Are casino apps legal in the UK?

Are casino apps legal in the UK? Yes, with a licence

Online casino gambling is legal in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005. Since November 2014, any company offering gambling to people in Great Britain must hold a licence from the Gambling Commission, wherever the company itself is based. That rule covers apps just as it covers websites: an app is simply another way into a licensed account.

For you as a player, the legal position is simple. If you’re 18 or over and use a licensed casino app, you’re doing something lawful. It’s the operator that carries the obligations, and the operator that breaks the law if it serves people in Great Britain without a remote gambling licence.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK but has separate gambling law, so the picture there is a little different; we cover it further down.

What the law requires of a licensed casino app

A licence comes with a long list of conditions. These are the ones you’ll notice inside an app.

Operators must also tell you how well your balance is protected if the company goes bust, using a rating of not protected, medium or high protection. You’ll usually find it in the terms or at sign-up. The full list of recent changes is in our UK casino app rules guide.

How to check a casino app is legal before you sign up

1. Open the casino’s website or the app’s terms and find the operator’s company name and Gambling Commission account number, usually in the footer.
2. Search the Gambling Commission’s public register for that number or company name.
3. Check the licence status is active and that the brand appears among the trading names.
4. Open the App Store or Google Play listing and compare the developer or seller with the licence holder.
5. If anything doesn’t match, don’t deposit.

Here’s how that looks for the operators we cover, taken from the register and the store listings.

Big groups often publish apps under a sister company, as Entain does for Coral and Ladbrokes, so a name that differs but clearly belongs to the same group is normal. Our safe casino apps page has more examples.

Why legal casino apps are on the App Store and Google Play

Both app stores add their own layer. Apple only accepts real-money gambling apps in the UK from licensed operators, submitted by the company itself. Google Play allows them in Great Britain only from licensed operators it has approved, and requires an adult rating, location blocking and a free download. Both stores rate these apps 18+ or PEGI 18.

That doesn’t make every app in the store safe, and a missing app isn’t proof of anything shady, as our page on casino apps not on Google Play explains. But an app downloaded from the official store, with a developer that matches the licence, is the strongest sign you’re in the right place.

Unlicensed casino apps: illegal for the operator, risky for you

Sites and apps that take British players without a licence are acting illegally. The Gambling Commission works with payment firms, app stores and internet companies to disrupt them. You wouldn’t be prosecuted for using one, but you’d give up every protection listed above: no stake limits, no capped wagering, no obligation to pay out fairly and no independent complaints route.

Unlicensed sites often lean on crypto deposits, bonus offers with huge wagering and promises to accept people who have self-excluded. That last one is a serious warning sign. If you’re registered with GAMSTOP, a site offering to let you play is telling you it ignores UK rules. The crypto casino apps page explains why licensed UK casinos don’t take cryptocurrency.

The age limit: why 18 means 18

Casino gambling is 18+ in the UK, with no exceptions for lower-stakes games. Licensed apps must check your age before you can deposit, play or even open a demo game, and they’ll ask for documents if electronic checks can’t confirm it. An operator that lets a child gamble faces serious regulatory action. Our guide on how casino apps check your age explains the checks step by step, and parents can use Screen Time on iPhone or Family Link on Android to block 18-rated apps.

Are casino apps legal in Northern Ireland?

The Gambling Act 2005 and the Gambling Commission cover Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own, much older gambling legislation, which was written before online casinos existed. In practice many GB-licensed operators accept players there, but some exclude Northern Ireland from parts of their service or from offers. PlayOJO’s welcome offer, for example, isn’t available to Northern Ireland customers. Our Northern Ireland casino apps page explains what that means for players.

How UK casino app law has changed since 2019

None of these changes made casino apps any less legal; they tightened what licensed operators may do. The tax change falls on operators, not players, as our page on whether casino app winnings are taxed explains.

Your rights if something goes wrong in a legal app

Playing in a licensed app gives you a clear route if a withdrawal is refused or a game result is disputed. Complain to the casino first through its formal process. If it hasn’t resolved things within eight weeks, or you disagree with its final answer, you can take the complaint to the operator’s ADR provider at no cost. The Gambling Commission doesn’t settle individual disputes, but it does want to hear about operators breaking the rules.

Legal UK casino apps and their welcome offers

Casumo, 10bet and Coral all hold Gambling Commission licences and publish apps on iPhone and Android. Casumo matches 50% of a first deposit of at least £20 up to £100, with 10x wagering within 7 days and a £5 maximum bet while the bonus is active. 10bet matches 100% up to £25 if you choose the casino bonus at sign-up, with 10x wagering on slots within 3 days. Coral gives 100 free spins at 10p for depositing and betting £10 on slots, with no wagering on spin winnings. 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.