UK Licenses: How Do They Work?
The UK Gambling Commission is the nation’s primary gambling regulator for both brick-and-mortar shops and casinos, and all betting sites and online casino. As previously stated, all gambling operators must hold valid licenses and must apply for them via the Gambling Commission.
To obtain a license, the operator must agree to follow all of the UK Gambling Commission’s tight rules and regulations regarding customers, all online games and gambling activities, promotions, payment services, and advertising and marketing.
All of these restrictions, although incredibly tough, were all put in place to protect customers. But are they actually good?
Why Are Gambling Licenses Important?
Gambling licenses from the UK are important for a number of reasons, both to protect you the player and the online casino operators. For example, operators must ensure that all of the games they offer players are completely fair and provide users with a chance at making wins. As required by the Commission, operators must also list important aspect of a promotion’s terms and conditions when promoting them so players know what to expect when claiming the bonus, and operators must also ensure that player details are kept safe and secure.
Other requirements from the UK Gambling Commission includes requiring operators to carry out verification checks and checks on the source of funds used for gambling to crackdown on money laundering. The Commission also ensures that withdrawals are followed through and customer complaints are handled accordingly. All of this helps by keeping you safe and providing you with a fair chance at all games, providing you with the best experience possible, which is what’s important when it comes to online gambling.
Other License Regulators
The UK Gambling Commission isn’t the only gambling license regulator. There are dozens of others such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, and several others. However, none of these licenses allow operators to offer their services in the UK, they only apply outside of the UK in various jurisdictions in which gambling is legalised.
Banned & Closed UK Casino Sites
There are numerous online casinos that had previously possessed valid license but have since been banned or have withdrawn from the UK market. One of the main reasons for this could be for breaking part of the Commission’s license conditions.
However, the UK Gambling Commission has been tightening its rules and regulations continuously over the last few years, making it harder for operators to continue offering their services to residents in the UK. This has led numerous gambling operators to withdraw from the UK market and shut down their online casino websites, effectively making them a non UK casino site.
Which Casinos Have Left The UK Or Closed?
Over the last several years, several online casinos have left the United Kingdom. Some of the most notable sites to have withdrawn from the market can be found below:
Slotty Vegas
Slotty Vegas was a hugely popular online casino that offered a huge selection of casino games. Unfortunately, MaxEnt Limited, the operator behind Slotty Vegas, decided in 2019 to drop out of the UK market and pulled its online casino. Many users were disappointed over the decision to shut the website as it was incredibly popular.
Vegas Casino
Vegas Casino was a brand new online casino operated by River Game Operations Limited. However, the firm suspending its gambling operations in the United Kingdom back in December 2019, effectively closing Vegas Casino and all of the casino’s sister sites.
Casino Heroes
Casino Heroes was another website that decided to pull out of the UK market due to tightening restrictions. The decision was made by operator Hero Gaming Limited and effectively shut down the entire website and online casino. However, the site was well-known for its selection of casino games, its promotions, and it’s unique Casino Heroes Adventure in which users travelled across a fictional world by playing slots and tackled tough bosses for additional prizes.
7Casino
7Casino was an online casino from BGO which was relatively new. Unfortunately, it seems that the site ran into some problems, forcing BGO to close it. Luckily for all you BGO fans, however, the operator still holds a valid UK license and is currently accepting new registrations.
Casino Room
Casino Room was a site operated by Ellmount Gaming Limited that was popular in the UK. Unfortunately, the operator decided to withdraw from the market and closed the website to all UK-based residents. The website wasn’t very well-known but we enjoyed it for its great selection of casino games as well as for its fun and mobile-friendly theme.
SvenReels
SvenReels was an online casino operated by Nektan which launched in late 2019. Much like 7Casino, it seemed that the website ran into several problems which forced Nektan to close it in March 2020, less than a year after opening it.
Do Some Casinos Come Back?
