Operating licences
If you provide facilities for remote gambling (online or through other means), and advertise to consumers in Great Britain, you will need a licence from the Gambling Commission.
Types of operating licence
There are 3 types of operating licence:
- Non-remote
- Remote
- Ancillary.
You may need one or a combination of these licences to provide gambling facilities to consumers in Great Britain.
View the activities we licence and the fees you'll need to pay.
How to apply for an operating licence
You can apply for an operating licence using the apply for an operating licence service.
You will need to pay a fee to submit your application. You can read about the fees you need to pay and when and how to pay your fees.
How we assess operating licence applications
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.
Assessing suitability
When considering suitability we want to see evidence to support and enable an assessment for the following areas:
Identity and ownership
Your identity and the identity of other people relevant to the application, for example, the person who ultimately owns a corporation that your business is a part of.
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 the people relevant to the application
Competence
The experience, expertise, qualifications and history and yourself and the people relevant to the application.
Criminality
Your criminal record and that of people relevant to the application.
What we assess
We will look at your policies in order to make sure that:
- the licensing objectives will be followed
- there is an understanding of the legislation overall
- evidence that your arrangements will meet social responsibility requirements.
Our approach to licensing is set out in our Licensing, compliance and enforcement policy statement.
There is no requirement that an applicant be incorporated in a particular country or jurisdiction. However, it is important to note the requirement in section 69 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab) that states you must provide an address in the UK at which a document under the Act may be served.
If your head office and registered office addresses are overseas, you will have to provide a correspondence address that is in the UK at which papers can be posted to so that you receive them quickly.
The address cannot be a PO Box and needs to be somewhere where you, for example, have a consistent staff presence or 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.
Appeal against a decision made about your licence or application
If we make a decision about your licence or an application for a licence, we will let you know the reasons why and the steps you can take to appeal if you are unhappy with our decision.
You can appeal against a decision about your gambling licence if:
- your application for a licence is turned down
- your licence is suspended or revoked
- you receive a fine or warning
- there are changes to your licence conditions.
You normally have to pay a fee to appeal (opens in a new tab). This fee will be refunded if you win your case.
If we have given you a final decision and you are not satisfied with it, you can appeal to the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (opens in a new tab), which is an independent body.
Last updated: 1 November 2021
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