How to check a UK gambling licence and website domain
Direct answer: find the licence statement and account number in the site footer, open the Gambling Commission public register, then match the exact domain, legal account name, active licence status and permitted remote activity. A regulator logo or company name alone is not enough.
Last checked: 11 July 2026 by SlotsLike. The public register itself was updated 10 July 2026 when checked.
Review status: editorial verification against Gambling Commission consumer guidance and register fields is complete. Independent review by a named qualified compliance professional has not yet been commissioned. This is general information, not legal advice.
Six-step licence check
- Copy the website’s exact hostname; look out for extra words, hyphens or different country endings.
- Find the footer wording naming the licensed business and Gambling Commission account number.
- Search the official register by domain, trading name, legal name or account number.
- Open the business record and confirm the licence status is Active.
- Confirm the exact domain is listed and active or correctly identified as a white-label domain.
- Check the licence covers the remote activity being offered and review any regulatory actions.
What register statuses mean
| Status | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Active | Licence is active and up to date |
| Suspended | Suspended pending investigation; do not treat as active |
| Revoked, lapsed, forfeited, surrendered or expired | Not a current active authority for the listed activity |
| Pending | An application or variation is not the same as an active licence |
Domain and white-label checks
A licensed company can operate trading names and white-label sites, so the consumer brand may differ from the legal account name. That makes the domain record essential. Conversely, an active business licence does not authenticate an unlisted copycat domain.
Red flags
- No clickable register link or account number.
- A footer names one domain but the browser address is another.
- The register shows the domain as inactive or does not list it.
- The site claims only an overseas licence while actively serving Great Britain.
- A search advert or message asks you to use a mirror URL not in the record.
If a site cannot be matched, do not deposit or provide additional identity/payment information. Report suspected illegal gambling through the Commission’s official route.
Affiliate disclosure: SlotsLike may receive commission from marked operator links. A commercial relationship never substitutes for a register check. Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over; see our responsible gambling guide.
Sources & Verification
- Official register of gambling businesses
- Gambling Commission account-opening and licence-check guidance
- What licensed gambling businesses must display
Correction log
11 July 2026: first publication; added exact-domain, legal-entity, activity and status matching rather than relying on logos.