With countries around the world tightening online gambling regulations, many players are now finding that what has worked for them for years is no longer allowed. Regulations in the UK have become so tight that well-known brands, that still decide to operate in the UK have had to completely water down their offerings, to the point that their product is almost unrecognisable.
Not too surprisingly, we're seeing lots of players asking about online casinos with no licences. This is obviously pretty murky territory, and that's exactly why we put together this guide to help you figure things out.
First things first. We want to make it very clear that it's not a good idea to play at online casinos that are absolutely unlicensed. Licences help to make sure that the casino is not going to run away with your money right after you make your deposit, that the games are fair, and that your information is protected.
What most people mean when they say they are looking for an online casino with no licence, is that they are looking for a casino that doesn't hold a licence from their home country – this being the UK in our case – and is therefore not restricted by those specific regulations. That would mean the regulations from the UK Gambling Commission for British players. However, the casino can be licensed from elsewhere.
We'll talk more about the different kinds of casino licences to look for, as well as other important things to know if you're looking for a casino that's free from strict regulations.
Online Casinos in the UK with No Licence Restrictions
Online gambling has long been a heavily regulated area in some countries. And while things used to be more relaxed in the UK, the Gambling Commission has been tightening regulations. UK online casinos cannot accept credit cards, and they won't even let you deposit until your account has been verified.
Max bet limits have been lowered to £2 for those under the age of 24, or £5 if you are older. Slots are not allowed to have bonus buy or auto mode; in fact they are not even allowed to spin faster than 2.5 seconds per cycle.
It's easy to see why more and more players are now looking for new places to play. If you want to get into action quickly, we've put together a list of some reputable casinos that don't have such restrictions but are still reputable and safe operators.
In terms of security, data protection, and payouts, these casinos are all comparable to regular licensed casinos. The biggest difference is that these sites are just more liberal in letting players decide for themselves what their limits should be.
Games and Slots at Casinos with No Licence
The very low bet limit in UK regulations cuts out all the options favoured by high rollers and VIP players. For example, Stake UK does not offer any of the games it's famous for and if you just look at that site, you won't see why it has become the global phenomenon that it is. Accessing the original site with a VPN is the only way to play the casino games that gamblers rave about.
Most casinos that offer a UK specific site will also usually allow access to their site through a VPN.
And for slot players, the max bet rule has lots of implications. They can no longer access many popular slots or games with a Bonus Buy feature. Bonus Buy lets you jump straight to a game's bonus features if you play with a higher bet. With the limit on max bet, you won't be able to place a high enough bet to Bonus Buy. For those who prefer to cut through the base game and go straight to the bonus rounds, playing at a casino without a licence that has these restrictions is a definite advantage to their gameplay.
Switching to a casino with a different licence will mean that you can find your favourite games again, and free up the max bet allowed.
Game Payouts: RTP at UK Casinos with No Licence
If you're looking at a reputable casino without restrictions on bet limits due to licensing regulations, then the RTPs to the games will be the same as casinos with licences from the UK or elsewhere that have lowered bet limits. We compare some the RTPs to some of the most popular slots at casinos that have different licences and bet limits below.
Crypto Casinos - an Alternative to Casinos without UK Licences
In the last couple of years, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become more mainstream. Casinos specialising in cryptocurrencies have sprung up and some have started to establish a reputable name for themselves. Bitcoin casinos tend to dominate the scene, as this is still the best known crypto, but you will find that a lot of these sites bank in other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Dogecoin.
Many of these crypto casinos will also hold a gaming licence from Curacao or Anjouan.
What Kinds of Licences Can Online Casinos Have?
There are actually several reputable authorities that issue online casino licences. The ones that have the fewest restrictions and are also the most trusted of them are the Malta Gaming Authority and the Curacao Gaming Control Board.
These are longstanding authorities have been around since the online casino industry began. Sometimes, online casinos holding these licences are known as offshore casinos. Different licences come with different rules and advantages. We break down the Malta and Curacao licences:
MaltaCuracao
Respected authority
Frequent control and auditing
Guaranteed minimum RTP of 92%
High security standards and player protection
Secure transactions on deposits and withdrawals
Trusted licence
Many accept cryptocurrencies
Fewer restrictions for players
Full choice of games
High security standards and quick withdrawals
Below is a more comprehensive list of online casino licensing bodies:
Curacao Gaming Control Board:
Established since 1996, the Curacao Gaming licence is one of the most trusted online casino licences.
Malta Gaming Authority:
Another trusted regulator, although many casinos with this licence also tend to conform to stricter regulations from other bodies.
Anjouan Gaming Licence:
The Anjouan gaming licence became popular in 2024, and is positioned as a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to the Curacao and Malta licences.
Kahnawake:
The Kahnawake gaming licence is no longer as common as it used to be, but it was one of the first online casino licensing bodies back in 1999.
