The Gambling Commission, often referred to as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), is an independent regulatory body in Great Britain responsible for overseeing and regulating gambling activities. Established under the Gambling Act 2005, it aims to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly, transparently, and free from crime while protecting vulnerable individuals.
The Commission issues licences to various gambling operators, including casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, and online gaming platforms. It ensures that these operators comply with legal standards and maintain responsible gambling practices.
The Gambling Commission monitors licensed operators to ensure compliance with the conditions of their licences. This includes conducting inspections and investigations into their operations.
The Commission’s primary objective is to protect consumers from gambling-related harm. It enforces regulations that require operators to implement measures for age verification and responsible gambling.
The Commission works to prevent gambling from being associated with crime or disorder, including issues like money laundering and fraud. It collaborates with law enforcement agencies to address illegal gambling activities.
The Gambling Commission conducts research on gambling behaviors and trends to inform its policies. It also advises the government on gambling-related matters.
The Gambling Commission operates under three core licensing objectives established by the Gambling Act. It is to prevent crime associated with gambling, to ensure that all gambling products are fair and transparent, and to protect vulnerable individuals, including children, from harm or exploitation related to gambling activities.
The Gambling Commission also provides a public register of all gambling businesses in the UK meaning you can look up the licensing information of any online casino that you visit to make sure that they are responsible operators with legitimate licences. Whenever you are in doubt about an online casino make sure to make use of this public resource.
