checks matter

A casino brand, legal operator and website domain are three separate pieces of information. A familiar brand can be used on several domains, and different companies may operate versions of a brand for different countries. A licence held by one company does not automatically cover every similarly named website.

The Gambling Commission says businesses that provide remote gambling facilities to consumers in Great Britain need its licence, including businesses based abroad. For a British-facing casino, the most useful starting point is therefore the Gambling Commission public register.

Step 1: record the exact domain

Write down the full domain shown in the browser address bar. Check the spelling carefully, including the ending such as .com, .co.uk or another country code. Look for unexpected extra words, hyphens or subdomains.

This matters because a licence record may list specific domains. A licence attached to one domain should not be assumed to cover a different address merely because the branding looks similar.

Step 2: identify the legal operator

Open the casino’s terms and conditions, privacy notice and website footer. Look for:

the full legal company name;
a company or registration number;
the registered or head-office address;
the regulator and licence or account number;
the company responsible for deposits, account balances and withdrawals.

If different pages name different companies, pause and ask the operator to explain which entity holds the customer contract. Save a dated copy or screenshot of the relevant terms.

Step 3: search the Gambling Commission register

The register can be searched by business name, trading name, domain name or account number. Search the legal company first, then repeat the search using the exact domain and trading name.

Do not stop when a similar name appears. Open the record and compare the details with the casino’s terms. When checked on 1 October 2026, the register showed an update dated the same day. Its notice explains that gambling businesses supply domain and trading-name information, so the Commission cannot guarantee its accuracy.

Step 4: read the licence status

A record can show more than simply “licensed” or “not licensed”. The public register describes statuses including active, expired, forfeited, lapsed, pending, revoked, surrendered and suspended.

For a current British-facing service, check that the status is active. “Pending” does not mean the requested licence is already in force. A suspended, surrendered, revoked, expired or lapsed record should not be presented as a current active licence.

Step 5: match the domain and trading name

Inside the business record, review the declared domains and trading names. Check that:

the domain matches the address you recorded;
the domain status is current;
the trading name matches the brand shown on the website;
the legal operator matches the company named in the terms.

The Commission lists domain-name status as active, inactive or white label. If the domain is absent or inactive, do not assume another domain owned by the same group covers it.

Step 6: confirm the licensed activities

Gambling licences cover particular activities. A business may be authorised for betting, bingo, casino games or another service, and the dates for each activity can differ.

Check that the record includes the activity offered on the website. A company appearing somewhere in the register is not proof that every gambling product it advertises is covered.

Step 7: check regulatory actions

The register can show regulatory actions and settlements involving a licensee. Read the underlying notice rather than judging an operator from a headline alone. Check the date, the breach described, the outcome, and whether the action relates to the current company and service.

An active licence does not mean an operator has never faced regulatory action. Equally, an older action does not by itself describe the operator’s present compliance. The record is one part of a broader check.

Step 8: read the complaint and ADR process

Before depositing, find the casino’s complaints policy and the named Alternative Dispute Resolution provider. The Gambling Commission’s complaints guidance says customers should first complain directly to the gambling business and follow its procedure.

The guidance recommends providing dates, times, amounts and supporting evidence, and keeping a copy of everything submitted. A licensed gambling business has eight weeks to resolve a complaint. If the internal process does not produce a satisfactory outcome, the complaint may be eligible for escalation to an ADR provider.

What if a casino names an overseas regulator?

Use the overseas regulator’s own official register and repeat the same checks: legal company, exact domain, licence status, permitted activities and complaints route. Do not rely on a footer badge or a link to an image.

An overseas licence is not a substitute for the Gambling Commission authorisation required to serve consumers in Great Britain. The location of the company and the market it is licensed to serve are separate questions.

Red flags during a licence check

The footer gives no legal company name or licence number.
The licence badge does not link to an official regulator record.
The operator name in the terms differs from the register entry without explanation.
The exact domain is absent from the claimed licence record.
The record is pending, suspended, surrendered, revoked, expired or inactive.
The licence covers a different gambling activity.
The website has no clear complaint procedure or ADR information.
Support pressures you to deposit before answering licensing questions.

Licence checks do not verify every claim

A valid licence check does not prove that a particular bonus is valuable, that a withdrawal will be fast, or that every game and payment method is available in your location. Read the current bonus terms, withdrawal rules, verification policy and game information separately.

Likewise, the presence of a licence does not turn advertising language into evidence. Claims such as “best”, “instant”, “anonymous” or “guaranteed” require their own verification.

How this applies to non-GAMSTOP casinos

Our non-GAMSTOP casino homepage discusses sites outside the British self-exclusion system. Those sites require especially careful operator, domain and regulator checks because they may not have the protections and complaint routes attached to a Gambling Commission licence.

GAMSTOP is designed to block access to accounts on participating gambling websites and apps. If you enrolled because gambling was causing harm, do not use a site outside the scheme to bypass your block. Keep your details updated and consider additional blocking, banking and support tools.

A quick licence-check checklist

Copy the exact domain from the browser.
Find the legal operator in the terms and footer.
Search the official register by company, domain and trading name.
Confirm the licence is active.
Match the exact domain to the record.
Check that the licensed activity covers the service offered.
Review regulatory actions.
Read the complaint and ADR procedure before paying.
Save the applicable terms and evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Is a regulator logo proof of a licence?

No. Use the regulator’s official register and match the legal operator and exact domain. A logo can be copied, outdated or linked to the wrong record.

Can an overseas company hold a UK licence?

Yes. The company’s location does not determine whether it holds a Gambling Commission licence. Search the official register for the operator and domain.

Does an active licence guarantee a payout?

No. A licence provides a regulatory framework, not a guarantee about an individual transaction. Read the withdrawal rules, complete legitimate verification requests, keep evidence and follow the complaint process if a dispute arises.

What should I do if the domain is missing from the record?

Do not assume it is covered by a similarly named brand. Ask the operator and regulator for clarification before registering or depositing.

Primary sources

Official sources reviewed on 1 October 2026.

18+ only. Gambling carries a risk of financial harm. Set limits, never chase losses and seek support if gambling is affecting your wellbeing or finances.