The UK Gambling Commission is the regulator of gambling in the UK. It is an independent regulatory body established under the UK Gambling Act 2005. The Commission covers the whole of the United Kingdom and is based in Birmingham.
About two-thirds of the commission income comes from fees paid by licensees. The rest of its income comes from the collection of the National Lottery.
The duties of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission are:
- protect players from harm caused by gambling
- prevent crime through gambling
- ensure fairness and openness of casino games
- raise awareness about gambling
- help people who are addicted to gambling
To achieve this, the UKGC licenses and regulates all gambling in the country including:
- online casino
- offline casino
- bookmakers
- lotteries
- slot machines
- bingo halls
The Commission conducts regular inspections of gambling companies under their license to ensure full compliance with its rules and regulations. If a gambling company breaks the rules, UKGC can take enforcement action against it. This may be the imposition of fines or the revocation of a license.
