United Kingdom Jurisdiction

Online gambling is permitted in the United Kingdom. The UK is not just a jurisdiction for online gambling sites, online gambling itself is allowed in the UK too. This is unlike some of the other jurisdictions where, while casinos operating from foreign countries are granted licenses, online gambling itself is not permitted within the country.

Online gambling activities, like online poker, online casino games, sports and race betting are regulated by the Gambling Commission of the UK; Spread betting is regulated by Financial Services Authority (FSA) and National Lottery by the National Lottery Commission.
 

The regulatory body for most of the commercial gambling in United Kingdom is the UK Gambling Commission. It was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate betting, bingo, casinos, slot machines and lotteries, but not spread betting (regulated by the FSA) and National Lottery (regulated by the National Lottery Commission).

The UK Gambling Commission determines the license conditions and codes of practices (LCCP) which set out the rules which licensed operators must observe. The UK Gambling Commission licenses the following types of operators providing commercial gambling in England, Scotland and Wales:

• arcade operators
• nearly 800 off course bookmakers and 600 on course bookmakers
• over 600 bingo clubs
• around 150 casinos
• nearly 700 gaming machines and gambling software providers
• over 500 lottery operators and nearly 40 external lottery managers
• over 150 British-based remote gambling operators

All companies based in the UK have to apply for a license from the Gambling Commission if they wish to offer gambling services of any kind and then can advertise their services. Gambling companies must also be able to pay the comparatively hefty annual taxes that the UK imposes; (annual taxes are 15% on profits) and this is a major reason why many companies choose to operate elsewhere.
 

The Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham