Is playing a casino illegal in the UK?

If you are an avid fan of gambling, then you will find this article useful. Here you will find the regulations of the law issued in 2014 that helps you prevent interaction with underground casinos.

Background of casino in the UK

According to Gaming Board of Great Britain the first casinos to become legal had limitations to 10 gaming machines and had to have special membership system that helped casinos sustain themselves. Port Talbot was the first licensed gambling house, which was settled in 1961.
With time the amount of gambling houses only increased, laws only helped this kind of business to flourish. In 2005, the Government stimulated the entrepreneurs to create huge, resort-style casinos to contribute to this sphere. Most casinos took after Las Vegas’s gambling houses.

Who regulates?

In the UK all regulations and licenses fort gambling are issued by Gambling Commission, which was established in 2005 according to the Gambling Act. New law issued in 2014 (Licensing and Advertising Bill) prohibits to offer gambling facilities to companies that are not approved by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. It is obligatory for any casino, no matter it is online or real, to obtain such license if they want to operate freely, advertise and exist on the territory of the country.

Who can play?

The legal age to play casino is 18 years and older, people under 18 are prohibited to play in any kind of gambling house, though national lottery is legal to play when you are 16 and older, coin machines, toy-grabbing automats are free to play at any age. This regulation helps to control the vulnerable members of the society, such as children from temptations that are harmful or causing addiction.

Where to gamble?

To find officially licensed and legal casinos both land-based and online visit the official website of the Gambling Commission of the UK, you will find useful information on how to gamble responsibly and not to get into the cheater’s schemes. Always check the casino where you want to gamble, protect your funds!