One of the most important things UK live casinos should possess in order to operate legally and fair is a valid license issued from the UK Gambling Commission. Regulations of this kind give players the needed peace of mind and ensure that the particular gaming house has met all of the requirements to be considered a legal online casino. This is the reason why it is recommended to always have a look at the licenses the online casinos have in order to make sure their fairness and legitimacy are unquestioned.
Thanks to the UK Gambling Commission, UK players can rest assured that all of the live casinos with such an operating license are crime-free and secure. The fact that they have made it through the whole process of verifying is truly indicative that these live casinos have proven to be reliable and trustworthy. Players can enjoy their favourite casino game live, in real time, at the comfort of their home, knowing that their personal data is in good hands.
Overview
Since 2014, the gambling industry in England has been influenced drastically because of a new rule that came into force. Every online casino providing any form of online gambling or promoting such an activity to UK citizens was required to get a license from the UK Gambling Commission. The reason why such a regulation was imposed was to simply protect UK players from becoming victims of dishonest online casinos. The UK Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 in order to strictly keep an eye on the gambling industry.
Importance of the Casino License
As already mentioned, it is extremely important for the players to make sure that whenever they play online, they do it only at well-established online casinos which were granted a license from the UK Gambling Commission or from other independent gambling authorities. In order to determine whether one online casino is fair and safe, the Commission takes a number of important factors into consideration.
These include the company’s gambling policy, its ownership, financial history, criminal records and more. This is the reason why having a valid license clearly shows that the online casino operates in accordance with the established standards and requirements of the country.
If casino operators wish to offer their games to players based in the UK, they will first have to obtain a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. This authority has taken on the task of licensing UK casino operators under the Gambling Act of 2005. The government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport has presented the UK Gambling Commission with the task of governing online gambling in the country.
To apply for a license, you will need to pay a registration fee. To make the entire process more convenient, the commission also allows operators to apply for a license online. It takes about 16 weeks for your request to be processed, on the proviso that you have submitted the right documents. If you are denied the license due to missing documents, your application fee will be refunded and you will be notified about the documents you will need to obtain the license.
Types of UK Gambling Licenses
Depending on the type of gambling services you wish to provide, you might need to apply for a specific type of license or several licenses. This is why it is good to be aware of the different variations and the exact license option you will need to apply for.
Generally speaking, there are 3 types of licenses issued by the UK Gambling Commission. These include an operating license, a personal management license and a personal functional license. All of these are issued by the UK Gambling Commission. Additionally, you may request a premises license which is granted by your local authorities. The licenses cover activities such as arcades, betting, bingo, casino, gambling software, gaming machines and lotteries.
The casino licenses are divided into Remote casino operating license and Remote casino game host operating license. The first one allows operators to offer casino games to their members via a website, mobile device, TV or other online services. The second type of license is used if you plan to offer a gambling facility to consumers based in the UK. You will also need that license if any part of your remote gambling equipment is located in the UK.
Casino operators that wish to offer gambling facilities for players based in the UK will have to resort to the services of software companies that have obtained a license by the UK Gambling Commission. The Remote Gambling Software License must be issued to suppliers of software used by casino operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. The same license must also be obtained if you are based in the UK and manufacture or supply your software to casino operators that are based abroad and are not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Fees for the UK Gambling License
In order to obtain a gambling license, you will need to submit various documents and go through several steps. If you are willing to spend some extra money, you can use the services of a consultant. This person will help you with the administration and applications steps of the entire process. The consultant will also assist with the preparation of a business plan and you will be able to make a financial prognosis and prepare the documents you will need to enjoy a smooth application process.
To be able to maintain your license, you will need to pay an annual fee before the anniversary date of the issued license. If you are unable to pay this fee, the UK Gambling Commission has to terminate your gambling license and you will need to reapply for a license if you wish to continue offering gaming services to UK players. If you have lost your license and you have applied for another license, you must not offer any gaming services to UK players until you have been granted a new license.
You can easily calculate your application fee and subsequent annual fees thanks to the Fee Calculator offered on the official website of the UK Gambling Commission. You can select the type of license you would like to apply for and the calculators will tell you in detail the included fees, any discounts and the total cost of the license and its maintenance.
While the application fee is paid when you are submitting your documents to obtain the license, the first annual fee must be paid 0 days after the license was issued. The payment must happen in a single transaction and it is not possible to pay in instalments.
Whenever you obtain your gambling license, it will be valid indefinitely. This is true unless for the cases when the license has been suspended, revoked or forfeited after a court decision. Another reason for the expiration of the license is if there have been lapses due to bankruptcy or the licensee surrenders the license by choice.
Gambling Taxation in the UK
Although there were plans for the corporation tax to be reduced to 17% in 2020, the main rate remained 19% and the same rate is due to be set for the financial 2021 year. Meanwhile, gambling websites have to pay a 15% levy on their earnings.
Despite the gambling tax on casinos, gambling is tax-free for players in the UK. This means that they can enjoy all of their earnings without having to pay any taxes. Thanks to the levy that virtual casinos have to pay, the government can afford to allow players to enjoy all of their winnings without having to worry about any taxes.
