The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is the key gambling regulatory body in the UK. For the British Punters, online casinos bearing the UKGC license are legal to play in. The entire list of licensed sites can be found on the Commission’s official website under the Register of license holders section. The UKGC not only provides licenses to casinos but also focuses on player protection which includes self-exclusion policies such as GamStop, GamCare, GamBan, etc.
These policies are targeted toward imposing a hard-stop on addicted gamblers for a stipulated period starting six months. UKGC also monitors bonus schemes, marketing, and promotional offers which might not be legitimate and misleading.
Mandatory Self Exclusion
The UKGC monitors all the license holding operators in the UK and presents laws related to gambling. The main aim of the UKGC is to preach Responsible Gambling among all the citizens of the UK. Casino sites under the UKGC accept all British players and offer fair bonuses and promotions to abide by all the UKGC implemented standards.
The aim of monitoring all UK-based casinos is to promote Responsible Gambling for which Gamstop Self Exclusion scheme was introduced to maintain a new social responsibility code within the nation. It aims at helping the problem gamblers who are addicted to gambling and need help in order to come back to their normal life. This scheme doesn’t directly affect non Gamstop sites that found ways to bypass self-exclusion GamStop services and operate in the United Kingdom.
People at the receiving end of the scheme look forward to a noble initiative to help themselves and become responsible citizens. The regulations have consequences if disobeyed and would motivate people to come forward and face their challenges.
Licensed And Tested Software
There are 3 main types of licenses issued in the UK and are given out in terms of the type of business activity one owns or runs. The license includes an operating license by UKGC, a personal management license by UKGC, and also a personal functional license by UKGC. A person may require a premises license as well which would be issued by the local licensing authority. Activities that are covered under the UKGC licenses include:
- Bingo;
- Betting;
- Arcades;
- Gambling software;
- Casino;
- Lotteries;
- Gaming machines.
Providing facilities for gambling among consumers in the UK must be acquired after getting gambling software from a supplier holding a UKGC license only. The gambling software operating license is required if one needs to supply, manufacture, install or adapt gambling software that is used by UKGC licensed operators.
UKGC provides 100% licensed and tested softwares for British punters in order to eliminate discrepancies altogether. Remote gambling and software technical standards are not applicable to softwares one provides for the overseas offshore operators who do not hold a license by the Gambling Commission.
Anti Money Laundering Policies
The UKGC is very strict about its implementation of the Gamstop scheme among UK-based casinos. It updates the anti-money laundering regulations in order to protect the customers. The UK has one of the strictest regulated markets for gambling companies and operators.
In 2018, the country had toughened its rules even further. The money laundering regulations were even more strengthened in 2020 and all the casinos in the UK have been reviewing and amending their money risk assessments. For the protection of their customers, online casinos need to follow the updated changes according to the UKGC. It does give time to the casinos to get adjusted to the rules.
However, the UKGC emphasizes on credit card ban on gambling. The main changes made to strengthen anti-money laundering are:
- Focusing on taking appropriate measures to prepare for the adoption of new products and practices for assessing and mitigating even minor money laundering risks.
- Emphasizing specific policies and controls for the measures taken by the UKGC
- Taking measures for ensuring that agents used by operators are well aware of the anti-money laundering and terrorist finances.
Paying Taxes
Gamblers in the UK may not be mandated to pay taxes but the country collects revenues from gaming operators within the country. They pay taxes on other countries too where they operate but Britain collects most of the taxes.
Conclusion
The UKGC is very strict about maintaining healthy gambling habits among punters. This has significantly helped the problem gamblers who were willing to compromise their gambling tendencies and signed up for Gamstop. The thought behind the launching of the scheme is indeed very helpful. However, not all punters might have a gambling addiction and they deserve to play without Gamstop restrictions which is an issue with UK-based gambling sites.
This is where the offshore licensed casinos come in handy and the UK punters prefer to switch over to them instead of signing up with Gamstop. The offshore casino sites are often regulated by credible licensing authorities such as Malta Gaming Authority, Gambling Commission of Great Britain, Government of Gibraltar, etc. These offshore sites implement top-notch security features ranging from encryptions to responsible gambling and age restrictions. However, UKGC is still one of the most credible licensing authorities regulating numerous UK-based casinos.
Stay updated with all the insights.
Navigate news, 1 email day.
Subscribe to Qrius
