Is Online Gambling Legal in UK?
Yes, online gambling is legal in the UK, as long as it is provided by operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
However, there have been several changes since 2005, when the UK passed the Gambling Act 2005. The act came full into force on the 1st of September 2007.
In this guide, we will explain what players should know in 2025 when gambling online.
UK Online Gambling Timeline
2005 – Gambling Act 2005 Passed
- A major reform that laid the foundation for regulating both land-based and online gambling.
- Created the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to oversee the industry.
- Introduced licensing, player protection, and advertising rules.
- Remote gambling (online) was included, but implementation came later.
2007 – Full Implementation of Gambling Act
- On September 1, 2007, the Gambling Act officially came into force.
- The UKGC began issuing licenses to online gambling operators.
- Only operators based in “white-listed” jurisdictions could legally advertise to UK customers.
2011 – Government Review Begins
- Concerns over offshore operators (licensed elsewhere but targeting UK players) led to plans for tighter controls.
2014 – Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act
- Came into force on November 1, 2014.
- Required all operators targeting UK players (regardless of where they were based) to obtain a UKGC license.
- Ended the “white-list” system.
- Introduced a Point of Consumption Tax (POCT): 15% tax on gross profits from UK customers.
2017 – Enforcement Tightens
- UKGC strengthens rules on:
- Identity verification
- Anti-money laundering
- Social responsibility
- Fines increase for non-compliance.
2019 – Credit Card Ban Proposed
- UK government consults on banning credit card gambling to reduce problem gambling.
April 2020 – Credit Card Ban Introduced
- Credit cards banned for all online gambling deposits (except for lotteries sold via retail).
2020–2022 – Affordability Checks & Responsible Gambling
- Operators required to introduce more robust affordability checks.
- Push for limiting losses, deposit caps, and stricter KYC processes.
April 2023 – White Paper Released
- UK government publishes long-awaited gambling reform white paper.
- Key proposals:
- Statutory levy for treatment and research
- Stricter affordability checks
- Slot stake limits
- Improved data sharing between operators
2024–2025 – Reforms Rolling Out
- UKGC begins phased implementation of white paper reforms.
- Slot stake limits (e.g. £2–£5) to be introduced.
- Mandatory player protection tools coming.
- Affordability checks are likely to be applied across all operators.
The Reality: Many UK players still gamble offshore
Casino Professor focused on legal and licensed online casinos in the UK, but were aware, that many UK residents continue to gamble offshore. And while casinos not on gamstop are illegal, players aren’t really breaking any laws by playing on these online casinos.
There aren’t any public cases where a player would have been fined or penalized by gambling offshore. In the UK Gambling Laws, the responsibility is always on the operator, not on the individual player. Hence players can pretty freely choose non-licensed casinos as well.
Of course, for legal operators, this is not great. And same goes for affiliate sites like ours, which promote only the licensed operators in the UK. The same trend can be seen elsewhere as well.
When the rules and regulations become too strict, players get fed up and choose options outside the licensed online casinos. Reduced KYC and better casino bonuses and promotions are usually the things that make players look outside the borders.
And since for players, it is not illegal to play on an offshore casino, it just simply seems like a better option. Of course for the operator, it is illegal to accept UK players without a valid license from the UK Gambling Commission.