Most online casinos who withdraw from the UK market do not come back but there have been some notable exceptions. For example, popular online casino PlayFrank had its license suspended by the UK Gambling Commission last year. The operator, EveryMatrix, closed the website to UK customers and left the market but the website re-opened under a UK Gambling Commission license with operator Aspire Global.
The website is still available now to UK residents and remains as popular as ever. However, we do have to stress that this doesn’t usually happen and most online casinos who leave the UK market or have their license suspended do not come back to the UK. While this can be extremely disappointing if one of your favourite online casinos has shut down or withdrawn from the UK, it’s good to know that there are dozens of alternatives to these non UK casino sites. If you’re interested in hearing more about them, take a look below.
The Best Alternatives To Non UK Casinos
If you were registered with a casino site that has since shut down or left the UK market, there are dozens of alternatives you can try and register with. We’ve reviewed dozens of online casinos and know which online casinos and operators you should be looking out for when it comes to online gambling.
SkillOnNet
SkillOnNet is a leading online casino provider that is own for running several leading casino websites, all of which offer a huge collection of games with numerous promotions. The most popular online casino operated by SkillOnNet is PlayOJO which is regarded as the UK’s fairest casino website for its wager-free bonuses and a large collection of games. Other online casinos operated by SkillOnNet include:
- SwiftCasino
- Simba Games
- Giant Casino
- PlayKasino
- Slingo
- Slots Magic
- PlayJango
Genesis Global Limited
Genesis Global Limited is another casino operator which is known for running several online casinos. Some of the most popular online casino operated by Genesis Global include:
- Casoola Casino
- Pelaa
- Spinit
- Sloty
- Genesis Casino
- Casino Joy
- Spela
All of these online casinos offer a great selection of casino games including video slots and table games. They also offer a range of promotions with a loyalty scheme, and they also accept a variety of payment options.
White Hat Gaming
White Hat Gaming is another popular online casino operator which runs numerous popular gambling websites. Some of the most popular sites include:
There are dozens of other online casino operated by White Hat Gaming, but these are the best. They all offer hundreds of casino games including video slots, table games, live casino, instant-win content, and jackpots. These websites also tend to offer bigger welcome packages than all the other websites listed above, which is great for anyone looking to claim bonuses.
Why Should I Consider Your Suggestions?
We’ve already mentioned a few reasons why these online casinos are better but the biggest and arguably most important reason is that all of these sites possess gambling licenses and can operate in the UK.
In addition, they all provide a great selection of casino games, dozens of great promotions and bonuses, and it accepts most major payment options too. They’re completely safe to play at and offer plenty of fair opportunities to play games and make wins.
If you are looking for an alternative to a non UK casino site, all you need to do is take a look at some of our suggestions from above, find a casino website that you enjoy and then sign-up with the website. Once you’ve done that, you simply need to verify your account and you will be free to play games.
Questions & Answers (FAQ)
Why do casinos leave the UK?
There are numerous reasons why casinos leave the UK market. Some of the main reasons for this include an operator having its license revoked or a casino or gambling operator leaving the UK due to tightening restrictions. Sometimes an online closes due to inactivity.
How do I find a licensed online casino?
You can check whether or not a casino is licensed in the UK simply be searching for the site on the UK Gambling Commission website or by scrolling to the footer of an online casino and checking for the UK Gambling Commission logo.
Can I register with non UK casino sites?
Technically, you can but we advise against it. The reason for this is that you will lack the protection and fairness that licensed UK casino sites provide you with. If you run into problems, you’ll also have difficulty fixing them or seeking help which can prove troublesome in the long-run.
Are UK casino sites better than non UK sites?
Yes! The reason for this is because of the UK Gambling Commission license. As we’ve explained, the license protects you and your personal information, it ensures you’re offered fair games and promotions, and so much more.
Why should I consider your suggestions?
We’ve reviewed countless online casinos over the past few years and, after having gone through them, have found the best sites. These are all licensed, offer a wide selection of casino games and promotions, and accept most major payment options. All of this adds up to a great gaming experience.