Examples of this have been prosecuted as criminal offences. Betting exchanges are also typically under intense scrutiny due to the potential for laundering money on these platforms.

They are also reviewed for failure to implement safer gambling safeguards and interventions when vulnerable individuals are active on their platforms. Gibraltar is a major hub of the sport betting industry, with the many online bookies operating in the territory hiring a significant portion of its inhabitants. The Gibraltar Gambling Licensing Authority does not just regulate bookmakers or gambling operations based in their territory, but also licenses external operators and newly licensed UK bookies willing to be regulated according to its terms and conditions.

This allows bookmakers to assure their customers that their operations are fair, transparent and meet the highest levels of conduct expected by the Gibraltar Gambling Licensing Authority. Yes, gambling online is legal in the UK. In fact the UK is one of the most gambling-friendly territories in the world. However, do note that there are strict restrictions on gambling for unders and gambling is discouraged for persons at risk of problem gambling behaviours. Gambling regulators are responsible for ensuring that gambling operators do not violate local regulations, but do not involve themselves in resolving individual consumer complaints.

For a start their branding won't be familiar to you. Gambling operators spend a huge amount of money on advertising, so if you have never heard of or seen the brand before, it is probably new. Another cue will be massive sign-up bonuses. Because these bookmakers are aggressively trying to build up a customer base, they may offer more attractive sign-up offers than established rivals. It is also quite simple to run a few Google searches and check on the company's backstory and history. If you don't find much in the way of reviews, complaints or news articles about the company, chances are it is new.

The UK Gambling Commission has a convenient search feature on its website that allows you to search for registered gambling businesses. If your UK bookie's name generates a result in these searches, you can be sure you have a legitimate operator. In some cases you may need to track down the bookie's holding company to find license information on the Gambling Commission website. UK licensed bookmakers can accept members from outside the UK. However, they are not permitted to take in members from countries where gambling is illegal or where they do not have a license to operate.

Many UK bookie websites will prevent users from accessing or using their services once they identify that they are attempting to gamble from a restricted location. UK Licensed Bookmakers. Top 5 UK licensed bookmakers While numerous UK licensed bookmakers are active online, the industry is dominated by a handful of major betting brands that have been in operation for decades. Step 6 Make your first deposit and place your first bet.

Good luck! As in any other jurisdiction, there is an onus on the complainant to try to resolve any dispute directly with the bookmaker. Complainants will also want to be certain that the sportsbook is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. If a satisfactory outcome cannot be reached then customers are urged to contact the Commission. The customer should be careful to include any and all details concerning the complaint as well as the steps taken to attempt to resolve the conflict.

You need to be very clear about why you feel the need to report the operator. The complaint can be sent by e-mail to info gamblingcommission. The Commission will seek your permission to talk to the licensee about if they feel the complaint has merit. If a complaint has to do with illegal activity such as fraud or money laundering, the Intelligence Department of the UK Gambling Commission will be deployed to investigate. The Intelligence Department will liaise with other agencies as well.

In other disputes where a complaint about a sportsbook is made, the Commission will request statements and evidence from the licensee.

The evidence is then considered and the Commission will respond to the complainant with a ruling which details the reasons. If a sportsbook is found to be in breach, the Commission has the authority to penalize the offending bookmaker with fines, license suspension, or revocation. As mentioned above, the Commission has revoked licenses in the past and customers can be sure that their complaints will be investigated and acted upon.

The UK Gambling Commission has a good track record of resolving disputes quickly. Sports betting is perfectly legal in the UK provided the customer is of legal age. In the UK this age is Any customers who use UK sportsbooks from outside the jurisdiction must be of legal age in their country of residency. The UK has among the highest standards for sportsbook operators and getting a gambling license is not an easy task.

The Commission needs evidence to support the identity and ownership of the company. All key figures in the company are thoroughly investigated to ensure that nobody has a criminal record and that they are people of high integrity. All past and present finances are scrutinized and a strong financial posture must be established.

