Spotting a live casino that is not licensed in Britain
Eight signs suggest that a live casino is not licensed in Great Britain, and the first is the easiest to see: no licence statement or account number in the footer. Others are a domain missing from the register entry, a studio logo used as proof, and no Gamstop participation. The mistake to avoid is treating one sign as proof.
How to use this list
Each sign is a reason to look harder, not a verdict. Check the register before you decide, and write the date. This page names no unlicensed sites. Advertising such sites is an offence (Gambling Act 2005 s.330).
The eight signs
- No licence statement or account number. Licensees must show their licensed status, the account number and a register link (LC 8.1.1). See what the footer must show.
- The account number matches nothing in the register. Search the Gambling Commission public register by number.
- The status is not Active. The register has nine statuses; only Active is a licence in force.
- No Casino Remote activity on the entry for a site offering casino games.
- The domain is missing or Inactive in the entry's domain names. Domain names are entered by the business, so entries can be wrong or out of date; this is a sign to check, not a verdict.
- A provider logo stands in for a licence. The logo shows who supplies a game. See studio logos and licences.
- No Gamstop participation. Participation is a licence condition for remote operators (SR 3.5.5). Check Gamstop's participating companies page.
- The licence statement names only another regulator. A service offered to people in Great Britain needs a licence from the Gambling Commission (Gambling Act 2005 ss.33 and 36).
Why logos prove nothing
On 23 July 2026 the Gambling Commission announced that Evolution Malta Holding Limited would pay £4.75m over games on six unlicensed sites. A logo is therefore not a licence check. Read our note on the settlement.
Signs and how to check them
| Sign | Where to check | Result that clears it |
|---|---|---|
| No statement | Footer | Statement and number shown |
| Number not found | Public register | Entry found |
| Status not Active | Register entry | Active |
| No Casino Remote | Register entry | Casino Remote listed |
| Domain missing | Register entry | Domain Active |
| Logo as proof | Footer and lobby | Statement and number shown without relying on a logo |
| No Gamstop | Participating companies | Operator listed |
| Other regulator only | Footer | Gambling Commission licence named |
What to do next
- Do not deposit.
- Keep the address, the date and screenshots.
- Run the twelve checks on any site you still consider.
- Report what you found: reporting an unlicensed casino.
The seven register steps are in how to check a casino licence. If gambling is a worry, the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
Quick answers
- What is the clearest sign of an unlicensed casino?
No licence statement and no account number in the footer. LC 8.1.1 requires licensees to show their licensed status, the account number and a register link.
- Does a missing register entry prove a site is unlicensed?
Not alone. Domain names in the register are entered by the business, so search by licensee, trading name and domain before you conclude.
- Can a provider's logo show that a site is licensed?
No. On 23 July 2026 the Gambling Commission announced that Evolution Malta Holding Limited would pay £4.75m over games on six unlicensed sites. A logo shows the supplier, not the licence.
- Why does this page name no unlicensed sites?
Advertising unlicensed gambling is an offence under Gambling Act 2005 s.330, and advertising includes facilitating. Naming sites would risk doing that.
- What should you do if you find one?
Do not deposit, keep your notes, and report it to the Gambling Commission. Our reporting page shows the steps.