Isle of Man:
Launched in 2001, the Isle of Man licence is one of the most respected in Europe, with the most stringent standards. It has however become less common.
Panama:
The Panama licence became available in 2002. It's not considered the best online casino licence available, but at least the site is legal.
Costa Rica:
Many online casinos that accept US players have a licence from Costa Rica. Technically, it's not a specific gambling licence, but a legally recognised gambling company that holds a licence for data processing.
Specific to crypto casinos, the Crypto Gambling Foundation has formed to assure players of a casino's fairness and safety. These casinos give players the data so they can verify game payouts themselves, and these games are also known as Provably Fair games. You can think of this as a certificate of fairness to casino games.
Changes to the Curacao Licence
In 2024, the Curacao licence saw some structural changes, namely the master and sub licence system was discarded for a more straightforward B2B and B2C licence system. The Curacao Gaming Control Board oversees these new licences.
The re-design streamlines processes and covers all gambling activities – whether it be sports, live casino, or bingo – and it is aimed to ensure greater coherence in the regulatory framework. The costs of the Curacao licence has also increased and there is also a requirement for operators to have an office in Curacao.
While these changes are significant, they mostly affect casino operators. The industry is quickly adapting to these developments, and players are not expected to be impacted.
1.) Is it legal to play at online casinos without a licence?
Gambling regulations in the UK are enforced on level of the casino operator and not the player. Or to put it bluntly, it is the casino that is legally responsible, rather than the player, which in turn means it is legal for UK players to play at casinos that don't have a UK gambling licence.
2.) Is it safe to play at online casinos with no licence?
An online casino with no UK licence can still have a licence from another authority, such as Curacao or Malta. These online casinos are as safe as the most reputable establishments. On the other hand, we strongly advise players to stay away from casinos that have absolutely no licence.
3.) Can I use a VPN to access casinos with no UK licence?
Yes. Although most casinos with no UK licence will block players from the UK from accessing their site, technically, it is quite easy to get around this with a VPN. Just turn on your VPN, set it to another country like New Zealand or Canada, and then go to the casino's website. You can read our guide on VPN gambling for more details.
4.) Do casinos with no UK licence have different games?
There are tons of casinos without a UK licence, and although we can't speak for them all, the answer is generally yes. That's because the regulations from the UK Gambling Commission are designed to protect the vulnerable by limiting risk taking. And since most casino games involve an element of risk, these rules have systematically excluded large numbers of online casino games.
5.) Can I bank with the Pound at casinos with no licence?
Generally speaking, banking with the British Pound at casinos with no UK licence may be difficult. That's most because if they weren't planning to cater to UK players on paper, then it is unlikely they would set up the payment infrastructure for banking in GBP.
However, most sites and payment methods can seamlessly convert your pounds to another currency, so you shouldn't encounter any problems. Cryptocurrency can also be a very solid alternative.
6.) Do casinos with no licence have better bonus and promotions?
There's no hard and fast answer to this, since it's all up to each casino's marketing team to decide what kind of promotions they want to offer. We've compared the welcome bonuses offered at casinos with different licences in the table below. For those who are aiming to cashout their bonus winnings, it's important to take a look at the wagering requirements.
7.) Do offshore casinos with Curacao licences protect my data?
Yes. Offshore casinos with licences from Curacao or elsewhere observe strict data privacy and protection rules. Crypto casinos also have a very high level of privacy, since they are based on a philosophy of anonymity and cryptocurrencies have a high level of security built into their payment system. In a way, these casinos are even more private than regular online casinos that have to submit user information to a national database.
The Expert Conclusion on Casinos with No UK Licence
With online gambling regulations in the UK clamping down on deposit limits, bet sizes, game features and speed, many feel that their freedom as a casino player is being compromised and are looking for online casinos that aren't affected by these restrictions.
Thankfully, there are reputable casino sites that are licenced elsewhere that give UK players both their freedom and security in play. Crypto casinos have also boomed in the past few years thanks to the added speed and flexibility in their banking, and these can also be a good choice.
However, we cannot emphasise strongly enough that it is important to choose a reputable casino. There is a lot of potential for fraud and a casino licence is there to protect the player. We hope that after reading our careful analysis of casinos without a UK licence you can find a safe and secure casino site to play.
No Licence Casinos UK was tested and reviewed by Christian Webber
Sitting still has never been my strength, and my colleagues say that I don't need a chair because I'm always on the move. My dream to play professional soccer didn't work out, but it turns out mobile gaming is not a bad alternative either. I prefer to be out and about instead of sitting in an office, so mobile gaming has turned out to be the perfect match. I test mobile casinos and their platforms from my phones and tablets so I have a clear idea how they perform on different devices. From performance to the latest mobile promotions, I'm always on top of it all!
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