A safe gambling site in Great Britain is one licensed by the Gambling Commission: find the operator’s name and licence number in the site footer and check them on the Commission’s public register before you deposit. Then make sure the site offers deposit limits, time-outs and GamStop self-exclusion, shows fair terms next to its offers, doesn’t accept credit cards and names an independent dispute service. The table below sums up the seven checks we use.
On this page
- What should you check before joining a gambling site?
- Step 1: Is the site licensed by the Gambling Commission?
- Step 2: Does it take part in GamStop?
- Step 3: Which safer gambling tools does it offer?
- Step 4: Are the terms fair and clear?
- Step 5: Does it follow UK payment rules?
- Step 6: How do you complain if something goes wrong?
- Step 7: Are there warning signs on the site?
- Safe gambling is also about you
- Frequently asked questions
Last checked 22 October 2026 by Tom Perkins. Rules summarised from Gambling Commission licence conditions and GamStop.
Before you open an account with any betting or casino site, it is worth spending a few minutes checking that it is properly licensed and that it gives you the tools to stay in control. This guide walks through the checks we use on onlinebetfree.co.uk, so you can do them yourself for any site.
18+ only. Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. If it stops being fun, stop. BeGambleAware.org
What should you check before joining a gambling site?
The seven checks below take a few minutes. Each one is explained in the steps that follow.
| Check | Where to look | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gambling Commission licence | Site footer, then the Commission’s public register | No licence number, or the company or domain isn’t on the register |
| 2. GamStop | The site’s safer gambling page | Advertised as “not on GamStop” |
| 3. Safer gambling tools | Account settings: deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs, self-exclusion | Tools missing or hard to find |
| 4. Fair terms | Significant terms next to each offer, then the full terms | “Risk-free” or “guaranteed” claims, or bonus wagering above the 10x cap |
| 5. Payment rules | The cashier | Credit cards accepted from British customers |
| 6. Complaints route | Terms: complaints procedure and named ADR provider | No independent dispute service named |
| 7. Warning signs | Design and marketing | Countdown pressure, hard to withdraw or close the account, content aimed at young people |
Step 1: Is the site licensed by the Gambling Commission?
In Great Britain, any business offering gambling online must hold a licence from the Gambling Commission. This is the most important check you can make.
How to check:
- Scroll to the footer of the gambling site. Look for the name of the licensed company and its licence (account) number.
- Go to the Gambling Commission’s public register on its official website.
- Search for the company name, licence number or website domain.
- Confirm the licence is active and that the domain you are using is listed.
The register also shows whether an operator has been subject to regulatory action. If the site does not appear, or the details do not match, do not use it.
Why it matters: licensed operators must verify age and identity, use tested games, follow rules on fair terms and advertising, offer safer-gambling tools, and give you access to an independent complaints process. Unlicensed sites offer none of these protections.
Our UK bookmaker reviews link each operator’s licence to its entry on the register, and how we check offers explains the checks we make before we list a brand.
Step 2: Does it take part in GamStop?
GamStop is the free national online self-exclusion scheme for Great Britain. When you register, you choose a period during which you will be excluded from online gambling with all participating licensed operators. Taking part is a licence requirement for operators offering online gambling to British customers.
Things to know:
- you choose a minimum exclusion period of six months, one year, five years, or five years with auto-renewal (source: gamstop.co.uk);
- once started, the exclusion cannot be cancelled early;
- licensed sites should prevent you opening or using accounts during exclusion;
- GamStop covers online gambling; land-based venues and some other products have separate schemes.
Warning: sites that advertise themselves as “not on GamStop” are not licensed by the Gambling Commission. They are not permitted to target British customers and offer no UK consumer protection. If you have self-excluded, please do not look for ways around it – the exclusion is there to protect you. Support is available from GamCare.
Step 3: Which safer gambling tools does it offer?
Licensed operators must provide tools to help you manage your gambling. Before depositing, find out how easy they are to use.
