Entertainment

Casino licensing in the UK: gambling laws in 2022

Amongst the other gambling-friendly countries in Europe, we have Great Britain – a country where both online and land-based casinos are welcome.

However, it’s not that easy for the operators to get their hands on the permits and deliver content to players.

If you are in for a serious and legal game, you better prepare packages of documents, preliminary expert assessments of your websites or land-based venues, and everything else needed before you show up in front of the gambling commission, and potentially start your UK entertainment tour.

Yes, it’s not so simple to obtain a valid license, but it is more than important to do, as the UK legislation strongly promotes safe, secure gambling, as well as the responsible behaviour of players inside virtual and non-virtual entertainment centres.

Requirements for license holders 

UK Gambling Commission can provide the operators with three different types of licenses: non-remote, remote, and ancillary.

Some software providers may need only one, while others require owning a combination of these.

This solely depends on the goal of the operators: in some cases, land-based casinos want to spread their business in the online sector, and vice-versa, so they need to hold both non-remote and remote licenses.

Potential license holders must submit a request, better stated an application, for an operating license from the UKGC; we will guide through the paperwork.

This application will incur a fee.

Within the application, operators must share the following information:

  • Identity

Identity and ownership identity of the holder, and all other people relevant to the application,

  • Finances

Detailed financial circumstances, past and present, of all people associated to the application.

In this part of the application, potential licenses holders are obligated to explain the financial resources which are probable to carry out all the activities that licenses are providing.

  • Integrity

The operator which aims to run an honest, fair, and trustworthy business, needs to prove its integrity to the UK Gambling Commission.

  • Competence

Running a land-based or online casino is a demanding career.

Potential license holders must verify that they are experienced, responsible, and capable enough.

In order to obtain a license, both the official owner and all the people relevant in the potential casino must prove their competence.

  • Criminality

License holder criminal record and that of people relevant to the claim.

These are the pieces of information needed to order a license from the UK Gambling Commission.

After you provide all the necessary data, the UKGC will evaluate the demand, and decide are you suited to carry out the activities your license will authorize.

What if the UK Gambling Commission doesn’t ground you a permit for work? 

Like in every other lawful country, you are able to appeal against the decision made in regards to the license.

The appeal is possible not only if you are rejected, but also if your active license gets suspended or withdrawn, you receive a fine or a warning and when there are changes concerning your license conditions.

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