# Spotting a live casino that is not licensed in Britain

> Eight warning signs that a live casino is not licensed in Great Britain, how to check each in the register, and what to do next.

Source: https://seatcheck.uk/unlicensed-warning-signs/
Updated: 2026-11-13

Eight signs suggest that a live casino is not licensed in Great Britain, and the first is the easiest to see: no licence statement or account number in the footer. Others are a domain missing from the register entry, a studio logo used as proof, and no Gamstop participation. The mistake to avoid is treating one sign as proof.

## How to use this list

Each sign is a reason to look harder, not a verdict. Check the register before you decide, and write the date. This page names no unlicensed sites. Advertising such sites is an offence (Gambling Act 2005 s.330).

**In short:** a sign is a prompt to check the register, not a verdict.

## The eight signs

1. **No licence statement or account number.** Licensees must show their licensed status, the account number and a register link (LC 8.1.1). See [what the footer must show](https://seatcheck.uk/licence-statement-in-the-footer/).
2. **The account number matches nothing in the register.** Search the Gambling Commission public register by number.
3. **The status is not Active.** The register has nine statuses; only Active is a licence in force.
4. **No Casino Remote activity** on the entry for a site offering casino games.
5. **The domain is missing or Inactive** in the entry's domain names. Domain names are entered by the business, so entries can be wrong or out of date; this is a sign to check, not a verdict.
6. **A provider logo stands in for a licence.** The logo shows who supplies a game. See [studio logos and licences](https://seatcheck.uk/does-provider-logo-mean-licensed/).
7. **No Gamstop participation.** Participation is a licence condition for remote operators (SR 3.5.5). Check Gamstop's participating companies page.
8. **The licence statement names only another regulator.** A service offered to people in Great Britain needs a licence from the Gambling Commission (Gambling Act 2005 ss.33 and 36).

**In short:** eight signs, each answered by one register search.

## Why logos prove nothing

On 23 July 2026 the Gambling Commission announced that Evolution Malta Holding Limited would pay £4.75m over games on six unlicensed sites. A logo is therefore not a licence check. Read our note on the [settlement](https://seatcheck.uk/evolution-ukgc-settlement-july-2026/).

**In short:** a studio's name on a site says nothing about who licenses the site.

## Signs and how to check them

**Eight warning signs and the check for each · source: Gambling Commission register, LC 8.1.1, SR 3.5.5 · checked 13 November 2026**

| Sign | Where to check | Result that clears it |
|---|---|---|
| No statement | Footer | Statement and number shown |
| Number not found | Public register | Entry found |
| Status not Active | Register entry | Active |
| No Casino Remote | Register entry | Casino Remote listed |
| Domain missing | Register entry | Domain Active |
| Logo as proof | Footer and lobby | Statement and number shown without relying on a logo |
| No Gamstop | Participating companies | Operator listed |
| Other regulator only | Footer | Gambling Commission licence named |

**In short:** every sign has a clear answer in a public source.

## What to do next

- Do not deposit.
- Keep the address, the date and screenshots.
- Run the [twelve checks](https://seatcheck.uk/live-blackjack-site-checklist/) on any site you still consider.
- Report what you found: [reporting an unlicensed casino](https://seatcheck.uk/report-an-unlicensed-casino/).

The seven register steps are in [how to check a casino licence](https://seatcheck.uk/how-to-check-a-casino-licence/). If gambling is a worry, the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.

**In short:** stop, keep notes, report.

## FAQ

**What is the clearest sign of an unlicensed casino?**

No licence statement and no account number in the footer. LC 8.1.1 requires licensees to show their licensed status, the account number and a register link.

**Does a missing register entry prove a site is unlicensed?**

Not alone. Domain names in the register are entered by the business, so search by licensee, trading name and domain before you conclude.

**Can a provider's logo show that a site is licensed?**

No. On 23 July 2026 the Gambling Commission announced that Evolution Malta Holding Limited would pay £4.75m over games on six unlicensed sites. A logo shows the supplier, not the licence.

**Why does this page name no unlicensed sites?**

Advertising unlicensed gambling is an offence under Gambling Act 2005 s.330, and advertising includes facilitating. Naming sites would risk doing that.

**What should you do if you find one?**

Do not deposit, keep your notes, and report it to the Gambling Commission. Our reporting page shows the steps.