If you're opening a brick-and-mortar casino or starting a casino online in the UK, then you will need a license from the leading gambling authority in the country – from the United Kingdom's Gambling Commission. This commission regulates all gambling activities in the country but does not grant planning permissions for bookmakers' shops. Indeed, the UK Gambling Commission is responsible for providing gambling licences only to companies that behave in a responsible manner. These licences are a legal requirement for any company that wishes to take money with the possibility of the entrant winning a prize.

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How do I apply for an operating licence?

Operating licence applications take around 16 weeks to process, providing full information is submitted. If you want a representative to apply on your behalf, your lawyer for example, they will need complete the whole application as the registration and application password will only be sent to the email provided by the person who has registered. If you are a retailer who wants to apply for a National Lottery terminal visit lotteryretailer.co.uk

What will I need to complete my application?

During the online application you will need:

• proof of your identity
• proof of identity documents for the business
• other supporting documents for the business (what type of organisation you are, how your organisation is structured and set up, who is managing what and whom, who ultimately benefits from and/or influences the gambling activities and if you are part of a group of companies, how you fit into this and the relationships you have with the rest of the group)
  • any personal licence or Annex A applications
    • any gambling licences you have which were not issued in the UK
  • if your company is not based in Great Britain, we will need a UK contact address
  • Disclosure and Barring Service form (if you live/work in England or Wales) or Disclosure Scotland form (if you live/work in Scotland). Email or call our contact centre to get a copy of either form. If you live overseas, you will need to provide a police record from your country of residence.
  • payment of the non-refundable application fee (see your licence type for costs).

You can scan and upload certified copies or send us the originals.

If any information is missing, this will delay your application. We will send you a confirmation letter containing your account number within seven working days.

Do I get a discount if I apply for more than one type of licence?

If you apply for a combination of different types of licences (except for ancillary remote licences or linked licences), you will get a discount.

But if you are applying for more than one type of licence, you must apply as the same legal entity to qualify for the discount.

Use our fees calculator to work out your total application fee.

Once you have submitted your application we will publish that you have applied on our operating licence register.

Criminal record checks

When you receive your DBS disclosure certificate, you must send it to us as soon as possible. Any delay in sending the certificate will delay your application.

We will not accept copies or certified copies so you must send the original certificate, which we will return to you by recorded delivery.

Alternatively, in some circumstances you can avoid having to post the DBS disclosure certificate to us by joining the DBS Update Service.

If you have a criminal record

Creating a test application

If you want to better understand how the application process works and what is required before submitting a genuine application, you can create a test run.

To avoid confusion give your test run an applicant name of ‘TEST and your name’.

When you get to the end of the application make sure you do notsubmit the application

When you are ready to submit a real application, start a fresh application and delete the ‘test run’.

How do I submit documents if I can’t upload them online?

Original documents posted to us will be returned by recorded or special delivery and will need to be signed for upon receipt.

Post to the address below quoting your name and the unique application reference ID given to you during the online application.

Licensing submissions
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4BP

How will we assess your application?

When we assess your application we consider whether your business will uphold the licensing objectives and if you are suitable to carry out the activities your licence will allow.

When considering suitability we want to see evidence to support and enable an assessment for:

• Identity and ownership – your identity and the identity of other people relevant to the application, for example, the person who ultimately owns a corporation of which your business is a part.
• Finances – financial and other circumstances, past and present, and those of people relevant to the application. Including the resources likely to be available to carry out the licensed activities.
• Integrity – your honesty and trustworthiness and that of people relevant to the application.
• Competence –your experience, expertise, qualifications and history and that of people relevant to the application.
• Criminality – your criminal record and that of people relevant to the application.

We will look at your policies for ensuring that the licensing objectives will be adhered to, an understanding of the legislation overall and evidence that your arrangements will meet social responsibility requirements.

Our approach to licensing is set out in our Licensing, compliance and enforcement policy statement , Statement of principles for licensing and regulationand Licensing decisions - Procedures and guidance for the Regulatory Panel.

There is no requirement that an applicant be incorporated in a particular country or jurisdiction. However, the important thing to note is the requirement in section 69 of the Gambling Act 2005 that you must provide an address in the UK at which a document under the Act may be served.

So if your head office and registered office addresses are overseas, you will have to provide a correspondence address that is in the UK.

That address must be a genuine address at which papers can be served that will reach you in good time. The address cannot be a PO Box and needs to be somewhere where you, for example, have a consistent staff presence or it could be the address of an official representative such as an accountant, solicitor or auditor. Such a correspondence address in the UK must be maintained for the life of the licence, if granted.

What do I do when I get my licence?

Keep your licence in a safe place. You need to be able to produce your licence on demand within a specified period, if a constable or enforcement officer asks to see it.

Your licence will last indefinitely unless:

• it is revoked
• it is suspended
• you choose to surrender it
• it lapses, for example due to bankruptcy or death
• it is forfeit, for example if a court orders it when you are convicted of a relevant offence.

How do I get a copy of my licence?

If you need a copy of your licence login to eServices and download a copy from your homepage.

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When is my annual fee due?

Your annual fee is due 30 days after we have issued your licence, and every year after that.

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You have rejected my application, what can I do?

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If we reject your application, we will let you know the reasons why and the steps you can take to appeal if you are unhappy with our decision. If we have given you a final decision and you are not satisfied with it, you can appeal to the HM Courts & Tribunals Service, which is an independent body.