Great Britain is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world and one of the most closely supervised. Since 2014, any operator offering remote gambling to people in Great Britain needs a Gambling Commission (UKGC) license, wherever the operator is based.
2026 changed the economics. Remote Gaming Duty doubled from 21% to 40% of relevant profits on 1 April 2026, and a series of rule changes — slot stake limits, bonus caps, financial vulnerability checks and a statutory levy — raised the cost of compliance. A UK license is still valuable, but the business case must work at these rates before you apply. For other routes, see our gambling license services.
UK gambling license: key facts for 2026
| Item | Position in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Gambling Commission (UKGC) — Great Britain only |
| Law | Gambling Act 2005; Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014; LCCP; Remote Technical Standards |
| License structure | Operating license per activity, plus Personal Management Licenses (PML) |
| Remote casino application | £8,185 to £165,069 by GGY band |
| Remote casino annual fee | £7,000 to £1,453,949 by GGY band (first year −25% where eligible) |
| Remote Gaming Duty | 40% of relevant profits from 1 April 2026 |
| Remote General Betting Duty | 15%, rising to 25% from 1 April 2027 (UK horse racing stays at 15%) |
| Statutory levy | 0.1%–1.1% of GGY since April 2025 |
| UK company required | No |
| Decision target | 16 weeks from a complete application |
| License term | Indefinite, subject to annual fees and compliance |
Which license do you need?
The UKGC licenses activities, not businesses. Common remote licenses are:
- Remote casino — online casino and slots;
- Remote general betting — fixed-odds sports and event betting (real and virtual);
- Remote bingo, pool betting and betting intermediary — each a separate activity;
- Gambling software — for suppliers that develop, adapt, install or supply gambling software used by GB-facing operators;
- Personal Management License (PML) — £463 per person, for individuals in specified management functions (8-week target).
An operator offering casino and sports betting needs both licenses and pays a combination add-on fee (£6,250 for two activities, £12,500 for three).
Fees by GGY band
Application and annual fees rise with gross gambling yield. The lowest bands for the main remote licenses are:
| License | Application fee | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Remote casino | from £8,185 (up to £165,069) | from £7,000 (up to £1,453,949) |
| Remote general betting | from £6,535 (up to £90,648) | from £5,937 (up to £1,402,455) |
| Personal Management License | £463 per person | — |
| Change of corporate control | £200 | — |
These are the fees in force from 1 October 2026. The first annual fee is reduced by 25% for eligible licenses and is due within 30 days of issue.
Duties and the statutory levy
| Duty | Rate in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Remote Gaming Duty (casino, slots) | 40% of relevant profits from 1 April 2026 (was 21%) |
| General Betting Duty, remote | 15% until 31 March 2027, then 25% for most remote betting |
| Bingo Duty | Abolished from 1 April 2026 |
| Statutory levy | 0.1%–1.1% of GGY (remote operators near the top of the range) |
Duty is administered by HMRC on a place-of-consumption basis: it is due on play by people in Great Britain, wherever the operator is located.
Eligibility and suitability
- Any legal form, UK or overseas — no UK incorporation and no minimum share capital;
- An address for service in Great Britain (not a PO box);
- PML holders for each key management function;
- Suitability of the applicant and everyone who owns or controls it: identity, finances, integrity, competence and criminal record;
- An RTS-compliant platform certified by an approved test house before go-live.
The application process
- Map ownership and activities (weeks 1–3): group chart to the beneficial owners, activities and estimated GGY band.
- Funding and business plan (weeks 2–6): source of funds for every investor and a three-year plan built on 40% duty.
- Policies and PML holders (weeks 3–8): AML, safer gambling, complaints and ADR, GAMSTOP integration, marketing consent; line up PML holders.
- Apply through eServices (week 8): submit operating and PML applications and pay the fees.
- Suitability assessment (16 weeks or more): Commission review and clarification requests.
- Test-house certification (in parallel): games and platform certified to the Remote Technical Standards.
- Register with HMRC and launch: register for duties, connect GAMSTOP and go live.
2025–2026 rule changes to plan for
- Online slots stake limits: £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, £2 for 18–24-year-olds;
- Financial vulnerability checks triggered at £150 net deposits in 30 days;
- Opt-in direct marketing per product and channel since May 2025;
- Bonus rules: wagering requirements capped at 10x and no cross-product bonuses from January 2026;
- Deposit limits offered and enforced across the customer journey.
Does a UK license cover other markets?
No. A UKGC license covers Great Britain only — not Northern Ireland, and not the Crown dependencies or overseas markets. Operators often combine it with an Isle of Man, Alderney, Gibraltar or Malta license for other markets, but each license only covers what its own law allows.
How Gambling Consulting Expert can help
We test whether Great Britain works for your model at 40% duty, prepare the operating and PML applications, coordinate test-house certification and manage the Commission’s questions through to launch. Request a UK licensing assessment.
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