Is the PlayOJO app safe?

Is the PlayOJO app safe? The short answer

Yes, in the sense that matters most: PlayOJO is a UK-licensed operator, its apps are published by the licence holder in the official stores, and it has to follow the Gambling Commission’s rules on fairness, verification, protecting players and handling complaints. Safe doesn’t mean you’ll win; casino games carry a house edge, and over time most players lose money. It means you’re playing with a regulated company that can be held to account.

There’s also a record to weigh. In May 2023 the Gambling Commission announced a £305,150 regulatory settlement with Skill On Net Limited. Regulatory settlements are public, and the Commission’s statement sets out what went wrong; reading it is part of making your own judgement. Our general guide to safe casino apps explains how to weigh a licence and a regulatory record together.

PlayOJO’s licence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326

PlayOJO launched in February 2017 and is operated by Skill On Net Limited (often written SkillOnNet). The company’s entry on the Gambling Commission’s public register shows these remote licences:

The register gives the company’s head office as Limassol, Cyprus, and Skill On Net is also licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority for other markets. For UK players, the UKGC licence is the one that counts: it’s what lets PlayOJO take bets from Great Britain and what its conduct is measured against. The UKGC glossary entry explains what the Commission does.

How to check PlayOJO’s licence on your phone

1. Scroll to the bottom of PlayOJO’s website or the app’s About or Legal screen and find the licence statement.
2. Open the Gambling Commission’s public register in your phone’s browser.
3. Search for “Skill On Net” or account number 39326.
4. Check the status says Active for Casino, and look at the domain names and regulatory action tabs.
5. Confirm the company name matches the developer shown on the App Store or Google Play listing.

Doing this takes two minutes and works for any casino. Our guide to checking a casino licence shows each screen.

PlayOJO’s regulatory record

The Gambling Commission publishes enforcement outcomes, and Skill On Net Limited reached a £305,150 settlement with it in May 2023. Settlements are a regulatory tool used when the Commission finds an operator’s systems fell short of licence requirements; the operator pays a sum, often directed to socially responsible causes, and agrees to fix the failings. The public statement on the Commission’s website explains the specific findings.

How much weight to give a settlement is your call. A past settlement shows the regulator is watching and acting; it also shows the operator had failings at the time. Many large UK operators have faced similar action. What matters most for you day to day is that the licence remains active and that the tools and complaint routes below are in place.

Spotting the genuine PlayOJO app: what the store listings show

Fake casino apps exist, so the first safety check is the listing itself. The details below come from the UK App Store and Google Play pages.

Apple only allows real-money gambling apps from licensed operators on the UK App Store, and Google Play only lists them from licensed operators it has approved. If you find a PlayOJO app anywhere else, or one from a different developer, don’t install it. Our guide to spotting fake casino apps lists the warning signs, and the PlayOJO download guide shows the official install steps.

What data the PlayOJO app collects

Both stores ask developers to declare how their apps use data, and PlayOJO’s two declarations read differently. The App Store privacy label says identifiers may be used to track you, and that device identifiers are collected but not linked to your identity. The Google Play data safety section states that no data is collected or shared, that data is encrypted in transit and that you can request deletion. These are the developer’s own declarations rather than independent audits.

The iOS listing also says the app may use your location even when it isn’t open, which can reduce battery life. UK casino apps commonly check location to confirm you’re somewhere they’re allowed to take bets. You can control location access in your phone’s settings; if the app needs it to let you play, it will ask. Our guides to casino apps and your personal data and location checks explain what’s normal.

Your casino account still holds personal data, such as your ID documents and payment history, whatever the app itself declares. That data is covered by UK data protection law and PlayOJO’s privacy policy.

Keeping your PlayOJO account secure on a phone

• Use a unique password that you don’t use anywhere else; a password manager makes this easy.
• Lock your phone with Face ID, a fingerprint or a strong passcode, so nobody else can open the app.
• Check for biometric login in the app’s settings; the store listings don’t mention it, so availability may vary by version.
• Keep the app updated from the App Store or Google Play to get security fixes.
• Never share login codes with anyone, including people claiming to be support staff.
• Be careful on public Wi-Fi and avoid logging in on shared devices.

Our casino app security guide covers each of these in more detail.

Are payments in the PlayOJO app safe?

Payments in a UK-licensed app follow rules designed to protect you. Credit cards can’t be used to gamble in Great Britain, including through digital wallets funded by a credit card. Casinos can’t let you cancel a withdrawal to keep playing. And you’ll be asked to verify your identity, which can feel slow but is a legal requirement that stops other people using your name or cards.

We couldn’t verify PlayOJO’s current list of payment methods, withdrawal times or the level at which it protects customer funds from published sources, so check the cashier for methods and the terms for how funds are held. Our PlayOJO deposit methods page explains what to look for, and how long withdrawals take covers typical stages.

Are PlayOJO games fair?

UK-licensed casinos must use games that have been independently tested, with random number generators checked so results can’t be predicted or altered, and must publish the return to player for each game. In the PlayOJO app, a slot’s help or information screen shows the RTP for the version you’re playing. For example, Big Bass Bonanza has a published default RTP of 96.71%, though casinos can run lower versions; the in-game screen confirms which.

Live tables use physical wheels, cards and ball machines filmed in studios. Fair doesn’t mean favourable: every game has a built-in edge, which is how casinos make money. Our page asking are casino apps rigged? explains how testing works.

Player protection tools in the PlayOJO app

A safe app also helps you stay in control. PlayOJO’s App Store listing names Safe Mate (tracking time and money spent), Take A Break and Deposit Limits, and its help centre adds time limits, loss limits, an instant OJO Safeguard block and self-exclusion through Player Limitation in Settings. PlayOJO takes part in GAMSTOP, as all UK-licensed online operators must. Our PlayOJO safer gambling tools page explains where each one sits.

What happens if something goes wrong

Start with live chat or email at support@playojo.com. If a problem isn’t fixed, make a formal complaint: UK operators must give a final response within eight weeks, after which you can take it to the independent ADR service named in PlayOJO’s terms, at no cost. The Gambling Commission doesn’t decide individual disputes but does want to hear about licence breaches. Our PlayOJO customer service page has the full route.

Playing safely with PlayOJO or an alternative

If you decide PlayOJO suits you, install it from the official store, check the publisher is Skill On Net Ltd, and set a deposit limit before your first deposit. Casumo and Coral are also UKGC-licensed and shown below; our PlayOJO app review covers the app as a whole. 18+, T&Cs apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.