How to Start an Online Casino in the UK

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starting an online casino in uk: legal, market, and tech insights

Introduction

We are approached daily by potential and current casino operators from AIS Technolabs to set up an online casino in the UK. The United Kingdom houses one of the largest and most advanced online gaming industries in the world, and consequently it is a very lucrative environment for operators to conduct business.

But moving to the UK is not simple. Rules are strict, and you need to comply with all your casino's rules and market it to natives. Knowledge of the license process, player protection legislation, and advertisement laws is the secret to having a successful business.

Here on this web page, we will lead you step by step through the most crucial aspects that you should take into account before launching your Great Britain online casino.

Market

British online gambling has expanded significantly over the years. In its April 2015 to March 2016 UK Gambling Commission report, overall Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) for remote gambling activities (i.e., online casinos) totaled £4.47 billion. This represented 33% of the overall revenue of the overall gambling business for the time period in question.

Remote gambling revenue was 57.5% from online casinos and 35.1% from online sports betting. The two made up over 92% of all the remote gambling revenue. The remaining revenue came from online bingo, pool betting, and betting exchanges.

Meanwhile, there were approximately 22.87 million UK active player accounts. In addition to that, 24.65 million accounts have been opened. Offshore gaming operators received access to £607.04 million of player money in these accounts.

We at AIS Technolabs assist you to reach this high-potential UK market with robust casino software, secure payment gateways, and complete support for UK compliance standards.

Legality

Indeed, gambling online in the United Kingdom is legal but its regulation is subject to and lies under the authority of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Since November 1, 2014, any operator wishing to provide online casino games to players in the United Kingdom or promote their business in the United Kingdom is required to possess a remote gambling licence granted by the UKGC.

This license is also required if you wish to include front-runner game suppliers. Most of the major software suppliers limit use by highly licensed UK sites.

To obtain a UK remote gambling license, you'll need to apply to the Gambling Commission with business information in full. Your site must meet very strict technical and security rules. It may be wise to check these out first so you understand how to ensure your casino software is compliant. The process of issuing will take up to 16 weeks.

We highly suggest here at AIS Technolabs to initially call a UK-based law expert before beginning the application. This can speed up the entire process and make it simpler.

And don't forget, if you're looking to serve UK non-resident players, you'll require a foreign license from an accepted jurisdiction like Malta, Curacao, or some other well-respected jurisdiction. A UK license will merely permit you to serve inside Great Britain.

Casino Software

In applying for a UK gambling license, consider the fact that UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) thoroughly examines your website's technical setup and security. They must make sure that your site is player friendly, fair, and secure.

Among issues considered by the UKGC are:
  • How payment and player accounts are handled
  • Clear game rules of games and winning probabilities
  • How the auto-play feature operates
  • Whether or not the website has a licensed Random Number Generator (RNG)
  • Gameplay play interference status
  • Player controls for spending or deposit restriction
  • Responsible gaming features such as time reminders and session restrictions
With such strict controls, you are making an informed decision of a software provider that is familiar and adheres to all UKGC guidelines.

We at AIS Technolabs create UK-standard compliant casino websites from scratch. Our developers have studied the UK market in detail and upgraded our systems to be fully compatible with all technical and regulation requirements. This means that our software is fully set for operators who are willing to make an application for a UK remote gambling license.

Games

British players, as the second casino player in the world, will be more likely to play online slots than any other casino game. During the period April 2013 to March 2016, online slots occupied about £1.75 billion, over 68% of all online casino game funds.

Table games such as roulette and blackjack held second position, having some £400 million, or 15.6% of the online casino market value. Card games, such as poker or baccarat, held third position at £188 million, or 7.3% of the market.
UK players do not play for game operators. What they want instead is plenty of variety of high-quality games, first of all games with exquisite graphics, smooth playability, and exciting features. That is why plenty of variety of high-quality games is most important to any new casino to break into the UK gambling market.

We at AIS Technolabs enable the operators with a possible ability to offer a mammoth library of the best-in-class casino games. We have our portal supporting the majority of popular game providers and highly flexible game aggregation solutions to allow UK players to enjoy variety abounds.

Currency and Payment Systems

If you’re launching an online casino in the UK, it’s important to support British Pounds (GBP) as the main currency. Most UK players prefer using their credit or debit cards for deposits and withdrawals, but it's a good idea to offer other common options too.

Popular payment methods include:
  • Skrill
  • Neteller
  • Bank transfers
These give players more flexibility and help build trust by offering payment tools they already know and use.

One of the largest advantages for new casinos online is that only the UK Gambling Commission has licensed the utilization of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency usage will distinguish your site and attractive to current, technology-oriented gamblers who happen to love quick deposits and are used to secure transactions.

At £ Technolabs, we assist in integrating various payment systems—from crypto wallets—to facilitate easy and secure payment for gamers. Our gambling sites are designed to provide locals' options and provide a solid, secure payment experience.

Marketing and Promotion

While it's against the law to advertise online casinos elsewhere, it's not in the UK provided that your site has been licensed with the UK Gambling Commission. Having a remote gaming license ensures that you can appropriately advertise your casino on all of the advertisement placement such as:
  • Google Ads
  • Social networking sites
  • TV and radio
  • Newspaper and online media
This gratis publicity morsel is a golden chance for operators to grab British hurry-up players and less bother.

Granted on such, of course, however, access to the UK market is nonetheless a question of strategy, regulation, and locating the right partnerships. Worth it, though, as the UK is among the world's best-paying and most mature online gambling markets.

We at AIS Technolabs lead you through each step from the beginning, beginning with the launch of your online casino to full technical, marketing, and software support. With the expert advice having been provided by us, you can proceed and establish your business and approach UK players with a solid, lawful, and well-marketed gambling portal.

Disclaimer:

This blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only. We do not promote or facilitate gambling activities in any country where it is considered illegal. Our content is focused solely on providing knowledge about legal and regulated markets. We only work with operators and platforms that are licensed and comply with the laws of jurisdictions where casino gaming is permitted. We do not operate or endorse any form of gambling in restricted regions. In countries where only skill-based games are allowed, our involvement is strictly limited to those games.

We believe gambling should be an entertaining and responsible activity. Our goal is to ensure that the platforms we review uphold the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and player safety.

FAQs

Ans.
Yes, you can run an online casino in the UK provided that you receive a license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and follow all relevant laws and regulations for compliance.

Ans.
In order to p rovide online gambling services legally in the UK, you'll need a Remote Casino Operating Licence from the UKGC. You might need a software or gaming machine licence, too, depending on your model of business.

Ans.
Licensing generally takes between 8-16 weeks, depending on how detailed your application is, your business being checked in the background, and how complicated your platform is.

Ans.
Your site has to be of a high technical specification, such as certified RNGs, responsible gambling features, player protection options, and secure payment gateways. You must use a software provider that is UKGC compliant.

Ans.
Yes. Once you are licensed, you may promote your online casino with Google Ads, social media, affiliate websites, and other new or established media if you keep Gambling Commission advertising codes in mind.