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Request date: 3 September 2025
This version was printed or saved on: 18 September 2025
Online version: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/about-us/freedomofinformation/land-based-casino-applications-2023
Please could you provide, for the calendar year 2023 only (or the most recent year you have):
The total number of land-based casino operating-licence applications received.
The number of these applications that were:
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have requested, for the calendar year 2023 only,
Gambling operators are required to hold a licence from the Commission in order to offer facilities for gambling to customers located in Great Britain. The Commission goes through a licence application process as part of this and makes an assessment of suitability against criteria set out in the Act. Part 5 of the Gambling Act 2005 details the Commission’s statutory functions in relation to the licensing requirements. The Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) set out the requirements all licensees must meet in order to hold a Gambling Commission licence.
Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice
We publish registers of licensed businesses and individuals here:
Register of gambling businesses - Gambling Commission
In relation to your request, the Gambling Commission can confirm that two land-based casino operating licence applications were received during 2023. These were both approved, and their details are as follows:
Merkur Casino – Account Number 62997
Start date – 20/10/2023
Silvertime Casinos Limited – Account Number 63054
Start date – 19/10/2023
When we receive licence applications an assessment is made on whether a business will uphold the licensing objectives and also the suitability of the applicant to carry out the activities that the licence allows. As part of this assessment the Commission will request the following evidence to support the application and the individuals who are relevant to the application, such as:
Details with regards to how we process a licence application can be found on our website:
Apply for a licence to operate a gambling business
These checks are carried out to ensure that we meet our obligations under the Act and our Statement of Principles.
'Statement of principles for licensing and regulation
Once licensed, gambling operators are subject to ongoing compliance requirements and are subject to regulatory action should they fail to meet their licence requirements. Information collated as part of this process is used to assess whether a person or entity is fit to hold a licence.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.
Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.
If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.
It should be noted that if you wish to raise a complaint with the ICO about the Commission’s handling of your request for information, then you are required to do so within six weeks of receiving your final response or last substantive contact with us.
The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Information Management Team
Gambling Commission