The company needs to have a sound business plan and be run by experienced and competent people. These qualifications are closely checked. The Commission needs to be satisfied that the prospective internet betting company will comply with all of the rules and regulations that are in place. There is also thorough testing of all infrastructure to ensure it complies with the regulations. When the Commission is confident that the company has met the criteria they will be issued the license. Of course, every licensee can expect to be audited and inspected on a regular basis to ensure ongoing compliance.

These audits and inspections focus on every aspect of gaming operations from personnel to equipment and finances among other things. These measures result in UK sportsbooks being among the most respected betting sites in the world. Be sure to check Gamblingjudge. But they also specify the names of restricted countries in terms and conditions. If your country is listed as prohibited, or if your local laws prohibit gambling, you cannot join UK licensed bookmakers. If a bookie is in the list of licensed betting sites UK, it is regularly checked for fairness and you don't have to worry.

But if you want to be absolutely sure, you should look for the fairness certificates of third parties, like eCOGRA. Gambling in the United Kingdom is legal. Therefore, it is legal to open betting accounts on all UK licensed bookmakers.

As long as a bookmaker is licensed by the UKGC, it is completely legal. Yes, there are no restrictions in this regard. However, as we mentioned above, playing on recommended licensed UK bookmakers provides many advantages. If you play on other sites, you cannot take advantage of these benefits.

Their phone number is You can send them an email via info gamblingcommission. If you want to place bets in a fair, safe, and supervised environment, you should choose one of the UK licensed bookmakers : The UKGC license gives you all these benefits.

For a quick start, you can choose any of the names in the list of UK licensed bookmakers above and start betting today. Whether you are interested in horse racing or cricket betting UK , at least one of the new UK licensed bookmakers above will be the right choice for you. Good luck out there! Wager calculated on bonus bets only.

Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. New depositing STSbet. First deposit min. Wager min.

Deposit method restrictions apply. The UK only. Available for new players who have registered at EnergyBet after Cash stakes only. Bets placed for both sides, with the same outcome and for the same event, will be disqualified. Virtual Sports bets do not qualify. Cashed out bets do not qualify. Please bet responsibly. Only depositing using specific payment methods. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non withdrawal. No free bet expiry.

Eligibility restrictions. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. Only available for New Customers. Skrill and Neteller not accepted for bonus. New UK customers only. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settlement and placed within 35 days. Please gamble responsibly, www. New players after Free Bets expire after 7 days. E-Wallet restrictions apply.

Game restrictions apply. Maximum 30 Free Spins on selected games. Free Spins expire after 7 days. Up to five times. Risk Free New customers only, limited to one per person. Only deposits made using Cards or Paypal will qualify for this promotion. New customer offer. Debit card, bank transfer or Trustly only. Free bets expire after 7 days. New players only. Free bets rewarded as 4 free bets that total the deposit amount. Winnings credited in cash.

Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited.

Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. Players must place min. Place your first bet and if it loses, we will refund your stakes as cash. The first must be placed within 7 days of registration and at odds of 1.

The max. Be Gamble Aware. Tote and Pool excluded. Must be placed within 14 days of account reg. Not valid with CashOut. Free bet valid for 4 days.

Free bet stake not returned. Valid only for accounts tracked from an eligible referring website. Free bet equal to your qualifying stake will be credited within 24 hours of qualifying bet settling and must be used within 14 days.

In order to activate this bonus on the personal 22BET account, wager your deposit once on betting markets with odds of at least 1. The activated bonus amount must be wagered 10 times with the odds of 1.

Full Terms and Conditions apply. Excludes deposits via PayPal. Horse Racing. Valid for 30 days. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 7 Days from issue. Valid for 7 days. Excludes Skrill deposits. Qualifying bets must be placed on sportsbook within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only.

Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. The Bonus Amount and Type As you have seen in our list of betting sites, the bonus is often the first thing that attracts a punter to a specific site, and a good bonus is key. The Mobile App How a bookmaker presents itself through a mobile app is essential to the modern-day punter.

The Payment Methods Another important aspect in our review of all betting sites, is what kind of payment options are allowed. The Cash Out Option In this day and age, a cash out option is also very important in our rating. All Horse Racing www. GamStop — Free Online Self Exclusion GamStop is an online website and tool that allows you to put controls in place to restrict your online gambling activities.