Online gambling licence - restricted countries

Request

I searched on the UK Gambling Commission’s website if there is any list of restricted (or not recommended) countries to operate under the online gambling licence but, unfortunately, did not find. Or is it up to the online casino operator to choose foreign markets to operate in order not to violate local laws and license requirements so there is no list of prohibited countries? Could you kindly provide me with such information, and if applicable, such a list of restricted countries?

Response

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested information regarding restricted (or not recommended) countries to operate under the online gambling licence.

Ultimately, The Gambling Commission does not provide a list of jurisdictions outside Great Britain that licensed operators can or cannot provide gambling services to. As such, I can confirm that no recorded information is held falling witihn the scope of your request.

The Commission expects operators to conduct their own due diligence and put controls in place to ensure they meet legal requirements in other jurisdictions.

We recognise that it is possible for different people to come to different views on the issue of the risks of providing facilities for gambling in a given jurisdiction. Again our interest will be to see that the views taken rest on reasonable assumptions and a coherent rationale.

There are two distinct aspects to our interest in the sources of revenue for applicants – the implications for financial risk if a significant proportion of the prospective licensee’s business is with grey markets that could change their approach, for example to enforcement and the implications for the operator’s probity/likelihood of responsible behaviour if they are knowingly or recklessly flouting the laws of another jurisdiction. And of course we have a particularly acute interest, shared with those obtaining Gambling Commission licences, in deterring black market operators or suppliers from competing in the British market.

As part of the licence application process, the Commission will require details of the markets that an applicant provides gambling services or facilities to/accepts players from; details of any licences, permits or authorisations that the applicant holds in those markets; and the revenue that each of those markets generates as a percentage of the overall revenue generated by the applicant’s remote gambling activities.

Review of the decision

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.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham B2 4BP