UK Online Casinos

November 2014 marked a turning point in the UK's online casino industry. After years of relying on external licensing bodies to regulate sites, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) finally decided to take charge itself.

Part of a two-step process involving licensing and taxation, the legal change sought to regulate the igaming industry by pushing remote operators to hold a UKGC license in order to offer services in the UK.

Today, in order to legally operate and advertise in the UK, online casino sites need to make an application to the UKGC. Once an application has been processed, a site is then deemed as safe and secure for UK residents.

From a player's perspective, the changes haven't altered the way in which UK residents access their favourite online casino games. The only noticeable change on some sites is that players are now filtered through a special UK facing portal. The idea of this system isn't to segregate players, but make the process of defining UK-based players (for taxation purpose) a lot easier.

Why is this better for you?

In addition to giving you a new platform to play on, the UK's gambling laws mean that your online activities are now a lot safer. Any site that is regulated by the UKGC is now one of the safest platforms in the world. Because the UKGC verifies each operator before a license is granted, you can rest assured that all of the sites it oversees are secure. By testing and verifying everything from random number generators, to the way online casinos hold player funds, the UKGC is able to ensure the safety of all UK residents.

Therefore, when you choose one of our recommend UK casino sites, you can ante-up safe in the knowledge that every game is fair and all your funds will be protected and insured by the UK government.

In November 2014, the UK government altered the way in which is licensed and taxed online casino sites based offshore. The new laws ushered in a range of changes for operators and caused some uncertainty regarding the status of taxation for online casino games.

Fortunately, we're here to help and explain why your gambling profits are TAX FREE if you live in the UK:

How do the UK's taxation laws apply to our recommended online casino sites?

Since the end of December, UK-based casino players have been unsure about their tax status thanks to endless talk about the Point of Consumption (POC) tax. Covered by mainstream and gaming media outlets alike, the discussion has caused a number of gamblers to ask whether they now have to pay taxes.

Much of the coverage explained how POC affects remote gaming operators. However, it failed to state whether or not it applied to players. Essentially, the new tax levy, which is set at 15%, is only applicable to remote gaming operators. Pre-POC, remote online casino operators weren't required to pay tax to the UK government. However, following the legal changes at the close of 2014, any gross profits accrued from UK-based players by these sites will now be subject to the POC tax.

Does this mean I now need to pay tax on my online casino winnings if I live in the UK?

No. The UK is still a tax-free place for live and online casino players. The new POC taxation system is only designed for gaming operators, not individuals, and this means your profits are 100% yours.

Back in the 1960s when betting shops were legalised, it used to be the case that the operators charged a 9% tax on a punter's stake or winnings (each establishment had their own preference). This system either charged a tax on top of the wager or withheld a small portion of the winner's returns. However, change of law in 2001 altered this system and put the onus on the operator and not the punter.

Instead of applying a 9% tax on wagers or returns, gaming companies were forced to pay 15% on gross profits. This removed the need for taxing the player and meant that all gambling winnings, whether they come from sports betting, poker or casino, are 100% tax free.

What if I make a living as a professional casino player?

If you live in the UK and play on any of our recommended online casinos, then you don't have to pay any tax on their winnings. Even if you class your gaming activities as your job, you still don't have to pay tax.

Essentially, because your profession would be classed as gambling, it means that any money you make is classed gambling profits. In the eyes of the law, gambling profits aren't taxable, therefore, your income isn't taxable.