Live Casinos with UK License
It is crucial to know that the online casino the players have chosen to trust and play in, should possess a license from an independent and reputable gambling authority. The UK Gambling Commission is such a trustworthy gambling regulator which is responsible for preventing dishonest online casinos from entering the online gambling industry. Another important thing which should be also taken into account is the status of the obtained license – whether it’s still operating or it has expired.
It is not much of a surprise that the leading online casinos in the United Kingdom are the ones that are trustworthy and possess a license from the UK Gambling Commission. Their excellent reputation is built on years of experience, high level of expertise, fair rules and complete transparency when it comes to the company’s gambling policy. Such casinos which have proven to be one of the best on the online gambling market are William Hill, Betway, Genting Casino, Gala Casino and Bet365.
William Hill
William Hill is a leading online casino whose operations are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and this is the reason why UK players can rest assured that their personal information is secured. It was established in 1934 which places it among the most experienced and trusted casinos in the United Kingdom. Its online casino offers a number of live games which can be played in real time with a well-presented dealer. All of them are powered by leading software providers such as Microgaming and PlayTech, thanks to which the high quality of the video and the audio of the games is guaranteed.
Some of the available live games that can be played in real time are Live Baccarat, Live Poker, Live Roulette, Live Blackjack and many of their interesting variations. The online casino also offers a moderately wide range of tables to choose from which gives players the chance to find the game that is in accordance with their style of playing. Another thing this reputable gaming house boasts of is the professional live dealers who online users are able to see thanks to the employed live streaming technology.
Betway
Betway is an online casino which provides world-class live dealer games due to the fact that it has entrusted its online business to one of the most prominent software suppliers on the gambling market – Microgaming. This is the reason why its live games are up to standard and enable players to get the genuine feeling of being in a land-based casino without having to leave their home. Its fairness and honesty is unquestionable due to the reason that it has a UK license.
Its HD live casino offers a very enticing welcome bonus which is exclusive to its online users. Some of the live games they can enjoy include Live Immersive Roulette, Live Casino Hold’em, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat and others. The personable dealers who are in charge of operating the live games are one of the reasons why playing online has become as realistic as playing in a brick-and-mortar casino. Furthermore, players should bear in mind that it is possible to interact with the rest of the participants or with the croupier by using the available live chat feature.
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Genting Casino
Genting Casino is a leading casino which has an the impressive 50 years of experience in the gambling world. It has an intermediary license issued by the UK Gambling Commission which covers all of its gambling activity. As one of the most reputable online casinos in the United Kingdom, it offers its players the chance to immerse in their favourite casino game in real time with a well-versed live dealer. Some of the available games which can be found at Genting Live Casino are Genting Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live London Roulette, Live Three Card Poker and others.
This online casino gives its players the chance to witness the turn of the cards, the landing of the ball, the actions of the courteous dealers and much more in real time. Thanks to the live streaming technology in use, they can get a very authentic feeling of their favourite casino game as they are able to monitor how the attractive dealer operates the game. Moreover, all of the live games can be accessed via tablets, mobile or desktop which give players the freedom to pick up the most convenient way of playing.
Gala Casino
Gala casino is another successful casino which has proven to be one of the best in the gambling industry. It is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission which brings the needed peace of mind for its UK customers. Its live casino provides some of the most popular casino games, including Live Exclusive Roulette, Live Baccarat, Live Blackjack and others. Gala Live Casino gives players the opportunity to decide whether they would like the live game to be hosted by Asian live dealers or by European ones.
However, depending on their choice, the available games they can play live also vary. For instance, Live Sic Bo can be played with only Asian croupiers and Live Hold Em is only hosted by European ones. Thanks to the sophisticated technologies and systems in use, players are able to get just as excited and thrilled about the game as if they were in their favourite land-based casino. Moreover, they can rest assured that their sensitive information will be highly protected at any point during the game as the online casino uses reliable security platforms.
Bet365
Bet365 is a prominent online casino which offers world-class live dealer games. It is worth mentioning that it is one of the world’s biggest gambling organisations and its gambling services are used by a considerable amount of players around the world. Its license is issued by the UK Gambling Comission and its gambling activity is strictly monitored and supervised. The online casino at bet365 offers live games which impress with their high quality and wide range. Thanks to the live streaming technology involved in the gaming process, players can be sure that they will get an extremely authentic feeling of their favourite casino game, despite being in their house.
Its online casino provides live games which are powered by one of the most famous software suppliers Playtech. They are streamed from either Playtech’s European studio or Playtech’s Asian one which gives players the chance to enjoy diverse studio settings. The available live games which can be found at bet365 live casino are Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Sic Bo and others. Players also have the chance to choose from a wide range of tables, including VIP and Private ones.
Conclusion
Thanks to the UK Gambling Commission, players can rest assured that since their favourite online casinos possess a license from this gambling authority, it’s been verified and regulated. Its main objective is to get rid of dishonest online casinos with poor financial history and suspicious past activities in order to protect vulnerable people. This is the reason why it is extremely important that players entrust their details to only reliable online casinos which possess valid licenses in order to protect themselves from any potential threats and inconveniences.