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ItalyUnited Kingdom · Betting laws
Is Sports Betting Legal in United Kingdom?
Any operator offering online sports betting to customers in Great Britain needs a Gambling Commission remote betting licence. Northern Ireland is not covered by the Gambling Act 2005 and has its own 1985 Order.
- Legal age
- 18+
- Licensed sportsbooks
- 9
- Tax on winnings
- None
At a glance
- Regulator
- Gambling Commission
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Tax on winnings
- Players do not pay tax on gambling winnings.
- Operator tax
- Operators pay General Betting Duty of 15% of gross profits. From April 2027 remote betting is due to move to 25%, with horse racing staying at 15%.
- Self-exclusion
- GAMSTOP
- Help
- National Gambling Helpline · 0808 8020 133 · gamcare.org.uk
The main laws
- 2005
Gambling Act 2005
The main law for gambling in Great Britain; it created the Gambling Commission.
- 2014
Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014
Requires any operator serving British customers to hold a Gambling Commission licence.
How to check a sportsbook's licence
- Find the licence number in the betting site's footer.
- Search that number or the operator name on the Gambling Commission public register.
- Check that the licence is active and that the site's domain is listed.
Recent changes
The government's gambling white paper, 'High Stakes', set out new player protections.
A statutory levy on operators to fund research, prevention and treatment took effect.
Remote Gaming Duty rose to 40%, and a 25% remote betting duty was announced for April 2027.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the regulator's website for the latest rules.