Online casino licence cost in United Kingdom (2026)
Gambling Commission fees depend on your annual gross gambling yield. Under the fees in force from 1 October 2026, a remote casino licence costs £8,185 to £165,069 to apply for and £7,000 a year upwards. Remote Gaming Duty is 40% of profits from UK players, and a 1.1% statutory levy applies on top.
Figures checked against official sources on 20 October 2026
£8,185 to £165,069 by gross gambling yield (remote casino)
From £7,000 by gross gambling yield (remote casino)
40% Remote Gaming Duty on casino profits; 15% General Betting Duty
Licence types
Remote casino operating licence
Online casino games for consumers in Great Britain.
Source: Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence
Remote general betting standard (real events) licence
Online betting on real events.
Source: Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence
Remote general betting standard (virtual events) licence
Betting on virtual events. Its fees are the same as the remote casino licence.
Source: Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (virtual events) licence
UKGC fees
| Fee | Amount | Charged on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote casino, band F1 | £8,185 / £7,000 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield under £250,000 (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band F2 | £14,483 / £12,375 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £250,000 to under £875,000 (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band F3 | £25,628 / £19,569 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £875,000 to under £3 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band G1 | £40,475 / £27,337 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £3 million to under £10.5 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band G2 | £55,060 / £51,975 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £10.5 million to under £36.75 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band H1 | £74,902 / £112,556 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £36.75 million to under £130 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band H2 | £101,895 / £394,875 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £130 million to under £455 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band I1 | £122,274 / £1,181,625 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £455 million to under £1.6 billion (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote casino, band J1 | £165,069 / £1,453,949 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £1.6 billion or greater, annual fee plus £272,324 for each complete additional £200 million of annual gross gambling yield above £1.6 billion (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band F1 | £6,535 / £5,937 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield under £250,000 (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band F2 | £12,649 / £11,531 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £250,000 to under £875,000 (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band F3 | £24,482 / £17,244 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £875,000 to under £3 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band G1 | £38,368 / £24,300 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £3 million to under £10.5 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band G2 | £45,536 / £49,612 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £10.5 million to under £36.75 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band H1 | £54,043 / £104,219 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £36.75 million to under £130 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band H2 | £64,138 / £365,625 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £130 million to under £455 million (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band I1 | £67,147 / £1,130,250 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £455 million to under £1.6 billion (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Remote betting (real events), band J1 | £90,648 / £1,402,455 | Application fee / annual fee; annual gross gambling yield £1.6 billion or greater, annual fee plus £272,205 for each complete additional £200 million of annual gross gambling yield above £1.6 billion (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence |
| Combined licence | +£2,100 / +£6,250 | Extra application / annual fee for a licence combining two of remote casino, bingo and virtual event betting (+£4,200 / +£12,500 for all three) (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| First annual fee | 25% reduction | The first annual fee, due 30 days after the licence is issued (from 1 October 2026) | Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence |
| Personal management licence | £463 | Per application for each person in a key management role; renewed every 5 years | Gambling Commission: Personal management licence |
| Statutory levy | 1.1% of the leviable amount | Per levy period, on gambling revenue for remote casino and remote betting licences (from 6 April 2025) | The Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/213) |
Gaming tax
40%
Online casino: Profits from remote gaming with UK persons (Remote Gaming Duty) (from 1 April 2026 (previously 21%)).
15%
Betting: Bookmaker's profits from general bets made by UK persons (General Betting Duty).
Announced changes
- From 1 April 2027: A new 25% rate of General Betting Duty on profits from remote bets. Bets made wholly on UK horse racing, on-course bets, spread bets, pool betting and bets on self-service terminals in betting shops stay at 15%. (Finance Act 2026, gambling duties)
Requirements that affect the cost
- Local entity or representative
- The Commission requires a licence wherever the operator is based. For gambling duties, HMRC requires an approved UK representative unless the operator is based in the UK, the EU or another country HMRC lists.Source: HMRC: Excise Notice 455a, Remote Gaming Duty
- Processing time
- 16 weeks for an operating licence application, according to the Commission (not guaranteed).Source: Gambling Commission: Licence application processing times
How to apply: Gambling Commission: How to apply for an operating licence
Other costs to budget for
The licence and tax are only part of a launch budget. These costs vary too much by operator to give official figures, but every plan for United Kingdom should account for them:
- Legal and licensing advisers for the application and ongoing compliance.
- Gaming platform and game content (B2B suppliers, often certified per market).
- Testing and certification of games and systems by an approved testing lab.
- Payments, identity verification (KYC) and responsible-gambling tooling.
- Local staff or a local representative, where the regulator requires one.
- Player acquisition: media, creative and affiliate costs within the market's advertising rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online casino licence cost in United Kingdom?
UKGC application fee: £8,185 to £165,069 by gross gambling yield (remote casino). Annual fee: From £7,000 by gross gambling yield (remote casino). Gaming tax: 40% Remote Gaming Duty on casino profits; 15% General Betting Duty. Platform, legal, testing and marketing costs come on top and vary by operator.
What is the online gambling tax in United Kingdom?
40% for online casino, charged on profits from remote gaming with UK persons (Remote Gaming Duty) (from 1 April 2026 (previously 21%)). 15% for betting, charged on bookmaker's profits from general bets made by UK persons (General Betting Duty).
Do you need a local company or representative in United Kingdom?
The Commission requires a licence wherever the operator is based. For gambling duties, HMRC requires an approved UK representative unless the operator is based in the UK, the EU or another country HMRC lists.
Planning a launch in United Kingdom?
Once the licence is in place, we plan and run compliant display, video and DOOH campaigns in United Kingdom, gated on licence, market and age before every bid.
Get a media planSources
- Gambling Commission: How to apply for an operating licence
- Gambling Commission: Remote casino operating licence
- Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (real events) licence
- Gambling Commission: Remote general betting standard (virtual events) licence
- Gambling Commission: Personal management licence
- The Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/213)
- HMRC: Excise Notice 455a, Remote Gaming Duty
- HMRC: Excise Notice 451a, General Betting Duty
- Finance Act 2026, gambling duties
- Gambling Commission: Licence application processing times
Figures are copied from official sources as published on the date shown and may change. This page is general information for planning, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm current fees and requirements with Gambling Commission and your advisers before applying.