Deposit limits – set a daily, weekly or monthly cap. Since 31 October 2025, online operators must prompt you to set a deposit limit before your first deposit (Gambling Commission). Decreases normally take effect straight away; increases are subject to a cooling-off period.
Reality checks – on-screen reminders showing how long you have been playing.
Time-outs – a short break from your account, during which you cannot gamble.
Self-exclusion – closing your account for a longer period with that operator, alongside the option of GamStop for all operators.
Account history – a clear record of deposits, withdrawals, bets and net position.
Marketing preferences – the ability to opt out of promotional emails, texts and calls.
A safe site makes these as easy to find as the deposit button.
Step 4: Are the terms fair and clear?
Fair terms are part of safety. Check:
- how withdrawals work and any verification you may need;
- the significant terms of any promotion, shown clearly next to the offer;
- what happens to dormant accounts;
- how the operator protects customer funds – operators must tell you before you deposit whether your money has “not protected”, “medium” or “high” protection if the business becomes insolvent (Gambling Commission, licence condition 4.2.1).
Be wary of language like “risk-free” or “guaranteed win” – no gambling is either, and such claims are not permitted in UK advertising.
Step 5: Does it follow UK payment rules?
Licensed operators have not been allowed to accept credit card payments for gambling since 14 April 2020, including credit card funds routed through e-wallets (Gambling Commission, licence condition 6.1.2). Operators must also carry out light-touch financial vulnerability checks, using public records such as bankruptcies and County Court Judgments, when a customer’s net deposits exceed £150 in a rolling 30-day period (Gambling Commission, licence condition 3.4.4). These checks are designed to protect customers and are a normal part of licensed gambling.
Read more about the credit card ban, and check whether your deposit method counts for an offer in our guide to payment methods excluded from welcome offers.
Step 6: How do you complain if something goes wrong?
Every licensed operator must have a complaints procedure and must name an approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider. If your complaint is not resolved within the operator’s process, you can take it to the ADR provider free of charge. Find this information in the terms before you need it.
Step 7: Are there warning signs on the site?
Be cautious of any site that:
- has no visible licence information;
- pressures you to deposit with countdowns or repeated pop-ups;
- makes it difficult to withdraw or close your account;
- offers promotions with unclear or hidden terms;
- uses images, characters or themes that seem aimed at young people.
Safe gambling is also about you
Even the safest site cannot make gambling right for everyone. Before you play:
- set a budget you can afford to lose, and a deposit limit to match;
- never gamble to make money, pay bills or recover losses;
- avoid gambling when stressed, low or after drinking;
- take regular breaks.
Warning signs of harm include spending more than you intended, chasing losses, borrowing to gamble, lying about gambling, or feeling restless when you try to stop. Help is free and confidential: contact GamCare, visit BeGambleAware.org, or see our responsible gambling page. You can also use gambling blocking software on your devices and ask your bank about gambling transaction blocks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a gambling site is licensed in the UK?
Check the operator’s name, licence number or domain on the Gambling Commission public register.
Is GamStop free?
Yes, GamStop is free to use.
Can I remove a deposit limit straight away?
Lowering a limit is usually immediate, but increasing or removing one involves a cooling-off period.
What should I do if a site will not pay my winnings?
Use the operator’s complaints process first, then its named ADR provider if unresolved.
Are gambling sites not on GamStop safe to use?
No. Sites advertised as “not on GamStop” aren’t licensed by the Gambling Commission, so they don’t have to offer UK protections such as deposit limits, self-exclusion or an approved dispute service.
Does a UK licence mean I won’t lose money?
No. A licence means the operator must follow UK rules on fairness, safer gambling and complaints. It doesn’t change the odds, and most people lose more than they win over time.
Affiliate disclosure: onlinebetfree.co.uk may receive a commission if you open an account through links on this page. This does not affect the offers we list or how we describe them, and it never changes the terms an operator gives you.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. For free, confidential support visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (England and Scotland) or 0808 2819 265 (Wales).