New online casino sites seem to go live every day, with players now enjoying a glut of options to choose from. Though exciting, the reality is that many of these new sites are sub-par in every which way, including quality, security and more. In order to regulate online casino sites, a multi billion pound per year business, regulatory bodies exist across the planet in order to keep casino sites high quality and, above all, safe.
Licensing and regulation is particularly stringent in the UK, with casino sites put through a range of tests and proofs in order to remain in operation. As a result, the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) is considered by many industry players to represent the gold standard of online casino site regulation.
In this article, we will consider how UK casino sites are regulated, from the importance of the Gambling Act to the daily management of casino licenses. Here, we look into just how UK casino sites are regulated.
Understanding UK Casino Site Regulation
To grasp how UK online casinos are policed, it is important to consider the specifics of the Gambling Act (2005 & 2014). An act that went into UK law during the years when the online casino business was still just a pup in relative terms, in 2005 the internet was clogged with malevolent sites robbing money and data, with scams rampant.
What’s more, online casino sites were, in those days, an easy way for criminals to launder cash from nasty business dealings involving drugs, extortion and more.
So, the UK government passed that Gambling Act, which was designed to curb the possibility for the industry to become a proxy for criminality. The 2005 decision gave birth to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), which continues to regulate all online casinos in the UK today. The first directive of the act was all about limiting the scope of crime in the online casino world. What’s more, there was plenty of concern around protecting minors from using these online casinos.
In 2014, the act was added to, with gambling advertising the target of sanctions this time around. The updated act stopped ads from targeting those under the age of 18, who ministers decided were more likely to use online casinos in a dangerous manner.
What Does the UKGC Do?
After coming into existence in 2005, the UKGC has regulated UK casino sites in a firm but fair manner. Respected the world over, the body has all but eradicated the practice of criminal gangs using online casino sites to launder money in the country. What’s more, the number of unlicensed, dodgy UK casino sites has never been so low – with the UKGC to thank for this. Players keen to experience regulated casino gaming today can find a list of UK regulated sites at CasinoSites.
When a site bears the logo of the UKGC, you can be sure that it is a safe place to play where you will receive fair, honest treatment and be able to enjoy your favourite games safe in the knowledge that you will not be contributing to crime. In general, the UKGC provides British people with a high level of protection and quality at online casinos.
