How to verify a casino on the UKGC register

Why verification matters

A UKGC licence is what guarantees you fund protection, fair-gaming audits, a complaints route, and GamStop coverage. Unlicensed sites offer none of these. Because a licence claim on a casino's own footer is just text the operator typed, the only reliable check is the Commission's own register. We verify every operator on this site against it — and you can repeat the check yourself in minutes.

Step-by-step verification

1. Open the register. Go to gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register. It's free, official, and needs no login.
2. Search the name. Enter the casino's brand name or the operating company's name. Sister sites are often licensed under a parent company name rather than the brand you see — both should trace back to a valid licence.
3. Check the status. Confirm the licence is active (not surrendered, lapsed or revoked) and that it covers remote casino gaming, not just betting.
4. Match the domain. The licensee's entry lists the trading names and domains it's permitted to operate. The website you're checking should appear there. If the domain isn't listed, be cautious.

Reading a licence entry

A genuine entry shows the licensee's legal name, account number, the activities they're licensed for, the current status, and the list of trading names and URLs. For sister sites, you'll often see multiple brand names and domains under a single licensee — that's normal, and it's exactly how you confirm two brands really are part of the same group.

Red flags to watch for

• The brand or domain doesn't appear on the register at all.
• The licence shows as surrendered, lapsed or revoked.
• The site claims a UKGC licence but only lists an offshore licence number (e.g. Curaçao) on closer inspection.
• The trading name on the register doesn't match the site you're on.
• The footer licence number doesn't resolve to anything when searched.

Any one of these means you should not deposit until you've resolved the discrepancy.

FAQ

Why are some sister sites licensed under a different company name?

Operator groups frequently hold their UKGC licence under a parent or holding company, then operate multiple consumer brands beneath it. The register's trading-names field is where you confirm the link.

Does an active licence guarantee I'll be treated fairly?

It guarantees the regulatory framework — fund protection, audits, a complaints route. It doesn't guarantee a great experience, which is why we also score operators on payout speed and complaint history in our methodology.