How do I check a UK casino licence?
Start with the UK Gambling Commission Public Register, search for the legal company or trading name, and then match the exact casino domain to the record. A familiar brand name by itself isn’t enough. The useful check connects the legal entity, trading name, domain and licensed activities to the live website.
Record what the casino footer says before opening the register. This makes it easier to spot a different company name, an old licence reference or a domain that doesn’t appear where expected.
Match the casino domain to its licence record
- Copy the legal operator name and any licence reference from the casino footer or terms.
- Search the public register using the company name, trading name or reference.
- Open the record and check its current status.
- Look for the exact domain in the listed trading names or website details.
- Review the remote activities shown on the record.
- Check whether a public regulatory notice changes the status or scope of the operator’s permission.
- Compare the result with the privacy, complaints and account terms on the live casino.
Which details need to match?
| Detail | Why it matters | If it does not match |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Identifies the company responsible for the licensed activity | Check whether the site uses a trading name or has changed operator. |
| Domain | Connects the licence record to the website being reviewed | A group licence need not cover every similar-looking address. |
| Status | Shows whether the record is current | A historic reference should not support a present-tense claim. |
| Activities | Explains what the permission covers | Separate casino, betting and other product claims. |
| Trading names | Links consumer-facing brands to the legal company | Search the brand and legal entity before drawing conclusions. |
Record your comparison
Copy this worksheet into your notes and keep any unresolved difference visible.
If the company matches but the domain does not, keep that difference unresolved. Record the full website address, the company spelling and the licence reference exactly as displayed before asking for clarification. A screenshot with a date helps explain the discrepancy, while silently correcting a name or assuming a familiar-looking domain removes the detail you needed to investigate.
| Detail | Website wording | Register wording | Match or unresolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | |||
| Trading name | |||
| Exact domain | |||
| Status | |||
| Activities | |||
| Date checked |
Does one licence prove a sister-site relationship?
A matched licence can be strong operator evidence, but the relationship still needs precise wording. Brands can share a parent group while using different legal operators, or share technology without sharing ownership. State only the connection supported by the record and current brand sources.
When checking a page such as Ladbrokes sister sites, connect the brand-level evidence to its relevant operator network page. Do not use the wider group page as a substitute for checking the named casino’s own domain and terms.
Common licence-check mistakes
- Matching a similarly named company rather than the legal entity in the footer.
- Quoting an old or historic record as if it were current.
- Assuming a parent’s record covers every casino website automatically.
- Mistaking an overseas licence for permission to accept customers in Britain.
- Checking the brand name but not the exact domain.
If the record and the website do not line up, describe what is visible and what remains unclear. The register is the starting point; the live footer, terms and domain match complete the check.
Once you have recorded the company and domain, use the sister-site directory to find the brand guide and keep any unresolved detail alongside your comparison.
