UK Gambling Laws – Land-Based & Online Gambling Legislation
The UK gambling laws have been approved by the Parliament, and are good examples of modern gambling legislation. This article will tell you which are the modern gaming and betting rules applicable in the United Kingdom. We also added information about the UK Gambling Commission and added answers to interesting gambling-related questions.
What Are the Gambling Laws in the United Kingdom?
The first semi-modern gambling law in the UK was the Gaming Act of 1845. The idea of the first laws was to regulate all gambling matters in the United Kingdom and help establish and regulate legal gambling locations. Ever since, the legislation and gaming rules have changed and modernised. Today, the new gambling laws in the UK are constantly updated to meet the requirements of the developing gambling industry. Below, you can see the Gambling Act of 2005 and its amendments regulating the land-based gambling locations and the best safe online gambling sites in the UK for 2024. Read on to find out more about the gambling legislation in the UK.
Gambling Act of 2005 – Modern UK Gambling Laws
The main UK gambling law is the Gambling Act of 2005. The Act initially regulated the licensing, advertising, and operation of land-based venues and online gambling (we will mention the changes further in this article). With the creation of this law, the previous regulations were revoked.
The Act applies to gambling locations in England, Wales, and Scotland and gives power over licensing to the local authorities. This way, the UK gambling regulation is applied by the councils of metropolitan and non-metropolitan boroughs and Scottish licensing boards.
The Gambling Act of 2005 aims to separate gambling from crime and ensure its fairness. Another main goal of the Act is to protect children, as well as underage or vulnerable people from the harmful effects of gambling. Last but not least is the regulation of gambling advertisements in all forms.
To regulate the gaming and gambling establishments, the Gambling Act (2005) obligates all operators, companies, and citizens who intend to offer or advertise gambling services in the UK to acquire a gambling licence from the UKGC. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) regulates the activity of all brick and mortar and online gambling sites, including casinos, lottery, poker rooms, bingo, sports betting, horse races, and more.
Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act of 2014
The current gambling laws in the UK are being quickly updated to legalise various forms of gambling and gaming locations. Since it was created in 2005, the Act has been amended a few times and one of the most important changes is the Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act of 2014.
The first changes summarise the latest online gambling laws applicable to the safest and most secure casinos in the UK. The amendment of 2014 relates to online gaming opportunities offered to British players by local and offshore online gambling sites. In short, all operators are obligated to have a licence from the UK Gambling Commission and pay taxes on gross profits. The gambling advertisers also require a permission.
The second amendment is the obligation all operators (local and offshore) to pay 15% tax on gross profit. This regulation is also part of the Finance Act 2014. The good news here is for the players (professional or not) because they don’t have to pay winnings tax or deposit tax. If you want to play at secure operators, you can also check our thorough Mr Green review and find more about its safety.
Gaming Amendment Act of 2015
The best online betting sites in the UK constantly monitor the latest changes in the UK gambling laws. They are obligated to update the documentation and follow the new requirements if they intend to offer services to UK players. In 2015, the Gaming Act of 2005 was changed to include licences for gambling softwares. A licensed company must create, deliver, install, and maintain all gambling software.
Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act of 2019
One of the main points in the 2019 amendment of the Gambling Act of 2005 is the change of the taxes operators pay to the Treasury. The new legislation changes the rate to 21% tax of the gross gaming yield per year generated from players in the United Kingdom. Apart from that, there are refined details about different gambling matters described in the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956 and the Act of 2005.
Gambling Amendmant Act of 2021
The gambling laws in the UK have been reviewed almost every year. One of the latest amendments was accepted in December 2020 when the United Kingdom government updated the Act to fit the modern digital age. This means that the activity of the best mobile casinos in the UK is now officially regulated.
The latest regulations are under the name Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) Regulations of 2021. The latest Gambling Act review had a deadline until the end of March 2021, and the results are yet to be published.
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
The gambling law under which the UK Gambling Commission is established is the Gaming Act of 2005. The following amendments regulate the Commission’s functions and obligations as a non-departmental public body funded by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The main duties are all matters related to gambling licences and regulation of the operators from UKGC’s online casino list of licencees. According to the UK gambling law and its amendments, the UKGC investigates and prosecutes all illegal gambling actions and offences. The Commission also guides the local authorities and advises the Secretary of State regarding gambling matters.
Gambling Laws UK Q&A
The gambling laws UK operators and advertisers follow are extremely strict and apply in the entire territory of the United Kingdom. In our article, we described the main laws and their latest amendments. Below, you can find answers to important questions and links to the relevant sections of this article.
1️⃣ Is gambling legal in the UK?
In this article you can find a gambling laws UK summary with the essential information on the matter. We will say that gambling and online gambling in the United Kingdom is legal in licensed casinos. That is why we recommend you, before playing, check the operator's licences and credentials.
2️⃣ When was gambling legalised in the UK?
Throughout history, gambling and casinos have been legalised and banned multiple times. Some of the latest UK gambling laws still applicable appeared in the 19th century. During the last decades the gambling laws in the United Kingdom were updated to meet the modern land-based and online gambling standards.
3️⃣ Is online gambling legal in the UK?
The main gambling law in the UK is the Gambling Act of 2005. As we can see by the name, the law came into power in 2005 and has since had a few amendments we mentioned in the article. The Act regulates everything related to gambling and betting and establishes the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
4️⃣ What are the latest gambling laws in the UK?
The UK gambling law from 2005 was updated and changed a few times. The latest additions are the Gaming Act amendment of 2021. The latest changes relate to online and mobile gambling. The main changes are regarding the gaming technologies and the new tax rate for the operators.
5️⃣ Who regulates gambling in the United Kingdom?
The proper application of the Gambling Act of 2005 and the supportive legislation relating to gambling is entrusted to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and local authorities. The UKGC applies the land-based and online gambling laws UK operators have to follow, monitor and prevent illegal gambling activities and more.