Online gambling regulation in Great Britain

Casino, sports betting, poker and more

In Great Britain, online poker, casino and sports betting are all regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, but operators need the correct licence category; poker typically sits under remote casino-style licensing, while sports betting uses betting licences. All are generally permitted if licensed, unlike unlicensed offshore sites.

Product	Status	What that means
Online casino	Licensed	—
Online sports betting	Licensed	—
Online poker	Licensed	Legal and regulated for GB remote play under the Gambling Act 2005/UKGC licensing.
Sweepstakes and social casinos	Licensed	UKGC and ICLG indicate social gaming without prizes is not gambling, but dual‑currency sweepstakes with redeemable cash require a UKGC licence under Gambling Act 2005; unlicensed sites are effectively barred.
Prediction markets	Restricted	United Kingdom (Great Britain), as of 2026: real‑money prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are treated as gambling and blocked to UK users; no UKGC licence granted. Status: restricted Key actions/laws: - Gambling Act 2005 – defines betting to include wagering on real‑world events, covering prediction markets. - UK Gambling Commission position, Feb 2026 – prediction‑market/event‑contract platforms offering commercial products to GB consumers would be regulated as betting intermediaries and require a UK gambling operating licence; unlicensed platforms should not target GB consumers. - Platform geoblocking (Polymarket), 2026 – Polymarket lists the UK as blocked and implements IP geoblocking due to being considered an unlicensed gambling operator under the Gambling Act 2005 and UKGC rules. - Kalshi, restricted list, 2026 – Kalshi lists the UK as restricted and is unavailable to UK residents; UKGC treats its event contracts as gambling, not financial instruments, so it cannot operate without a gambling licence. Crypto.com / Robinhood event contracts: - No evidence of UK‑specific event‑contract products comparable to Polymarket/Kalshi being licensed; prediction‑style event betting falls under Gambling Act 2005 and UKGC licensing if offered to GB consumers. Summary characterisation (per your scheme): - Real‑money prediction markets/event contracts targeted at UK consumers are restricted – they are treated as gambling, must be UKGC‑licensed as betting intermediaries, and leading platforms (Polymarket, Kalshi) are effectively blocked or closed to UK users by 2026.
Mystery boxes	Unregulated	UK Gambling Commission says Gambling Act 2005 does not cover loot boxes; government’s 2022 DCMS Loot Boxes Response declined to amend the Act and relies on industry self-regulation.

Advertising unlicensed gambling in Great Britain

Prohibited. Gambling Act 2005 section 330 makes advertising unlawful gambling an offence; explanatory notes confirm scope and penalties.

Advertising unlawful/unlicensed gambling is a criminal offence; sports sponsorship with unlicensed brands risks offence unless GB access is blocked.

Regulator and law

Gambling Commission (Great Britain) — www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Gambling Act 2005, including section 330 on advertising unlawful gambling.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

Checking a licence

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. Gambling Commission maintains an online public register of operating licence holders.

https://register.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

How the black market is fought

Cease-and-desist notices to illegal operators and advertisers
Criminal offence and fines for advertising unlawful gambling under Gambling Act 2005 section 330
Blocking online access required in sports sponsorship with unlicensed brands
Regulatory enforcement against licensed operators for ad breaches under LCCP and ASA CAP Code

Advertising rules for licensed operators

Licensed operators must hold a Gambling Commission operating licence to advertise gambling in Great Britain
All UK-licensed operators must comply with ASA CAP Code gambling advertising standards
Sports sponsorship and advertising must not promote unlicensed gambling; online activity must be blocked to GB consumers
Advertising must not breach LCCP social responsibility and fairness requirements; breaches can trigger Commission enforcement

Recent developments

2024-25: Commission issued 516 cease-and-desist requests to illegal operators and 352 to advertisers/affiliates
2025: ASA/CAP Code update closed loophole; all UK-licensed operators, including overseas-based, must follow CAP gambling rules from 1 September 2025
2025-26: Commission reported 260 cease-and-desist notices to advertisers for offences under section 330 Gambling Act 2005

Questions

Is it illegal to advertise unlicensed gambling in Great Britain?

Yes. Gambling Act 2005 section 330 makes advertising unlawful gambling an offence; explanatory notes confirm scope and penalties. Advertising unlawful/unlicensed gambling is a criminal offence; sports sponsorship with unlicensed brands risks offence unless GB access is blocked.

Who regulates online gambling in Great Britain?

Gambling Commission (Great Britain). The main law is Gambling Act 2005, including section 330 on advertising unlawful gambling..

How can I check whether a gambling operator is licensed in Great Britain?

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators at https://register.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Gambling Commission maintains an online public register of operating licence holders.

What we could not confirm

Exact statutory basis for ISP/domain or payment blocking not clearly identified in available sources
Detailed list of all LCCP advertising provisions not fully visible in current materials
Whether sweepstakes/social casinos are specifically legal, restricted or prohibited in Great Britain
Whether prediction markets are treated as gambling or financial derivatives in GB for specific products like Kalshi/Polymarket-style platforms
Whether loot boxes are treated as gambling in GB or mainly as consumer products with age-rating/consumer-law oversight

Sources

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.